• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.223-228
• /
• 2019

We fabricated a printed Ag:CNT film as a liquid sensor for the detection of HNS (hazardous and noxious substances) in seawater. The paste required for printing was prepared using Ag powder, MWCNTs (multi-walled carbon nanotubes), and an organic binder. The heat treatment process for binder removal was optimized. In order to confirm that the sensor was operational, the resistance change characteristics in brine (3.5%) and methanol (99.8%) were assessed at $20^{\circ}C$. EDL (electrical double layer) formation and redox reactivity were confirmed as the most important reactions affect each electrical property of sensor in brine and methanol. From these results, it was determined that printed Ag:CNT film can be applied as a sensor to detect HNS in seawater.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.11
• /
• pp.736-739
• /
• 2014

In this paper, we propose a enhanced anti-corrosion property of the ground system by coating the CNT/PVDF composite film on it. Polymer material used for preventing the corrosion of ground system is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and conducting filler for obtaining conductivity of the composite film is multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The MWCNTs were dispersed in the organic solvent of methyl ethyl ketone 2-butanone (MEK) with different concentration ratios, and the PVDF was solved in the MEK solvent with constant concentration ratio of 1 wt%. The CNT/PVDF composite solution was perpared by mixing and re-dispersing the CNT solution and the PVDF solution. Finally, the CNT/PVDF composite films were fabricated by the spray coating method using the above composite solution. Electrical conductivity, surface states, and anti-corrosion property of the CNT/PVDF composite films coated on the Cu substrate were evaluated. We found that the CNT/PVDF composite film showed relatively low resistance, hydrophobic surface state, and chemical stability. Consequently, we could improve the anti-corrosion property and maintain the electrical conductivity of the ground system by coating the CNT/PVDF composite film on it.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2015

The modification of ultrafiltration membranes with carbon nanotube (CNT) buckypaper on fouling control was investigated. Two types of commercially available flat-sheet membranes were used: PS35 and PES900C/D (PES) (the PS35 membranes were hydrophilic with a molecular weight cutoff of 20 kDa, and the PES membranes were hydrophobic with a molecular weight cutoff of 20 kDa). The CNT buckypaper modified ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by filtering a CNT suspension through the flat-sheet membrane in a dead-end ultrafiltration unit. After modification, the pure water flux of PES was significantly increased, while the pure water flux of PS35 was decreased. The properties of the CNT modified membranes were also investigated. Considering the antifouling properties, pure water flux of the modified membrane, and the stability of CNT buckypaper layer on the membrane surface, ethanol solution with a concentration of 50 wt.%, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with a larger diameter (30-50 nm), and the CNT loading with $7.5g/m^2$ was selected. The CNT buckypaper on the surface of ultrafiltration membranes can trap the pollutants in sewage effluent and prevent them reaching the surface of virgin membranes. Water quality analysis showed that the effluent quality of the modified membrane was obviously improved. The removal efficiency of humic acid and protein-like matters by the modified membrane was significant. These results indicate the potential application of the CNT buckypaper layer modified membranes in the field of wastewater reclaim.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.458-465
• /
• 2016

A $TiO_2$/CNT nanohybrid photocatalyst is synthesized via sol-gel route, with titanium (IV) isopropoxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the starting materials. The microstructures and phase constitution of the nanohybrid $TiO_2$/CNT (0.005wt%) samples after calcination at $450^{\circ}C$, $550^{\circ}C$ and $650^{\circ}C$ in air are compared with those of pure $TiO_2$ using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the nanohybrid is compared with that of pure $TiO_2$ with regard to the degradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. The $TiO_2$/CNT composite exhibits a fast grain growth and phase transformation during calcination. The nanocomposite shows enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation in comparison to pure $TiO_2$ owing to not only better adsorption capability of CNT but also effective electron transfer between $TiO_2$ and CNTs. However, the high calcination temperature of $650^{\circ}C$, regardless of addition of CNT, causes a decrease in photocatalytic activity because of grain growth and phase transformation to rutile. These results such as fast phase transformation to rutile and effective electron transfer are related to carbon doping into $TiO_2$.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.273-279
• /
• 2011

The physicochemical properties of manufactured nanomaterials can vary depending upon the methods of manufacture, although the utilized raw materials are same. Hence, the toxicity can also vary based on the methods of nanomaterials manufacture. In this study, we compared the toxicity effect of two types of CNTs (MWCNT, multi-walled carbon nanotube; SWCNT, single-walled carbon nanotube) that differ in length and wall number. In case of MWCNTs, inflammatory responses were more strongly induced in longer groups, whereas body weights more clearly decreased in shorter groups. SWCNT significantly decreased the relative weights of brain and kidney, and the inflow of immune cells and the hematological changes were observed significantly on day 1 and day 7 after exposure, respectively. Our results showed that the length and wall number of CNTs can serve as critical factors in the exhibited inflammation and toxicity.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.410-418
• /
• 2016

