title: Effect of alumina composition and surface integrity in alumina/epoxy composites on the ultrasonic attenuation properties.
abstract: We report a method of fabricating backing blocks for ultrasonic imaging transducers, using alumina/epoxy composites. Backing blocks contain scatterers such as alumina particles interspersed in the epoxy matrix for the effective scattering and attenuation of ultrasound. Here, the surface integrity can be an issue, where the composite material may be damaged during machining because of differences in strength, hardness and brittleness of the hard alumina particles and the soft epoxy matrix. Poor surface integrity results in the formation of air cavities between the backing block and the piezoelectric element upon assembly, hence the increased reflection off the backing block and the eventual degradation in image quality. Furthermore, with an issue of poor surface integrity due to machining, it is difficult to increase alumina as scatterers more than a specific mass fraction ratio. In this study, we increased the portion of alumina within epoxy matrix by obtaining an enhanced surface integrity using a net shape fabrication method, and verified that this method could allow us to achieve higher ultrasonic attenuation. Backing blocks were net-shaped with various mass fractions of alumina to characterize the formability and the mechanical properties, including hardness, surface roughness and the internal micro-structure, which were compared with those of machined backing blocks. The ultrasonic attenuation property of the backing blocks was also measured.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eikhyun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, 140 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Gwanwoo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Taekyung
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Joongeok
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, 140 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-701, South Korea. Electronic address: wojchoi@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Wonjoon
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ohm
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea. Electronic address: snlkang@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Shinill
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014159:Transducers; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D000537:Aluminum Oxide
keywords: Alumina/epoxy composites; Backing block; Net shape fabrication; Surface integrity; Ultrasonic attenuation