• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.217-230
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• 2008

The increasing use of performance-based approaches in structural fire engineering design of multi-storey composite buildings has prompted the development of various tools to help quantify the influence of tensile membrane action in composite slabs at elevated temperatures. One simplified method which has emerged is the Bailey-BRE membrane action method. This method predicts slab capacities in fire by analysing rectangular slab panels supported on edges which resist vertical deflection. The task of providing the necessary vertical support, in practice, requires protecting a panel's perimeter beams to achieve temperatures of no more than $620^{\circ}C$ at the required fire resistance time. Hence, the integrity of this support becomes critical as the slab and the attached beams deflect, and large deflections of the perimeter beams may lead to a catastrophic failure of the structure. This paper presents a finite element investigation into the effects of vertical support along slab panel boundaries on the slab behaviour in fire. It examines the development of the membrane mechanism for various degrees of edge-beam protection, and makes comparisons with predictions of the membrane action design method and various acceptance criteria.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.109-126
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• 2013

Surface modification by low-pressure ammonia ($NH_3$) plasma on commercial thin-film composite (TFC) membranes was investigated in this study. Surface hydrophilicity, total surface free energy, ion exchange capacity (IEC) and zeta (${\zeta}$)-potentials were determined for the TFC membranes. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the membrane surface chemistry were conducted by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy. Results showed that the $NH_3$ plasma treatment increased the surface hydrophilicity, in particular at a plasma treatment time longer than 5 min at 50 W of plasma power. Total surface free energy was influenced by the basic polar components introduced by the $NH_3$ plasma, and isoelectric point (IEP) was shifted to higher pH region after the modification. A ten (10) min $NH_3$ plasma treatment at 90 W was found to be adequate for the TFC membrane modification, resulting in a membrane with better characteristics than the TFC membranes without the modification for water treatment. The thin-film chemistry (i.e., fully-aromatic and semi-aromatic nature in the interfacial polymerization) influenced the initial stage of plasma modification.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2014

In this study, the nanofiber composite membrane was prepared by electrospinning method with poly (ancrylonitrile) (PAN) and a dispersed solution of graphene oxide (GO) and $Fe_3O_4$ functionalized graphene oxide (M-GO) in dimethyl formamide (DMF). The pore-diameter of prepared membranes was controlled by change of those layers. It was confirmed with SEM that the nanofiber composite membranes having fiber size of 500 nm were prepared. It was found with Raman spectroscopy and EDS that GO and M-GO were well dispersed on those membranes. Final nanofiber composite membrane showed the similar pore properties ($0.21{\sim}0.24{\mu}m$/pore-size, 40% porosity) with the commercial membrane ($0.27{\mu}m$/pore-size, 55% porosity) and their water-flux results also showed the 200% higher flux than its PAN membrane. From these results, it was expected that the nanofiber composite membrane prepared by electrospinning method could be utilized as a water-treatment membrane.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2008

The multilayered membrane for lithium rechargeable batteries based on poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) is prepared with the coated layer containing nano-sized filler. The prepared membranes were subjected to studies of mechanical strength, morphology, interfacial stability, impedance spectroscopy, ionic conductivity, and cycle performance. The localized inorganic filler in the PVdF composite membrane rendered mechanical strength much reduced because of its low stretching ratio and it results in around half value of the mechanical strength of highly stretched PVdF membrane. In order to achieve high ionic conductivity and interfacial stability without sacrificing high mechanical strength, coating layer with nano-filler was newly introduced to PVdF membrane. The ionic conductivity of the coated membrane was 1.03 mS/cm, and the interface between the coating layer and PVdF membrane was stable when the membrane was immersed into liquid electrolyte. The discharge capacity of the cell based on nano-filler coated PVdF membrane was around 91% of the initial discharge capacity after 250 cycles, which is an improvement in cycle performance compared to the case for the non-coated PVdF membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2007

The effect of anionic and cationic exchange polymer layer on the chronopotentiometry (CP) and current voltage curves (I-V) of charged composite membrane are investigated. Also, the ion transport near the interface between electrolyte and ionic exchange polymer membranes (anionic and cationic ones) and charged mosaic polymer composite membrane is studied. The results show that both anionic and cationic polymer exchange membranes exhibit lower voltage drop over range of applied current density and possess favorable industrial application potentials, especially at low KCl concentration. While the charged mosaic polymer composite membrane didn't show any current-voltage change, irrespective to the type and the concentration of used electrolyte. CP and I-V measurements are effectively used to give some fundamental understanding for ion transport behavior of ion exchange polymer membrane near the interlace.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.304-311
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• 2004

The poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) and silica-filled PTMSP membranes were prepared by casting from a toluene solution on porous polyetherimide (PEI). FT-IR spectrum, GPC and SEM pictures have been taken to characterize the membranes. The particle size of membrane decreases as silica content of the membrane increases from 23 to 60 wt%, and a uniform distribution of the silica is observed. The separation properties of the gas mixture (32 mol% $H_2$/ 68 mol% $N_2$) through the composite membranes were studies as a function of pressure and percentage of silica. Selectivity values of $H_2$/$N_2$ increased as the pressure of permeation cell and silica content of the membrane increased. The real separation factor($\alpha$), head separation factor($\beta$), and tail separation factor((equation omitted)) of PTMSP-PEI composite membrane were 2.28, 1.58, and 1.44 respectively at $\Delta$P 30 psi and $25^{\circ}C$. $\alpha$, $\beta$, and (equation omitted) of PTMSP-Silica-PEI composite membrane for 60 wt% silica were 3.34, 1.95, 1.72 at $\Delta$P 30 psi and $25^{\circ}C$.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-71
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• 2017

Antimicrobial polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes containing zerovalent iron ($Fe^0$) and magnetite ($Fe_3O_4$) nanoparticles were synthesized via phase inversion method using polyethersulfone (PES) as membrane material and nano-iron as nanoparticle materials. Zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) were prepared by the reduction of iron ions with borohydride applying an inert atmosphere by using $N_2$ gases. The magnetite nanoparticles (nMag) were prepared via co-precipitation method by adding a base to an aqueous mixture of $Fe^{3+}$ and $Fe^{2+}$ salts. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and dynamic light scattering analysis. Moreover, the properties of the synthesized membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The PES membranes containing the nZVI or nMag were examined for antimicrobial characteristics. Moreover, amount of iron run away from the PES composite membranes during the dead-end filtration were tested. The results showed that the permeation flux of the composite membranes was higher than the pristine PES membrane. The membranes containing nano-iron showed good antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). The composite membranes can be successfully used for the domestic wastewater filtration to reduce membrane biofouling.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2006

This study is concerned with preparation of chlorine resistant (CR) thin layer composite (TFC) membranes. The novel method for making CR membranes from commercially available RO membranes is based on sol-gel condensation of trialkoxyalkylsilane derivatives. The silane coupling agents used in this study have different number of alkyl carbon chain group (methyltriethoxysilane; METES and octyltriethoxysilane; OCTES). The OCTES composite membranes have a significant tolerance to chlorine compared to commercial polyamide RO membrane or METES composite membranes. The surface properties of membranes were examined to explain a significant difference of chlorine tolerance between OCTES composite membrane and the other two membranes. In this study, we tried several surface analyses to explain difference of chlorine tolerance. The element composition results of surface analysis by EDX confirmed that both silane fixed on polyamide firmly, The surface roughness and contact angle results showed long chain alkyl group of OCTES enhancing hydrophobicity considerably than METES. The hydrophobicity plays an important role in chlorine resistance of membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.94-102
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• 2008

For the treatment of the dye wastewater, a polyamide nano-composite membrane and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes were prepared using interfacial polymerization technique, in which piperazine, meta-phenylene diamine, and trimesoyl chloride were used as monomers, Their permselective properties were characterized with aqueous solutions of PEG 600, $Na_2SO_4$, and NaCl, and their performance was compared with that of Osmonics Co, They were found to be a typical nano-composite membrane and a low pressure RO membrane. Using them, a real dye wastewater supplied from the Kyungin Corporation, one of the domestic dye producer, was treated, studying the separation performances of the membranes, Also, during the wastewater treatment, cleaning in place (CIP) of the membranes was carried out regularly to recover the flux of the membranes. Three different chemical cleaners were employed for the CIP process and their performance were compared in this study.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1996

Chitosan composite membranes were prepared by casting chitosan solution onto porous polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane. Composite membranes to separate water from aq. ethanol solution were chemically crosslinked by using various crosslinking agent, glyoxal, terephthalaldehyde and glutaraldehyde. The morphology of surface crosslinked chitosan composite membranes were examined by scanning electron microscopy. ATR-FTIR was employed to confirm the crosslinking mechanism of surface crosslinked chitosan composite membranes. In the case of glutaraldehyde, optimum separation factor and decreasing trend of flux were shown.