• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2021

The present study aimed to determine the effect of co-pyrolysis of sawdust biomass and scrap tyre waste employing different blending ratios of sawdust to waste tyre such as 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100. The thermochemical characterization of feedstocks was carried out by employing the proximate, ultimate analysis, and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses, calorific values, and scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) to select the blending ratio having better bioenergy potential amongst the studied ratios. The blending ratio of 25:75 (sawdust to waste tyre) was selected for the co-pyrolysis study in a fixed-bed pyrolysis reactor system based on its solid biofuels properties such as heating value (30.18 MJ/kg), and carbon (71.81 wt%) and volatile matter (63.82 wt%) contents. The pyrolysis temperatures were varied as 500, 600 and 700 ℃ while the other parameters such as heating rate and nitrogen flowrate were maintained at 30 ℃/min and 0.5 L/min respectively. The bio-oil yields as 31.9, 47.1 and 61.2 wt%, bio-char yields as 34.5, 34.2 and 31.4 wt% and gaseous product yields as 33.6, 18.60 and 7.3 wt% at the pyrolysis temperatures of 500, 600 and 700 ℃ respectively were obtained. The blends of sawdust and waste tyres showed the improved energy characteristics which could provide the solution for the beneficial management of sawdust and scrape tyre wastes via co-pyrolysis processing.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1850115.1-1850115.10
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• 2018

A novel sensor material of Au nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized 1D ${\alpha}-MoO_3$ nanobelts (NBs) was fabricated by a facile lysine-assisted approach. The obtained $Au/{\alpha}-MoO_3$ product was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). Then, in order to investigate the gas sensing performances of our samples, a comparative gas sensing study was carried out on both the ${\alpha}-MoO_3$ NBs before and after Au NPs decoration by using ethanol vapor as the molecular probe. The results turned out that, after the functionalization of Au NPs, the sensor exhibited improved gas-sensing characteristics than the pure ${\alpha}-MoO_3$, such as response and recovery time, optimal operating temperature (OT) and excellent selectivity. Take for example 200 ppm of ethanol, the response/recovery times were 34 s/43 s and 5.7 s/10.5 s, respectively, while the optimal operating temperature (OT) was lower to $200^{\circ}C$ rather than $250^{\circ}C$. Besides, the functionalized sensor showed a higher response to ethanol at $200^{\circ}C$, and response was 1.6 times higher than the pure $MoO_3$. The mechanism of such improved sensing properties was interpreted, which might be attributed to the spillover effect of Au NPs and the electronic metal-support interaction.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.277-286
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• 2019

In 2014, the first demineralization plant, using nanofiltration (NF) membrane coupled with renewable energies was realized at Al Annouar high school of Sidi Taibi, Kenitra, Morocco. This project has revealed difficulties related to the membrane performances loss (pressure increase, flux decline, poor water quality of the produced water and increase of energy consumption), as consequences of membrane fouling. To solve this problem, an autopsy of the membrane was done in order to determine the nature and origin of the fouling. The samples of membrane and fouling were then analyzed by scanning electron microscopy using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) detection system and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Moreover, three cleaning solutions (hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid) were tested and assessed in a single cleaning step to find the suitable one for the fouled membrane to regain its initial permeability and performances. The analysis of the experimental results showed that the fouling layer is mainly composed of calcium carbonate (inorganic fouling). Results showed also that the permeability is improved by the hydrochloric acid cleaning (pH=3) with a cleaning efficiency of 93%. Cleaning efficiency did not exceed 75 % with nitric acid (pH=3) and 40 % with sulfuric acid (pH=3).

