• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.400-414
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• 2021

Under high-level radioactive waste repository conditions, bentonite as an engineered barrier material undergoes thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical processes. We report the applications of X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) imaging technique on the characterization and analysis of bentonite over the past decade to provide a reference of the utilization of this technique and the recent research trends. This overview of the X-ray CT technique applications includes the characterization of the bentonite either in pellets or powder form. X-ray imaging has provided a means to extract grain information at the microscale and identify crack networks responsible for the pellets' heterogeneity. Regarding samples of pellets-powder mixtures under hydration, X-ray CT allowed the identification and monitoring of heterogeneous zones throughout the test. Some results showed how zones with pellets only swell faster compared to others composed of pellets and powder. Moreover, the behavior of fissures between grains and bentonite matrix was observed to change under drying and hydrating conditions, tending to close during the former and open during the latter. The development of specializing software has allowed obtaining strain fields from a sequence of images. In more recent works, X-ray CT technique has served to estimate the dry density, water content, and particle displacement at different testing times. Also, when temperature was added to the hydration process of a sample, CT technology offered a way to observe localized and global density changes over time.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-55
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• 2022

This study carried out the laboratory tests for AE signal attenuation to determine the attenuation coefficient (α) of silo concrete in Gyeongju low and intermediate-level disposal environments. The concrete samples were prepared by satisfying the concrete mixing ratio used in the Gyeongju disposal silo, and these samples were additionally exposed depending on the temperature conditions and saturation and, dry condition. As a result of attenuation tests according to the transmission distance on three concrete specimens for each disposal condition, the AE amplitude and absolute energy measured on the saturated concrete were higher than that of the dry concrete in the initial range of the signal transmission distance, but the α of the saturated concrete was higher than that of the dry concrete. Regardless of the saturation and dry conditions, the α tended to decrease as the temperature increases. The α had a more major influence on the saturation and dry condition than the temperature condition, which means that the saturation and dry condition is the main consideration in measuring the signal attenuation of a concrete disposal structure. The α of concrete in the disposal environment expect to be used to predict the integrity of silos concrete in Gyeongju low and intermediate-level disposal environments by estimating the actual AE parameter values at the location of cracks and to determine the optimum location of sensors.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2022

The remarkable mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of graphene have recently sparked tremendous interest in various research fields. One of the most promising methods to produce large quantities of graphene dispersion is liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) which utilizes ultrasonic waves or shear stresses to exfoliate bulk graphite into graphene flakes that are a few layers thick. Graphene dispersion produced via LPE can be transformed into graphene ink to further boost graphene's applications, but producing high-quality graphene more economically remains a challenge. To overcome this shortcoming, an advanced LPE process should be developed that uses relatively cheap natural graphite as a graphene source. In this study, a flow-LPE process was used to exfoliate natural graphite to produce graphene that was three times cheaper and seven times larger than synthetic graphite. The optimal exfoliation conditions in the flow-LPE process were determined in order to produce high-quality graphene flakes. In addition, the structural and electrical properties of the flakes were characterized. The electrical properties of the exfoliated graphene were investigated by carrying out an ink formulation process to prepare graphene ink suitable for inkjet printing, and fabricating a printed graphene pattern. By utilizing natural graphite, this study offers a potential protocol for graphene production, ink formulation, and printed graphene devices in a more industrial-comparable manner.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2023

Because of the global pollution caused by plastic disposal, demand for eco-friendly transformation in the packaging industry is increased. As part of that, the utilization of polylactic acid (PLA) as a food packaging material is increased. However, it is necessary to improve the crystallinity of PLA by adding nucleating agents or to improve the modulus by adding fillers because of the excessive brittleness of the PLA matrix. Thus, the cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was fabricated and dried to obtain a powder form and applied to the CNF/PLA nanocomposite. The effect of CNF on the morphological, thermal, rheological, and dynamic mechanical properties of the composite was analyzed. We can confirm the impregnated CNF particle in the PLA matrix through the field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that the crystallinity of not annealed CNF/PLA nanocomposite was increased approximately 2 and 4 times in the 1st and 2nd cycle, respectively, with the shift to lower temperature of cold crystallization temperature (T_cc) in the 2nd cycle. Moreover, the crystallinity of annealed CNF/PLA nanocomposite increased by 13.4%, and shifted T_cc was confirmed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.77-85
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• 2007

