• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.97-110
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• 2023

This study investigates experimentally the impact of magnetized water (MW) on the fresh and hardened characteristics of concrete. Five types of MW are produced using magnetic fields of 1.4 and 1.6 Tesla for treating water with 100, 150, and 250 cycles. The concrete properties are assessed using the slump test, compressive strength test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR). Furthermore, the chemical-physical characteristics of tap water (TW) and MW are evaluated. The results showed the magnetic field intensity has a significant impact on the magnetization effect; the best magnetizing conditions were found when TW was exposed successively to magnetic fields of 1.6 T and 1.4 T for 150 cycles. In addition, 150 MW cycles can be used to improve the compressive strength and workability of concrete by 40% and 17%, respectively. pH, total dissolved solids, and electrical conductivity improved by 15%, 17%, and 7%, respectively, when using MW. Additionally, MW can be used to enhance cement hydration chemical processes and made concrete's structure denser.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.402-409
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• 2024

High energy neutron irradiations impact on structural and electrical properties of alumina are studied with particular emphasis on real time in-situ radiation induced conductivity measurement in low flux region. Polycrystalline Al₂O₃ samples are subjected to high energy neutrons produced from D-T neutron generator and Am-Be neutron source. 14 MeV neutrons from D-T generator are chosen to study the role of fast neutron irradiation in the structural modification of samples. Real time in-situ electrical measurement is performed to investigate the change in insulation resistance of Al₂O₃ due to radiation induced conductivity at low flux regime. During neutron irradiation, a significant transient decrease in insulation resistance is observed which recovers relative higher value just after neutron exposure is switched off. XRD results of 14 MeV neutron irradiated samples suggest annealing effect. Impact of relatively low energy neutrons on the structural properties is also studied using Am-Be neutrons. In this case, clustering is observed on the sample surface after prolonged neutron exposure. The structural characterizations of pristine and irradiated Al₂O₃ samples are performed using XRD, SEM, and EDX. The results from these characterizations are analysed and interpreted in the manuscript.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.431-439
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• 2014

The purposes of this research were to investigate the enrichment of metal-reducing bacteria from KURT groundwater and the identification of the microbial diversity by 16S rRNA as well as to examine microbial Fe(III)/Mn(IV) reduction and to analyze morphological features of interactions between microbes and precipitates and their mineralogical composition. To cultivate metal-reducing bacteria from groundwater sampled at the KURT in S. Korea, different electron donors such as glucose, acetate, lactate, formate, pyruvate and Fe(III)-citrate as an electron accepter were added into growth media. The enriched culture was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis for the diversity of microbial species. The effect of electron donors (i.e., glucose, acetate, lactate, formate, pyruvate) and electron acceptors (i.e., akaganeite, manganese oxide) on microbial iron/manganese reduction and biomineralization were examined using the 1st enriched culture, respectively. SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses were used to determine morphological features, chemical composition of microbes and mineralogical characteristics of the iron and manganese minerals. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the four species, Fusibacter, Desulfuromonas, Actinobacteria, Pseudomonas sp., from KURT groundwater were identified as anaerobic metal reducers and these microbes precipitated metals outside of cells in common. XRD and EDX analyses showed that Fe(III)-containing mineral, akaganeite (${\beta}$-FeOOH), reduced into Fe(II)/Fe(III)-containing magnetite ($Fe_3O_4$) and Mn(IV)-containing manganese oxide (${\lambda}-MnO_2$) into Mn(II)-containing rhodochrosite ($MnCO_3$) by the microbes. These results implicate that microbial metabolism and respiratory activities under anaerobic condition result in reduction and biomineralization of iron and manganese minerals. Therefore, the microbes cultivated from groundwater in KURT might play a major role to reduce various metals from highly toxic, mobile to less toxic, immobile.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2010

