• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.442-448
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• 2021

Flow field is an important parameter for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance to have an effect on the reactant supply, heat and water diffusion, and contact resistance. In this study, PEMFC performance was investigated using Cu foam flow field at the cathode of 25 cm² unit cell. Polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed at different pressure and relative humidity conditions. The Cu foam showed lower cell performance than that of serpentine type due to its high ohmic resistance, but lower activation and concentration loss due to the even reactant distribution of porous structure. Cu foam has the advantage of effective water transport because of its hydrophobicity. However, it showed low membrane hydration at low humidity condition. The metal foam flow field could improve fuel cell performance with a uniform pressure distribution and effective water management, so future research on the properties of metal foam should be conducted to reduce electrical resistance of bipolar plate.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.439-443
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• 2011

It was performed to test the combustive properties of low density polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate (LDPE-EVA) mixture by the addition of magnesium hydroxide. Flame retardant of natural magnesium hydroxide was added to the mixture of LDPE-EVA in 40 to 80 wt% concentration. The composite was compounded to prepare specimen for combustive analysis by cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1). Comparing with virgin LDPE-EVA, the specimens including the magnesium hydroxide had lower combustive properties. It is supposed that the combustion-retardation properties in the composites improved due to the endothermic decomposition of magnesium hydroxide. The specimens with magnesium hydroxide showed both the lower peak heat release rate (PHRR) and lower effective heat of combustion (EHC) than those of virgin polymer. As the magnesium hydroxide content increases, time to ignition increased and the peak heat release rate decreased.

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.2241-2255
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• 2018

RSM methodology was applied to present mathematical models for the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dual-layer hollow fibers in membrane distillation process. The design of experiments was used to investigate three main parameters in terms of polymer concentration in both outer and inner layers and the flow rate of dope solutions by the Box-Behnken method. According to obtained results, the optimization was done to present the proper membrane with desirable properties. The characteristics of the optimized membrane (named HF-O) suggested by the Box-Behnken (at the predicted point) showed that the proposed models are strongly valid. Then, a morphology study was done to modify the fiber by a combination of three types of a structure such as macro-void, sponge-like and sharp finger-like. It also improved the hydrophobicity of outer surface from 87 to $113^{\circ}$ and the mean pore size of the inner surface from 108.12 to 560.14 nm. The DCMD flux of modified fiber (named HF-M) enhanced 62% more than HF-O when it was fabricated by considering both of RSM and morphology study results. Finally, HF-M was conducted for long-term desalination process up to 100 hr and showed stable flux and wetting resistance during the test. These stepwise approaches are proposed to easily predict the main properties of PVDF dual-layer hollow fibers by valid models and to effectively modify its structure.

• Applied Chemistry
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2011

A disposable light exposure detector kit has been developed by UV curing of a hydrogel material. The devised light exposure detector kit consisted of light sensitive structures, bottom plate, character sheet and sticky back plate. A light exposure detector kit has a serial light sensitive structures that contain various light sensitive dyes such as rhodamine and fluorescein. The light sensitive structure composed of UV curable hydrogel polymer material as a supporing material and photosensitive dye in a certain concentration. The fabrication procedure of the ligh exposure detector kit is very simple and fast due to UV curing procedure of a photopolymerizable hydrogel material such as poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) with a photosensitive dye. By the proposed fabrication method, various size and shape of a light exposure detector kit could be fabricated using a flexible elastomer mold. Due to a fast and inexpensive fabrication method, the light exposure detector kit could be use a single use for various industrial applications. According to light irradation, the light sensitive structure on a light exposure detector kit could be lose its color by decomposition of a photosensitive dye chemical in the structure. Thus the amount of the exposed light on a substrate could easily be recognised by changing color or transparency of the structure.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.341-352
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• 2024

