• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.67-78
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• 2023

The rare metals used as raw materials in high-tech industries undergo changes in demand structures and supply chains following domestic industrial structural shifts and technological advancements, exhibiting high price volatility. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically analyze changes in the demand structures of rare metals. Since domestic demand for most rare metals relies on imports in Korea, the changes in domestic demand for rare metals can be identified by analyzing changes in their trade structure. In the present study, we analyze the changes in trade volume, trade growth rate, trade rankings, and trading countries from 2000 to 2022 for 35 rare metals, categorized into five types-ores, metals, alloys, compounds, and scrap. The trade of the raw materials of rare metals in Korea has generally increased since the 2000s, except for a significant decline in 2009 and 2016. The total trade volume, encompassing both exports and imports, has increased by approximately tenfold in 2022 compared to 2001. Until the mid-2010s, the trade of the raw materials of rare metals was primarily focused on those used in steel-manufacturing such as silicon, nickel, chrome, molybdenum, manganese, and others. However, after that period, there has been an increase in the trade of platinum group metals like palladium, rhodium, platinum, and the raw materials of rare metals for secondary battery-manufacturing such as lithium and cobalt. Particularly in 2022, lithium has become the largest share in trade of the raw materials of rare metals in Korea, due to the price surge and increase in demand.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.208-214
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• 2024

To fabricate intermetallic nanoparticles with high oxygen reduction reaction activity, a high-temperature heat treatment of 700 to 1,000 ℃ is required. This heat treatment provides energy sufficient to induce an atomic rearrangement inside the alloy nanoparticles, increasing the mobility of particles, making them structurally unstable and causing a sintering phenomenon where they agglomerate together naturally. These problems cannot be avoided using a typical heat treatment process that only controls the gas atmosphere and temperature. In this study, as a strategy to overcome the limitations of the existing heat treatment process for the fabrication of intermetallic nanoparticles, we propose an interesting approach, to design a catalyst material structure for heat treatment rather than the process itself. In particular, we introduce a technology that first creates an intermetallic compound structure through a primary high-temperature heat treatment using random alloy particles coated with a carbon shell, and then establishes catalytic active sites by etching the carbon shell using a secondary heat treatment process. By using a carbon shell as a template, nanoparticles with an intermetallic structure can be kept very small while effectively controlling the catalytically active area, thereby creating an optimal alloy catalyst structure for fuel cells.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2024

If flammable liquid leaks, vapor evaporated from the pool can cause poisoning or suffocation to workers, leading to secondary accidents such as fires and explosions. To prevent such damage, ventilation facilities shall be installed when designing indoor workplaces. At this time, the behavior varies depending on the characteristics of the leaked chemical, so it is necessary to select a suitable vent location according to the material. Therefore, 3D CFD simulations were introduced to derive optimal vent position and ventilation efficiency was quantitatively evaluated by vent position. At this time, assuming a situation in which flammable liquids leak at indoor workplaces to form pools, the concentration of vapor evaporated from pools was compared to derive the optimal vent position. As a result of research on toluene with high vapor density, ventilation efficiency was confirmed to be the highest at the upper supply-lower exhaust, and it is judged that introducing it can achieve about 3.7 times ventilation effect at the same maintenance cost. Through this study, it is expected that the workplace will be able to secure workers' safety by applying simulation results and installing ventilation ports.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.236-243
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• 2023

Platelets act a fundamental role in primary- and secondary-hemostasis, however, platelet activation may cause thrombosis simultaneously. Therefore, control of platelet aggregation is crucial in preventing thrombosis-mediated diseases. Recently, the development of insect materials is attracting attention. Among the highly nutritious functional food sources, insects such as two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus). Gryllus bimaculatus (G. bimaculatus) contains high protein and unsaturated fatty acids and has been registered as a food material September 2015 by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea. In this study, we examined whether G. bimaculatus extract (GBE) inhibits platelet aggregation, intracellular calcium mobilization, thromboxane A₂ production and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (integrin αIIb/β3) activation. We investigated whether GBE can regulate signaling molecules, such as 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor type I, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, cytosolic phospholipase A₂, mitogen-activated protein kinases p38, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3α/β, and SYK. Taken together, GBE is a potential therapeutic drug candidate to prevent platelet-related thrombosis and cardiovascular disease.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.83-103
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• 2024