It is of importance that all countries in worldwide, including EU and China, have adopted the Restrictions on the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) for all electronics. IEC62321 document, which was published by the International Electronics Committee (IEC) can have conflicts with the standards in the market. On the contrary Publicly Accessible Specification (PAS) for sampling published by IEC TC111 can be adopted for complementary application. In this work, we tried to find a route to disassemble and disjoint cellular phone sample, based on PAS and compare the screening methods available in the market. For this work, the cellular phone produced in 2001, before the regulation was born, was chosen for better detection. Although X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) showed excellent performance for screening, fast and easy handling, it can give information on the surface, not the bulk, and have some limitations due to significant matrix interference and lack of variety of standards for quantification. It means that screening with XRF sometimes requires supplementary tool. There are several techniques available in the market of analytical instruments. Laser ablation (LA) ICP-MS, energy dispersive (ED) XRF and scanning electron microscope (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) were demonstrated for screening a cellular phone. For quantitative determination, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) was employed. Experimental results for Pb in a battery showed large difference in analytical results in between XRF and GF-AAS, i.e., 0.92% and 5.67%, respectively. In addition, the standard deviation of XRF was extremely large in the range of 23-168%, compared with that in the range of 1.9-92.3% for LA-ICP-MS. In conclusion, GF-AAS was required for quantitative analysis although EDX was used for screening. In this work, it was proved that LA-ICP-MS can be used as a screening method for fast analysis to determine hazardous elements in electrical products.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.122-134
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the potential of torrefied larch wood as a raw material of pellets. First of all, larch chip was torrefied at the temperatures of 230, 250 and $270^{\circ}C$ for 30, 50 and 70 min. Secondly, moisture content, moisture absorption, higher heating value and ash content of the torrefied chip were measured to examine the effects of torrefaction conditions on the fuel characteristics of larch. Thirdly, surfaces of the torrefied chip were observed by light microscope (LM), field emission scanning microscope (FE-SEM) and SEM-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDXS). With the increases of torrefied temperature and time, contents of lignin increased and those of hemicellulose reduced. Moisture content of torrefied larch chip was greatly lower than that of non-torrefied chip. Moisture absorption of the torrefied chip decreased as torrefaction temperature increased. As torrefaction temperature increased, higher heating value and ash content of larch chip increased. However, durability of torrefied-larch pellets was remarkably lower comparing to non-torrefied-larch pellets. When surface of larch chip was observed by LM and FE-SEM, surface color and cell wall of the chip was getting darker and more collapsed with the increases of torrefaction conditions. Through the analysis of SEM-EDXS, distribution and quantity of lignin existing on the surface of larch chip increased with the increases of torrefied conditions. In conclusion, $270^{\circ}C$/50 min might be an optimal condition for the torrefaction of larch with the aspect of fuel characteristics, but torrefaction condition of $230^{\circ}C$/30 min should be considered according to the durability of torrefied-larch pellets.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.28 no.2 s.67
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• pp.329-341
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• 1998

Sterilization has received much attention in orthodontic practices over the past several years. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of sterilization on the physical properties of orthodontic pliers-AEZ, Unitek, and Dentronix ligature cutters. This study was designed to examine the tips of ligature cutters before and after 200 and 400 sterilization cycles using the Bowmar RHT-1000, the Dentronix DDS-5000, and the Eschmann SES-2000. The tip surface and the fracture surface were observed with a scanning electron microscope. The microstructure was observed with an optical microscope. The hardness test was carried out with the mic개-Vickers hardness tester and the Rockwell C Scale hardness tester. The chemical composition was analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The results of this study were as follows : 1. The number and the size of corrosion products on the tip surface and the proportion of cleavage planes in fractured specimen increased, but the hardness of the tip decreased in proportion to sterilization cycles. From these observations, it was considered that mechanical properities decreased in proportion to sterilization cycles. 2. The number and the size of chromium carbides increased in proportion to sterilization cycles. Coarse microstructure decreased mechanical properities. 3. The AEZ and Unitek ligature cutters were Fe-Cr stainless steels, but the Dentronix ligature cutter was Co-Cr alloy. There were many differences among manufactures, but the chemical composition was .not changed after sterilization cycles. 4. The tip edge of ligature cutter used in a clinic revealed microcracks with the SEM observation. Clinical experience confirmed that ligature cutters were gradually degraded by sterilization.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1993

