This study evaluated the effects on nutritional composition, mineral content, starch structure, gelatinization behavior, and microstructure of supplementing noodles with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% germinated black quinoa (GBQ) powder. Proximate analysis showed that crude protein, fat, and ash contents increased with increasing GBQ levels, whereas carbohydrate content did not differ significantly among samples. Mineral analysis showed that Fe, Zn, and Mg contents increased whereas Na content decreased with increasing GBQ levels. X-ray diffraction analysis showed similar diffraction patterns among all samples, with a major peak within the 2θ range of approximately 19.8~20.5°. Rapid visco analyzer results indicated a reduction in pasting temperature in the GBQ groups. Peak viscosity tended to increase in the 5~10% GBQ groups but tended to decrease in the 20% GBQ group. Breakdown viscosity tended to increase, whereas setback viscosity was the highest in the 5% GBQ group and tended to decrease with increasing GBQ level. Scanning electron microscopy revealed greater pore formation and structural irregularity on the surface and cross sections of noodles with increasing GBQ supplementation. Overall, supplementation with 5~10% GBQ powder enhanced protein and mineral contents while providing favorable rheological properties with only minor microstructural changes.

Multicomponent Nb-15Si-23Ti-3Cr-2Sn-2Al-2Hf-1B-0.5Y alloy powders were synthesized by high-energy ball milling using a zirconia chamber and balls for milling times of 0.5–12 h, and the effects of milling time on powder evolution, contamination behavior, and the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties of hot-pressed sintered specimens were systematically investigated. The dominant deformation mechanism shifted from flattening to cold welding and then to a fracture- dominated steady state with increasing milling time, and the particle size decreased sharply up to 4 h before stabilizing. Yield and composition analyses showed that zirconia contamination remained limited up to 4 h but increased sharply beyond 6 h owing to severe wear of the milling chamber and balls. Sintered specimens from powder milled for 4 h exhibited a homogeneous microstructure with finely and stably dispersed Nb5Si3 intermetallic phases and moderate hardness, whereas insufficient milling for 2 h left coarse, unreacted phases, and excessive milling for 12 h introduced substantial zirconia contamination that lowered density while raising hardness. These results indicate that a milling time in the range of 4–6 h offers a favorable balance between alloying efficiency and contamination control, with 4 h being preferred owing to its comparatively minimal zirconia contamination.

High-silicon electrical steels containing 6.5 wt.% Si (Fe-6.5Si) are promising materials for high-efficiency electric motors because of their high electrical resistivity and low core loss. However, the intrinsic brittleness of high-silicon steels limits their formability using conventional fabrication methods, such as cold rolling, pressure forming, and sintering, making it difficult to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) soft magnetic cores for axial-flux permanent magnet (AFPM) motors. Additive manufacturing has recently attracted attention as an effective approach for producing complex magnetic components. In particular, laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) enables the fabrication of geometrically complex structures through localized melting and rapid solidification of metal powders. During LPBF, rapid thermal cycling can generate unique microstructures that influence the magnetic properties of fabricated materials. In this study, Fe-6.5Si samples were fabricated using LPBF, and their microstructure and magnetic properties were investigated. In addition, a complex-shaped 3D core was successfully fabricated by LPBF, and the performance of an AFPM motor equipped with the LPBF-fabricated core was evaluated. The results show that the LPBF-fabricated core can provide superior performance-to-weight efficiency for lightweight motor applications.

Directed energy deposition (DED) of Inconel 939 (IN939) alloy is useful for fabricating and repairing geometrically complex components used in gas turbine systems. Repeated laser scanning produces a non-equilibrium microstructure that can support high mechanical strength. However, because the microstructure of DED IN939 differs from that of conventionally manufactured IN939, it may evolve differently under the same post-heat-treatment conditions. Therefore, this study applied different aging temperatures to investigate the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of DED IN939 alloys and to identify suitable post-heat-treatment conditions. Quantitative microstructural characterization showed that both the γ′ phase fraction and γ′ size increased as the first and second aging temperatures increased. Consistent with γ′ evolution under the different aging conditions, specimen strength was positively correlated with aging temperature, whereas elongation decreased because excessive γ′ formation and growth narrowed the γ′ channel width. Consequently, aging at 840 °C for 8 hours followed by aging at 740 °C for 8 hours provided the best combination of high strength and ductility in room-temperature tensile tests.