This study investigates the heat and mass transfer characteristics of a MoS₂ nanoparticle suspension in ethylene glycol over a porous stretching sheet. MoS₂ nanoparticles are known for their exceptional thermal and chemical stability which makes it convenient for enhancing the energy and mass transport properties of base fluids. Ethylene glycol, a common coolant in various industrial applications is utilized as the suspending medium due to its superior heat transfer properties. The effects of variable thermal conductivity, variable mass diffusivity, thermal radiation and thermophoresis which are crucial parameters in affecting the transport phenomena of nanofluids are taken into consideration. The governing partial differential equations representing the conservation of momentum, energy, and concentration are reduced to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity transformations. R software and MATLAB-bvp5c are used to compute the solutions. The impact of key parameters, including the nanoparticle volume fraction, magnetic field, Prandtl number, and thermophoresis parameter on the flow, heat and mass transfer rates is systematically examined. The study reveals that the presence of MoS₂ nanoparticles curbs the friction between the fluid and the solid boundary. Moreover, the variable thermal conductivity controls the rate of heat transfer and variable mass diffusivity regulates the rate of mass transfer. The numerical and statistical results computed are mutually justified via tables. The results obtained from this investigation provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of systems involving nanofluid-based heat and mass transfer processes, such as solar collectors, chemical reactors, and heat exchangers. Furthermore, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of stretching sheet systems, such as in manufacturing processes involving continuous casting or polymer film production. The incorporation of MoS₂-C₂H₆O₂ nanofluids can potentially optimize temperature distribution and fluid dynamics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.331-338
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• 2018

Melanin is a polymer substance that plays an important role in the determination of hair growth and skin color in vivo. However, melanin, which is over-produced by reactive oxygen species, is known to cause stains, freckles, and hypercholesterolemia, which are associated with aging. Previous studies have shown that polyphosphate, one of the components of Rhynchosia Nulubilis, inhibits skin aging induced by ultraviolet rays. The aim of this study is to investigate the direct effect of Rhynchosia Nulubilis ethanolic extract (RNEE) on melanin synthesis. In this study, RNEE showed no antioxidative effects on scavenging activity of DPPH radical in addition to reducing power. The cytotoxicity of RNEE was increased in a dose-dependent manner in an MTT assay. In addition, RNEE increased tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in DOPA-oxidation experiments. RNEE did not promote the conversion L-DOPA into melanin in live cells, but melanin production was promoted in the RNEE-treated group after H2O2 pretreatment compared to the control group in which melanin production was reduced by treatment with H2O2. In addition, RNEE increased the expression level of tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2) and increased the expression level of tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) at a concentration of $16{\mu}g/ml$. In particular, it was found that RNEE increased the expression level of SOD-3, by which superoxide anion is converted to hydrogen peroxide, higher than the control and ${\alpha}$-MSH used as a positive control at a concentration of more than $16{\mu}g/ml$. The results suggest that RNEE can induce melanogenesis related to black hair.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1662-1671
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• 2007

