• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.347-360
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• 2021

Currently, the demand for eco-friendly energy sources is high, which has prompted research on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Both aluminum alloys and nickel alloys, which are commonly considered as materials of bipolar plates in fuel cells, oxide layers formed on the metal surface have excellent corrosion resistance. In this research, the electrochemical characteristics of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 were investigated with chloride concentrations in an acid environment that simulated the cathode condition of the PEMFC. After potentiodynamic polarization experiments, Tafel analysis and surface analysis were performed. Inconel 600 presented remarkably good corrosion resistance under all test conditions. The corrosion current density of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy was significantly higher than that of Inconel 600 under all test conditions. Also, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy and Inconel 600 presented uniform corrosion and intergranular corrosion, respectively. The Ni, Cr, and Fe, which are the main chemical compositions of Inconel 600, are higher than Al in the electromotive force series. And a double oxide film of NiO-Cr₂O₃, which is more stable than Al₂O₃, is formed. Thus, the corrosion resistance of Inconel 600 is better.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.290-299
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• 2022

Anodizing is an electrochemical surface treatment method conferring corrosion resistance and durability by forming a thick anodization film on the metal surface. Aluminum has a long service life and high thermal conductivity and formability, as well as excellent corrosion resistance. Aluminum 3003 alloy has improved formability, strength, and corrosion resistance due to the addition of a small amount of manganese. However, corrosion occurs in seawater and environments polluted with corrosion-inducing substances, which reduce corrosion resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to artificially form a thick anodized film to improve corrosion resistance. In this study, the anodization treatment time was 4 minutes, and voltages of 10 V, 20 V, 30 V, 40 V, 50 V, 60 V, 70 V, 80 V, 90 V, and 100 V were applied. The thickness and pore size of the oxide film increased according to the applied voltage. A barrier film was formed under voltage conditions from 10 V to 50 V, and a porous film was formed under voltage conditions from 60 V to 100 V. After anodizing, coating was applied. Wettability and corrosion resistance were observed before and after coating according to the surface shape and thickness of the oxide film.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.169-173
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• 2016

Anodic oxidation of aluminum has a sulfuric acid method and a oxalic acid method. Sulfuric acid concentration of the sulfuric acid method is 15~20 wt%. In the case of soft anodizing used in the $20{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ range, and voltage is the most used within a DC voltage 13~15V. In the case of hard anodizing used in the $0{\sim}-5^{\circ}C$ range. An aluminum oxide layer is made using sulfuric acid and oxalic acid. In this study, thermal fatigue of aluminum oxide layer which is made using sulfuric acid and oxalic acid is compared. Crack generating temperature of a sulfuric acid method and a oxalic acid method is $500^{\circ}C$ and $600^{\circ}C$. Thermal fatigue of aluminum oxide layer which is made using oxalic acid is better than thermal fatigue of aluminum oxide layer which is made using sulfuric acid. The characteristic of thermal fatigue can be explained by using thermal expansion coefficient of Al and Al2O3 and manufacturing temperature on Al anodizing. It was made possible through the convergent study to propose the manufacturing method of the anodic oxidation product used at a high temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics A
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• v.31A no.10
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• pp.108-113
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• 1994

The characteristics of the oxidation prevention layers for the copper metallization were investigated. The thin films such as Cr, TiN and Al were used as the oxidation prevention layers for copper. Ultra thin aluminum films were found to prevent the oxidation of copper up to the highest oxidation annealing temperature among the barrier layers examined in this study. It was found that oxygen did not diffuse into copper through aluminum films because of the aluminum oxide layer formed on the aluminum surface and the ultra thin aluminum film could be a good oxidation barrier layer for the copper metallization.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide technical information about the management of occupational exposure limits(OELs) for substances with completely revised ACGIH TLVs. Methods: The history of ACGIH TLVs for aluminum compounds, the reason for the complete revision of the related ACGIH TLV in 2008, and OELs for them in respective countries were reviewed. In addition, the results of a 2019 work environment assessment for aluminum compounds in Korea were reviewed. Results: In 1979, the ACGIH set up the TLVs for aluminum compounds considering types of compounds such as metal dust, pyro powders, welding fumes, soluble salts, alkyls, and aluminum oxide. However, in 2008 the ACGIH withdrew the TLVs for all types of aluminum and its compounds and adopted new TLVs for aluminum metal and insoluble compounds. This can cause confusion in many countries in the management of exposure to aluminum compounds because they adopt or refer to the ACGIH TLVs. Conclusion: Although Korea is setting occupational exposure limits by referring to the ACGIH's TLVs, it is necessary to sufficiently review whether it is necessary to accept the TLVs as they are if a TLV is completely changed, like took place with the revision of aluminum compounds in 2008.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2009.02a
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• pp.237.2-237.2
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• 2009