In this work, AlxCo1-xFe2O4 nanoferrites (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20) were synthesized from metal nitrates using the sol-gel method. The objective of this study was to investigate how replacing cobalt ions (Co2+) with non-magnetic aluminum ions (Al3+) would affect the structural, morphological, and magnetic properties of this ferrite. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that pure cubic spinel could be obtained in all samples. At the same time, the values of the crystal lattice constant and grain size varied slightly and irregularly with aluminum content. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images indicated a uniform distribution of grains in the undoped sample (x = 0) and that the incorporation of (Al3+) led to a small increase in average grain size as well as broadened grain size distribution. The purity of the samples and successful substitution were additionally verified by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) measurements demonstrated that the saturation magnetization and remanence decreased with increasing Al3+ content, which was attributed to magnetic relaxation caused by substituting ferromagnetic Co2+ ions for non-magnetic Al3+ ions. Values of the remanent-to-saturation magnetization ratio (Mr/Ms) also indicate the presence of single-domain magnetic particles. The coercive field (Hc) showed a non-monotonic dependence, increasing with the low concentrations of aluminum but decreasing weakly, and hence is an effect of the competition between internal stresses and a decrease in crystal anisotropy. This work has shown that the magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite can be modulated by substitution with aluminum.

Molybdenum-tantalum (Mo-Ta) alloy sputtering targets are widely used in electronic applications owing to their excellent corrosion resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and low electrical impedance. In this study, the sintering behavior and microstructural evolution of Mo-Ta alloys fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) were investigated as a function of sintering temperature in the range of 1650-1800 °C. X-ray diffraction and microstructural analyses indicate that densification and alloying of the mixed Mo and Ta powders occur simultaneously during the SPS process. Increasing the sintering temperatures significantly enhances densification, and the compact sintered at 1750 °C achieves a relative density exceeding 99%, which is essential for high-quality sputtering target applications. The sintered alloys exhibit a clear temperature-dependent grain growth behavior together with a homogeneous microstructure and randomly oriented grains. These results demonstrate that appropriate control of sintering temperature enables the fabrication of dense and microstructurally uniform Mo-Ta alloys, providing valuable guidelines for optimizing sputtering target performance.

This study compares the microstructure and properties of pure Cu and Cu-5 wt.% Al2O3 composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering under strictly identical processing conditions at 800-1000°C. Pure Cu samples achieved near-full densification and exhibited a bimodal grain structure dominated by coarse grains with increasing sintering temperature. In contrast, the composite samples showed lower density and non-monotonic densification behavior, with a minimum relative density at 900°C and significantly refined equiaxed grains due to strong grain-boundary pinning by nano Al2O3 particles. The higher fractions of high-angle boundaries and pronounced orientation disruption were observed in the composite samples, while high-resolution analysis confirmed the presence of grain-boundary Al2O3-rich regions that restricted Cu grain coalescence and continuity of grain boundary migration. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the absence of reaction phases in both materials. Hardness peaked at 900°C for both samples, and the composite samples showed consistently lower hardness due to retained porosity. The apparent electrical conductivity of the composite displays a non-linear temperature dependence, reflecting the competing influences of densification, microstructural recovery, and the insulating nature of Al2O3.

