• Carbon letters
• /
• v.24
• /
• pp.90-96
• /
• 2017

We demonstrated the sensitivity of optically active single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a diameter below 1 nm that were homogeneously dispersed in cement composites under a mechanical load. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was selected as the dispersing agent to achieve a homogeneous dispersion of SWCNTs in an aqueous solution, and the dispersion state of the SWCNTs were characterized using various optical tools. It was found that the addition of a large amount of DNA prohibited the structural evolution of calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate. Based on the in-situ Raman and X-ray diffraction studies, it was evident that hydrophilic functional groups within the DNA strongly retarded the hydration reaction. The optimum amount of DNA with respect to the cement was found to be 0.05 wt%. The strong Raman signals coming from the SWCNTs entrapped in the cement composites enabled us to understand their dispersion state within the cement as well as their interfacial interaction. The G and G' bands of the SWCNTs sensitively varied under mechanical compression. Our results indicate that an extremely small amount of SWCNTs can be used as an optical strain sensor if they are homogeneously dispersed within cement composites.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.197-204
• /
• 2019

An electrochemical oxygen permeating membrane (OPM) is fabricated using Zr_0.895Sc_0.095Ce_0.005Gd_0.005O_2-δ (ScCeGdZ) as the solid electrolyte and aLa_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃-bScCeGdZ composite (LZab, electrode) as the electrode. The crystal phase of the electrode and the microstructure of the membrane is investigated with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical resistance of the membrane is examined using 2-p ac impedance spectroscopy, and LZ55 shows the lowest electrode resistance among LZ82, LZ55 and LZ37. The oxygen permeation is studied with an oxygen permeation cell with a zirconia oxygen sensor. The oxygen flux of the OPM with LZ55 is nearly consistent with the theoretical value calculated from Faraday's Law below a critical current. However, it becomes saturated above the critical current due to the limit of the oxygen ionic conduction of the OPM. The OPM with LZ55 has a very high oxygen permeation flux of ~ 3.5 × 10^-6 mol/㎠s in I = 1.4 A/㎠.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2010

Interfacial evaluation and hydrophobicity of Ni-nanopowder/epoxy composites were investigated for self-sensing and actuation. Contact resistance and resistivity were measured using gradient micro-specimens. The actuation of the composites in the electromagnetic field was studied with three wave functions, i.e., sine, triangle and square functions. Due tothe presence of hydrophobic domains on the heterogeneous surface, the static contact angle of Ni-nanopowder/epoxy nanocomposite wasabout $100^{\circ}$, which was rather lower than that for super-hydrophobicity. The dynamic contact angle showed the similar trend of static contact angle. Ni-nanopowder/epoxy composite was responded wellfor both self-sensing and actuation in electromagnetic field due to the intrinsic metal property of Ni-nanopowder. Displacement of the actuator of Ni-nanopowder/epoxy composite was evaluated to obtain the maximum and the optimum performance using laser displacement sensor as functions of the wave type, frequency, and voltage. Actuation of Ni-nanopowder/epoxy composites also increased as functions of applied frequency and voltage. Actuated strain increased more rapidly at sine wave with increasing voltage compared to those of triangle or rectangular waves.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2017

Detection of $CO_2$ gas in both indoor and outdoor atmospheres is now becoming an important issue because of greenhouse effect and climate crisis. In this study, gas sensors based on $SnO_2-Cr_2O_3$ composite nanofibers were fabricated by the electrospinning method to detect $CO_2$ gas. The gas sensors showed a response to ppm level of $CO_2$ gas from room temperature to $200^{\circ}C$ while the highest response was observed at $150^{\circ}C$. The gas response is enhanced by the catalytic property of $Cr_2O_3$. Selective $CO_2$ detection is obtained through the chemical reaction of $Cr_2O_3$ to chromium carbonate. All the results suggest the $SnO_2-Cr_2O_3$ composite material is promising for the use of $CO_2$ gas sensors.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.518-525
• /
• 2009

This paper describes the evaluation of structural performance test and finite element analysis to verify the design of Bimodal Tram made of sandwich composites. The sandwich composite applied to vehicle structure was composed of a aluminum honeycomb core and WR580/NF4000 glass fabric/epoxy laminate composite facesheet. The load tests of vehicle structure were conducted for vertical load, compressive load, torsion and modal analysis according to JlS E 7105. The structural Integrity of vehicle was evaluated by the measurement of displacement, stress and natural frequency obtained from dial gauge, strain gauge and gravity sensor, respectively. And finite element analysis using ANSYS v11.0 was done to compare with structural test. The results showed that the displacement, stress and natural frequency were in an good agreement with those of structural analysis using the proposed finite element models.

