• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2022

Dispersion is one of the most important factors in the manufacture of composite materials. In the manufacture of composite materials, solvents are used to better disperse the reinforcement, nano-filler in the matrix. Since dispersion is affected with solvents, it is necessary to study which solvent is adopted to get good dispersion. In this study, the dispersion behavior and solubility of graphene oxide(GO) were examined under various solvents (DMF, NMP, ethylene glycol, Acetone, DI water) to identify dispersion. As a result of UV-Vis spectroscopy absorbance measurement, it was found that DMF and ethylene glycol had the best dispersibility, whereas DI water showed the lowest dispersibility. In addition, as a result of visually observing the dispersion according to the surface tension and time, it was found that the dispersibility was excellent in the order of DI water, ethylene glycol, NMP, DMF, and acetone, which was consistent with the Hansen solubility parameter value.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.43-48
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• 2007

The absorption and the interference shielding of electromagnetic wave have been very important issues for commercial and military purposes. The stealth technique is one of the most typical applications of electromagnetic wave absorption technology. This study has started for the development of composite fillers containing dielectric and magnetic lossy materials. To improve the electromagnetic characteristics of conductive nano fillers, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with nickel-phosphorous (Ni-P) or nickel-iron (Ni-Fe) have been fabricated by the electroless plating process. Observations by the electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) and element analyzer (EDS/ELLS) showed the uniform Ni-P and Ni-Fe coated CNFs. The compositions of the plating layers were about Ni-6wt%P and Ni-70wt%Fe, respectively. The average thicknesses of the plating layers were about $50\;{\sim}\;100\;nm$.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.342-348
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• 2023

There has been increasing demand for real-time monitoring of body and ambient temperatures using wearable devices. Graphene-based thermistors have been developed for high-performance flexible temperature sensors. In this study, the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of monolayer graphene was controlled by coating polyethylenimine (PEI) on graphene surfaces to enhance its temperature-sensing performances. Monolayer graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was wet-transferred onto a target substrate. To facilitate the interfacial doping by PEI, the hydrophobic graphene surface was altered to be hydrophilic by oxygen plasma treatments while minimizing defect generation. The effect of PEI doping on graphene was confirmed using a back-gated field-effect transistor (FET). The CVD-grown monolayer graphene coated with PEI exhibited an improved TCR of -0.49(±0.03) %/K in a temperature range of 30~50℃.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.377-382
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• 2023

To enhance the performance of graphene-based devices, it is of great importance to better understand the interfacial interaction of graphene with its underlying substrates. In this study, the adhesion energy of monolayer graphene placed on dielectric substrates was characterized using mode I fracture tests. Large-area monolayer graphene was synthesized on copper foil using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with methane and hydrogen. The synthesized graphene was placed on target dielectric substrates using polymer-assisted wet transfer technique. The monolayer graphene placed on a substrate was mechanically delaminated from the dielectric substrate by mode I fracture tests using double cantilever beam configuration. The obtained force-displacement curves were analyzed to estimate the adhesion energies, showing 1.13 ± 0.12 J/m² for silicon dioxide and 2.90 ± 0.08 J/m² for silicon nitride. This work provides the quantitative measurement of the interfacial interactions of CVD-grown graphene with dielectric substrates.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.6
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• pp.557-570
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• 2024

Due to interfacial ageing, chemical action and interfacial damage, the interface debonding may appear in the interfaces of composite laminates. Particularly, the laminates display a side-dependent effect at small scale. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) and anisotropic thick nanoplate model is proposed to investigate the effects of imperfect interface and nonlocal parameter on the bending deformation, vibrational response and buckling stability of one-dimensional (1D) hexagonal quasicrystal (QC) layered nanoplates. By combining the linear spring model with the transferring matrix method, exact solutions of phonon and phason displacements, phonon and phason stresses of bending deformation, the natural frequencies of vibration and the critical buckling loads of 1D hexagonal QC layered nanoplates are derived with imperfect interfaces and nonlocal effects. Numerical examples are illustrated to demonstrate the effects of the imperfect interface parameter, aspect ratio, thickness, nonlocal parameter, and stacking sequence on the bending deformation, the vibrational response and the critical buckling load of 1D hexagonal QC layered nanoplate. The results indicate that both the interface debonding and nonlocal effect can reduce the stiffness and stability of layered nanoplates. Increasing thickness of QC coatings can enhance the stability of sandwich nanoplates with the perfect interfaces, while it can reduce first and then enhance the stability of sandwich nanoplates with the imperfect interfaces. The biaxial compression easily results in an instability of the QC layered nanoplates compared to uniaxial compression. QC material is suitable for surface layers in layered structures. The mechanical behavior of QC layered nanoplates can be optimized by imposing imperfect interfaces and controlling the stacking sequence artificially. The present solutions are helpful for the various numerical methods, thin nanoplate theories and the optimal design of QC nano-composites in engineering practice with interfacial debonding.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2023

