• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this case study is to assess workers' exposure to carbon nanotubes(CNTs) and characterize particles aerosolized during the process of producing CNT-enabled polytetrafuoroethylene(PTFE) composites at a worksite in Korea. Methods: Personal breathing zone and area samples were collected for determining respirable concentrations of elemental carbon(EC) using NIOSH(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Method 5040. Personal exposure to nano-sized particles was measured as the number concentration and mean diameter using personal ultrafine particle monitors. The number concentration by particle size was measured using optical particle sizers(OPS) and scanning mobility particle sizers(SMPS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) area samples were collected on TEM grids and analyzed to characterize the size, morphology, and chemistry of the particles. Results: Respirable EC concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.24 ㎍/㎥, which were below 23% of the exposure limit recommended by NIOSH and lower than background concentrations. Number concentrations by particle size measured using OPS and SMPS were not noticeably elevated during CNT-PTFE composite work. Instant increase of number concentrations of nano-sized particles was observed during manual sanding of CNT-PTFE composites. Both number concentrations and mean diameters did not show a statistically significant difference between workers handing CNT-added and not-added materials. TEM analyses revealed the emission of free-standing CNTs and CNT-PTFE aggregate particles from the powder supply task and composite particles embedded with CNTs from the computer numerical control(CNC) machining task with more than tens of micrometers in diameter. No free-standing CNT particles were observed from the CNC machining task. Conclusions: Significant worker exposure to respirable CNTs was not found, but the aerosolization of CNTs and CNT-embedded composite particles were observed during handing of CNT-PTFE powders and CNC machining of CNT-PTFE composites. Considering the limited knowledge on the toxicity of CNTs and CNT composite particles to date, it seems prudent to take a precautionary approach for the protection of workers' health.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.475-482
• /
• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficiency of bone regenerative abilities of silk fibroin nanomembrane(Nanoguide-S) Material and Methods: The objects were 38 patients who had large defect at extraction sockets caused by chronic periodontitis and silk fibroin nano matrix were used on experimental group(N=19) and PLA/PLGA matrix were used on control group(N=19). The width, height, and length by crown-apical direction(socket depth) of defects were measured with the occlusal plane as a reference plane, and tooth axis direction, perpendicular to tooth axis direction were measured on radiographs at 3 months pre-operative, 3 months post-operative. Result: Tissue response to silk fibroin nano matrix and Biomesh were clinically satisfactory and complications such as swelling, exudation, ulceration and vesicles were not found except the ordinary discomfort of operated portion. 3 months later, the width, height, and length by crown-apical direction (socket depth) of defects were clinically improved in both groups with no significant difference. 3 months later radiolucency of tooth axis direction and perpendicular to tooth axis direction were all increased in both groups with no significant difference. Conclusion: By these results biodegradadable silk fibroin nano matrix was efficient in GBR on alveolar bone resorption caused by periodontitis compared to Biomesh.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
• /
• v.13 no.spc2
• /
• pp.332-335
• /
• 2012

A molded transformer is maintenance-free, which makes it unnecessary to replace the insulating material, like in an oil-filled transformer, because the epoxy, which is a molded insulating resin, does not suffer variations in its insulating performance for heat cycles over a long time, as compared to insulating oil. In spite of these advantages, a molded transformer may still be accessed by the user, which is not good in regards to reliability or noise compared to the oil transformers. In particular, a distrust exists regarding reliability due to the long-term insulating performance. These properties have been studied in regards to the improvement of epoxy composites and molded transformer insulation. There have nevertheless been insufficient investigations into the insulation properties of epoxy composites. In this study, it is a researching of the epoxy for insulating material. In order to prepare the specimens, a main resin, a hardener, an accelerator, and a nano/micro filler were used. Varying amounts of TiO2 and ZnO nano fillers were added to the epoxy mixture along with a fixed amount of micro silica. This paper presents the DC insulation breakdown test, thermal expansion coefficient, and thermal conductivity results for the manufactured specimens. From these results, it has been found that the insulating performance of nano/micro epoxy composites is improved as compared to plain molded transformer insulation, and that nano/micro epoxy composites contribute to the reliability and compactness of molded transformers.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.62-73
• /
• 2024

