• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.12.1-12.1
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• 2010

We have developed a facile method to position different dyes (N719 and N749) sequentially in a mesoporous TiO2 layer through selective desorption and adsorption processes. Only upper part of the first adsorbed N719 dye was selectively removed by the desorption solution formulated with polypropylene glycol and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide without any damages of the dye. The desorption depth was controlled by the number of desorption process. Multi-dyed dye-sensitized solar cells (MDSSC) were fabricated by utilizing the method and their photovoltaic properties were investigated. From the incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) measurement, it was found that the MDSSC exhibited the extended spectral response for the solar spectrum while without decrease of maximum IPCE value compare to the DSSCs using one kind of dye (N719 or N749). The highest photocurrent density of 19.3 mA/cm2 was obtained from the MDSSC utilizing $15\;{\mu}m$ N719 / $14\;{\mu}m$ N749 bi-layered mesoporous TiO2 film. The photocurrent density was 25% and 8% higher than that of the DSSC using only N719 and N749 dye as a sensitizer, respectively. The power conversion efficiency of 9.8% was achieved from the MDSSC under the AM 1.5G one sun illumination.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.590-594
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• 2018

We developed a time-temperature indicator (TTI) that rapidly determines whether frozen mackerel Scomber japonicus has thawed during its distribution. Our TTI was made from filter paper capable of absorbing mackerel exudate that was soaked in a 20% citric acid solution at pH 4.0 and then dried. The dried absorbent paper was cut and attached to blue litmus paper with a 2 mm overhang. The fixed litmus paper was covered with a polypropylene film and sealed. The indicator was placed inside a polyvinyl vacuum package containing the mackerel sample. The vacuum-sealed packaged was frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. After freezing, the color change and time dependence of the indicator were observed at room temperature ($25^{\circ}C$) and demonstrated the utility of this TTI for rapidly determining whether frozen mackerel underwent thawing during distribution.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2008

Environmentally friendly biocomposites were made using plant-based natural fibers, such as henequen and kenaf. The natural fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) and unsaturated polyester (UP) biocomposites were examined in terms of the reinforcing effect of natural fibers on thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Kenaf (KE) and henequen (HQ) fibers were treated with an electron beam (EB) of 10 and 200 kGy doses, respectively, or with a 5 wt% NaOH solution. Four types of biocomposites (KE/PP, HQ/PP, KE/UP and HQ/UP) were fabricated by compression molding and each biocomposite was characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The kenaf fiber had the larger reinforcing effect on the dynamic mechanical properties of both PP and UP biocomposites than the henequen fiber. The highest storage modulus was obtained from the biocomposite with the combination of UP matrix and 200 kGy EB treated kenaf fibers.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.461-469
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• 2022

One of the most important factors that should be considered for using any ground improvement technique is the stability of stabilized soil and the durability of the provided solution for getting the required engineering properties. Generally, most of the earth structures that are constructed on clayey soils are exposing movements due to the long periods of drying or wetting cycles. Over time, environmental changes may result in swells or settlements for these structures. In order to mitigate this problem, this research has been performed on mixtures of high plasticity clay with traditional additives such as lime, cement and non-traditional additives such as polypropylene fiber. The purpose of the research is to assess the most appropriate ground improvement technique by using commercially available additives for resisting the developed desiccation cracks during the drying process and resisting the volume changes that may result during wet/dry cycles as an attempt to simulate the changes of environmental conditions. The results show that the fiber-reinforced samples have the lowest volumetric deformation in comparision with cement and lime stabilized samples, and the optimum fiber content is identified as 0.38%. In addition, the desiccation cracks were not visible on the samples' surface for both unreinforced and chemically stabilized samples. Regarding cracks resistance resulting from the desiccation process, it is observed, that the resistance is connected with the fiber content and increases with the increase of the fiber inclusion, and the optimum content is between 1% and 1.5%.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2023

The cosmetics industry faces a significant challenge in addressing the decreased recycling rate of cosmetic containers due to the composite materials used to meet consumers' aesthetic satisfaction. To address thees issues, eco-friendly packaging solutions such as refill packaging and single-material use have been developed. However, the market for eco-friendly cosmetics packaging requires a product that meets consumers' demands for aesthetics, sensitivity, and eco-friendliness while also performing as well as existing products. This study presents a solution to the challenge of the decreased recycling rate of cosmetic containers by developing a new cosmetic packaging product for cream formulations. The product features an easily separable and dischargeable internal refill container, while maintaining the design aesthetics of the external container. Through various tests, the product was shown to be of equivalent quality and performance to existing cream cosmetic packaging, with no leakage or defects observed. Furthermore, the use of a single-material polypropylene refill container is expected to contribute to the improvement of the plastic recycling rate.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.323-327
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• 2012