Adhesive bonding is currently widely used in many industrial fields, particularly in the aeronautics sector. Despite its advantages over mechanical joints such as riveting and welding, adhesive bonding is mostly used for secondary structures due to its low peel strength; especially if it is simultaneously exposed to temperature and humidity; and often presence of bonding defects. In fact, during joint preparation, several types of defects can be introduced into the adhesive layer such as air bubbles, cavities, or cracks, which induce stress concentrations potentially leading to premature failure. Indeed, the presence of defects in the adhesive joint has a significant effect on adhesive stresses, which emphasizes the need for a good surface treatment. The research in this field is aimed at minimizing the stresses in the adhesive joint at its free edges by geometric modifications of the ovelapping part and/or by changing the nature of the substrates. In this study, the finite element method is used to describe the mechanical behavior of bonded joints. Thus, a three-dimensional model is made to analyze the effect of defects in the adhesive joint at areas of high stress concentrations. The analysis consists of estimating the different stresses in an adhesive joint between two 2024-T3 aluminum plates. Two types of single lap joints(SLJ) were analyzed: a standard SLJ and another modified by removing 0.2 mm of material from the thickness of one plate along the overlap length, taking into account several factors such as the applied load, shape, size and position of the defect. The obtained results clearly show that the presence of a bonding defect significantly affects stresses in the adhesive joint, which become important if the joint is subjected to a higher applied load. On the other hand, the geometric modification made to the plate considerably reduces the various stresses in the adhesive joint even in the presence of a bonding defect.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.359-371
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stress distribution in mandibular implant overdentures with telescopic crowns compared to bar attachment. Material and methods: Three-dimensional finite element models consisting of the mandibular bone, 4 implants, and primary bar-splinted superstructure or secondary splinted superstructure with telescopic crowns were created. Vertical and oblique loads were directed onto the occlusal areas of the superstructures to simulate the maximal intercuspal contacts and working contacts such as group function occlusion. Maximum stress and stress distribution were analysed in mandibular bone, implant abutments, and superstructures. Results: 1. In comparison of von Mises stress on mandibular bone, telescopic overdenture had a little lower stress values in vertical load and working side load except oblique load. In the mandible, the telescopic overdenture distributed more uniform stress than the bar overdenture. 2. In comparison of von Mises stress on implant abutments, telescopic overdenture had much lower stress values in all load conditions. In implant abutments, the telescopic overdenture distributed stress similar to the bar overdenture. Stress was concentrated on the distal surfaces of the posterior implant abutments in both mandibular overdentures. 3. In comparison of von Mises stress on superstructures, the telescopic overdenture had much more stress values in all load conditions. However, the telescopic overdenture distributed more uniform stress on superstructure than the bar overdenture. In the bar overdenture, stress was concentrated on each cental area of bar structures and connected area between implant abutments and bar structures. Conclusion: In the results of this study, the telescopic overdenture had lower stress values than the bar overdenture in mandibular bone and implant abutments, but more stress values in superstructures. However, if optimal material was selected in making superstructures, the telescopic overdenture was compared to the bar overdenture in stress distribution.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2000

Amalgam, though a widely used dental material, does not bond to the tooth substrate Therefore, retentive preparation of the cavity is necessary. Such amalgam restorations, until corrosion products form and plug the margin, will show significant marginal leakage. Unless this is prevented early on, saliva and bacteria may enter the cavity causing postoperative hypersensitivity, dissolution and collapse of the restoration, discoloration of the margin and secondary caries, leading to shortened life-span of the restoration and pulpal pathosis. Recently, a method of restoration has been introduced whereby tooth material can be preserved, cavity margin can be sealed and preventive treatment of pit and fissure can be administered while retaining all the advantages of conventional amalgam restorations. Such sealed amalgams involve removing the carious lesion without extending the cavity for prevention and using pit and fissure sealants to seal cavity margins and pit and fissures to reduce microleakage. In this study, finishing of the amalgam and sealant application were performed after different intervals following of amalgam restoration to compare the microleakage of sealed and conventional amalgam restorations. Thirty bicuspids were prepared with Class V cavity preparations on the buccal and lingual surfaces. After amalgam placement, they were divided into the following groups and treated accordingly. Group 1 : Polishing after 24 hours Group 2 : Immediate sealant application without polishing Group 3 : No polishing, but sealant applied after thermocycling 500 times After treatment, the samples were thermocycled 500 times between $5^{\circ}C$ and $55^{\circ}C$ with a dwell time of 30 seconds. After thermocycling, the samples were dipped into 1% methylene blue kept in a $37^{\circ}C$ incubator at 100% humidity for 24 hours. The teeth were then embedded in resin and cut bucco-lingually along the tooth axis and observed with a stereomicroscope to determine the degree of microleakage, The following results were obtained : 1. Group 2 showed the least microleakeage, while group 1 showed the greatest. 2. Group 1 showed significantly greater microleakage compared to group 2 (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were found between group 1 and 3(p>0.05). No significant differences in microleakage were also found between cup 2 and 3(p<0.05).