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.65-70
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• 2019

As a demand of higher power photovoltaic modules, shingled, multi-busbar, half-cell, and bifacial techniques are developed. Multi-busbar module has advantage for large amount of light havesting. And, half-cell is high power module for reducing resistive losses and higher shade tolerance. Recently, researches on multi-busbar is focused on reliability according to adhesion and intermetallic compound between Sn-Pb solder and Ag electrode. And half-cell module is researched to comparing with full-sized cell module for structure difference. In this study, we investigated the factors affecting to efficiency and adhesion of multi-wires half-cell module according to wire thickness, solder thickness, and flux. The results of solar simulator and peel test was that peel strength and efficiency of soldered cell is not related. But samples with flux including high solid material showed high efficiency. The results of FE-SEM and EDX line scan on cross-section between wire and Ag electrode for different flux showed thickness of solder joint between wire and Ag electrode is increasing through solid material increasing. Flux including high solid material would affect to solder behavior on Ag electrode. Higher solid material occurred lower growth of IMC layer because solder permeate to sider of wire ribbon than Ag electrode. And it increased fill factor for high efficiency. In soldering process, amount of solid material in flux and solder thickness are the factor related with characteristic of soldered photovoltaic cell.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 2021

Recently, hybrid coal research is underway to upgrade low-grade coal. The hybrid coal is made by mixing low-grade coal with bioliquids such as molasses, sugar cane, and lignin. In the case of lignin used here, a large amount of lignin is included in the wastewater of the papermaking process, and thus, research on hybrid coal production using the same is attracting attention. However, since a large amount of metal ions are contained in the lignin wastewater from the papermaking process, substances that corrode the generator are generated during combustion, and the amount of fly ash is increased. To solve this problem, it is essential to remove metal ions in the lignin wastewater. In this study, metal ions were removed by ion exchange with a alumina hollow fiber membrane coated with K-Phillipsite (K-PHI) zeolite. The alumina hollow fiber membrane used as the support was prepared by the nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method, and K-PHI seeds were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The prepared K-PHI seed was seeded on the surface of the support and coated by secondary growth hydrothermal synthesis. The characteristic of prepared coating membrane was analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX), and the concentration of metal ions before and after ion exchange was measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). The extraction amount of K+ is 86 mg/kg, and the extraction amount of Na+ is 54.9 mg/kg. Therefore, K-PHI zeolite membrane has the potential to remove potassium and sodium ions from the solution and can be used in acidic lignin wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.9
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• pp.573-579
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• 2009

Titanium/aluminum/stainless steel(Ti/Al/STS) clad materials have received much attention due to their high specific strength and corrosion-resisting properties. However, it is difficult to fabricate these materials, because titanium oxide is easily formed on the titanium surface during heat treatment. The aim of the present study is to derive optimized cladding conditions and thereupon obtain the stable quality of Ti/Al/STS clad materials. Ti sheets were prepared with and without pre-heat treatment and Ti/Al/STS clad materials were then fabricated by cold rolling and a post-heat treatment process. Microstructure of the Ti/Al and STS/Al interfaces was observed using a Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) and an Energy Dispersed X-ray Analyser(EDX) in order to investigate the effects of Ti pre-heat treatment on the bond properties of Ti/Al/STS clad materials. Diffusion bonding was observed at both the Ti/Al and STS/Al interfaces. The bonding force of the clad material with non-heat treated Ti was higher than that with pre-heat treated Ti before the cladding process. The bonding force decreased rapidly beyond $400^{\circ}C$, because the formed Ti oxide inhibited the joining process between Ti and Al. Bonding forces of STS/Al were lower than those of Ti/Al, because brittle $Fe_3Al$, $Al_3Fe$ intermetallic compounds were formed at the interface of STS/Al during the cladding process. In addition, delamination of the clad material with pre-heat treated Ti was observed at the Ti/Al interface after a cupping test.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.30-34
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• 2021

Electrical failures and reliability problems of electronic components by ionic migration between adjacent device terminals have become an issue in automotive electronics. Especially unlike galvanic corrosion, ionic migration is occurred at high temperature and high humidity under applied electric field condition. Until now, although extensive studies of the ionic migrations dealing with PCBs, electrodes, and solders were reported, there is no study on the effect of insulation polymers and metallic fillers for ionic migration. In this research, therefore, ionic migration induced by the types and contents of polymers and metallic fillers, and variety conditions of temperature, humidity, and applied voltage was studied in detail. Ester and amide types of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and poly (phthalamide) (PPA) were used as base polymers, respectively and compounded with the metallic fillers of Copper iodide (CuI), Zinc stearate (Zn-st), or Calcium stearate (Ca-st) in various compositions. The compounding polymers were fabricated in IPC-B-24 of SIR test coupon according to ISO 9455-17 with Cu electrodes for ionic migration test. While there is no change in LCP-based samples, ionic migration in PPA compounding sample with a high water absorption property was accelerated in the presence of 0.25 wt% or above of CuI at the environmental conditions of 85℃, 85% RH and 48V. The dendritic short-circuit growth of Cu caused by ionic migration between the electrodes on the surface of compounded polymers was systematically observed and analyzed by using optical microscopy and SEM (EDX).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.126-129
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• 2021

