• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.737-742
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• 2016

An elastomer (especially PDMS) sponge is considered to be a promising selective absorber in cleaning up oil spills. The performance of a PDMS sponge in capturing and separating oil from (sea) water depends on several parameters such as surface roughness, physicochemical treatments, and hydrostatic stability. Here, we first present a method of fabricating the PDMS sponges having numerous micro-sized pores that act as absorption and storage spaces for the target material, and then we report an experimental effort undertaken to control the surface physicochemistry (i.e., hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity) of the PDMS sponges by adjusting the size of the pores and the concentration of the surfactant (i.e., silwet L-77). From the experimental results, we develop an in-depth understanding of the mechanism for controlling the surface physicochemistry of PDMS using water-soluble micro-sized particles and a surfactant. The surface energy and absorbing behavior of the PDMS sponges are also extensively discussed.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.408-412
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• 2005

Structure and characteristic of the films blended chitosan matrix with silk fibroin, extracted from Bombyx mori, were studied by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, FT-IR spectra analysis, SEM photographs, contact angle measurement and water absorbency in order to use as biomaterials. The blend films of $0\~30 wt\%$ fibroin content were prepared in acetic solution with $Li^+$ ion. It was found that the crystallinity of chitosan/fibroin blend films was decreased by the presence of intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding between animo groups of chitosan and carbonyl groups of fibroin. As the proportion of fibroin in the blend increased, anhydrous crystalline phase of chitosan disappeared, and hydrated crystalline phase decreased, and $\beta$-structure crystalline phase of fibroin was formed. Therefore the blend films were crystallized into two different crystalline region of chitosan and fibroin. Surface hydrophilicity and water absorbency increased with blending fibroin. Above 20 $wt\%$ fibroin content, hydrogel film was formed. The surface and section of the film showed uniform microstructure on SEM photographs.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2018

To prepare bio-inspired antifouling coating materials having similar structure with lotus, self-crosslinkable waterborne polyurethanes emulsions containing paraffin wax (CWPU/P0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, the number indicated the wt% of wax) were prepared by an emulsifier-free/solvent free prepolymer mixing process. The as-polymerized CWPU/P emulsions containing 0 - 1.00wt% of paraffin wax were found to be stable after 4 months, however, CWPU/P emulsions containing 1.50 and 2.00wt% of paraffin wax were unstable within 1 month storage. Considering the stability of emulsions, the optimum paraffin wax content was found to be about 1wt% to obtain stable antifouling coating emulsion material. The surface topology of CWPU/P film samples was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This study examined the effect of paraffin wax content on the surface roughness, water contact angle/surface energy, water swelling, light transmittance and tensile properties of CWPU/P film samples.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.505-505
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• 2011

The control of wettability of thin films is of great importance and its success surely brings us huge applications such as self-cleaning, antifogging and bio-passive treatments. Usually, the control is accomplished by modifying either surface energy or surface topography of films. In general, hydrophobic surface can be produced by coating low surface energy materials such as fluoropolymer or by increasing surface roughness. In contrast, to enhance the hydrophillicity of solid surfaces, high surface energy and smoothness are required. Silica (SiO2) is environmentally safe, harmless to human body and excellently inert to most chemicals. Also its chemical composition is made up of the most abundant elements on the earth's crest, which means that SiO2 is inherently economical in synthesis. Moreover, modification in chemistry of SiO2 into various inorganic-organic hybrid materials and synthesis of films are easily undertaken with the sol-gel process. The contact angle of water on a flat silica surface on which the Young's equation operates shows ~50o. This is a slightly hydrophilic surface. Many attempts have been made to enhance hydrophilicity of silica surfaces. In recent years, superhydrophilic and antireflective coatings of silica were fabricated from silica nanoparticles and polyelectrolytes via a layer-by-layer assembly and postcalcination treatment. This coating layer has a high transmittance value of 97.1% and a short water spread time to flat of <0.5 s, indicating that both antireflective and superhydrophilic functions were realized on the silica surfaces. In this study, we assessed hydrophillicity and hydrophobicity of silica coating layers that were synthesized using the sol-gel process. Systematic changes of processing parameters greatly influence their surface properties.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.528-535
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• 2003

The effects of surfactants, organic solvents, and functional monomers on the emulsion polymerization of perfluoroalkyleoylacryaltes and n-alkylacrylates were investigated. In particular, the dependence of the surface properties, contact angle and water repellency on the crystal melting temperature (T$\_$m/) of the fluorocopolymer and the variation of polymer latex particle sizes was investigated. Using WAXD experiments and synthesizing different types of fluorocopolymers which have fallowing fluoroacrylaytes [CH$_2$=CHCO$_2$CH,$_2$(CF$_2$CF$_2$) nH] (n = 4, 5 or 6), the relationship between the molecular packing structure of pendent side groups of fluorocopolymers and the surface properties was also investigated. We observed that the structure of primary carbon atoms of pendent side groups of fluorocopolymers plays key role in determining the surface properties.s.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.205-224
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• 2015

