• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.173-182
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• 2019

Much research has been made for finding new and eco-friendly alternative sources of energy to solve the problems related with the pollution caused by emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide as the use of fossil fuels increases worldwide. Among them, fuel cells draws particular interests as an eco-friendly energy generator because only water is obtained as a by-product. Anion exchange membrane-based alkaline fuel cell (AEMFC) that uses anion exchange membrane as an electrolyte is of increased interest recently because of its advantages in using low-cost metal catalyst unlike the PEMFC (potton exchange membrane fuel cell) due to the high-catalyst activity in alkaline conditions. The main properties required as an anion exchange membrane are high hydroxide conductivity and chemical stability at high pH. Recently we reported a chemically crosslinked poly(2-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) by reacting PPO with N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine as novel anion exchange membranes. In the current work, we further developed the same crosslinked polymer but having enhanced physicochemical properties, including higher conductivity, increased mechanical and dimensional stabilities by using the PPO with a higher molecular weight and also by increasing the crosslinking density. The obtained polymer membrane also showed a good cell performance.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.169-274
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• 2024

Recent attention has been drawn to materials that undergo reversible expansion and contraction in response to external stimuli, leading to morphological changes. These materials hold potential applications in various fields including soft robotics, sensors, and artificial muscles. In this study, a novel material capable of responding to high temperatures for protection or encapsulation is proposed. To achieve this, liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) with nematic-isotropic transition properties and polyimide (PI) with high mechanical strength and thermal stability were utilized. To utilize a solution process, a dope solution was synthesized and introduced into micro-printing techniques to develop a two-dimensional pattern of LCE/PI bilayer structures with sub-millimeter widths. The honeycomb-patterned LCE/PI bilayer mesh combined the mechanical strength of PI with the high-temperature contraction behavior of LCE, and selective printing of LCE facilitated deformation in desired directions at high temperatures. Consequently, the functionality of selectively and reversibly encapsulating specific high-temperature materials was achieved. This study suggests potential applications in various actuator fields where functionalities can be implemented across different temperature ranges without the need for electrical energy input, contingent upon molecular changes in LCE.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.268-275
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• 2000

We investigated the effect of polymer sublayer on volumetric resistivity and tensile strength of carbon fiber (CF)/polyethylene composite films fabricated under high intensity electric fields. The dependence of volumetric resistivity and tensile strength of the films on the polymer sublayer thickness or mass part exhibited complex behavior according to CF content and CF layer density in the films. As the thickness of polymer sublayer increases, two groups of processes at thermo-mechanical forming stage would take effects in the properties of the films. The first group comprises the increase of polymer layer thickness having reduced CF content compared with central or upper part of the film and insufficient wetting of CF resulting in the loosened structure near upper film side. The second group, on the other hand, is the improvement of mobility of molten sublayer leading to better distribution of CF throughout the film thickness and the formation of more compact structure. The different degree of contribution of these two competing processes at varied CF content and CF layer density could explain complex dependence of the film properties on the polymer sublayer. These results are important to optimize the electrical and mechanical properties of highly conductive polymer films, which can be used as electromagnetic interference shielding materials.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2022

The remarkable mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of graphene have recently sparked tremendous interest in various research fields. One of the most promising methods to produce large quantities of graphene dispersion is liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) which utilizes ultrasonic waves or shear stresses to exfoliate bulk graphite into graphene flakes that are a few layers thick. Graphene dispersion produced via LPE can be transformed into graphene ink to further boost graphene's applications, but producing high-quality graphene more economically remains a challenge. To overcome this shortcoming, an advanced LPE process should be developed that uses relatively cheap natural graphite as a graphene source. In this study, a flow-LPE process was used to exfoliate natural graphite to produce graphene that was three times cheaper and seven times larger than synthetic graphite. The optimal exfoliation conditions in the flow-LPE process were determined in order to produce high-quality graphene flakes. In addition, the structural and electrical properties of the flakes were characterized. The electrical properties of the exfoliated graphene were investigated by carrying out an ink formulation process to prepare graphene ink suitable for inkjet printing, and fabricating a printed graphene pattern. By utilizing natural graphite, this study offers a potential protocol for graphene production, ink formulation, and printed graphene devices in a more industrial-comparable manner.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.270-275
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• 2005

