High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are characterized by having five or more main elements and forming simple solids without forming intermetallic compounds, owing to the high entropy effect. HEAs with these characteristics are being researched as structural materials for extreme environments. Conventional refractory alloys have excellent hightemperature strength and stability; however, problems occur when they are used extensively in a high-temperature environment, leading to reduced fatigue properties due to oxidation or a limited service life. In contrast, refractory entropy alloys, which provide refractory properties to entropy alloys, can address these issues and improve the hightemperature stability of the alloy through phase control when designed based on existing refractory alloy elements. Refractory high-entropy alloys require sufficient milling time while in the process of mechanical alloying because of the brittleness of the added elements. Consequently, the high-energy milling process must be optimized because of the possibility of contamination of the alloyed powder during prolonged milling. In this study, we investigated the hightemperature oxidation behavior of refractory high-entropy alloys while optimizing the milling time.

The Korea Nuclear Safety Act defines a high integrity container (HIC) as “a radioactive waste packaging container that can maintain its integrity for more than 300 years under the general underground environment and disposal conditions in Korea”, and detailed technical standards are not described. The US Nuclear Safety Commission’s “Low-Level Waste Licensing Branch Technical Position on Waste Form” describes the detailed requirements for solidification and HIC. The main contents of the US NRC technical position include limiting the free standing water, minimum design life, demonstrating mechanical, thermal and radiation stability, etc. In this study, the stability evaluation was performed to understand the mechanical strength with respect to horizontal and vertical loads. The basic property of polymer concrete was carefully evaluated, including compressive strength, structural fatigue resistance, etc. The long term creep test, loading of 40% of compressive strength, indicates that the polymer concrete exhibits good long term mechanical integrity.

In this study, a nanocrystalline FeNiCrMoMnSiC alloy was fabricated, and its austenite stability, microstructure, and mechanical properties were investigated. A sintered FeNiCrMoMnSiC alloy sample with nanosized crystal was obtained by high-energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering. The sintering behavior was investigated by measuring the displacement according to the temperature of the sintered body. Through microstructural analysis, it was confirmed that a compact sintered body with few pores was produced, and cementite was formed. The stability of the austenite phase in the sintered samples was evaluated by X-ray diffraction analysis and electron backscatter diffraction. Results revealed a measured value of 51.6% and that the alloy had seven times more austenite stability than AISI 4340 wrought steel. The hardness of the sintered alloy was 60.4 HRC, which was up to 2.4 times higher than that of wrought steel.

Ni–Cr–Al metal-foam-supported catalysts for steam methane reforming (SMR) are manufactured by applying a catalytic Ni/Al2O3 sol–gel coating to powder alloyed metallic foam. The structure, microstructure, mechanical stability, and hydrogen yield efficiency of the obtained catalysts are evaluated. The structural and microstructural characteristics show that the catalyst is well coated on the open-pore Ni–Cr–Al foam without cracks or spallation. The measured compressive yield strengths are 2–3 MPa at room temperature and 1.5–2.2 MPa at 750oC regardless of sample size. The specimens exhibit a weight loss of up to 9–10% at elevated temperature owing to the spallation of the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. However, the metal-foam-supported catalyst appears to have higher mechanical stability than ceramic pellet catalysts. In SMR simulations tests, a methane conversion ratio of up to 96% is obtained with a high hydrogen yield efficiency of 82%.

Ti0.5Al0.5N/CrN nano-multilayers, which are known to exhibit excellent wear resistances, were prepared using the unbalanced magnetron sputter for various periods of 2–7 nm. Ti0.5Al0.5N and CrN comprised a cubic structure in a single layer with different lattice parameters; however, Ti0.5Al0.5N/CrN exhibited a cubic structure with the same lattice parameters that formed the superlattice in the nano-multilayers. The Ti0.5Al0.5/CrN multilayer with a period of 5.0 nm exceeded the hardness of the Ti0.5Al0.5N/CrN single layer, attaining a value of 36 GPa. According to the low-angle X-ray diffraction, the Ti0.5Al0.5N/CrN multilayer maintained its as-coated structure up to 700oC and exhibited a hardness of 32 GPa. The thickness of the oxidation layer of the Ti0.5Al0.5N/CrN multilayered coating was less than 25% of that of the single layers. Thus, the Ti0.5Al0.5N/CrN multilayered coating was superior in terms of hardness and oxidation resistance as compared to its constituent single layers.

This study examines the role of the nano- and micro-particle ratio in dispersion stability and mechanical properties of composite resins for SLA(stereolithography) 3D printing technology. VTES(vinyltriethoxysilane)-coated ZrO2 ceramic particles with different nano- and micro-particle ratios are prepared by a hydrolysis and condensation reaction and then dispersed in commercial photopolymer (High-temp) based on interpenetrating networks(IPNs). The coating characteristics of VTES-coated ZrO2 particles are observed by FE-TEM and FT-IR. The rheological properties of VTEScoated ZrO2/High-temp composite solution with different particle ratios are investigated by rheometer, and the dispersion properties of the composite solution are confirmed by relaxation NMR and Turbiscan. The mechanical properties of 3Dprinted objects are measured by a tensile test and nanoindenter. To investigate the aggregation and dispersion properties of VTES-coated ZrO2 ceramic particles with different particle ratios, we observe the cross-sectional images of 3D printed objects using FE-SEM. The 3D printed objects of the composite solution with nano-particles of 80 % demonstrate improved mechanical characteristics.