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2009

Nanoparticles are small-scale substances (<100 nm) with unique properties, complex exposure and health risk implications. Aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3$) nanoparticles (NP) have been widely used as abrasives, wear-resistant coatings on propeller shafts of ships, to increase the specific impulse per weight of composite propellants used in solid rocket fuel and as drug delivery systems to increase solubility. However, recent studies have shown that nano-sized aluminum (10 nm in diameter) can generate adverse effects, such as pulmonary response. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of $Al_2O_3$ NP were investigated using the dye exclusion assay, the comet assay, and the mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase (tk$^{+/-}$) gene mutation assay (MLA). IC$_{20}$ values of $Al_2O_3$ NP in BEAS-2B cells were determined the concentration of 273.44 $\mu$g/mL and 390.63 $\mu$g/mL with and without S-9. However IC$_{20}$ values of $Al_2O_3$ NP were found nontoxic in L5178Y cells both of with and without S-9 fraction. In the comet assay, L5178Y cells and BEAS-2B cells were treated with $Al_2O_3$ NP which significantly increased 2-fold tail moment with and without S-9. Also, the mutant frequencies in the $Al_2O_3$ NP treated L5178Y cells were increased compared to the vehicle controls with S-9. The results of this study indicate that $Al_2O_3$ NP can cause primary DNA damage and cytotoxicity but not mutagenicity in cultured mammalian cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.153-153
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• 2016

Aluminum alloys have poor corrosion resistance compared to the pure aluminum due to the additive elements. Thus, anodizing technology artificially generating thick oxide films are widely applied nowadays in order to improve corrosion resistance. Anodizing is one of the surface modification techniques, which is commercially applicable to a large surface at a low price. However, most studies up to now have focused on its commercialization with hardly any research on the assessment and improvement of the physical characteristics of the anodized films. Therefore, this study aims to select the optimum temperature of sulfuric electrolyte to perform excellent corrosion resistance in the harsh marine environment through electrochemical experiment in the sea water upon generating porous films by variating the temperatures of sulfuric electrolyte. To fabricate uniform porous film of 5083 aluminum alloy, we conducted electro-polishing under the 25 V at $5^{\circ}C$ condition for three minutes using mixed solution of ethanol (95 %) and perchloric (70 %) acid with volume ratio of 4:1. Afterward, the first step surface modification was performed using sulfuric acid as an electrolyte where the electrolyte concentration was maintained at 10 vol.% by using a jacketed beaker. For anode, 5083 aluminum alloy with thickness of 5 mm and size of $2cm{\times}2cm$ was used, while platinum electrode was used for cathode. The distance between the two was maintained at 3 cm. Afterward, the irregular oxide film that was created in the first step surface modification was removed. For the second step surface modification process (identical to the step 1), etching was performed using mixture of chromic acid (1.8 wt.%) and phosphoric acid (6 wt.%) at $60^{\circ}C$ temperature for 30 minutes. Anodic polarization test was performed at scan rate of 2 mV/s up to +3.0 V vs open circuit potential in natural seawater. Surface morphology was compared using 3D analysis microscope to observe the damage behavior. As a result, the case of surface modification presented a significantly lower corrosion current density than that without modification, indicating excellent corrosion resistance.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.565-573
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• 2011

The nanocomposites containing graphene oxide (GO) were prepared in order to improve the mechanical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate)/aluminum hydroxide (PMMA/AH) composites. GO was prepared from graphite by oxidation of Hummers method followed by exfoliation with thermal treatment. The surface of GO was modified by oxygen plasma in various exposure times from 0 to 70 min to improve interfacial compatibility. Compared with PMMA/AH composites, the nanocomposites containing GO modified with oxygen plasma for the exposure time up to 50 min showed significant increases in flexural strength, flexural modulus, Rockwell hardness, Barcol hardness, and Izod impact strength. The morphology of fracture surface showed an improved interfacial adhesion between PMMA/AH composites and GO, which was properly treated with oxygen plasma. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites were deteriorated by increasing the content of GO above 0.07 phr due to the nonuniform dispersion of GO.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.430-437
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• 2016

Aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3$) thin films were grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using a new Al metalorganic precursor, dimethyl aluminum sec-butoxide ($C_{12}H_{30}Al_2O_2$), and water vapor ($H_2O$) as the reactant at deposition temperatures ranging from 150 to $300^{\circ}C$. The ALD process showed typical self-limited film growth with precursor and reactant pulsing time at $250^{\circ}C$; the growth rate was 0.095 nm/cycle, with no incubation cycle. This is relatively lower and more controllable than the growth rate in the typical $ALD-Al_2O_3$ process, which uses trimethyl aluminum (TMA) and shows a growth rate of 0.11 nm/cycle. The as-deposited $ALD-Al_2O_3$ film was amorphous; X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that its amorphous state was maintained even after annealing at $1000^{\circ}C$. The refractive index of the $ALD-Al_2O_3$ films ranged from 1.45 to 1.67; these values were dependent on the deposition temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the $ALD-Al_2O_3$ films deposited at $250^{\circ}C$ were stoichiometric, with no carbon impurity. The step coverage of the $ALD-Al_2O_3$ film was perfect, at approximately 100%, at the dual trench structure, with an aspect ratio of approximately 6.3 (top opening size of 40 nm). With capacitance-voltage measurements of the $Al/ALD-Al_2O_3/p-Si$ structure, the dielectric constant of the $ALD-Al_2O_3$ films deposited at $250^{\circ}C$ was determined to be ~8.1, with a leakage current density on the order of $10^{-8}A/cm^2$ at 1 V.