• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2021

Black polymer spacers are currently used for physically separating aligned camera lenses in camera modules of mobile phones. However, the mechanical properties of polymer spacers have their limits, especially in the current trend of using more lenses in thinner camera modules. Thus, copper (Cu) becomes a good candidate for those polymer spacers because of its superior mechanical properties and its inherent blackness due to its black surfaced oxides, such as copper (II) oxide (cupric oxide, CuO). The latter property is critical in quality control because the closer the color of a spacer is to black, the less light interference and flaring phenomena can occur. A standard Cu blackening process and its operational conditions were proposed in this study through a comprehensive analysis of previous research and patents. The Cu blackening process is composed of cleaning, deoxidizing, activating, blackening and sealing. The effects of operational parameters, such as the temperature of each unit process and the activator concentration, were then investigated by measuring the blackness of the Cu strips with a colorimeter. The proposed operational conditions were determined by whether the blackness of Cu strips was within the on-spec. value used in the field.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2011

Even though concrete is the most important material for building structures, its intrinsic gray color degrades urban esthetics. In order to improve this problem, coloring methods of mixing pigment in concrete batch and painting the surface of concrete surface have been tried. However, applications of the coloring methods in construction field are difficult due to high cost and low durability. Recently, acid stain agent is emerging as a new coloring method for concrete. It is able to apply a remarkably thin colored layer on a concrete surface from chemical reaction between acid and alkaline solutions. This study has examined the changes and variations of the surface layer of mortar specimen from chemical reaction of acid stained agents. The colors were changed into natural irregular stains according to aging. After the staining, no shape change was found from visible inspections. Microstructure of the colored surface applied with acid stained agent was much rougher than that of original mortar. When the colored layer was compared to original surface, crystals of hydrate such as $Ca(OH)_2$ and C-S-H gel were observed. Surface hardness was same or slightly higher in the colored layer. The value of pH was reduced by approximately 10%, weight contents of elements such as Ca, Si, and Al were low. In the chemical composition of the colored layer, the non-cement based elements of Mn, Cr, and Cu increased. Also, Fe and alkali elements of K and Na increased.