The effects of ultrasound and ascorbic acid cotreatment on the browning inhibition and microbial growth of fresh-cut Tsugaru apples were investigated. The prepared samples were dipped in distilled water (Cont) or 1% (w/v) ascorbic acid solution (AA) and were then ultrasonicated in distilled water (US) or 1% (w/v) ascorbic acid solution (AA+US). The samples were then packed in a 0.04mm polypropylene bag ($20{\times}15$ cm) and were stored at $10^{\circ}C$ for eight days. The AA+US treated samples showed high $L^*$ and low $a^*$, $b^*$ values as well as inactivated PPO activity. The growth of the total aerobic bacteria also inhibited the AA+US treated samples more. The physicochemical properties were not different among all the samples. It was demonstrated in this paper that the ultrasonication treatment with ascorbic acid prevented the enzymatic browning of and microbial growth in fresh-cut Tsugaru apples.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.509-520
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• 2021

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is a composite material where small fibers made from steel or polypropylene or similar material are embedded into concrete matrix. In a material model each constituent should be adequately described, especially the interface between the matrix and fibers that is determined with the 'bond-slip' law. 'Bond-slip' law describes relation between the force in a fiber and its displacement. Bond-slip relation is usually obtained from tension laboratory experiments where a fiber is pulled out from a matrix (concrete) block. However, theoretically bond-slip relation could be determined from bending experiments since in bending the fibers in FRC get pulled-out from the concrete matrix. We have performed specially designed laboratory experiments of three-point beam bending with an intention of using experimental data for determination of material parameters. In addition, we have formulated simple layered model for description of the behavior of beams in the three-point bending test. It is not possible to use this 'forward' beam model for extraction of material parameters so an inverse model has been devised. This model is a basis for formulation of an inverse model that could be used for parameter extraction from laboratory tests. The key assumption in the developed inverse solution procedure is that some values in the formulation are known and comprised in the experimental data. The procedure includes measured data and its derivative, the formulation is nonlinear and solution is obtained from an iterative procedure. The proposed method is numerically validated in the example at the end of the paper and it is demonstrated that material parameters could be successfully recovered from measured data.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.363-370
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• 1988

An attempt was made in this study to investigate the possibility of processing oyster and sea mussel into an intermediate moisture food. To obtain a palatable and instant product, shucked samples were heated in soy sauce for 5 min., heated in seasoning solution for 10 min., and then dried by the method of hot-air blowing for 4-6 hours at $40^{\circ}C$. Optimum seasoning solutions consisted of 2% monosodium glutamate, 3.5% sodium chloride, 15% sorbitol, 2% propylene glycol, 5% glycine and 0.02% rosemary oleoresin in 72.48% water. Judging from water activity, thiobarbituric acid, viable cell count, volatile basic nitrogen, surface color and sensory evaluation, vacuum-packaging method in nylon/PE $(20{\mu}m/40{\mu}m)$ or polyester/viniliden chloride/polypropylene $(12{\mu}m/15{\mu}m/50{\mu}m)$ film bag did hardly damage to the quality of intermediate moisture products, but air-packaging method in polyethylene(0.06m/m) bag did considerable damage to the quality during storage for 60 days in an incubator with 49-51% relative humidity at $30^{\circ}C$.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.72-83
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• 2011

For advanced drinking water treatment of high turbidity water, we used the hybrid module that was composed of photocatalyst packing between outside of tubular ceramic microfiltration membrane and membrane module inside. Photocatalyst was PP (polypropylene) bead coated $TiO_2$ powder by CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process. Instead of natural organic matters (NOM) and fine inorganic particles in natural water source, modified solution was prepared with humic acid and kaolin. Water-back-flushing of 10 sec was performed per every period of 10 min to minimize membrane fouling. Resistance of membrane fouling ($R_f$) decreased and J increased as concentration of humic acid changed from 10 mg/L to 2 mg/L, and finally the highest total permeate volume ($V_T$) could be obtained at 2 mg/L. Then, treatment efficiencies of turbidity and $UV_{254}$ absorbance were above 98.5% and 85.7%, respectively. As results of treatment portions by membrane filtration, photocatalyst adsorption, and photo-oxidation in MF, MF + $TiO_2$, and MF + $TiO_2$ + UV processes, turbidity was treated little by photocatalyst adsorption, and photo-oxidation. However, treatment portions of humic acid by adsorption and photo-oxidation were above 10.7 and 8.6%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1767-1778
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• 2010

This study investigates applying $TiO_2$ (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles to polypropylene nonwoven fabrics via electrospinning for the development of UV-protective materials. To fabricate uniform nanocomposite fibers, three types of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were applied: powder, colloid, and $TiO_2$ coated polymer pellets. $TiO_2$/polyurethane (PU) and $TiO_2$/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposite fibers were electrospun and the morphology was examined using a field-emission scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope. Layered fabric systems with electrospun $TiO_2$ nanocomposite fiber webs were developed at various concentrations of $TiO_2$ in a range of the web area density. The effects of $TiO_2$ concentration and web area density on UV-protective properties were examined. When $TiO_2$ colloid was added into a PVA polymer solution, uniform nanocomposite fiber webs in which $TiO_2$ particles were evenly dispersed were produced. Water-soluble PVA nanofiber webs were given a heat treatment to stabilize the electrospun PVA fibrous structure against dissolution in water. $TiO_2$/PVA nanoeomposite fiber webs with 2wt% $TiO_2$ and 3.0g/$m^2$ web area density exhibited an ultraviolet protection factor of greater than 50, indicating excellent UV protection.