In this study, GNPs/FeCoNiCuAl particles synergistically reinforced aluminum matrix composites are developed by friction stir processing (FSP) to explore the effects of different GNPs contents (1, 3, and 5%) on the microstructure, mechanical performance, and wear resistance of the materials. The results show that the incorporation of GNPs affects the formation of the diffusion layer between the FeCoNiCuAl particles and the aluminum matrix. As the content of GNPs increases, the thickness and integrity of the diffusion layer between FeCoNiCuAl particles and aluminum matrix gradually decrease. In addition, the introduction of GNPs is beneficial in enhancing the proportion of high-angle grain boundaries in the composites, but the grain size of the specimen increases slightly to about 5.5 μm at a content of 5% GNPs. When the content of GNPs is 1%, the composites achieve the highest microhardness and the lowest specific wear rate (0.1459 × 10⁻⁶ mm3/ N·m), with the wear mechanism dominated by abrasive wear. Nonetheless, when the GNPs content in the composite increases to 5%, the thickness and integrity of the diffusion layer are minimal, causing the tensile strength of the composite to be reduced to 250 MPa, and the specific wear rate increased to 0.4244 × 10– 6 ( mm3/N·m), with the wear mechanism transformed to abrasive–adhesive mixed wear. This study demonstrates that the appropriate ratio of GNPs and FeCoNiCuAl particles can effectively enhance the mechanical and wear resistance properties of aluminum matrix composites, providing a theoretical basis for the design and development of high-performance aluminum matrix composites.

In this study, the effect of welding heat input on the microstructure and mechanical properties of reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic steel weld metal was investigated to provide a basis for developing welding technology for this steel, which is considered a structural material for fusion reactor blankets. Autogenous bead-on-plate gas tungsten arc welding was performed with heat inputs of 0.57, 1.38, and 2.32 kJ/mm, and the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the weld metal were analyzed. The fraction of residual δ-ferrite in the weld metal varied depending on the welding heat input, which acted as a primary factor contributing to the reduction in weld metal strength, although it remained higher than that of the base metal. In addition, the effect of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) at 730 °C for 1 h was evaluated. Before PWHT, the weld metal exhibited significantly higher hardness compared with the base metal. However, after PWHT, its hardness was substantially reduced, thereby minimizing the differences in hardness of the weld and the base metal.

A cold roll-bonding process using AA1050 and AA6061 sheets, in which the initial strain of AA1050 is higher than that of AA6061, was employed to fabricate an AA1050/AA6061 layered sheet. The sheet was then annealed at various temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 °C. The as-roll-bonded sheet exhibited a typical deformation structure in which the grains were elongated along the rolling direction. The evolution of the microstructure in the layered sheets varied significantly depending on the location, resulting in an inhomogeneous distribution of hardness along the thickness direction. After annealing up to 300 °C, both the AA1050 and AA6061 regions still mainly exhibited a deformed structure. Complete recrystallization occurred in the specimens annealed at temperatures above 350 °C. The hardness decreased with increasing annealing temperature in both AA1050 and AA6061, but the decrease was greater in the AA6061 region than in the AA1050 region. Resultantly, at 350 °C or higher, hardness was almost the same in all regions. The specimen annealed at 350 °C exhibited the best mechanical properties in terms of the balance between tensile strength and elongation. It is concluded that AA1050/AA6061 layered Al sheets with excellent mechanical properties can also be fabricated by CRB when AA1050 has a higher initial strain than AA6061, and subsequent annealing.

An AA3003 tube was severely deformed by cold floating plug drawing, and then annealed at temperatures from 210 to 460°C. The as drawn Al tube exhibited a typical deformation structure in which the grains were greatly elongated along the drawing direction. The hardness increased with increasing the reduction of cross-sectional area (RA), became 68Hv after RA= 99%. Up to 310°C, the Al tube still mainly exhibited a deformed structure. While complete recrystallization occurred at temperatures above 360°C. The hardness decreased with increasing the annealing temperature, and it became 33Hv after annealing at 410°C. Both the tensile and yield strengths also decreased with increasing the annealing temperature, but the decrease was larger in yield strength than in tensile strength. The elongation increased with increasing the annealing temperature. The changes in the strength and the elongation with the annealing temperature were the largest at 360°C, in which the complete recrystallization occurred.