Dust cores (compressed powder cores) of $Fe-6.0wt\%Si$ alloy with a size of $35\~180\;{\mu}m$ in diameter have been prepared by phosphate coatings and annealings at $600\~900^{\circ}C$ for 1 h in nitrogen atmosphere. Further the magnetic and mechanical properties of the powder cores were investigated. As a general trends, the compressive strength and core loss decreased with the increase in annealing temperature. When annealed at $800^{\circ}C$, the compressive strength was 15 kgf, the permeability and quality factor were 74 and 26, respectively. Moreover the core loss at 50 kHz and 0.1 T induction was $750\;mW/cm^3$, and the percent permeability under the static field of 50 Oe was estimated to be about 78. In addition, the cut-off frequency in the cure representing the frequency dependence of effective permeability was measured to be around 200 kHz. These properties of the $Fe-6.0wt\%Si$ alloy dust cores could be considered to be due to the good insulation effect of iron-phosphate coats, the decrease in magnetocrystalline anisotropy and saturation magnetostriction and the increase in electric resistivity.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2017

Plasma ion nitriding has been widely used in various industries to improve the mechanical properties of materials, especially stainless steels by increasing the surface hardness. It has the particular advantages of less distortion compared to that in the case of hardening of steel, gas nitriding, and carburizing; in addition, it allows treatment at low-temperatures, and results in a high surface hardness and improved corrosion resistance. Many researchers have demonstrated that the plasma ion nitriding process should be carried out at temperatures of below $450^{\circ}C$ to improve corrosion resistance via the formation of the expanded austenite phase(S-phase). Most experimentals studied to date have been carried out in chloride solutions like HCl or NaCl. However, the electrochemical characteristics for the chloride solutions and natural seawater differ. Hence, in this work, plasma ion nitriding of 304 stainless steels was performed at various temperatures, and the electrochemical characteristics corresponding to the different process temperatures were analyzed for the samples in natural seawater. Finally the optimum plasma ion nitriding temperature that resulted in the highest corrosion resistance was determined.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.163-163
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• 2017

철강재는 대량 생산이 가능하여 경제성이 뛰어나고 기계적 성질도 우수하여 다양한 산업 분야에서 널리 사용되고 있다. 그러나 철강재는 부식 환경에 취약하기 때문에 그 용도에 따라 다양한 내식성을 부여하는 표면처리를 적용하고 있다. 이러한 철강재에 대한 내식성 표면처리로는 용융아연도금(HDG)과 용융알루미늄도금(HDA)이 우수한 내식성과 다양한 특성으로 널리 사용되고 있으며 아연과 알루미늄을 접목시킨 갈바륨(GL)도금 또한 우수한 내식성 코팅으로 알려져 있다. 또한 최근에는 기존 용융아연도금에 알루미늄(Al) 과 마그네슘(Mg)을 첨가한 3원계 도금강판이 개발되어 기존 용융도금강판 대비 고내식 코팅으로 알려져 있으며 그 적용은 점차 확대되고 있는 추세이다. 일반적으로 이와 같은 강판소재의 내식성 평가에 대해서는 실제 사용할 환경에 폭로하여 비교-시험 하는 것이 가장 확실하고 신뢰도가 높은 방법이다. 그러나 이러한 방법은 경우에 따라 수년에서 수십년에 이르는 장시간이 소요된다. 그러므로 이 방법을 대체하기 위한 각종 가속적 부식 시험들이 널리 적용되고 있다. 즉, 그 목적이나 용도에 따라 염수분무(SST), 침지(Immersion) 및 전기화학적 분극(Polarization) 등 실내에서 부식 시험 하는 방법이 사용되고 있다. 한편, 이러한 부식 가속 시험들은 실제 외부에서 폭로 시험한 결과와의 상관성이 불명확한 경우가 많아 종종 해석에 어려움을 갖고 있는 실정이다. 또한 이 시험 방법들은 동일 재료를 시험하더라도 시험방법의 차이에 따라 부식요인이나 해석방법이 다르므로 인해 그 내식성 결과가 다르게 나타날 수 있다. 그 중 시험목적에 따라 전기화학적 분극 또는 임피던스 분광법(EIS)과 건조 및 습윤 등의 부식 환경 인자들을 적용한 복합부식시험(CCT) 방법은 근사한 대안으로 주목받고 있다. 하지만 이들 시험 또한 실제 부식 환경과는 여러 환경 및 요인들이 다르기 때문에 그 시험방법에 따라 목적하는 시험 결과가 상이하게 나타날 수 있어 해석-평가 하기에 종종 곤란을 갖는다. 이에 따라 최근에는 재현성이 우수하고 실제 부식 환경을 유사하게 모사할 수 있는 내식성 시험과 해석-평가에 대한 내용이 주요한 과제로 사료되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 다양한 내식성 코팅 강판소재들에 대하여 염수분무(SST), 복합부식(CCT), 갈바닉 시험, EIS 시험을 통하여 부식시험 종류 및 시험 환경, 코팅 소재 별 부식경향을 비교-분석하고자 하였다. 또한 이들 부식 진행과정에서는 미세구조관찰(SEM), 결정구조 분석(XRD) 및 원소조성 분석(EPMA)을 통해 다양한 조건에 따른 강판소재들의 부식경향을 비교-평가하고, 실제 환경과의 상관성 및 가속관계를 도출하고자 하였다.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2022

