• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.472-477
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• 2010

$Al_2O_3$ has received wide attention with established use as a catalyst and growing application in structural or functional ceramic materials. On the other hand, the boehmite (AlO(OH)) obtained by sol-gel process has exhibited a decrease in surface area during phase transformation due to a decline in surface active site at high temperature. In this work, $Al_2O_3$-CuO/ZnO (ACZ) and $Al_2O_3$-CuO/CeO (ACC) composite materials were synthesized with aluminum isopropoxide, copper (II) nitrate hemi (pentahydrate), and cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate or zinc (II) nitrate hexahydrate. Moreover, the Span 80 as the template block copolymer was added to the ACZ/ACC composition to make nano size particles and to keep increasing the surface area. The ACZ/ACC synthesized powders were characterized by Thermogravimetry-Differential Thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Field-Emmision Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Bruner-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis and thermal electrical conductivity (ZEM-2:M8/L). An enhancement of surface area with the addition to Span 80 surfactant was observed in the ACZ powders from 105 $m^2$/g to 142 $m^2$/g, and the ACC powders from 103 $m^2$/g to 140 $m^2$/g, respectively.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

Ni-Cr-Al metal-foam-supported catalysts for steam methane reforming (SMR) are manufactured by applying a catalytic Ni/Al₂O₃ sol-gel coating to powder alloyed metallic foam. The structure, microstructure, mechanical stability, and hydrogen yield efficiency of the obtained catalysts are evaluated. The structural and microstructural characteristics show that the catalyst is well coated on the open-pore Ni-Cr-Al foam without cracks or spallation. The measured compressive yield strengths are 2-3 MPa at room temperature and 1.5-2.2 MPa at 750℃ regardless of sample size. The specimens exhibit a weight loss of up to 9-10% at elevated temperature owing to the spallation of the Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst. However, the metal-foam-supported catalyst appears to have higher mechanical stability than ceramic pellet catalysts. In SMR simulations tests, a methane conversion ratio of up to 96% is obtained with a high hydrogen yield efficiency of 82%.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.451-456
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• 2010

A promising candidate material for a $H_2$ permeable membrane is SiC due to its many unique properties. A hydrogen-selective SiC membrane was successfully fabricated on the outer surface of an intermediate multilayer $\gamma-Al_2O_3$ with a graded structure. The $\gamma-Al_2O_3$ multilayer was formed on top of a macroporous $\alpha-Al_2O_3$ support by consecutively dipping into a set of successive solutions containing boehmite sols of different particle sizes and then calcining. The boehmite sols were prepared from an aluminum isopropoxide precursor and heated to $80^{\circ}C$ with high speed stirring for 24 hrs to hydrolyze the precursor. Then the solutions were refluxed at $92^{\circ}C$ for 20 hrs to form a boehmite precipitate. The particle size of the boehmite sols was controlled according to various experimental parameters, such as acid types and acid concentrations. The topmost SiC layer was formed on top of the intermediate $\gamma-Al_2O_3$ by pyrolysis of a SiC precursor, polycarbosilane, in an Ar atmosphere. The resulting amorphous SiC-on-$Al_2O_3$ composite membrane pyrolyzed at $900^{\circ}C$ possessed a high $H_2$ permeability of $3.61\times10^{-7}$ $mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}{\cdot}Pa^{-1}$ and the $H_2/CO_2$ selectivity was much higher than the theoretical value of 4.69 in all permeation temperature ranges. Gas permeabilities through a SiC membrane are affected by Knudsen diffusion and a surface diffusion mechanism, which are based on the molecular weight of gas species and movement of adsorbed gas molecules on the surface of the pores.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.592-599
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• 2018

An increase in the global production of biodiesel has resulted in the newfound significance of its byproduct, glycerol. The synthesis of acetins is an economical avenue to enhance the value of glycerol derived from biodiesel. WE developed an eco-friendly process for the synthesis of fuel additives from glycerol using a mixed oxide $SO{_4}^{2-}/CeO_2-Al_2O_3$ as catalyst. The $CeO_2-Al_2O_3$ mixed oxide was synthesized by the combustion method and then sulfated. The characterization of the catalyst was by means of XRD, BET, FTIR, and SEM. The influence of temperature, mole ratio and catalyst loading on yield and selectivity of the acetins was studied for the esterification of glycerol. The reaction rate constants ($k_1$, $k_2$ and $k_3$) were estimated using optimization method in MAT lab, and the activation energies ($E_1$, $E_2$ and $E_3$) were determined by the Arrhenius equation. Furthermore, a kinetic model was developed.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.348-359
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• 2022

