Papers by Author: S.I. Kwun

Abstract: The influence of the cooling condition after solution treatment on the high temperature fatigue resistance of 23Cr-26Ni heat resistant steel was investigated. Two different cooling conditions were applied to the steel after solution treatment at 1230oC for 3 hours. One specimen was water quenched immediately after the solution treatment. The other one was furnace cooled at a rate of 0.5oC/min down to 750oC after the solution treatment. Then, both specimens were aged at 750oC for 5 hours. The low cycle fatigue (LCF) test was conducted to investigate the influence of high temperature on the LCF behaviors of the heat-resistant 23Cr26Ni alloy. Under two different heat treatment conditions, the LCF test was performed at total strain amplitudes ranging from ±0.4~0.9% at room temperature (RT) and 600°C. During the test, initial cyclic hardening occurred at both experimental temperatures. This phenomenon was attributed to the increase in the dislocation density due to cyclic deformation, which resulted in the interaction between the newly created dislocations and precipitates. Cyclic softening was observed in the later stages of the LCF test at RT. The formation of precipitates and increase in the dislocation density were observed using TEM. Also, the XRD and EDS techniques were used to verify the type and composition of the precipitates.

Abstract: In order to improve the durability and performance of molds and tools, diverse methods of surface modification are used where the adhesion strength between a substrate and coating plays an important role. To improve adhesion strength, a combined surface modification method is often utilized. In this study, adhesion strength and microstructure of various combined surface modifications (i.e., ion-nitriding, Cr intermediate layer, CrN layer and nitrogen ion- implantation) were examined on STS420. Phase constituents, microstructure, adhesion strength and hardness of coating-substrate system with combined surface modification were examined by using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scratch test, and nano-indentation. The highest adhesion strength was observed when CrN coating was formed by nitrogen implantation on ion-nitrided substrate with a Cr-intermediate layer. Influence of processing sequence and combination is related to microstructural observations and adhesion strength.

Abstract: The fatigue properties of friction stir (FS) and TIG welded Al 6N01-T5 alloys were compared in the present study. The low cycle fatigue (LCF) test was performed under total strain amplitudes in the range of ± 0.6 ~ ± 1.5% and with a strain rate of 3 x 10-3/s. During low cycle fatigue, the base metal showed little cyclic hardening or softening, whereas both the FS and TIG welded zones showed a large amount of cyclic hardening until fracture, although the fatigue life of the TIG welded zone was much shorter than that of the FS welded zone. The fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) was retarded in the heat affected zone (HAZ) on the advancing side of the FS welded zone, due to the compressive residual stress in this region. The differences in the fatigue properties in these two welded zones were discussed in terms of the microstructural changes during fatigue.

Abstract: The low cycle fatigue(LCF) test was performed to characterize the influences of the equal channel angular pressing(ECAP) and subsequent annealing of Al 5052 alloy. In the present research, one group of Al 5052 alloy specimens was directly subjected to ECAP, while another was subjected to ECAP and subsequent annealing. It was found that the tensile strength of the Al 5052 alloy increased, while its elongation decreased, with increasing number of ECAP passes. The LCF test was conducted at constant total strain amplitudes of 0.5%, 0.7%, 0.9% and 1.1%. Only cyclic hardening was observed as the number of fatigue cycles increased at all strain amplitudes in the specimen without ECAP. However, the ECAPed specimens showed a slight amount of cyclic hardening in the beginning and then saturation until fracture.

Abstract: The effects of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and subsequent heat treatment on the low cycle fatigue properties of 6005 Al alloy were investigated. The ECAPed specimens showed cyclic softening, whereas the peak aged specimens showed cyclic hardening at all strain amplitudes. After ECAP, artificial aging was performed at 175°C to observe the change of the low cycle fatigue properties due to precipitation. The fatigue life and behavior of the unECAPed and ECAPed 6005 Al alloys were discussed in terms of the microstructural changes and aging conditions.

Abstract: The effect of nitrogen on creep properties of 22Cr-25Ni austenitic heat-resistant steels with different nitrogen content was studied. The tensile and creep strength increased with increasing nitrogen content. The tensile strength increased due to grain refinement by Nb-rich carbonitride. The creep strength increased with increasing nitrogen content because nitrogen retarded the formation and growth rate of Cr-rich carbide and the growth rate of Nb-rich carbonitride during creep.

Abstract: The evolution of the strain-induced α′ martensite during the cyclic deformation of austenitic AISI 316L stainless steel (SS) was investigated. The low-cycle fatigue (LCF) test was conducted at various strain amplitudes in air. The amount of α′ martensite was determined for the fatigue-failed specimens as well as for the specimens interrupted after a specific number of cycles. The volume fraction of α′ martensite increased with increasing strain amplitude and number of fatigue cycles. The cyclic hardening behavior was discussed in terms of the dislocation density and strain-induced α′ martensite transformation.

Abstract: The fatigue crack growth (FCG) in dissimilar weld metal joints between SA 508 Cl.3 low-alloy steel and AISI 316L stainless steel (SS) was investigated. The dissimilar weld metal joint was made after buttering alloy 82 on the SA 508 Cl.3 side by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Alloy 82 welding consumable was selected to join these two metals. The fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) in each material in the dissimilar weld metal joint increased in the order: weldment, AISI 316L SS and SA 508 Cl.3, at the same stress intensity factor range, /K. As the crack propagated across the AISI 316L SS and heat affected zone (HAZ) into the weldment or across the SA 508 Cl.3 and HAZ, into the weldment, the FCGR in the HAZ region did not change or decrease, in spite of the increase in /K. The retardation in the FCGR in the HAZ region was discussed in terms of the welding residual stress.

Abstract: The phases formed in the wide-gap region brazed with Ni-14Cr-10Co-3.5Al-2.5Ta-2.8B filler metal powder in IN738 superalloy were investigated by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The wide-gap brazing process was carried out in a vacuum of 2×10-5 torr at 1503 K. The region brazed with filler metal powders had a microstructure consisting of two kinds of eutectic colonies, one is Ni solid solution-CrB eutectic and the other is Ni solid solution-Ni3B eutectic. EBSD pattern analysis revealed that the CrB phase had orthorhombic structure with lattice parameters of a=0.297, b=0.786 and c=0.293 nm, and the Ni3B phase had orthorhombic structure with lattice parameters of a=0.439, b=0.522 and c=0.662 nm. The cuboidal-shaped phase precipitated in the Ni solid solution was found to be the γ' (Ni3Al) phase, which had cubic structure with lattice parameter of a=0.357 nm.

Abstract: This study investigated the characterization of the additive powder on microstructural evolution during the heating of the powder mixture of additive and filler metal powder by in-situ high temperature environmental scanning electron microscopy (HT-ESEM) up to 1200°C. The IN738 powder (additive) and BNi-3 powder (filler metal) were used for wide-gap brazing process. A field emission gun environmental scanning electron microscope (XL 30 ESEM-FEG, FEI) equipped with a 1500°C hot stage was used for in-situ gaseous secondary electron imaging at high temperature (HT-ESEM image). The melting of filler metal powder initiated at 1224K and was spread on the IN738 additive powder with increasing temperature. After cooling, the IN738 additive powder was increased from 75μm to 100μm. It was found that the additive powder added to the wide-gap brazed region avoided the possibility of directional solidification.