• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.1188-1195
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• 1999

The effect of aluminosilicate sol on the formation of mullite layer in zircon shell mold was investigated. Aluminosilicate sol was prepared by mixing of colloidal silica(NALCO(R) 1130) and an aqueous solution of aluminium nitrate at room temperature. The sol gelled at 50$^{\circ}C$ for 48 hrs. It was identified that the gel consists of aluminosilicate complexes and gibbsite. The coordination number of all aluminium ion bonded with silicon ion was four. Mullite phase formed by sintering above 1300$^{\circ}C$. XRD peak of mullite sharpened with increasing sintering temperature and the content of aluminium nitrate. Mullite phase displayed whisker-like 0.5~5${\mu}m $ particles. Separation between 1st and 3rd layers during sintering and the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between residual silica and mullite.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.573-579
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• 2002

Stoichiometric mullite ($3Al_2$$O_3$. $2SiO_2$) precursor sol has been prepared by sol-gel method. The effects of the precursor pH and sintering temperature on the synthesizing behavior and morphology of mullite have been studied. Mullite precursor sol was prepared by dissolution of aluminum nitrate enneahydrate (Al($NO_3$)$_3$.9H$_2O) into the mixture of silica sol. Precursor pH of the sols was controlled to acidic condition ($PH\leq$ 1~1.5) and to basic condition ($pH\geq$8.5~9). The synthesized aluminosilicate sols were formed under 20 MPa pressure after drying at $150^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours, and then sintered for 3hours in the temperature range of $1100~1600^{\circ}C$. From TGA/DTA analysis, total weight loss in the aluminosilicate gel of the acidic sample was (equation omitted) 56% and that of the basic sample was (equation omitted) 85%, indicating that the synthesizing temperature of mullite phase for acidic and basic samples was above $1200^{\circ}C$ and $1300^{\circ}C$, respectively. The morphologies of the synthesized mullite were fine and needle-like (or rod-like) for acidic sample, and granular for basic sample that has been sintered above $1300^{\circ}C$. It was found that the morphology of mullite particle was predominantly governed by precursor pH and sintering temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.865-872
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• 1991

LAS (lithium aluminosilicate) sol was synthesized using the hydrolysis-condensation reaction of TEOS, chelated Al(OBus)3 and LiNO3 with H2O in alcohol (ethanol+2-propanol) medium. Lowering Li content by a factor of 1/2 significantly enhanced densification and retarded the crystallization of LAS gel by ~30$0^{\circ}C$. Dense LAS specimen with essentially pore-free microstructure was obtained by sintering the sol-gel derived gel at 80$0^{\circ}C$ for 4 h and annealing at 120$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Similary, a mixed colloidal processing was attempted as a convenient, alternative route for the fabrication of dense LAS sintered body. The $\beta$-spodumene seeding (~0.8 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) in the sol-gel derived LAS modified the sequence of phase transformations and lowered the temperature of crystallization by ~12$0^{\circ}C$. Combining the epitaxial seeding with the sol-gel process, we could lower the crystallization temperature to the sintering temperature range (~80$0^{\circ}C$) and, demonstrate a possibility of making the viscous sintering/crystallization as a continuous as a continuous unit process.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.395-400
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• 2008

This paper indicates the investigation about the development of ET (Environmental Technology) industrial geopolymeric materials from mixture silica mine waste, coal fly ash and alkali activator solution (sodium silicate) by the geopolymer technique at ambient temperature. The results showed that higher compressive strength of geopolymeric mortar increased with a reduce of L/S ratio and increased along with an increase of coal fly ash content. The compressive strengths of geopolymer mortar on low silica of C Silica Mine and K Silica Mine are 18.7 MPa, 20.4 MPa, respectively. Compressive strength of geopolymeric mortar depends on L/S ratio and coal fly ash content added.. Additionally, scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques are used to characterize the microstructure of the geopolymeric mortars. SEM observation shows that it is possible to have amorphous aluminosilicate gel within mortar. XRD patterns indicate the fact that geopolymeric mortar is composed of amorphous aluminosilicate phase, calcite and quartz.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.453-458
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• 2019

Today, concrete remains the most important, durable, and reliable material that has been used in the construction sector, making it the most commonly used material after water. However, cement continues to exert many negative effects on the environment, including the production of carbon dioxide (CO2), which pollutes the atmosphere. Cement production is costly, and it also consumes energy and natural non- renewable resources, which are critical for sustainability. These factors represent the motivation for researchers to examine the various alternatives that can reduce the effects on the environment, natural resources, and energy consumption and enhance the mechanical properties of concrete. Geopolymer is one alternative that has been investigated; this can be produced using aluminosilicate materials such as low calcium (class F) FA, Ultra-Fine GGBS, and high calcium FA (class C, which are available worldwide as industrial, agricultural byproducts.). It has a high percentage of silica and alumina, which react with alkaline solution (activators). Aluminosilicate gel, which forms as a result of this reaction, is an effective binding material for the concrete. This paper presents an up-to-date review regarding the important engineering properties of geopolymer formed by FA and slag binders; the findings demonstrate that this type of geopolymer could be an adequate alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Due to the significant positive mechanical properties of slag-FA geopolymer cements and their positive effects on the environment, it represents a material that could potentially be used in the construction industry.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2019