Interest in electric vehicle is on the rise due to global eco-friendly policies. To improve the efficiency of electric vehicles, it is essential to reduce weights of components. Since electric vehicles have various electronic equipment, the research on stray current corrosion is required. In this research, a galvanostatic corrosion experiment was performed on 6061-T6 Al alloy for electric vehicle battery housing using chloride concentration and applied current density as variables in a solution simulating an acid rain environment. As a result of the experiment, when chloride concentration and applied current density were increased, corrosion damage became larger. In particular, pitting damage was dominant at an applied current density of 0.1 mA/cm². Pitting damage over the entire surface was found at a current density of 1.0 mA/cm². In conclusion, chloride concentration had a relatively large effect on localized corrosion. The applied current density had a great effect on uniform corrosion. However, in the case of applied current density, localized corrosion was also greatly affected by interaction with chloride.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) and polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are formed in various ways. In particular, FMLs in which aluminum is laminated as a reinforced layer are widely used. Also, glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRPs) are generally applied as fiber laminates. The bonding interface layer between the aluminum and fiber laminate exhibits low strength when subjected to hot press fabrication in the event of delamination fracture at the interface. This study presents a simple method for strengthening the interface bonding between the aluminum metal and GFRP layer of FML composites. The surfaces of the aluminum interface layer are engraved with three kinds of patterns by using the laser machine before the hot press works. Furthermore, the effect of the laser patterns on the interfacial toughness is investigated. The interfacial toughness was evaluated by the energy release rate (G) using an asymmetric double cantilever bending specimen (ADCB). From the experimental results, it was shown that the strip type pattern (STP) has the most proper pattern shape in GFRP/Al FML composites. Therefore, this will be considered a useful method for the safety assessment of FML composite structures.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.266-270
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• 2003

The $LiN_{0.8}Co_{0.2}O_2$ has shown outstanding electrochemical properties. The microstructure of $LiN_{0.8}Co_{0.2}O_2$ cathode was investigated by using TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and X-ray diffraction techniques. The $LiN_{0.8}Co_{0.2}O_2$ was produced by sol-gel method to synthesize fine particles less than $1{\mu}m$ in the average diameter. In this study, emphasis was given to the examination and interpretation of the microstructural change during charge-discharge cycling experiments, which appeared to be one of the main causes of early degradation of rechargeable batteries. Results showed that the $1{\mu}m$ cathode produced by sol-gel method had high reversible capacity and excellent cycling stability due to its homogeneous distribution of Ni and Co cations on u atomic scale. In particular, the $1{\mu}m$ cathode did not show severe strain induced structural defects or cubic spinel disordering during cycling experiments, which had been observed in the conventional $LiCoO_2$ cathode. The $LiNi_{0.8}Co_{0.2-x}M_x[M=Al]$ compounds show good reversibility but low discharge capacity.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.509-515
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• 2012

In this study, ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles were synthesized by using coflow hydrogen diffusion flames. The synthesis conditions were varied with using several oxygen concentrations in the oxidizing air. The particle characteristics of the flame-synthesized $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles were determined by examining the crystalline structure, shape, and specific surface area of the nanoparticles. The measured maximum centerline temperature of the flames ranged from 1507.8 K to 1998.7 K. The morphology and crystal structure of the $Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles were determined from SEM images and XRD analyses, respectively. The particle sizes were calculated from measured BET specific surface areas and ranged from 25 nm to 52 nm. From XRD analyses, it was inferred that a large number of the synthesized nanoparticles were ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles including ${\theta}-Al_2O_3$ nanoparticles.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.369-376
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• 2023

In this study, the alternative to the energy-intensive conventional vacuum distillation process, an eco-friendly and energy-efficient pervaporation separation was employed in 1,2 hexane diol/water (HDO/water) mixture. The crosslinked PVA-glutaraldehyde was coated inside the alumina hollow fiber membrane (Al-HF). In the HDO/IPA pervaporation separation, optimization of the membrane concerning PVA/GA ratio, curing temperature, and pervaporation operating condition were performed. In the long-term stability test, the sustainable pervaporation separation performance giving flux in the range of 1.90~2.16 kg/m²h, and water content in permeate was higher than 99.5% (separation factor = 68) was obtained from the PVA/GA (molar ratio = 0.08, curing temperature = 80℃) coated Al-HF membrane from HDO/water (25/75, w/w, %) mixture at 40℃. Therefore, this work provides potential and inspiration for PVA-based membranes to mitigate excessive energy requirements in HDO/water separation by pervaporation.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2024

The continuous increasing of the global demand of copper and nickel metals raises the interest in developing alternative technologies to produce them from copper sulfide ore. Also, in line with Egypt's vision 2030 for achieving the sustainable socioeconomic development which aims at developing alternative and eco-friendly technologies for processing the Egyptian ores to produce these strategic products instead of its importing. These metals enhance the advanced electrical and electronic industries. The current work aims at investigating the recovery of copper and nickel from Abu Swayeil copper ore using pug leaching technique by sulfuric acid. The factors affecting the pug leaching process including the sulfuric acid concentration, leaching time and temperature have been investigated. The copper ore sample was characterized chemically using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX). A response surface methodology develops a quadratic model that expects the nickel and copper leaching effectiveness as a function of three controlling factors involved in the procedure of leaching was also investigated. The obtained results showed that the maximum dissolution efficiency of Ni and Cu are 99.06 % and 95.30%, respectively which was obtained at the following conditions: 15 % H₂SO₄ acid concentration for 6 hr. at 250 ℃. The dissolution kinetics of nickel and copper that were examined according to heterogeneous model, indicated that the dissolution rates were controlled by surface chemical process during the pug leaching. The activation energy of copper and nickel dissolution were 26.79 kJ.mol^-1 and 38.078 kJ.mol^-1 respectively; and the surface chemical was proposed as the leaching rate-controlling step.