A novel hydrophilic poly (vinylidene fluoride)/poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PVDF/PPTA) blend membrane was prepared by in situ polycondensation of p-phenylene diamine (PPD) and terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) in PVDF solution with subsequent nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) process. For comparison, conventional solution blend membrane was prepared directly by adding PVDF powder into PPTA polycondensation solution. Blend membranes were characterized by means of viscometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The effects of different blending methods on membrane performance including water contact angle (WCA), mechanical strength, anti-fouling and anti-compression properties were investigated and compared. Stronger interactions between PVDF and PPTA in in situ blend membranes were verified by viscosity and XPS analysis. The incorporation of PPTA accelerated the demixing rate and caused the formation of a more porous structure in blend membranes. In situ blend membranes exhibited better hydrophilicity and higher tensile strength. The optimal values of WCA and tensile strength were $65^{\circ}$ and 34.1 MPa, which were reduced by 26.1% and increased by 26.3% compared with pure PVDF membrane. Additionally, antifouling properties of in situ blend membranes were greatly improved than pure PVDF membrane with an increasing of flux recovery ratio by 25%. Excellent anti-compression properties were obtained in in situ blend membranes with a stable pore morphology. The correlations among membrane formation mechanism, structure and performance were also discussed.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.70-75
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• 2010

It described the modification of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with amphiphilic methyl methacrylate-based polyethylene glycol (PMMA-b-PEG) to enhance the hydrophilicity of a PDMS surface and cytotoxicity of it. PMMA-b-PEG solutions in water/ethanol mixture was spun-cast on the PDMS surface and the surface was characterized by long-term measurement of water contact angle. The morphology of PDMS surfaces coated with PMMA-b-PEG was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope. Cytotoxicity of the modified surfaces was investigated by MTT assay which would be necessary for the evaluation of tissue compatibility after implantation of the materials. Based on the MTT assay, PDMS coated with PMMA-b-PEG didn't show any significant cytotoxcity.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2019

To investigate surface properties and interception performances of the new modified PVDF membrane coated with Graphene Oxide (GO) and nano-$TiO_2$ (for short the modified membrane) via the interface polymerization method combined with the pumping suction filtration way, filtration experiments of the modified membrane on Humic Acid (HA) were conducted. Results showed that the contact angle (characterizing the hydrophilicity) of the modified membrane decreased from $80.6{\pm}1.8^{\circ}$ to $38.6{\pm}1.2^{\circ}$. The F element of PVDF membrane surface decreased from 60.91% to 17.79% after covered with GO and $TiO_2$. O/C element mass ratio has a fivefold increase, the percentage of O element on the modified membrane surface increased from 3.83 wt% to 20.87%. The modified membrane surface was packed with hydrophilic polar groups (like -COOH, -OH, C-O, C=O, N-H) and a functional hydrophilic GO-polyamide-$TiO_2$ composite configuration. This configuration provided a rigid network structure for the firm attachment of GO and $TiO_2$ on the surface of the membrane and for a higher flux as well. The total flux attenuation rate of the modified membrane decreased to 35.6% while 51.2% for the original one. The irreversible attenuation rate has dropped 71%. The static interception amount of HA on the modified membrane was $158.6mg/m^2$, a half of that of the original one ($295.0mg/m^2$). The flux recovery rate was increased by 50%. The interception rate of the modified membrane on HA increased by 12% approximately and its filtration cycle was 2-3 times of that of the original membrane.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.9-14
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• 2020

Four developed patents have applied for a new type of Composite Cyclone Scrubber followed by the previous research (Cho and Kim, 2017), including dust reducing fan with filters. Regarding target installation and maintenance cost, 64% reduction for investment costs (6.2 billion won vs. 17 billion won) compared to existing road pollution reduction system, while social benefit costs increase by 43% compared to existing road pollution reduction measures (72.6 billion won vs. 50.8 billion won). The composition of the device is an air blower type spiral guide vane, and an injection pressure collecting dust efficiency. A nozzle varies Injection angle and contact range, spray liquid species (waterworks, salty water). The proposed patent tests are circulation water Time-by-Time Spray and collected 41.4% more increased micro dust since the sprayed water meets contaminated gas due to the 45° degree colliding, which is 141% increased conventional dust collector. (Ratio of collection over 85%). As regards the source of collection liquid, circulated rainwater and well water, we expect a huge amount of energy and economically saved eco-friendly system in our patent. Finally, the guided vane and metal filter reduced over 90% micro-dust, while sprayed water cleans the vane and filters, resultantly minimizing the maintenance budget. The preliminary evaluations of the developed design make it possible to reduce not only cheaper maintenance budget due to the characteristic water spraying but the cost of water comes from mainly rain and underground.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.332-339
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• 2021

Recently, due to concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases, the importance of hydrogen energy technology, which is a clean energy source that does not emit greenhouse gases, is being emphasized. Water electrolysis technology is a green hydrogen technology that obtains hydrogen by electrolyzing water and is attracting attention as one of the ultimate clean future energy resources. In this study, the surface properties of the porous transport layer (PTL), one of the cell components of the proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), were controlled using a sandpaper to reduce overvoltage and increase performance and stability. The surfaces of PTL were sanded using sandpapers of 400, 180, and 100 grit, and then all samples were finally treated with the sandpaper of 1000 grit. The prepared PTL was analyzed for the degree of hydrophilicity by measuring the water contact angle, and the surface shape was observed through SEM analysis. In order to analyze the electrochemical characteristics, I-V performance curves and impedance measurements were conducted.