This paper investigates the mechanical characteristics of composite geo-material which was developed to reuse both dredged soils and bottom ash. The composite geo-material used in this experiment consists of dredged soil taken from the construction site of Busan New Port, cement, air foam and bottom ash. Bottom ash is a by-product generated at the Samcheonpo thermal power plant. Several series of laboratory tests were performed to investigate behavior characteristics of composite gee-material, in particular the reinforcing effect by mixing bottom ash. The experimental results of composite geo-material indicated that the stress-strain relationship and the unconfined compressive strength are strongly influenced by mixing conditions. Especially it was observed that the compressive strength of composite geo-material increased with an increase in bottom ash content due to reinforcing effect by the bottom ash. Compressive strength of composite geo-material increased with the increase in curing time. The 28-day strength of composite geo-material is $1.7{\sim}1.8$ times higher than the 7-day strength. The moist unit weight strongly depended on air-foam content as well as bottom ash content added to the composite goo-material. In composite geo-material, secant modulus ($E_{50}$) also increased as its compressive strength increased due to the inclusion of bottom ash.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.2139-2146
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• 2023

During reactor operation, the divertor must withstand unprecedented simultaneous high heat fluxes and high-energy neutron irradiation. The extremely severe service environment of the divertor imposes a huge challenge to the bonding quality of divertor joints, i.e., the joints must withstand thermal, mechanical and neutron loads, as well as cyclic mode of operation. In this paper, potassium-doped tungsten (KW) is selected as the plasma facing material (PFM), oxygen-free copper (OFC) as the interlayer, oxide dispersion strengthened copper (ODS-Cu) alloy as the heat sink material, and reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel as the structural material. In this study, a vacuum brazing technology is proposed and optimized to bond Cu and ODS-Cu alloy with the silver-free brazing material CuSnTi. The most appropriate brazing parameters are a brazing temperature of 940 ℃ and a holding time of 15 min. High-quality bonding interfaces have been successfully obtained by vacuum brazing technology, and the average shear strength of the as-obtained KW/Cu and ODS-Cu alloy joints is ~268 MPa. And a fabrication route for manufacturing the flat-type divertor target based on brazing technology is set. For evaluating the reliability of the fabrication technologies under the reactor relevant condition, the high heat flux test at 20 MW/m² for the as-manufactured flat-type KW/Cu/ODS-Cu/RAFM mockup is carried out by using the Electron-beam Material testing Scenario (EMS-60) with water cooling. This paper reports the improved vacuum brazing technology to connect Cu to ODS-Cu alloy and summarizes the production route, high heat flux (HHF) test, the pre and post non-destructive examination, and the surface results of the flat-type KW/Cu/ODS-Cu/RAFM mockup after the HHF test. The test results demonstrate that the mockup manufactured according to the fabrication route still have structural and interfacial integrity under cyclic high heat loads.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.244-257
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• 2002

A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) which has flexible butylene/hexylene spacers in the main chain and a triad aromatic ester type mesogenic unit containing a naphthyl group was prepared by solution polycondensation. The in-situ composites based on poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) were prepared and melt spun at different TLCP contents and different draw ratios to produce monofilaments. Blends of the TLCP with PEN were investigated in terms of thermal, mechanical properties and morphology. The TLCP synthesized showed nematic mesophasic behavior and its transition temperature to isotropic melt from mesophase was 249℃. The blends showed well dispersed TLCP phases in the PEN matrix without macroscopic phase separation. Inclusion of TLCP in the blends decreased the cold crystallization temperature of PEN in the blend, therefore, the TLCP acts as a nucleating agent in the blend and showed good interfacial adhesion between the dispersed LCP phases and PEN matrix with domain sizes 40~50 nm in diameter and well developed fibrillation in the monofilaments. The TLCP acted effectively as a reinforcing material in the PEN matrix at the 10wt% level, it led to an increase of initial modulus up to 270% and tensile strength by 235%, while the elongation rate increasing with higher draw ratios.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.19-23
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• 2023