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.172-176
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• 2005

Recently, many researches on the high-voltage 5 V class cathode material have focused on $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{1.5}O_4$, where $Mn^{3+}$ in the existing $LiMn_2O_4 (Li[Mn^{3+}][Mn^{4+}]O_4)$ is replaced by $Ni^{2+}(Li[Ni^{2+}]_{0.5}[Mn^{4+}]_{1.5}O_4)$ in order to utilize $Ni^{2+}/Ni^{4+}$ redox reaction in the 5V region. The partial substitution of Mn in $LiMn_2O_4$ for other transition metal element, $LiM_yMn_{1-y}O_4$(M=Cr, Al, Ni, Fe, Co, Cu, Ga etc) is known as a good solution to overcome the problems associated with $LiMn_2O_4$ like the gradual capacity fading. In this study, we synthesized $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{1.5}O_4$ through a mechanochemical process and investigated its morphological, crystallographic and electrochemical characteristics. The results showed that 4 V peaks had been found in the cyclic volammograms of the synthesized powders due to the existence of $Mn^{3+}$ from the incomplete substitution of $Ni^{2+}$ for $Mn^{3+}$ implying that the mechanochemical activation alone was not good enough to synthesize an exact stoichiometric compound of $LiNi_{0.5}Mn_{1.5}O_4$. The synthetic condition of mechanochemical process, such as type of starting materials, ball-mill and calcination condition was optimized for the best electrochemical performance.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-25
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• 2014

The thermal effect on the compositional change of the $SO_2$ absorption process product was investigated compared with the composition of raw material when dolomite is employed in place of lime in the scrubbing process based on thermodynamic estimation. It was considered that the equilibrium reactions which directly related with the formation of $CaSO_4$ and $MgSO_4$, the absorption process products, are those between $Ca^{2+}$ and $Ca(OH)_2$, $Mg^{2+}$ and $Mg(OH)_2$, and the secondary dissociation reaction of $H_2SO_4$. It was thought to be necessary to examine the enthalpy change for the formation reactions of $CaSO_4$ and $MgSO_4$ along with the thermal feature of the relative reactions to figure out the influence of temperature on the compositional change of absorption process products. The stable regions for $Ca(OH)_2$ and $Mg(OH)_2$ in Pourbaix diagram were found to be increased as temperature rises and the equilibrium reaction between $Ca^{2+}$ and $Ca(OH)_2$ was investigated to be more strongly influence by temperature change compared with the equilibrium reaction between $Mg^{2+}$ and $Mg(OH)_2$. The amounts of $CaSO_4$ and $MgSO_4$ were anticipated to be decreased with temperature considering the thermal characteristics for the equilibrium reactions regarding calcium, magnesium, and $H_2SO_4$. It was understood that the formation ratio between $CaSO_4$ and $MgSO_4$ is greater than the composition ratio between calcium and magnesium contained in dolomite at specific temperature and the decrease of the formation ratio of $CaSO_4$ and $MgSO_4$ with temperature was estimated to be diminished as the content of calcium in dolomite is increased. In addition, the extent of the change in the compositional ratio between absorption process products was examined to be reduced compared with the composition of raw material as the calcium content in dolomite is raised.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2014

In the field of neutron detections, $^3He$ gas, the so-called "the gold standard," is the most widely used material for neutron detections because of its high efficiency in neutron capturing. However, from variable causes since early 2009, $^3He$ is being depleted, which has maintained an upward pressure on its cost. For this reason, the demands for $^3He$ replacements are rising sharply. Research into neutron converting materials, which has not been used well due to a neutron detection efficiency lower than the efficiency of $^3He$, although it can be chosen for use in a neutron detector, has been highlighted again. $^{10}B$, which is one of the $^3He$ replacements, such as $BF_3$, $^6Li$, $^{10}B$, $Gd_2O_2S$, is being researched by various detector development groups owing to a number of advantages such as easy gamma-ray discrimination, non-toxicity, low cost, etc. One of the possible techniques for the detection is an indirect neutron detection method measuring secondary radiation generated by interactions between neutrons and $^{10}B$. Because of the mean free path of alpha particle from interactions that are very short in a solid material, the thickness of $^{10}B$ should be thin. Therefore, to increase the neutron detection efficiency, it is important to make a $^{10}B$ thin film. In this study, we fabricated a $^{10}B$ thin film that is about 60 um in thickness for neutron detection using well-known technology for the manufacturing of a thin electrode for use in lithium ion batteries. In addition, by performing simple physical tests on the conductivity, dispersion, adhesion, and flexibility, we confirmed that the physical characteristics of the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film are good. Using the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film, we made a proportional counter for neutron monitoring and measured the neutron pulse height spectrum at a neutron facility at KAERI. Furthermore, we calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation the change of neutron detection efficiency according to the number of thin film layers. In conclusion, we suggest a fabrication method of a $^{10}B$ thin film using the technology used in making a thin electrode of lithium ion batteries and made the $^{10}B$ thin film for neutron detection using suggested method.