Abstract The increasing application of $Al_2$,$O_3$ and related ceramics as engineering materials is because of their attractive properties of fine ceramics. One solution to the wide variety of ceramic to metal combination lies in the effective joining. Active metal brazing of $Al_2$,$O_3$, to STS304 was investigated using Cu -Ti alloys. Titanium additive is chosen since it is good oxide former~. Brazing is performed under vacuum($10^{-3}$-$10^{-4}$ torr), a temperature between 1100 and 120$0^{\circ}C$ and time of 0.5-1.5hr. The microstructure of the brazed joints of $Al_2$,$O_3$ to STS304 with Cu-Ti insert metals were examined by using optical microscope and SEM and reaction products were analyzed by using EDX, WDX and XRD. Also interfacial reactions occuring during the brazing of $Al_2$,$O_3$/Cu-Ti/STS304 system are discussed. Experimental results showed formation of Titanium oxide T$i_2$$O_3$ which is attributable to the joining $Al_2$,$O_3$ to STS304 with Cu-Ti insert metal.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.243-250
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• 1987

The effects aging on some properties and thermal-shock behavior of zirconia partially stabilized with 9 mol% MgO (9MZ) were studied. 9MZ specimens were aged over $1200^{\circ}$-$1400^{\circ}C$ for 12hours subsequently, after sintering at $1650^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours. Fracture strength(both before and after thermal-shock test), linear thermal expansion, monoclinic fraction and phase transition by XRD, density, galvanic potential and microstructure were measured. Quantitative chemical analysis around the grain-boundary of the specimen aged at $1350^{\circ}C$ was also conducted by EDX. The aging of 9MZ specimen causes a thermal decomposition of cubic-$ZrO^{2}$ into the formation metastable tetragonal-$ZrO^{2}$ and MgO. The former increases the residual strength after thermal-shock test and the latter improves the thermal-shock resistance due to thermal conduction through the continuous magnesia phase and the formation of monoclinic phase content in matrix were increased with decreasing the aging temperature from $1400^{\circ}C$ to $1200^{\circ}C$. Galvanic potential of the aged specimen exhibited a proper emf characteristic.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.199-209
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• 1994

$PbTiO_3$ thin films were prepared on soda-lime-silica slide glasses, Si-wafer and sapphire substrate by the dip-coating of precursor solution. As starting materials, titanium tetra iso-propoxide and lead acetate trihydrate were used. Then acetylacetone was added to prepare stable sol. The effect of the parameters such as viscosity and composition of sol were investigated. The optical transmittance at visible range, refractive index, IR spectra were measured in varying compositions, thickness and heat treatment temperature. The crystallization of $PbTiO_3$ films were measured by using XRD and SEM. Diffusion of compositions from slide glass to thin film were investigated by using EDX, too. These sols not precipitated for 20 days. Transmittance of $PbTiO_3$ films at visible range were decreased with the increase of thickness and heat treatment temperatures, and were exhibited flat spectra. Pyrochlore type appeared in the films on slide glass and perovskite type appeared in the films on Si-wafer or sapphire at $600^{\circ}C$. Perovskite crystals transformed to $PbTi_3O_7$ phase at $800^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2010

The electrocatalystic prperties of Pt-Co and Pt-Ni with heteropolyacids (HPAs) entrapped in covalently cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (CL-SPEEK)/HPA membranes were investigated for water electrolysis. The HP As, including molybdophosphoric acid (MoPA), and tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) were both used as membrane additives and electrocatalysts. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared by a nonequilibrium impregnation-reduction (I-R) method. $Pt(NH_3)_4Cl_2$, $NiCl_2$ and $CoCl_2$ as electrocatalytic materials and $NaBH_4$ as reducing agent were used. I order to enhance electrocatalytic activity, the catalyst layer prepared above was electrodeposited (Dep) with HP A. Surface morphologies and physico-chemical properties of MEA were investigated by means of SEM, EDX and XRD. The electrocatalytic properties of composite membranes such as the cell voltage and coulombic charge in CV were in the order of magnitude: CL-SPEEK/MoPA40 (wt%) > CL-SPEEK/TPA30 > Nafion117. In the optimum cell applications for water electrolysis, the cell voltage of Pt/CL-SPEEK-MoPA40/Pt-Co (Dep-MoPA) and Pt/CL-SPEEK-TPA30/Pt-Co (Dep-TPA) was 1.75 Vat $80^{\circ}C$ and $1\;A/cm^2$ and voltage efficiency was 87.1%. Also, the observed activity of Pt-Co (84:16 atomic ratio by EDX) is a little higher than that of Pt-Ni (86: 14). The current density peak of electrodeposited electrodes were better a little than those of unactivated electrodes based on the same membranes.