• Advanced Composite Materials
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.125-137
• /
• 2008

FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensors and optical fibers were embedded into CFRP dry preforms before resin impregnation in VaRTM (Vacuum-assisted Resin Transfer Molding). The embedding location was the interface between the skin and the stringer in a CFRP-stiffened panel. The reflection spectra of the FBG sensors monitored the strain and temperature changes during all the molding processes. The internal residual strains of the CFRP panel could be evaluated during both the curing time and the post-curing time. The temperature changes indicated the differences between the dry preform and the outside of the vacuum bagging. After the molding, four-point bending was applied to the panel for the verification of its structural integrity and the sensor capabilities. The optical fibers were then used for the newly-developed PPP-BOTDA (Pulse-PrePump Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis) system. The long-range distributed strain and temperature can be measured by this system, whose spatial resolution is 100 mm. The strain changes from the FBGs and the PPP-BOTDA agreed well with those from the conventional strain gages and FE analysis in the CFRP panel. Therefore, the fiber-optic sensors and its system were very effective for the evaluation of the VaRTM composite structures.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.50-54
• /
• 2007

The Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC), an electro-active polymer, has many advantages including bending actuation, low weight, low power consumption, and flexibility. These advantages coincide with the requirements of a bio-related application. Thus, IPMC is promising materials for bio-mimetic actuator and sensor applications. Before applying IPMC to actual application, basic mechanical properties of IPMC should be studied in order to utilize IPMC for practical uses. Therefore, IPMCs are fabricated to investigate the mechanical characteristics. Nafion is used as a base ionic polymer. Mason samples cast with various thicknesses are used to test the thickness effects of IPMC. Subsequently, IPMC is fabricated using the chemical reduction method. The deformation, blocking force and frequency response of the IPMC actuator are important properties. In this present study, the performances of the IPMC actuators, including the deformation, blocking force and natural frequency, are then obtained according to only the input voltage and IPMC dimensions. Finally, the empirical performance model and the equivalent stiffness model of the IPMC actuator are established using experiments results.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.310-314
• /
• 2023

VaRTM(Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding) and VAP(Vacuum assisted process) processes are a type of RTM(Resin transfer molding) process, and are typical out-of-autoclave (OOA) processes that can manufacture large structures at low cost. In this paper, a resin filling test was conducted to compare the VaRTM and VAP processes, and the filling process and dimensional stability were compared. In addition, an analysis method to simulate the filling process was developed, and a dielectric sensor was used to detect the flow front of the resin, which was compared with the analysis results. From the resin filling test, the total filling time of the composite plate was measured to be 48 minutes for the VAP process and 145 minutes for the VaRTM process, and the filling time by the VAP process was reduced by about 67%. In addition, it was confirmed that the VAP process was superior to the VaRTM process in the thickness control ability and uniformity of the composite plate.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2007

The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a promising power source for portable applications due to many advantages such as simple construction, compact design, high energy density, and relatively high energy-conversion efficiency. In this work, an electrochemical methanol sensor for monitoring the methanol concentration in direct methanol fuel cells was fabricated using a thin composite nafion membrane as the electrolyte. We have analyzed the I-V characteristic of the fabricated methanol sensor as a function of methanol concentration, catalyst electrode and platinum(Pt) thickness. The fabricated sensor was analyzed by I-V measurement with various methanol concentration. When we measured the sensor characteristics with 10nm Pt and at 1V, the current value was $1.30{\times}10^{-6}A,\;1.96{\times}10^{-6}A\;and\;2.80{\times}10^{-6} A$ for three methanol concentration of 1M, 2M and 3M, respectively. When the methanol concentration was fixed at 2M, the current value of the fabricated device with Pt layers of 5, 10 and 15 nm thickness was $3.06{\times}10^{-6}A,\;1.96{\times}10^{-6}A\;and\;1.00{\times}10^{-6}A$, respectively. These results lead us to the conclusion that when the methanol concentration increases, the output current increases and when the catalyst electrode become thinner, the current increase more. It showed that, the thinner the catalyst electrode, the more electrochemistry become activation.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2006

Thick film $H_2$ sensors were fabricated using $SnO_2$ loaded with $Ag_2O$ and $PtO_x$. The composition that gave the highest sensitivity for $H_2$ was in the weight% ratio of $SnO_2 : PtO_x : Ag_2O$ as 93 : 1 : 6. The nano-crystalline powders of $SnO_2$ synthesized by sol-gel method were screen printed with $Ag_2O$ and $PtO_x$ on alumina substrates. The fabricated sensors were tested against gases like $H_2$, $CH_4$, $C_3H_8$, $C_2H_5OH$ and $SO_2$. The composite material was found sensitive against $H_2$ at the working temperature $130^{\circ}C$, with minor interference of other gases. The $H_2$ gas as low as 100 ppm can be detected by the present fabricated sensors. It was found that the sensors based on $SnO_2-Ag_2O-PtO_x$ system exhibited the high performance, high selectivity and very short response time to $H_2$ at ppm level. These characteristics make the sensor to be a promising candidate for detecting low concentrations of $H_2$.