The thermal stability and mechanical properties of Nephila clavata and Bassaniana decorata spider silks were measured and compared with those of aramid and polyester fibers. The thermal stability of the spider silk was lower than those of the commercial aramid and polyester fibers. However, the mechanical properties of the spider silk were far superior to that of the polyester fiber. The effect of the water content of the spider silk on its thermal stability and mechanical property was examined by conducting the silk to heat treatment at 100℃ under vacuum for various times. The results indicated that spider silk subjected to heat treatment for 1.5 hr had excellent thermal stability and mechanical property.

Ti-Cu-Ni-Sn quaternary amorphous alloys of Ti50Cu32Ni15Sn3, Ti50Cu25Ni20Sn5, and Ti50Cu23Ni20Sn7 composition were prepared by mechanical alloying in a planetary high-energy ball-mill (AGO-2). The amorphization of all three alloys was found to set in after milling at 300rpm speed for 2h. A complete amorphization was observed for Ti50Cu32Ni15Sn3 and Ti50Cu25Ni20Sn5 after 30h and 20h of milling, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed that the thermal stability increased in the order of Ti50Cu32Ni15Sn3, Ti50Cu25Ni20Sn5, and Ti50Cu23Ni20Sn7.

Mechanical alloying using high-energy ball mill and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS) process was applied to understand mechanical alloying processing of Al-Fe alloy system. The thermal stability of mechanically alloyed Al-Fe alloy was intended to be enhanced by SPS process. Various analytical techniques including particle size analysis, density measurement, micro-Vickers hardness test, SEM, TEM, and X-ray diffractometry were adopted to find optimum processing conditions for mechanical alloying and subsequent SPS and to estimate thermal stability of the prepared alloy. It was found from the treatment of mechanically alloyed Al-8wt.%Fe powder mixture that needle-shaped precipitates was formed in the Al-Fe matrix, and the alloy compact showed enhanced densification and reached its full density with little loss of its fine microstructure. After heat treatment at , it was also shown that the thermal stability of Al-8wt.%Fe alloy fabricated in the present study was enhanced, which was due to its fine microstructure developed by fast densification of SPS.

Mechanical alloying using high-energy ball mill and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS) process was applied to Al-Fe-Cr and Al-Fe-Mo powder mixture to investigate effects of Cr and Mo addition on thermal stability of Al-Fe, and thereby to enhance its thermal stability up to . Various analytical techniques including micro-Vickers hardness test, SEM, TEM, X-ray diffractometry and corrosion test were carried out. It was found that addition of Cr and Mo to Al-Fe system played a role of grain growth inhibitor of matrix Al and some precipitates such as during SPS and subsequent heat treatment. The inhibition of grain growth resulted in increased Vickers hardness and thermal stability up to comparing to those of Al-Fe alloy system.

고온구조용 재료로의 사용이 기대되는 Al3Ti금속간 화합물의 연성 향상을 위한 목적으로 기계적 합금화를 통한 cubic Ll2구조의 생성거동과 Mn의 첨가 영향을 조사하였다. Al-8Mn-25Ti조성에서 20시간의 기계적 합금화를 통해 약 1.0nm 사이즈의 grain을 갖는 nanocrystalline cubic Ll2Al3Ti 금속간 화합물이 제조되었다. Mn이 첨가된 3원계 cubic Ll2Al3Ti 금속간 화합물은 2원계 cubic Ll2Al3Ti 금속간 화합물에서 보이는 Ll2구조에서 D023구조나 D022구조로의 상변태가 발생하지 않았으며 Mn의 첨가로 인해 Ll2구조는 1200˚C가지 안정함을 보였다.

The effects of Ce on the mechanical alloying behavior and the thermal stability of Al-8wt.%Fe were investigated. The steady states of Al-8wt.%Fe and Al-8wt.%Fe-4wt.%Ce powders with 1.5 wt.% stearic acid as a process control agent were reached after mechanical alloying for 1000 minuties and 1300 minuties respectively at the conditions of the impeller revolving velocity of 300 rpm and the ball to powder input ratio of 50 : 1. The hardness of Al-8wt.%Fe specimen hot extruded and isothermally aged at various temperatures for up to 1000 hours decreased rapidly at 50 and its high temperature ultimate tensile strength began to decrease at 40 with increasing aging time. The decrease in the hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the specimen were reduced substantially by addition of Ce. It was thought to be due to the formation of thermally stable A14Ce and All3Fe3Ce intermetallic compounds.