• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.373-392
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• 2017

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized through a simple green route using the Nelumbo nucifera leaf, stem and flower extracts. These nanoparticles showed characteristic UV-Vis absorption peaks between 410-450 nm which arises due to the plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the presence of amides and which acted as the stabilizing agent. X-ray diffraction spectrum of the nanoparticles confirmed the Face centered cubic (FCC) structure of the formed AgNPs. Dynamic light scattering technique was used to measure hydrodynamic diameter (68.6 nm to 88.1 nm) and zeta potential (-55.4 mV, -57.9 mV and 98.9 mV) of prepared AgNPs. The scanning electron micrographs of dislodged nanoparticles in aqueous solution showed the production of reasonably monodispersed silver nanoparticles (1-100 nm). The antimicrobial activity of prepared AgNPs was evaluated against fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using disc diffusion method. Anti-corrosion studies were carried out using coupon method (mild steel and iron) and dye degradation studies were carried out by assessing photo-catalytic activity of Nelumbo nucifera extracts mediated AgNPs.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.260-275
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• 2018

The corrosion inhibition of cast iron in 1 M HCl by Phenanthroline (Phen) was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), surface analysis and theoretical calculations. It is found that Phen exhibits high inhibition activity towards the corrosive action of HCl and its adsorption obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The results showed that inhibition efficiency increases with Phen concentration up to a maximum value of 96% at 1.4 mM, and decreases slightly with the increase in temperature. The free adsorption energy value indicates that Phen adsorbs on cast iron surface in 1 M HCl via a simultaneous physisorption and chemisorption mechanism. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of a protective film on cast iron surface, resulting in the improvement of its corrosion resistance in the studied aggressive solution. Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level were achieved to correlate electronic structure parameters of Phen molecules with their adsorption mode.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.472-485
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• 2019

When wood plastic composites (WPCs) have been used for a certain period of time, they become waste materials and should be recycled to reduce their environmental impact. Waste WPCs can be transformed into reinforced composites, in which fillers are used to improve their performance. In this study, recycled WPCs were prepared using different proportions of waste WPCs, nanoclay, and glass fiber. The effects of nanoclay and glass fiber on the microstructural, mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of the recycled WPCs were investigated. X-ray diffraction showed that the nanoclay intercalates in the WPCs. Additionally, scanning electron micrographs revealed that the glass fiber is adequately dispersed. According to the analysis of mechanical properties, the simultaneous incorporation of nanoclay and glass fiber improved both tensile and flexural strengths. However, as the amount of fillers increases, their dispersion becomes limited and the tensile and flexural modulus were not further improved. The synergistic effect of nanoclay and glass fiber in recycled WPCs enhanced the thermal stability and crystallinity ($X_c$). Also, the presence of nanoclay improved the water absorption properties. The results suggested that recycled WPCs reinforced with nanoclay and glass fiber improved the deteriorated performance, showing the potential of recycled waste WPCs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.569-575
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• 2021

The reactivity evaluation of copper is performed using ethylenediamine, aminoethanol, and piperidine to apply organic chelators to copper etching. It is revealed that piperidine, which is a ring-type chelator, has the lowest reactivity on copper and copper oxide and ethylenediamine, which is a chain-type chelator, has the highest reactivity via inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Furthermore, it is confirmed that the stable complex of copper-ethylenediamine can be formed during the reaction between copper and ethylenediamine using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and radio-thin layer chromatography. As a final evaluation, the copper reactivity is evaluated by wet etching using each solution. Scanning electron micrographs reveal that the degree of copper reaction in ethylenediamine is stronger than that in any other chelator. This result is in good agreement with the evaluation results obtained by ICP-MS and NMR. It is concluded that ethylenediamine is a prospective etch gas for the dry etching of the copper.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2021

Rice Husk Ash (RHA) geopolymer paste activated by sodium aluminate were characterized by X-ray diffractogram (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersion X-Ray analysis (EDAX)and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Five series of RHA geopolymer specimens were prepared by varying the Si/Al ratio as 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5. The paper focuses on the correlation of microstructure with hardened state parameters like bulk density, apparent porosity, sorptivity, water absorption and compressive strength. XRD analysis peaks indicates quartz, cristobalite and gibbsite for raw RHA and new peaks corresponding to Zeolite A in geopolymer specimens. In general, SEM micrographs show interconnected pores and loosely packed geopolymer matrix except for specimens made with Si/Al of 2.0 which exhibited comparatively better matrix. Incorporation of Al from sodium aluminate were confirmed with the stretching and bending vibration of Si-O-Si and O-Si-O observations from the FTIR analysis of geopolymer specimen. The dense microstructure of SA2.0 correlate into better performance in terms of 28 days maximum compressive strength of 16.96 MPa and minimum for porosity, absorption and sorptivity among the specimens. However, due to the higher water demand to make the paste workable, the value of porosity, absorption and sorptivity were reportedly higher as compared with other geopolymer systems. Correlation regression equations were proposed to validate the interrelation between physical parameters and mechanical strength. RHA geopolymer shows comparatively lower compressive strength as compared to Fly ash geopolymer.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2001

