• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.406-411
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• 2021

PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells generate only water as a by-product, and thus are in the spotlight as an eco-friendly energy source. Among the various components composing the stack of the fuel cell, research on the bipolar plate that determines the efficiency of the fuel cell is being actively conducted. The composite bipolar plate has high strength, rigidity and corrosion resistance, but has the disadvantage of having a relatively low electrical conductivity. In this study, to overcome these shortcomings, a gas diffusion layer (GDL)-composite bipolar plate assembly was developed and its performance was experimentally verified. The graphite foil coating method developed in the previous study was applied to reduce the contact resistance between the bipolar plate and the GDL. In addition, in order to improve electron path in the stack and minimize the contact resistance between the GDL and the bipolar plate, a GDL-bipolar plate assembly was fabricated using a thin metal foil. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the developed GDL-bipolar plate assembly had 98% lower electrical resistance compared to the conventional composite bipolar plate.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2022

In mountainous areas of China, concrete poles with connectors are widely employed in power transmission due to its convenience of manufacture and transportation. The bearing capacity of the poles must have degenerated over time, and most of the steel connectors have been corroded. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) offers a durable, light-weight alternative in strengthening those poles that have served for many years. In this paper, the bearing capacity and failure mechanism of CFRP sheet strengthened existing reinforced concrete poles with corrosion steel connectors were investigated. Four poles were selected to conduct flexural capacity test. Two poles were strengthened by single-layer longitudinal CFRP sheet, one pole was strengthened by double-layer longitudinal CFRP sheets and the last specimen was not strengthened. Results indicate that the failure is mainly bond failure between concrete and the external CFRP sheet, and the specimens fail in a brittle pattern. The cross-sectional strains of specimens approximately follow the plane section assumption in the early stage of loading, but the strain in the tensile zone no longer conforms to this assumption when the load approaches the failure load. Also, bearing capacity and stiffness of the strengthened specimens are much larger than those without CFRP sheet. The bearing capacity, initial stiffness and elastic-plastic stiffness of specimen strengthened by double-layer CFRP are larger than those strengthened by single-layer CFRP. Weighting the cost-effective effect, it is more economical and reasonable to strengthen with single-layer CFRP sheet. The results can provide a reference to the same type of poles for strengthening design.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1855-1862
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• 2023

Graphite crucibles are used for melting uranium and its alloys in VIM furnace. Various coating materials namely Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, MgO etc. are applied on the inner surface of the crucibles using paint brush or thermal spray technique to mitigate U-C interaction. These leads to significant amount of carbon pick-up in uranium. In this study, the attempts are made to develop multilayer coatings comprising of SiC/Y₂O₃ and Mo/Y₂O₃ on graphite to study the feasibility of minimizing U-C interaction. The parameters are optimized to prepare SiC coating of about 70㎛ thickness using CVD technique on graphite coupons and subsequently Y₂O₃ coating of about 250㎛ thickness using plasma spray technique. Molybdenum and Y₂O₃ layers were deposited using plasma spray technique with 70㎛ and 250㎛ thickness, respectively. Interaction studies of the coated graphite with molten uranium at 1450℃ for 20 min revealed that Y₂O₃ coating with SiC interlayer provides physical barrier for uranium-graphite interaction, however, this led to the physical separation of coating layer. Y₂O₃ coating with Mo interlayer provided superior barrier effect showing no degradation and the coatings remained intact after interaction tests. Therefore, the Mo/Y₂O₃ coating was found to be a promising solution for minimizing carbon pick-up during uranium/uranium alloy melting.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.6973-6979
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• 2014

To mitigate global warming and climate change, many countries are investing massively on the development of CCS technology, which is assumed to be the key technology to reduce $CO_2$ emissions. CCS technology is comprised of the capture, transport, and storage processes. During the capture process, impurities other than $CO_2$ are inevitably flowed into the $CO_2$ stream. In the present study, corrosion characteristics of a phosphate coated tube for $CO_2$ transportation was investigated with a $CO_2$ stream composed of $CO_2$, $H_2O$, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$. The test specimen was a phosphate coated steel tube, which was filled with $CO_2$ stream with the impurities mentioned above. SEM-EDS analysis is conducted to investigate the corrosion behavior. The results showed that although the H2O concentration did not exceed the solubility limit, corrosion occurred in the specimen, which has an inflow of $SO_2$ or $NO_2$. This suggests that the $SO_2$, $NO_2$ and $H_2O$ concentration should be strictly controlled. These results suggest that the $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ concentration should be controlled below 175ppm and 65ppm, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.421-433
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• 2023

The final disposal of spent nuclear fuel(SNF) from nuclear power plants takes place in a deep geological repository. The metal canister encasing the SNF is made of cast iron and copper, and is engineered to effectively isolate radioactive isotopes for a long period of time. The SNF is further shielded by a multi-barrier disposal system comprising both engineering and natural barriers. The deep disposal environment gradually changes to an anaerobic reducing environment. In this environment, sulfide is one of the most probable substances to induce corrosion of copper canister. Stress-corrosion cracking(SCC) triggered by sulfide can carry substantial implications for the integrity of the copper canister, potentially posing a significant threat to the long-term safety of the deep disposal repository. Sulfate can exist in various forms within the deep disposal environment or be introduced from the geosphere. Sulfate has the potential to be transformed into sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB), and this converted sulfide can contribute to the corrosion of the copper canister. Bentonite, which is considered as a potential material for buffering and backfilling, contains oxidized sulfate minerals such as gypsum(CaSO4). If there is sufficient space for microorganisms to thrive in the deep disposal environment and if electron donors such as organic carbon are adequately supplied, sulfate can be converted to sulfide through microbial activity. However, the majority of the sulfides generated in the deep disposal system or introduced from the geosphere will be intercepted by the buffer, with only a small amount reaching the metal canister. Pyrite, one of the potential sulfide minerals present in the deep disposal environment, can generate sulfates during the dissolution process, thereby contributing to the corrosion of the copper canister. However, the quantity of oxidation byproducts from pyrite is anticipated to be minimal due to its extremely low solubility. Moreover, the migration of these oxidized byproducts to the metal canister will be restricted by the low hydraulic conductivity of saturated bentonite. We have comprehensively analyzed and summarized key research cases related to the presence of sulfates, reduction processes, and the formation and behavior characteristics of sulfides and pyrite in the deep disposal environment. Our objective was to gain an understanding of the impact of sulfates and sulfides on the long-term safety of high-level radioactive waste disposal repository.

