• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.4-23
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to explore the diversity of Korea's iron casting technology and to examine various casting methods. The study involved a literature review, analysis of artifacts, local investigation of production tools and technology, and scientific analysis of casting and cast materials. Bellows technology, or Bulmi technology, is a form of iron casting technology that uses bellows to melt cast iron before the molten iron is poured into a clay cast. This technology, handed down only in Jeju Island, relies on use of a clay cast instead of the sand cast that is more common in mainland Korea. Casting methods for cast iron pots can be broadly divided into two: sand mold casting and porcelain casting. The former uses a sand cast made from mixing seokbire (clay mixed with soft stones), sand and clay, while the latter uses a clay cast, formed by mixing clay with rice straw and reed. The five steps in the sand mold casting method for iron pot are cast making, filling, melting iron into molten iron, pouring the molten iron into the cast mold, and refining the final product. The six steps in the porcelain clay casting method are cast making, cast firing, spreading jilmeok, melting iron into molten iron, pouring the molten iron, and refining the final product. The two casting methods differ in terms of materials, cast firing, and spreading of jilmeok. This study provided insight into Korea's unique iron casting technology by examining the scientific principles behind the materials and tools used in each stage of iron pot casting: collecting and kneading mud, producing a cast, biscuit firing, hwajeokmosal (building sand on the heated cast) and spreading jilmeok, drying and biyaljil (spreading jilmeok evenly on the cast), hapjang (combining two half-sized casts to make one complete cast), producing a smelting furnace, roasting twice, smelting, pouring molten iron into a cast, and refining the final product. Scientific analysis of the final product and materials involved in porcelain clay casting showed that the main components were mud and sand (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃). The release agent was found to be graphite, containing SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and K₂O. The completed cast iron pot had the structure of white cast iron, comprised of cementite (Fe₃C) and pearlite (a layered structure of ferrite and cementite).

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.447-453
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• 2019

In this study, the effect of supplying volume and frequency of a nutrient solution consisted with $NO_3-N$ 4.6, $NH_4-N$ 3.4, $PO_4-P$ 3, K 3, Ca 4.6 and Mg $2.2mmol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ on growth and fruit quality of 'Duke' blueberry was investigated. Three years old 'Duke' blueberry bushes cultivated in containers ($60{\times}80{\times}40cm$) filled with 130L peat moss and 40L pearlite (v/v) were selected for the experiment. The growth containers were mulched with sawdust. Two different volumes (4L and 8L) of nutrient solution was tested at three different supplying frequencies (one time, two times, and three times) per week and the drainage quality of nutrient solution and fruit quality of 'Duke' blueberry was evaluated. The optimal drainage rate for the vegetable cultivation is known to be 20-30%. The results revealed that the average drainage rates of 27% and 29% for the nutrient solution supplied in 'Duke' blueberry growth medium at 4L, 2 times/7 days and 4L, 3 times/7days, respectively. The highest shoot diameter (4.2mm) and shoot length (31cm) of 'Duke' blueberry was recorded with the 8L of nutrient solution supplied at 3 times per 7 days. According to the analysis of inorganic components in the drainage of nutrient solution, there was a tendency of absorbing nitrogen at the early stage of growth. The supplying volume and frequency of nutrient solution was not significantly affected on 'Duke' blueberry fruit weight, soluble solids content, and titratable acidity. The highest yield per bush (2.7kg) was recorded for the nutrient solution supplied with 4L at three times per 7 days, while the 4L nutrient solution supplied at one time per 7 days resulted the lowest yield of 1.4kg per bush. Consequently, the tested nutrient solution can be applied for the 'Duke' blueberry bushes with the volume of 4L at three times per week for the better crop growth.