In this study, we prepared electrically conducting composites using epoxy resin of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) as a matrix, triethylenetetramine (TETA) as a hardener and nickel powder or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) grafted with $-NH_2$ groups (MWCNT-$NH_2$) as electrically conducting fillers. Electrical conductivity of composite films were measured by coating on the slide glass with a doctor blade. We measured modification reactions of MWCNT and reaction of MWCNT-$NH_2$ with DGEBA epoxy resin by fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and elemental analyzer (EA). Morphology of composites was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and sheet resistances of composites were measured by 4-point probe. We found $(9.87{\pm}1.09){\times}10^4{\Omega}/sq$ of sheet resistance for epoxy composite containing both 40 wt% nickel powder and 0.5 wt% of MWCNT-$NH_2$ as fillers, equivalent to epoxy composite containing 53.3 wt% nickel powder only as a filler.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.20 no.7
• /
• pp.345-350
• /
• 2010

For the present paper, we prepared MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst by using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) pre-oxidized by m-chlorperbenzoic acid (MCPBA) with magnesium acetate tetrahydrate $(Mg(CH_2COO)_2\cdot4H_2O)$ and titanium n-butoxide $(Ti\{OC(CH_3)_3\}_4)$ as magnesium and titanium precursors. The prepared photocatalyst was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The decomposition of methylene blue (MB) solution was determined under irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) light. The XRD results show that the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst have cubic MgO structure and anatase $TiO_2$ structure. The porous structure and the $TiO_2$ agglomerate coated on the MgO/MWCNT composite can be observed in SEM images. The Mg, O, Ti and C elements can be also observed in MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst from EDX results. The results of photodegradation of MB solution under UV light show that the concentration of MB solution decreased with an increase of UV irradiation time for all of the samples. Also, the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst has the best photocatalytic activity among these samples. It can be considered that the MgO/MWCNT/$TiO_2$ photocatalyst had a combined effect, the effect of MWCNT, which could absorb UV light to create photoinduced electrons $(e^-)$, and the electron trapping effect of MgO, which resulted in an increase of the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.130-137
• /
• 2023

This study analyzed the effect of mixing order on the flowability, compressive strength, and flexural strength of cement composites reinforced with polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) fibers and multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs). The experimental results showed that the addition of CNTs significantly reduced the flowability, and the flowability was considerably affected by the mixing order when CNTs were added. The compressive strength was most effectively improved when water and CNTs solution were mixed first before adding PVA fibers, and the flexural strength was highest when water and CNTs solution were mixed with PVA fibers after dry mixing. However, there was no clear correlation between the flexural toughness and the mixing order. In addition, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) image analysis was conducted to analyze the microstructure. The SEM images showed that CNTs were randomly dispersed through the specimens and contributed to the strength improvement, but the effect of the mixing order was not clearly observed. The main results of this study are expected to be useful for evaluations of workability and material performance of PVA fiber-reinforced cement composites with CNTs.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.306-313
• /
• 2020

To investigate the reinforcing effects of functional fillers in nitrile rubber (NBR) materials, high-structure carbon black (HS45), coated calcium carbonate (C-CaCO3), silica (200MP), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as functional filler, and carbon black (SRF) as a common filler were used for oil-resistant rubber. The curing and mechanical properties of HS45-, 200MP-, and MWCNT-filled NBR compounds were improved compared to those of the SRF-filled NBR compound. The reinforcing effect also increased with a decrease in the particle size of the fillers. The C-CaCO3-filled NBR compound exhibited no reinforcing effect with increasing filler concentration because of their large primary particle size (2 ㎛). The reinforcing behavior based on 100% modulus of the functional filler based NBR compounds was compared by using several predictive equation models. The reinforcing behavior of the C-CaCO3-filled NBR compound was in accordance with the Smallwood-Einstein equation whereas the 200MP- and MWCNT-filled NBR compounds fitted well with the modified Guth-Gold (m-Guth-Gold) equation. The SRF- and HS45-filled NBR compounds exhibited reinforcing behavior in accordance with the Guth-Gold and m-Guth-Gold equations, respectively, at a low filler content. However, the values of reinforcement parameter (100Mf/100Mu) of the SRF- and HS45-filled NBR compounds were higher than those determined by the predictive equation model at a high filler content. Because the chains of SRF composed of spherical filler particles are similarly changed to rod-like filler particles embedded in a rubber matrix and the reinforcement parameter rapidly increased with a high content of HS45, the higher-structured filler. The reinforcing effectiveness of the functional fillers was numerically evaluated on the basis of the effectiveness index (��SRF/��f) determined by the ratio of the volume fraction of the functional filler (��f) to that of the SRF filler (��SRF) at three unit of reinforcing parameter (100Mf/100Mu). On the basis of their effectiveness index, MWCNT-, 200MP-, and HS45-filled compounds showed higher reinforcing effectiveness of 420%, 70%, and 20% than that of SRF-filled compound, respectively whereas C-CaCO3-filled compound exhibited lower reinforcing effectiveness of -50% than that of SRF-filled compound.