• Journal of Korean Vacuum Science & Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.105-107
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• 2002

a-C:H films were coated on windows of mobile telephone by RF plasma chemical vapor deposition equipment made in our company. Thickness of the coatings is about 0.7 micrometers and they have high hardness, low friction coefficient, good adhesion, high optical transparency and chemical inertness. Knoop hardness of the diamond-like carbon films on glass substrate is 2328 kg/mm$^2$. The adherence between films and substrate is good and shows to be 69 N by scratching test. The optical performance is improved obviously owing to coat the film on it. The index of the coated windows is 2.5, transmission of visible light is larger than 90%, and transmission of ultraviolet light decreases by 30% and the ultraviolet light can be obstructed obviously. The coated glass also has self-clean effect and decontamination ability. The films have hydrophobic character and the soakage angle of water drop is larger than 90 degrees. The windows have fog-proof ability owing to eliminate the capillary phenomena in the inner surface. The physics and chemical properties of the coated windows are steady. Study indicates that the performance of a-C:H coated mobile phone windows are improved notably on wear-resistance, corrosion-proof and optical properties and it is excellent mobile windows protective coatings.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.13-14
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• 2015

Carbonation is the results of the interaction of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere with the alkaline hydroxides in the concrete. in other words, of the hydrates in the cement pastes, the one which reacts with readily is Ca(OH)₂, the product of the reaction being CaCO₃ and which decreases the alkalinity of concrete. Consequently, RC structure is deteriorated due to steel corrosion in concrete. As the importance of maintenance of reinforced concrete structure recently has emerged, the attention of durability of structure has been increasing. There are many studies about durability decline especially due to the carbonation. In order to study carbonation progress after surface repair of carbonated concrete, each carbonation penetration velocity from different repair materials of concrete structure is compared through the experiment of carbonation accelerating CO₂ concentration to 100%. As carbonation infiltration progress is predicted through this study, the counterplan of service life evaluation will be prepared on selection of repair materials of concrete structure.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.2 s.92
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• pp.293-298
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• 2006

The reinforced concrete(RC) structures strengthened with fiber reinforced plastic(FRP) has been accepted by the construction engineering community for rehabilitation. FRP composites can present many advantages like a corrosion resistance, strength-weight ratio, relatively short application time, and cost effectiveness. The beams under design load, however, are cracked and result in degrading the strength. It is difficult to recognize cracks and deflections on the surface of the concrete members retrofitted with FRP through the life cycle. For these reasons, if they result in the effects, which were below the expected strength, we must monitor the state of concrete structures all the time in order to take an appropriate measure. Fiber Bragg Grating(FBG) sensor excel as monitoring of investigating the stress state of the retrofitted beams with FRP. The main objective of this study is to measure strain by experiment and analyze the behavior of RC beams retrofitted with FRP using FBG sensor. The kinds of FRP which were used in research are carbon, glass and improved hybrid FRP(IFRP) that has capacity than any other FRP. Other variables are the length of FRP, the number of sheet.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.23-28
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• 2001

Since non-corrosive Fiber Reinforced Polymer(FRP) tendons have been in increasing use for underground and coastal structures constantly contacted with fresh water or sea water because of their superiority to metallic ones in corrosion-resistance, new non-metallic anchoring system for FRP tendons has been developed and investigated to verify the effectiveness of tendon force, which consist of mainly FRP pipes and Highly Expansive Mortar(HEM). The major factors considered in this experiment were expansive pressures of HEM during its hydration, sleeve lengths and types, and anchoring methods of tendon. New anchoring system were investigated from the pull-out tests. The pull-out procedures of the FRP tendons in the various pipe filled with HEM were analyzed and improved ideas were suggested to develop novel non-metallic anchoring system for FRP tendons The pull-out tests for the FRP tendon and new non-metallic anchoring system were conducted. The results show that non-metallic anchoring system for the FRP tendon has been more stablized due to the gradual expansive pressrure of HEM, as tims goes. Since tile lower stiffness of FRP pipes causes the weakness of anchoring force, it requires the increase of stiffness using a carbon fiber or an increased section area.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2001

This study proposed an analytical method to evaluate a local allowable wall thickness (LAWT) for locally thinned pipe subjected to internal pressure and bending moment. In this method, the stresses in the thinned region were calculated by finite element analysis and plastic collapse was applied as a failure criterion of thinned pipe. Using this method, LAWT for a simplified thinned pipe was evaluated with variation in axial extent of thinned area, and it was compared with allowable wall thickness provided by previous pipe wall thickness criteria. The results showed that the LAWT was lower, about 50%, than that calculated by construction code or ASME Code N-597, and it was higher, about 2 times, than that estimated by evaluation model based on pipe experiments. In addition, LAWT was decreased with increasing axial extent of thinned area and saturated with further increase in axial extent. And, the variation in LAWT with axial extent of thinned area depended on type of load, especially a magnitude of bending moment, considering in the evaluation.