We fabricated plate typed shunt resistors composed of carbon nanotube (CNT) and metal alloy for measuring DC current. CNT plates were prepared from dispersed CNT/Urethane solution by squeezing method. Cu/Ni alloys were prepared from composition-designed alloy wires for adjusting the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) by pressing them. As well, we fabricated a hybrid resistor by squeezing the CNT/Urethane solution on the metal alloy plate directly. In order to confirm the composition ratio of the Cu/Ni alloy, we used an energy-dispersed X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Cross-section and surface morphology were analyzed by using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, we measured the initial resistance of 2.35 Ω at 25℃ for the CNT paper resistor, 7.56 mΩ for the alloy resistor, and 7.38 mΩ for the hybrid resistor. The TCR was also measured to be -778.72 ppm/℃ at the temperature range between 25℃ to 125℃ for the CNT paper resistor, 824.06 ppm/℃ for the alloy resistor, and 17.61 ppm/℃ for the hybrid resistor. Some of the hybrid resistors showed a near-zero TCR of 1.38, -2.77, 2.66, and 5.49 ppm/℃, which might be the world best-value ever reported. Consequently, we could expect an error-free measurement of the DC current using this resistor.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.353-366
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• 2021

In this study, photocatalytic degradation of ammonia in petrochemical wastewater is investigated by solar light photocatalysis. Two-dimensional ultra-thin atomic layer structured MoS₂ are synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method. We examine all prepared samples by means of physical techniques, such as SEM-EDX, HRTEM, FT-IR, BET, XRD, XPS, DRS and PL. And, we use fullerene modified MoS₂ nanosheets to enhance the activity of photochemically generated oxygen (PGO) species. Surface area and pore volumes of the MoS₂-fullerene samples significantly increase due to the existence of MoS₂. And, PGO oxidation of MB, TBA and TMST, causing its concentration in aqueous solution to decrease, is confirmed by the results of PL. The generation of reactive oxygen species is detected through the oxidation reaction from 1,5-diphenyl carbazide (DPCI) to 1,5-diphenyl carbazone (DPCO). It is found that the photocurrent density and the PGO effect increase in the case with modified fullerene. The experimental results show that this heterogeneous catalyst has a degradation of 88.43% achieved through visible light irradiation. The product for the degradation of NH₃ is identified as N₂, but not NO^2- or NO^3-.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.44-56
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• 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM) or three-dimensional (3D) printing of metals has been drawing significant attention due to its reliability, usefulness, and low cost with rapid prototyping. Among the various AM technologies, fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication is receiving much interest because of its simple manufacturing processing, low material waste, and cost-effective equipment. FDM technology uses metal-filled polymer filaments for 3D printing, followed by debinding and sintering to fabricate complex metal parts. An efficient binder is essential for producing polymer filaments and the thermal post-processing of printed objects. This study involved an in-depth investigation of and a fabrication route for a novel multi-component binder system with steel alloy powder (45 vol.%) ranging from filament fabrication and 3D printing to debinding and sintering. The binder system consisted of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a binder and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polylactic acid (PLA) as a carrier. The PVP binder held the metal components tightly by maintaining their stoichiometry, and the TPU and PLA in the ratio of 9:1 provided flexibility, stiffness, and strength to the filament for 3D printing. The efficacy of the binder system was examined by fabricating 3D-printed cubic structures. The results revealed that the thermal debinding and sintering processes effectively removed the binder/carrier from the cubic structures, resulting in isotropic shrinkage of approximately 15.8% in all directions. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) patterns displayed the microstructure behavior, phase transition, and elemental composition of the 3D cubic structure.