This study analyzed the effectiveness of orbital change through attitude change in nano-satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO) without thrusters, focusing on collision avoidance maneuvers. The results revealed that changes in the satellite's cross-sectional area significantly impact its in-track direction, influenced by the aspect ratio of cross-sectional area change and mission altitude. Notably, satellites at lower altitudes demonstrated significant reduction in collision risks with a small amount of attitude change. Through this study, it is judged that the changing the cross-sectional area through attitude maneuver is a sufficiently suitable method in the operation of nano-satellites without thrusters, and is expected to contribute to improving the safety of satellite operations in the New Space era.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.28 no.spc
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 2022

A sensor is needed to continuously and automatically measure the change in HNS concentration in industrial facilities that directly discharge to the sea after water treatment. The basic function of the sensor is to be able to detect ppb levels even at room temperature. Therefore, a method for increasing the sensitivity of the existing sensor is proposed. First, a method for increasing the conductivity of a film using a conductive carbon-based additive in a nanoparticle thin film and a method for increasing ion adsorption on the surface using a catalyst metal were studied.. To improve conductivity, carbon black was selected as an additive in the film using ITO nanoparticles, and the performance change of the sensor according to the content of the additive was observed. As a result, the change in resistance and response time due to the increase in conductivity at a CB content of 5 wt% could be observed, and notably, the lower limit of detection was lowered to about 250 ppb in an experiment with organic solvents. In addition, to increase the degree of ion adsorption in the liquid, an experiment was conducted using a sample in which a surface catalyst layer was formed by sputtering Au. Notably, the response of the sensor increased by more than 20% and the average lower limit of detection was lowered to 61 ppm. This result confirmed that the chemical resistance sensor using metal oxide nanoparticles could detect HNS of several tens of ppb even at room temperature.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.12-26
• /
• 2013

In concert with the development of new materials in the last decade, the need for toxicological studies of these materials has been increasing. These new materials include a group of rare earths (RE). The use of RE nanotechnology is being considered in some green applications, to increase their efficiency by using nano-sized RE compounds, and therefore hazard evaluation and risk assessment are highly recommended. This review was conducted through an extensive contemplation of the literatures in toxicology with in vitro and in vivo studies. Major aspects reviewed were the toxicological evaluations of these elements and metallic compounds at the molecular and cellular level, animal and human epidemiological studies and environmental and occupational health impacts on workers. We also discuss the future prospect of industries with appliances using RE together with the significance of preventive efforts for workers' health. To establish a safe and healthy working environment for RE industries, the use of biomarkers is increasing to provide sustainable measure, due to demand for information about the health risks from unfavorable exposures. Given the recent toxicological results on the exposure of cells, animals and workers to RE compounds, it is important to review the toxicological studies to improve the current understanding of the RE compounds in the field of occupational health. This will help to establish a sustainable, safe and healthy working environment for RE industries.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.515-516
• /
• 2010

• 한국가스학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.05a
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2003

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.66-73
• /
• 2019

Approximately 80% of the mines are vacated or abandoned mines and are mostly left without suitable environmental treatment facilities. In the area around the abandoned mine site, problems such as drainage of acidic city drainage and leakage of leachate occur, and ground subsidence caused by this can cause a safety accident due to sink hole occurrence. In this study, flow, compressive strength, water uptake, pore and hydration characteristics were investigated to investigate the basic properties of liner and cover material based on the replacement ratio of nano silica and silica fume in the existing blast - furnace slag fine powder. As a result, as the substitution ratio of nano silica and silica fume increased, the flow and compressive strength of nano silica specimens increased and the absorption rate decreased. In the case of pore characteristics, the amount of pores decreased as the substitution ratio of nano silica and silica fume increased. Especially, the capillary porosity of 10-1,000 nm diameter decreased. Ray diffraction analysis and SEM measurement showed that the peak positions of the hydration products were almost the same when compared with the 5% alternative test samples of Plain and silica fume.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.415-422
• /
• 2010

Recently as the reports on toxicity of some nanomaterials and the nanoproducts containing these nanomaterials are rapidly increasing, the safety management issues about nanomaterials and nanoproducts are emerging hot. Especially safety in the workplace and that of consumers and the protection of environment, in other words safeties throughout the life-cycle of nanomaterials and products become core issues. Despite the importance of such a safety management, however, it is very difficult to construct the hard regulatory framework for safety, owing to uncertainties and potentialities of nano-risk. In this paper I will look around the ethical principles and guidelines for safety management which are preferentially required before going into the discussion on the construction of hard-regulation such as law and something like that. Under the circumstance that hard-regulations for safety management are not implementable, these principles and guidelines are expected to play a leading part in building the responsible risk-governance framework for nanomaterials and nanoproducts, and finally to become a cornerstone of the hard risk-governance framework.