The Al-Fe-Mg-Cu-B system aluminum alloy is used for electrical wire, but is severely deformed by the multi-pass drawing process when a rod with a diameter of 12 mm is greatly reduced to 2.0 mm. This study investigated the changes in the microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical properties of the aluminum wire during the drawing process in detail. The as-drawn aluminum alloy wire exhibited a deformation structure in which the grains were greatly elongated in the drawing direction, particularly in the specimens subjected to more than 80 % reduction in cross-sectional area (RA). For all drawn specimens, the fiber texture of the {110}<111> and {112}<111> components was mainly developed. The hardness tended to increase with increasing RA due to work hardening. In particular, when the RA increased to 97 % a great increase in hardness resulted. The specimen with an RA of 97 % showed the highest tensile strength of 288 MPa, 2.2 times higher than that of the specimen before drawing. The electrical conductivity decreased slightly with increasing RA, even in specimens with extreme increases in RA, and it remained at an average value of 56.6 %IACS.

WC–Mo₂C–Co cemented carbides were fabricated to investigate the effects of Mo₂C addition on microstructure and mechanical properties. Dual hard-phase design using WC and Mo₂C was employed to optimize the balance between hardness and toughness. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) was conducted at various temperatures after ball milling, and 1300 °C for 5 min was identified as the optimized sintering condition, achieving complete densification and phase stability. The addition of Mo₂C refined the microstructure by suppressing abnormal WC grain growth through preferential dissolution of Mo₂C into the Co binder. Hardness increased up to 1769 Hv30 due to grain refinement and solid-solution strengthening, while promoted η-phase formation and reduced fracture toughness.The 27Mo₂C composition exhibited the most balanced combination of hardness and toughness. These results demonstrate that controlled Mo₂C addition enables dual hard-phase strengthening and microstructure optimization in WC–Mo₂C–Co carbides for advanced cutting and forming applications.

The recent development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and the adoption of higher-enrichment fuels have intensified the need for advanced burnable absorbers to ensure effective reactivity control and extended fuel cycles. Among various designs, UO2 fuels with high Gd2O3 (gadolinium oxide) content provide notable benefits; in particular, they are compatible with established fabrication methods for burnable absorber fuels. However, achieving a homogeneous dispersion of Gd2O3 at high loading levels remains challenging, and the frequent occurrence of phase segregation and non-uniform microstructures can limit fuel reliability and performance. Overcoming these limitations requires an understanding of the powder characteristics and mixing behaviors during fabrication. In this study, we investigate the effects of the initial particle size and mixing method of UO2 and Gd2O3 powders on the microstructure and mixing homogeneity of high-Gd2O3-content fuels. The findings indicate that both the mixing method and the preparation state of the starting powders significantly affect the resulting microstructure and mixing uniformity.

Electrochemical treatment has a significant effect on the properties of carbon fibers (CFs). In this study, the effect of mild electric field action on the microstructure and properties of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based high-modulus CFs (HMCFs) and high-strength CFs (HSCFs) was investigated. Under the action of a mild electric field, CFs did not show obvious defects, but their microstructure, mechanical properties and electrical properties were affected. For HMCFs, the graphitization degree in both axial and radial directions of the fibers had a decreasing trend, the grain spacing increased, and the grain size and degree of orientation decreased, which led to a decrease in the tensile strength, tensile modulus and axial conductivity. However, for HSCFs, the pattern of change was exactly opposite to that of HMCFs. The results of this study can provide useful guidance for optimizing the production process and surface modification of CFs.