The Second-generation high-temperature superconducting (HTS) Rare-Earth Barium Copper Oxide (REBCO) wire is a composite laminate having a multi-layer structure (8 or more layers). HTS wires will undergo multiple loads including the bending-tension loads during winding, high current density, and high magnetic fields. In particular, the wires are subjected to bending stress and magnetic field stress because HTS wires are wound around a circular bobbin when making a high-field magnetic. Each of the different laminated wires inevitably exhibits damage and fracture behavior of wire due to stress deformation, mismatches in thermal, physical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Therefore, when manufacturing high-field magnets and other applications, it is necessary to calculate the stress-strain experienced by high-temperature superconducting wire to present stable operating conditions in the product's use environment. In this study, the finite element model (FEM) was used to simulate the strain-stress characteristics of the HTS wire under high current density and magnetic field, and bending loads. In addition, the result of obtaining the neutral axis of the wire and the simulation result was compared with the theoretical calculation value and reviewed. As a result of the simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics, when a current of 100 A was applied to the wire, the current value showed the difference of 10^-9. The stress received by the wire was 501.9 MPa, which showed a theoretically calculated value of 500 MPa and difference of 0.38% between simulation and theoretical method. In addition, the displacement resulted is 30.0012 ㎛, which is very similar to the theoretically calculated value of 30 ㎛. Later, the amount of bending stress by the circular mandrel was received for each layer and the difference with the theoretically obtained the neutral axis result was compared and reviewed. This result will be used as basic data for manufacturing high-field magnets because it can be expanded and analyzed even in the case of wire with magnetic flux pinning.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.111-118
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• 2023

MXene, a two-dimensional transition metal carbide or nitride, has recently attracted much attention as a lightweight and flexible electromagnetic shielding material due to its high electrical conductivity, good mechanical strength and thermal stability. In particular, the Ti-based MXene, Ti₃C₂T_x and Ti₂CT_x are reported to have the best electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding properties in the vast MXene family. Therefore, in this study, Ti₃C₂T_x and Ti₂CT_x films were prepared by vacuum filtration using Ti₃C₂T_x and Ti₂CT_x dispersions synthesized by interlayer metal etching and centrifugation of Ti₃AlC₂ and Ti₂AlC. The electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding efficiency of the films were measured after heat treatment at high temperature. Then, X-ray diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy were performed to analyze the structural changes of Ti₃C₂T_x and Ti₂CT_x films after heat treatment and their effects on electromagnetic shielding. Based on the results of this study, we propose an optimal structure for an ultra-thin, lightweight, and high performance MXene-based electromagnetic shielding film for future applications in small and wearable electronics.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.611-626
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• 2023

Overseas examples of the characterization stage of site selection proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency were reviewed to highlight the factors necessary for consideration in the deep disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Studies in Sweden, Finland, the USA, and Canada were considered. Site investigations in Sweden and Finland commonly covered the fields of geology, hydrogeology, and hydrogeochemistry using similar field investigation techniques. The USA considered survey groups and factors under pre- and post-lockdown guidelines, as well as those for desaturated and saturated surveys. involving geophysical, hydrological, hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical, mechanical/physical, and thermal-characterization investigations. Canada provided a list of investigative methods for both preliminary and detailed site assessments including geological, physical, boring, hydrological, laboratory testing, and chemical analysis studies. Results of this study should elucidate site-selection investigation factors and survey methods applicable to Korea.