This study compared the surface roughness and microbial adhesion characteristics of Omnichroma, a novel composite resin developed using "smart chromatic technology", with those of two other conventional composite resins with different filler compositions. A total of 144 specimens were fabricated using 3 types of composite resins: Omnichroma (nano-spherical), Filtek Z350XT (nanofill), and Tetric N-Ceram (nanohybrid) and, divided into 3 groups of 48. Finishing was performed using tungsten carbide burs. Specimens were then divided into 3 subgroups using different polishing methods: Control, SofLex, and PoGo. Surface roughness was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using an atomic force microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Microbial adhesion was assessed by culturing Streptococcus mutans on the specimens for 24 hours and then measuring colony-forming units attached to the upper surface. The surface roughness (Ra) of Omnichroma was 0.123 ㎛ after finishing, and it exhibited a smooth surface compared to the other resins. However, after polishing, there were no significant differences in the surface roughness between the three composite groups, regardless of the polishing methods. The surfaces of the Control subgroups were significantly rougher than those of the SofLex subgroups in all 3 composite groups. However, except for Tetric N-Ceram, there were no significant differences between the Control and PoGo subgroups in the other composite groups. Microbial adhesion assessment showed no significant differences between any of the 3 composite resin subgroups; however, Omnichroma exhibited higher microbial adhesion than the other two composites. No significant correlation was observed between surface roughness and microbial adhesion.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.521-527
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• 2016

Nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) has been intensively studied for the treatment of a plethora of pollutants through reductive reaction, however, the nano size should be of concern when nZVI is considered for water treatment, due to difficulties in recovery. The loss of nZVI causes not only economical loss, but also potential risk to human health and environment. Thus, the immobilization onto coarse or structured support is essential. In this study, two representative processes for nZVI immobilization on granular activated carbon (GAC) were evaluated, and optimized conditions for synthesizing Fe/GAC composite were suggested. Both total iron content and $Fe_0$ content can be significantly affected by preparation processes, therefore, it was important to avoid oxidation during preparation to achieve higher reduction capacity. Synthesis conditions such as reduction time and existence of intermediate drying step were investigated to improve $Fe_0$ content of Fe/GAC composites. The optimal condition was two hours of $NaBH_4$ reduction without intermediate drying process. The prepared Fe/GAC composite showed synergistic effect of the adsorption capability of the GAC and the degradation capability of the nZVI, which make this composite a very effective material for environmental remediation.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.289-294
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• 2013

A thinner is used to improve the multi-walled carbon nano-tube (CNT) and carbon black (CB) dispersion in a polymer matrix and to make a soft electrode. The electrical and mechanical properties of the soft electrodes are investigated as functions of CNT, CB and thinner content. The optimal mixing condition for the electrode is thinner 80, CNT 3.5, CB 18 (phr) on the basis of matrix (KE-12). The specific resistance of that is 73 (${\Omega}{\cdot}cm$), and tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation of that is 0.45 MPa, 0.21 MPa, and 184%, respectively. Also, a simple structure of the actuator with an optimized electrode and elastomer is fabricated and its characteristic is evaluated. At the operating voltage 25 kV, the displacement of an elastomer KE-12 is 2.24 mm, and that of an elastomer KE-12 with thinner 50 (phr) is 4.05 mm. It shows a higher displacement compared to that of 3M 4910 which has similar modulus. The actuator made with elastomer and electrode of the same material (KE-12) may have advantages for fatigue life and application.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2009

Carbon-coated lithium iron phosphate ($LiFePO_4/C$) composites are synthesized by the modified mechanical activation method (modified MA process) and studied by the Rietveld structural refinement. Rietveld indices of $LiFePO_4/C$ indicate good fitting with $R_p=8.14%,\;R_{wp}=11.1%,\;R_{exp}=9.09%,\;R_B=3.88%$, and S (GofF, Goodness of fit) = 1.2, respectively. $LiFePO_4/C$ with a space group Pnma shows a = 10.3229(3)${\AA}$, b = 6.0052(2) ${\AA}$, c = 4.6939(1) ${\AA}$, and V = 290.98(1) ${\AA}^3$ in dimension, indicating good agreements with those of previous works. Synthetic powders are nano-sized ($65{\sim}90nm$) homogeneous particles with high purity. Thus the modified MA method will be an efficient process to get a high quality cathode material for commercial lithium batteries.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.241-245
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• 2013

Granular bamboo-derived active carbons (AC) were impregnated (or coated) with $TiO_2$ nano crystalline powders. The photocatalytic activity of the $TiO_2$-impregnated active carbons ($TiO_2$/AC) were determined on the basis of the degradation rate of methylene-blue aqueous solution under UV irradiation. The active compounds of $TiO_2$ were impregnated onto the AC under moderate hydrothermal conditions (${\leq}200^{\circ}C$, pH 11). The mean size of $TiO_2$ particles calculated from BET surface area were found to be as 50 nm. The $TiO_2$ precipitates were coated on the cavities or pores on the surfaces of highly activated carbons. Since the hydrothermal process led to a lowering of the on-set temperature of the anatase-to-rutile transition of $TiO_2$ as low as $200^{\circ}C$, $TiO_2$ crystallites of a pure anatase or a mixed form with rutile were successfully coated on the AC depending on the synthesis temperatures.