• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.340-347
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• 2015

As resin impregnates through the fiber preform in vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process, the volume of fibers is changed by expansion of fiber mat according to filling time. It causes not only the change in dimension but also the decrease of mechanical properties of the composite product. Moreover, it results in the economic loss by increase of the used amount of resin especially in the large product such as wind turbine blade. In this study, the ways to control fiber volume fraction were investigated by both the experimental and theoretical analyses on the expansion of fiber preform as the preform was impregnated by resin in the VARTM process. Two kinds of swelling stage were observed as flow front progressed, which was analyzed by comparing the experimental and simulation results. The process parameters are expected to be optimized by investigating the swelling behavior of fiber preform in the manufacturing process of the composite product.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.379-384
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• 2018

This paper aims to study flow characteristics of epoxy resin w.r.t. the sizing agents treated on the carbon fibers which have the same surface morphologies before sizing treatment. Dynamic contact angle (DCA) was measured to evaluate wettability of a single carbon fiber. Wicking test and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) were performed to find relation between DCA measurement results and impregnation characteristics. In addition, surface properties of the carbon fibers such as surface free energy and chemical compositions were measured and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between the carbon fiber and the resin were experimentally characterized by using micro-droplet tests. According to these experimental results, the sizing agent for carbon fibers should have appropriate level of surface free energy and good chemical compatibility with the resin to reconcile resin flow characteristics and interfacial strength.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.225-235
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• 2020

The present study aimed to monitor changes in the amount of PEG free-flowing back from PEG-treated woods and compressive strength changes with change in relative humidity from 90% to 30%. The change in the relative humidity was done 3 times. For the current study, water-logged wood (Prinus group) was used and the wooden blocks cut out of it were subjected to 3 different impregnation methods combined with different drying conditions as follows: 1) impregnating with 80% PEG#4000 followed by drying in nature (hereafter PEG80), 2) impregnating with 40% PEG#4000 and then drying in vacuum freeze drying equipment (hereafter PEG40), and 3) impregnating with 40% PEG#4000 in t-butanol, followed by drying in the vacuum freeze drying equipment (hereafter TB40). It was verified that most of the PEG was free-flowing back from the PEG-treated woods; however, a small amount of left PEG was observed on the lumen surface. The amount of PEG free-flowing back from the PEG-treated woods increased whenever the relative humidity changes from 90% to 30%. The compressive strengths of PEG80 and TB40 were increased whenever the relative humidity changed from 90% to 30%, whereas PEG40 decreased. The current study showed how to control the relative humidity to effectively manage PEG-treated waterlogged woods.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2002

After porous filters were manufactured using cordierite powder whose mean particle size was 200 ${\mu}m$, they were loaded with catalysts such as Pt, Pd, Cu, Co, La, $V_2O_5$ by vacuum impregnation method. And we investigated the activity of catalysts used for catalytic oxidation of VOC by passing toluene through catalyst-loaded filters. The porous filters had the apparent porosity of 62%, the compressive strength of about 10 MPa and the pressure drop of 15 mmHg at the face velocity of 5 cm/sec. The loading of catalyst decreased the porosity of the filters and increased the pressure drop and the compressive strength of them. Among the catalysts, Pt had the highest activity for catalytic oxidation and could remove more than 90% of toluene at 250 $^{\circ}C$. Below 250 $^{\circ}C$, the content of Pt catalyst had an influence on the conversion of toluene but didn't show any influence above 250 $^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.536-544
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• 2021

In the present study, safe management and value improvement of bamboo sunblind, which is an item of cultural heritage, were performed by adopting stable conservation treatment methods. The bamboo sunblind used in the present study was excavated from No. 1 catchment site in Baesanseongji, Busan. It was determined that the main material used to make the sunblind was bamboo, and herbal plants were used to weave the bamboo using lacquer as an adhesive agent. All contaminants and soil adhered to the sunblind was removed. Thereafter, the sunblind, which was recovered in the form of blocks, was washed separately after fixing it to a temporary plaster frame and to avoid the blocks from breaking during washing. Then, polyethylene glycol (PEG) impregnation was utilized for the reinforcement treatment. Based on the preliminary test results, the shape of the sunblind was fixed using a stainless-steel frame to prevent physical damage that may occur during the drying process. Thereafter, the bamboo sunblind was vacuum freeze-dried. PEG 20% (in ethyl alcohol) was applied as a surface treatment agent for stabilization the sunblind. After the surface treatment, the bamboo sunblind were joined together to fit the maximum width, and the rectangular shape of the sunblind was restored-as best as possible-while filling in the missing parts by maximizing the use of unknown members such as in the disturbed layers below bamboo sunblind surface. The conservation treatment was completed by fixing the bamboo sunblind into the fabricated frame.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.821-830
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• 2021

The weapons excavated from the de-militarized zones (DMZ) of Korea are vulnerable to corrosion due to the immediate and drastic environmental change. Especially, the chloride ions (Cl^-) in iron weapons cause active corrosion and require removal. In this study, conservation treatment and de-salination was performed for the discovered weapons from excavation sites of soldiers killed in action during the Korean War. Furthermore, an attempt was made to prepare the most stable plan for conservation treatment through the comparative study of soaking weapons in distilled water without chemicals and in a solution of sodium (SSC) at different temperatures. In the preliminarily experiments, the comparison of the eluted Cl^- ions according to different conditions of de-salination showed that the highest number of ions were detected from the de-salination with SSC at a temperature of 100℃, and its duration was much smaller, i.e., 1~2 weeks. Accordingly, for the parts from the guns and rifles amongst other objects, a six-time de-salination was conducted in the SSC solution for 8 hours at 100℃ and subsequently, for 16 hours at room temperature during which the distilled water and SSC were exchanged every week. However, in the case of a loaded rifle, the de-salination was not conducted, considering the risk that the high temperature and pressure by impregnation in vacuum could cause an explosion

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.555-566
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• 2023

In this study, a composite phase change material (CPCM) produced using the SOL-GEL technique was developed as a thermal energy storage medium for low-temperature applications. Tetradecane and activated carbon (AC) were used as the core and supporting materials, respectively. The tetradecane phase change material (PCM) was impregnated into the porous structure of AC using the vacuum impregnation method, and a thin layer of silica gel was coated on the prepared composite using the SOL-GEL process, where tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as the silica source. The thermal performance of the CPCM was analysed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). DSC results showed that the pure tetradecane PCM had melting and freezing temperatures of 6.4℃ and 1.3℃ and corresponding enthalpies 226 J/g and 223.8 J/g, respectively. The CPCM exhibited enthalpy of 32.98 J/g and 27.7 J/g during the melting and freezing processes at 7.1℃ and 2.4℃, respectively. TGA test results revealed that the AC is thermally stable up to 500℃, which is much higher than the decomposition temperature of the pure tetradecane, which is around 120℃. Moreover, in the case of AC-PCM and CPCM thermal degradation started at 80℃ and 100℃, respectively. The chemical stability of the CPCM was studied using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and the results confirmed that the developed composite is chemically stable. Finally, the surface morphology of the AC and CPCM was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which confirmed the presence of a thin layer of silica gel on the AC surface after the SOL-GEL process.