Solid-state supercapacitors with high safety and robust mechanical properties are attracting global attention as next-generation energy storage devices. As an electrode of a supercapacitor, an economical carbon-based electrode is widely used. However, when an aqueous electrolyte is introduced, the charge transfer resistance increases because the interfacial contact between the hydrophobic electrode surface and aqueous electrolyte is not good. In this regard, we propose a method to obtain higher electrochemical performance based on improved interfacial properties by treating the electrode surface with oxygen plasma. The surface hydrophilization induced by the enriched oxygen functionalities was confirmed by the contact angle measurement. As a result, the degree of hydrophilization was easily adjusted by controlling the power and duration of the oxygen plasma treatment. As the electrolyte of the supercapacitor, PVA/H₃PO₄, which is a typical solid-state aqueous electrolyte, was used. Free-standing membranes of PVA/H₃PO₄ electrolyte were prepared and then pressed onto the electrode. The optimal condition was to perform oxygen plasma treatment for 5 seconds with a low power of 15 W, and the energy density of the supercapacitor increased by about 8%.

• Composites Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.71-78
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• 1999

To determine the effect of chemical structure of linear amine curing agents on thermal and mechanical properties, standard epoxy resin DGEBA was cured with diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM), diaminodiphenyl sulphone (DDS) in a stoichiometrically equivalent ratio. From this work, the effect of aromatic amine curing agents. In contrast, the results show that the DGEBA/DDS cure system having the sulfone structure between the benzene rings had higher values in the conversion of epoxide, density, shrinkage (%), glass transition temperature, tensile modulus and strength, flexural modulus and strength than the DGEBA/DDM cure system having methylene structure between the benzene rings, whereas the DGEBA/DDM cure system presented higher values in the maximum exothermic temperature, thermal expansion coefficient, and thermal stability. These results are caused by the relative effects of sulfone group having strong electronegativity and methylene group having (+) repulsive property and stem from the effect of the conversion ratio of epoxide group. The result of fractography shows that the each grain size of the DDM/DGEBA system with feather-like structure is larger than that of the DDS/DGEBA system.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2004

Transient sorption experiments were conducted among several combinations of fluoropolymers and various organic solvents. Fully fluorinated polymer tended to exhibit ideal sorption behavior, while partially fluorinated polymers showed anomalous sorption behaviors with a drastic acceleration at the final stage of uptake. Minimization of least-squares of the measured and predicted fractional uptake, which indicated the increasing degree of deviation from Fickian diffusion, gave values of 3.0${\times}$10$\^$-4/, 1.75${\times}$10$\^$-3/, 8.68${\times}$10/sup-3/, 1.75${\times}$10$\^$-2/, respectively, for perfluoroalkoxy copolymer, poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene), poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(ethylene-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene). From stress-strain tests, it was confirmed that non-Fickian diffusion is closely related to the significant variation of mechanical properties (such as modulus and tensile strength) of swollen polymer. Anomalous sorption behavior stemmed from non-Fickian diffusion caused by nonlinear disruption of polar inter-segmental bonds due to solvent-induced plasticization. Thus, it is imperative to investigate the diffusion behavior of swelling solvents in partially fluorinated polymers, especially for the application to barrier materials or perm-selective membranes.