In order to look for polymeric materials applicable to the oxygen electrode membranes of biosensors, polyurethanes (PUs) were synthesized from poly(butylene succinate) diol (Mn 1150), poly(ethylene glycol) (Mn 200), and 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate). The PUs (Mn 15000-100000) underwent the crystallization and melting transitions in the temperature range of 20-30 $^{\circ}C$ and 90-110 $^{\circ}C$, respectively. The oxygen permeability for the PU membranes prepared by the solution casting method could not be measured since oxygen simply leaked through the membranes with an audible noise. However, when the PUs were blended with carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC), the permeability could be measured. The oxygen permeability coefficient (Po2) of the PU/CPVC $(96}4)$ membranes (6.4 Barrer) was high enough for the application as the electrode membranes. The Po2 decreased dramatically when the CPVC content increased from 4 to 5 wt%, but decreased very slowly and approached to that of CPVC (~0.26 Barrer) when the CPVC content increased further. The scanning electron micrographs of the membranes revealed that the PU membranes were composed of large crystal grains with many pores, but the size of the PU crystal grains and pores decreased progressively with increasing the CPVC content.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.58-64
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• 2008

Surface-void defects observed on the galvannealed(GA) steel sheets in Interstitial-free high-strengthened steels containing Si and Mn have been investigated using the combination of the FIB(Focused Ion Beam) and FE-TEM(Field Emission-Transmission Electron Microscope) techniques. The scanning ion micrographs of cross-section microstructure of defects showed that these defects were identified as craters which were formed on the projecting part of the substrate surface. Also, those craters were formed on the Si or Mn-Si oxides film through the whole interface between galvannealed coating and steel substrate. Interface enrichments and oxidations of the active alloying elements such as Si and Mn during reduction annealing process for galvanizing were found to interrupt Zn and Fe interdiffusion during galvannealing process. During galvannealing, Zn and Fe interdiffusion is preferentially started on the clean substrate surface which have no oxide layer on. And then, during galvannealing, crater is developed with consumption of molten zinc on the oxide layer.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2021

Particulate matter (PM) is an air pollutant that causes serious environmental problems in Korea and other countries. The annual average PM10 concentration in Korea is around 40 ㎛/㎥, which is more than twice as high as the WHO recommended standard. When consumed with food, fine PM can pose a risk to humans. However, the risk of fine PM has been focused on the risk of fine PM introduced through the respiratory system. We investigated the quantitative measuring methods of PM10 on food surface to identify possible risk analysis of fine PM. The surfaces of food with artificially contaminated PM10 were observed with a scanning electron microscope(SEM). An automatic object-based image analysis was used to analyze the amount and size distribution of particulate matter contained in SEM micrographs.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.239-253
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• 2022

Suitable techniques to stabilize organic soil and improve its engineering behaviour are in demand. Despite various alternatives, nano-additives proved to be an effective stabilizer owing to their strength enhancing properties. The study focuses on using nano-silica as a potential stabilizer to improve organic silt. Soil was treated with four dosages of nano-silica namely 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% and 0.8% of dry weight of the soil. Nano-silica treated soil showed a strength increase of nearly 25% at a dosage of 0.4% after curing for two hours. Strength of the treated soil improved with age. Strength improved by nearly 62.9% after 28 days of curing and 221.4% after 180 days of curing due to formation of Calcium - Silicate - Hydrate (CSH) gel in the soil matrix. Dosage of 0.6% nano-silica is observed to be the optimum dosage. Coefficient of permeability and compression index showed an increase by 13.32 and 5.5 times respectively owing to aggregation of particles and creation of void spaces as visualized from the scanning electron micrographs. Further model foundation study and numerical parametric studies using PLAXIS 2D indicate that optimized and economic results can be obtained by varying the additive dosage with depth.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.253-265
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• 2022

A study on silica-scaled chrysophytes(Chrysophyceae and Synurophyceae) from Mt. Sinbul alpine wetland, South Korea was performed from January 2018 to March 2020 using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We found a total of 19 taxa of silica-scaled chrysophytes; Mallomonas(13); Synura (3); Chromophysomonas (1); Chrysosphaerella (1); and Paraphysomonas(1), of which six taxa, including two new species(Mallomonas dimorphus sp. nov. and Mallomonas alpestris sp. nov.), were reported for the first time in Korea. All the species are illustrated with SEM micrographs and briefly described with regard to their taxonomy. Two new species were described based on the cell shape, size and ultrastructure of the scales and bristles. Mallomonas dimorphus sp. nov. belongs to the Sectio Heterospinae in that its scales have a flat dome, a reticulated secondary layer and needle shaped bristles. However, this species is distinguished from other taxa in the Sectio by two different patterns of shield ornamentation and a dome ornamentation. Mallomonas alpestris sp. nov. belongs to Series Torquatae (Sectio Torquatae) characterized elongated domed collar scales, domeless body scales and rear scales with a short spine. However, it is different from all other taxa in the Sectio Torquatae as well as Series Torquatae by shield ornamentation of the body and rear scales with evenly spaced transverse ribs and papillae.