To further increase the mechanical properties of polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers, a multiple stretching technique was applied. Carbon fibers were multiple stretched at 2200 °C and characterizations such as SEM, Raman, XRD, and TEM were used to investigate the evolution of microstructure of carbon fibers. It was found that the grooves on the surface of carbon fibers along the fiber axis direction became more obvious and the cross-section of fibers were twisted from nearly circular to elliptical after multiple stretching. Growth and slippage of graphite microcrystals along the fiber axis direction resulted decrease in disordered structure and defects in the carbon fibers and increase in the degree of graphitization. The multiple stretching effectively enhanced the length-to-width ratio of microcrystals. An increase of 75 GPa in tensile modulus and a retention rate of 0.95 in tensile strength were realized for carbon fibers multiple stretched at 2200 °C.

This study investigated the effect of the hatch spacing parameter on the microstructure and mechanical properties of SA508 Gr.3 steel manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) for a nuclear pressure vessel. Materials were prepared with varying hatch spacing (0.04 mm [H4] and 0.06 mm [H6]). The H4 exhibited finer and more uniformly distributed grains, while the H6 showed less porosity and a lower defect fraction. The yield strength of the H4 material was higher than that of the H6 material, but there was a smaller difference between the materials in tensile strength. The measured elongation was 5.65% for the H4 material and 10.41% for the H6 material, showing a significantly higher value for H6. An explanation for this is that although the H4 material had a microstructure of small and uniform grains, it contained larger and more numerous pore defects than the H6 material, facilitating stress concentration and the initiation of microcracks.

본 연구는 꼬막 패각 잔골재와 PP 폐어망 섬유를 혼입한 자원순환 콘크리트의 역학적 성능과 계면 변화 영역에서의 미세구조 특성 을 분석하였다. 패각 잔골재와 폐어망 섬유를 적절한 방법으로 전처리하고 자원화를 고려하여 3D 프린팅 콘크리트 배합을 선정해 콘 크리트 시편을 제작하였다. 제작된 시편은 KS L ISO 679 규정에 따라 압축강도와 휨강도를 측정하였고, BSE 모드를 이용한 SEM 이 미지 촬영을 통해 미세구조를 분석하였다. SEM 이미지는 히스토그램 및 형상 기반 상 분리 방법, 그리고 계면 변화 영역의 픽셀값 차 이를 활용하여 이미지를 분리하고 미세구조를 분석하였다. 역학적 성능을 확인하기 위해 PP 섬유를 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0vol.% 혼입한 시 편의 압축강도와 휨강도를 측정한 결과, PP 섬유 0.5vol.% 혼입 시 섬유 브릿징 효과로 인해 가장 높은 압축 및 휨강도가 나타났다. SEM 이미지 분석 결과, 일반 잔골재와 바인더 계면보다 패각 잔골재와 바인더 계면에서 더 큰 직경의 공극이 관찰되었으며, PP 섬유 와 바인더 계면에서는 상대적으로 작은 공극이 형성됨을 확인하였다. 이를 바탕으로 미세구조 분석 결과와 역학적 성능 간의 상관관 계를 규명하였다.

A cold roll-bonding (CRB) process is applied to fabricate an AA1050/AA5052 layered sheet. In the process, commercial AA1050 and AA5052 sheets of 1 mm thickness, 40 mm width and 300 mm length are stacked onto each other, and then reduced to a thickness of 0.5 mm through a 2-pass cold rolling process without lubricant. The roll-bonded AA1050/AA5052 layered sheet is then annealed for 1 h at various temperatures from 200 to 400 °C. The specimens annealed at temperatures below 250 °C showed a typical deformation structure in which the grains were elongated along the rolling direction. However, the specimens annealed at temperatures higher than 300 °C exhibited recrystallization structures in both the AA1050 and AA5052 regions. All the roll-bonded and subsequently annealed specimens showed an inhomogeneous distribution of hardness in the thickness direction, in which the hardness in the AA5052 regions was higher than that in the AA1050 regions. As the annealing temperature increased, the tensile and yield strengths decreased and the elongation increased gradually. The mechanical properties were compared to those of commercial AA1050 and AA5052 materials and CRBed AA5052-2L materials from a previous study.