Papers by Author: H.J. Kim

Abstract: In the present work, we have developed two ferritic stainless steels, Fe + 20%Cr + 0.8%Mn + 0.2%Ti + 0.5%Y2O3 and Fe + 17%Cr + 0.1%C + 1%Si + 1%Mn + 0.5%Y2O3 for oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnects. Nano-sized Y2O3 particles were dispersed in the metallic matrix by high-energy ball-milling. The alloys exhibited excellent electrical conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient suitable for SOFC applications. The finely dispersed nano-sized yttria is thought to be attributed to high conductivity.

Abstract: The aims of this study are to investigate the effect of Y (yttrium) addition in the Mg-Al- Ca alloys on microstructure and mechanical properties. In additions, the alloys were solution treated in order to achieve a better understanding of the precipitation mechanisms. The as-cast microstructure of Mg-5Al-3Ca alloy and Mg-5Al-3Ca-xY alloys contains dendritic α-Mg matrix and eutectic intermetallic compound at grain boundary. The hardness values of Mg-Al-Ca alloy with Y additions were slightly increased than that of Mg-Al-Ca with no Y addition. It is because of reduction of α-Mg phase and presence of (Mg,Al)2Ca and Al-Y rich intermetallic phase at grain boundary and α-Mg matrix grains. Also, hardness value of yttrium (Y) containing alloys was increased with increasing Y contents. Compared to Mg-5Al-3Ca alloy, maximum strength and yield strength of the alloys with Y additions have slightly increased with increasing Y additions in the case of as-cast samples.

Abstract: Bulk metallic glass (BMG) composites with dual amorphous phases were fabricated by spark plasma sintering of a mixture of Cu-based and Zr-based amorphous powders in their overlapped supercooled liquid region. The Zr-based amorphous phases are well distributed homogeneously in the Cu-based metallic glass matrix after consolidation. The BMG composite still remains as an amorphous structure after consolidation. The BMG composite with dual amorphous phases shows macroscopic plasticity after yielding, and the plastic strain increased to around 3.4% in the BMG composite containing 30 vol% Zr-based amorphous phase. The successful consolidation of BMG composite with enhanced plasticity was achieved by introducing a second amorphous phase in the metallic glass matrix.

Abstract: Bulk metallic glass (BMG) composites combining a Cu54Ni6Zr22Ti18 matrix with brass powders or Zr62Al8Ni13Cu17 metallic glass powders were fabricated by spark plasma sintering. The brass powders and Zr-based metallic glass powders added for the enhancement of plasticity are well distributed homogeneously in the Cu-based metallic glass matrix after consolidation. The matrix of the BMG composite remains as a fully amorphous structure after spark plasma sintering. The BMG composites show macroscopic plasticity after yielding, and the plastic strain increased to around 2% without a decrease in strength for the composite material containing 20 vol% Zr-based amorphous powders. The proper combination of strength and plasticity in the BMG composites was obtained by introducing a second phase in the metallic glass matrix.

Abstract: The bulk metallic glass matrix composite comprising Cu54Ni6Zr22Ti18 metallic glass powder and ductile brass powder was fabricated by the warm process. The warm process was carried out by spark plasma sintering, which led to the homogeneous distribution of both phases of brass and metallic glass without pores. The metallic glass matrix composite material exhibits the same crystallization behavior of the metallic glass powder. A compressive strength of 1.0 GPa with a plastic strain of 3 % was obtained in the present metallic glass composite. The composite with enhanced strength and ductility was successfully achieved by introducing a ductile phase in the hard bulk metallic glass.

Abstract: Anisotropy magneto-resistance and planar Hall-effect of ferromagnetic GaMnAs epitaxial films were investigated. The films were grown on 2 o off-cut GaAs (001) substrate in an optimized growth condition via low temperature molecular beam epitaxy. The GaMnAs layer revealed an easy axis along the (2x4) reconstruction direction of the substrate or along the off-cut direction. The large value of the anisotropy magneto-resistance ratio of ~7 % was realized by a well-alignment of the easy axis of the homogeneous ferromagnetic GaMnAs layer with the current. It also gives a very high planar Hall resistance ratio of ~500 %.

Abstract: Polycrystalline ZnO thin films were for the first time deposited on SiO2/Si (100) substrate using 2-step deposition; atomic layer deposition (ALD) and RF magnetron sputtering, for Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator (FBAR) applications. The film deposition performed in this study was composed of following two procedures; the 1st deposition was using ALD method and 2nd deposition was using RF magnetron sputtering. The ZnO buffer layer ALD films were deposited using alternating diethylzinc (DEZn)/H2O exposures and ultrahigh purity argon gas for purging. Exposure time of 1 sec and purge time of 23 sec yielded an ALD cycle time. Two-step deposited ZnO films revealed stronger c-axis preferred-orientation than one-step deposited. Therefore, this method could be applied to the FBAR applications, since FBAR devices require high quality of thin films.

Abstract: New Cu-based bulk amorphous alloys exhibiting a large supercooled liquid region and good mechanical properties were formed in a quaternary Cu-Ni-Zr-Ti systems consisting of only metallic elements. The compositional range for the formation of the amorphous alloys that have high glass forming ability (GFA) (> 3 mm diameter) and large supercooled liquid region (> 50 K) is defined in the pseudo-ternary phase diagram Cu-Ni-(Zr, Ti). A bulk amorphous Cu₅₄Ni₆Zr₂₂Ti₁₈ alloy with the diameter of 6 mm can be prepared by copper mold casting. The Cu₅₄Ni₆Zr₂₂Ti₁₈ alloy shows glass transition temperature (T_g) of 712 K, crystallization temperature (T_x) of 769 K and supercooled liquid region (ΔTx) of 57 K. The Cu₅₄Ni₆Zr₂₂Ti₁₈ alloy exhibits high compressive fracture strength of about 2130 MPa with a plastic strain of about 1.5 %. The new Cu-based bulk amorphous alloy with high GFA and good mechanical properties allows us to expect the extension of application fields as a new engineering material.

Abstract: Pure copper and copper alloy infiltrated carbon materials were newly developed for the application of the contact strip on the pantograph system of high-speed electric railway. After the compaction and following baking process at an elevated temperature, the shape and size of pores in carbon materials were controlled by the processes developed in this work. The infiltration of pure copper or copper silicon alloy was performed in a specially designed chamber equipped with an evacuation system by a diffusion pump and also a pressurizing system by a high pressure gas. In order to evaluate the performance of metallized carbon strip samples, the wear tests were performed in a wear testing machine which was designed for an actual operating condition for the high-speed electric railway. Wear properties of samples were discussed by tacking various wear testing data.