In order to improve gas separation properties of polymeric membranes which have been widely applied in the industry field, aluminosilicate hollow nanoparticles named as allophanes were synthesized by sol-gel method and formulated in Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix to investigate the gas separation properties of PDMS membrane. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Surface area and pore size analyzer (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) were carried out to characterize the synthetic allophanes. Then the PDMS mixed matrix membranes were prepared by adding different volume fraction of allophanes. To examine the effect of allophanes addition in PDMS matrix using unmodified allophane and modified ones, the gas permeation experiments were performed using oxygen, nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. As the volume fraction of modified allophane increased up to 4.05 Vol% the permeability of four test gases through PDMS mixed matrix membranes increased. Also, the selectivity of $O_2/N_2$ and $CO_2/CH_4$ increased with the contents of the modified allophane. Further improvement of gas separation properties of PDMS mixed matrix membranes containing higher volume percent of allophanes can be expected as long as well dispersion of allophanes in PDMS matrix can be achieved for better PDMS membranes.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2019

Geopolymer is an eco-friendly construction material that has various advantages such as reduced $CO_2$ emission, fire resistance and low thermal conductivity compared to cement. However, it has not been many studies on the thermal behavior of the surface of the geopolymer panel when flame is applied to the surface. In this study, surface characteristics of hardened geopolymer on flame exposure was investigated to observe its characteristics as heat-resistant architectural materials. External structure changes and crack due to the heat shock were not observed during the exposure on flame. According to the residue of calcite and halo pattern of aluminosilicate gel, decarboxylation and dehydration were extremely limited to the surface and, therefore, it is thought that durability of hardened geopolymer was sustained. Gehlenite and calcium silicate portion was inversely proportional to quartz and calcite and significantly directly proportional to BFS replacement ratio. Microstructure changes due to the thermal shock caused decarboxylation and dehydration of crystallization and it was developed the pore and new crystalline phase like calcium silicate and gehlenite. It is thought that those crystalline phase worked as a densification and strengthening mechanism on geopolymer panel surface.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.510-516
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• 2013

Fly ash is one of the aluminosilicate sources used for the synthesis of geopolymers. The particle size distribution of fly ash and the content of unburned carbon residue are known to affect the compressive strength of geopolymers. In this study, the effects of particle size and unburned carbon content of fly ash on the compressive strength of geopolymers have been studied over a compositional range in geopolymer gels. Unburned carbon was effectively separated in the $-46{\mu}m$ fraction using an air classifier and the fixed carbon content declined from 3.04 wt% to 0.06 wt%. The mean particle size ($d_{50}$) decreased from $22.17{\mu}m$ to $10.79{\mu}m$. Size separation of fly ash by air classification resulted in reduced particle size and carbon residue content with a collateral increase in reactivity with alkali activators. Geopolymers produced from carbon-free ash, which was separated by air classification, developed up to 50 % higher compressive strength compared to geopolymers synthesized from raw ash. It was presumed that porous carbon particles hinder geopolymerization by trapping vitreous spheres in the pores of carbon particles and allowing them to remain intact in spite of alkaline attack. The microstructure of the geopolymers did not vary considerably with compressive strength, but the highest connectivity of the geopolymer gel network was achieved when the Si/Al ratio of the geopolymer gel was 5.0.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2016

The development of a binder system with a lower carbon footprint as an alternative to Portland cement has been intensely researched. In the present study, alkali-activated fly ash exposed to carbon dioxide at an early age was characterized in compressive strength tests and by MIP, XRD and FT-IR analyses. The compressive strength of carbonated specimens experienced a dramatic increase in comparison to uncarbonated specimens. The microstructural densification of the carbonated specimens was evidenced by MIP. The XRD pattern showed peaks assigned to nahcolite, indicating that the pH was lower in the carbonated specimens. Under the carbon dioxide-rich environment, the aluminosilicate gel reached a more Si-rich state, which improved the mechanical properties of the alkali-activated fly ash.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Bentonite is the most probable candidate to be used as a buffer in a deep geological repository with high swelling properties, hydraulic conductivity, thermal conductivity, and radionuclide sorption ability. Among them, the radionuclide sorption ability prevents or delays the transport of radionuclides into the nearby environment when an accident occurs and the radionuclide leaks from the canister, so it needs to be strengthened in terms of long-term disposal safety. Here, we proposed a surface modification method in which some inorganic additives were added to form NaP zeolite on the surface of the bentonite yielded at Yeonil, South Korea. We confirmed that the NaP zeolite was well-formed on the bentonite surface, which also increased the sorption efficiency of Cs and Sr from groundwater conditions. Both NaP and NaX zeolite can be produced and we have demonstrated that the generation mechanism of NaX and NaP is due to the number of homogeneous/heterogeneous nucleation sites and the number of nutrients supplied from an aluminosilicate gel during the surface modification process. This study showed the potential of surface modification on bentonite to enhance the safety of deep geological radioactive waste repository by improving the radionuclide sorption ability of bentonite.