The change in physical properties of polypropylene nonwoven fabrics used as top sheet for disposable sanitary goods was carried out using chitosan that is a type of natural polymer and has excellent human affinity by varying the molecular weight and concentration of chitosan. Low molecular weight(LMW) chitosan treated fabrics were found to be evenly coated on fabrics and had better dyeability by apparent dye uptake and its deodorization rate increased over the time. On the other hand, high molecular weight(HMW) chitosan treated fabrics showed higher add-on ratio and its dynamic water absorption rate and represented an increase in water transport rate. With chitosan treatment, its air permeability was improved. Regardless of the type of bacteria and chitosan concentration, its antibacterial activity was excellent in the case of the HMW chitosan treatment. In this regard, chitosan treatments by using a relatively high molecular weight was found as an effective way in the functional improvement of moisture properties and antibacterial activity including their most important performance in sanitary nonwoven fabrics.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.88-99
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical properties of experimental composite resins made with the spherical and crushed fillers. The 14 experimental composite resins containing 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%(w/w) in spherical filler group and 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70%(w/w) in crushed filler group, incorporated in a Bis-GMA matrix (Aldrich Co., USA), were made with 1% ${\gamma}$-methoxy silane treated fillers. The polymer matrix was made by dissolving 0.7%(w/w) of benzoyl peroxide(Janssen Chemical Co. Japan) in methacrylate monomer, whereupon 0.7%(v/v) N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine(Tokyo Kasei Co. Japan) was added to the monomer. The weight percentage of each specific particle size distribution could be determined from a knowledge of the specific gravity, the weight(w/w), and corresponding volume %(v/v) of the filler sample in resin monomer. In crushed silica group and spherical silica group, the diametral tensile strengths and compressive strengths were measured with Instron Testing Machine(No.4467), and analyzed in 14 experimental composite resins made by filler fractions. The shear bond strength of 14 experimental composite resins to bovine enamel was measured with universal testing machine(Instron No.4467). The fracture surfaces were sputter-coated with a gold film and investigated by SEM. The results were as follows; 1. The diametral tensile strength was tendency to increase in crushed silica group, but not in spherical silica group. The highest diametral tensile strength was found in 20% filler fractions of two groups. 2. The compressive strength was higher in 15%(w/w) and 20%(w/w) in spherical silica group than in crushed silica group, but not in spherical silica group. 3. The significant correlation was noticed in increase in shear bond strength in crushed silica group, but not in spherical silica group. 4. The significantly highest shear bond strength was noticed in 50% filler concentration in crushed silica group, and in 15% filler concentration in spherical silica group, it was not significant in relation. 5. In crushed silica group, cut surface of resin matrix and the interface between resin and filler is obvious. In spherical silica group, fractures that occurred through the filler particles were round in shape.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.98-107
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to find an appropriate polymer film, which could reduce the water condensation for pallet-size modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Methods: Five different types of films were selected from several commercialized films. Prior to the real food storage test, plastic boxes with wetted plastic balls were used to simulate the high humidity conditions of real food storage. The initial MAP condition was 5% oxygen and 95% nitrogen, and the $O_2$ concentration, the relative humidity and water condensation inside the films were checked on a daily basis. The MAP test for tomatoes was conducted by using the most appropriate film from the five films examined in this study. Results: Every film except Mosspack(R) indicated a similar variation in the $O_2$ concentration over the course of time. The relative humidity near the surfaces of all the films except nylon-6 approached saturation conditions over time. For three kinds of films, namely, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film, anti-fogging oriented polypropylene (AFOPP) film, and Mosspack(R), the inner surfaces of the films were fully covered with dew after a storage period of a day. Conversely, an area of 4.5% was covered with dew in the case of the poly lactic acid (PLA) film, and there was no dew inside the nylon-6 film. The pallet-size MAP test for tomatoes was conducted by using the nylon-6 film and there was no water condensation inside the nylon-6 film over three weeks of storage. Conclusions: During the pallet scale MAP, water condensation could cause severe fungal infection and wetting of the corrugated box. Hence, it was important to minimize water condensation. This study showed that the MAP films with high WVTR such as nylon-6 and PLA could reduce the water condensation inside the pallet scale MAP.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2008

A refractometric glucose biosensor incorporating a vertically coupled microring resonator in polymers was proposed and realized. The ring was covered with a target analyte of glucose solution with a certain concentration, so that its effective refractive index could be altered and, as a result, the resonance wavelength of the sensor was shifted. Therefore the concentration of the glucose solution can be estimated by observing the shift in the resonance wavelength. Two schemes were exploited for enhancing the sensitivity of the sensor. First, the effective refractive index of the polymeric waveguide used for the resonator sensor was adjusted to approach that of the target analyte as best as possible. Second, the ring waveguide, which serves as a crucial sensing part, was appropriately over-etched to enlarge its contact area with the analyte. The proposed resonator sensor was designed with the beam propagation method. The refractive indices of the core and cladding polymer involved were 1.430 and 1.375 respectively, leading to the waveguide's effective refractive index of ${\sim}1.390$, which is faiirly close to that of the glucose solution of ${\sim}1.333$. The prepared ring resonator with the $400-{\mu}m$ radius exhibited the free spectral range of 0.66 nm, the bandwidth of 0.15 nm, and the quality factor of 10,000. For the sensor operating at 1,550 nm wavelength, the achieved sensitivity was as great as 0.28 pm/(mg/dL), which is equivalent to 200 nm/RIU.