• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.3991-3995
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• 2011

$TiO_2-SiO_2-In_2O_3$ nanocomposite thin film was deposited on the glass substrates using a dip coating technique. The morphology, surface composition, surface hydroxyl groups, photocatalytic activity and hydrophilic properties of the thin film were investigated by AFM, XPS, methyl orange decoloring rate and water contact angle measurements. The hydroxyl content for $TiO_2$, $TiO_2-SiO_2$ and $TiO_2-SiO_2-In_2O_3$ nanocomposite films was calculated to be 11.6, 17.1 and 20.7%, respectively. $TiO_2-SiO_2-In_2O_3$ film turned superhydrophilic after 180-min irradiation with respect to pure $TiO_2$ and $TiO_2-SiO_2$ thin films. The photocatalytic decomposition of methyl orange for $TiO_2$, $TiO_2-SiO_2$ and $TiO_2-SiO_2-In_2O_3$ thin films was measured as 38.19, 58.71 and 68.02%, respectively. The results indicated that $SiO_2$ and $In_2O_3$ had a significant effect on the hydrophilic, photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties of $TiO_2$ thin film.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2015

In this paper, the flexible piezoelectric nanocomposite generator(NCG) device based on $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures was fabricated via simple and low-cost spin coating method. The $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures synthesized by self-assembly reaction showed dendrite morphologies. To produce the piezoelectric nanocomposite(p-NC layer) which acts as an electric energy source in NCG device, the piezoelectric nanopowders($BaTiO_3$) were dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS). Sequently, the p-NC layer was inserted in two dielectric layer of PDMS; these layers enabled the NCG device flexibility as well as durability prohibiting detachment(exfoliation) for significantly mechanical bending motions. The fabricated NCG device shows average maximum open circuit voltage of 6.2 V and average maximum current signals of 300 nA at 20 wt% composition of $BaTiO_3$ nanostructures in p-NC layer. Finally, the flexible energy harvester generates stable output signals at any rate of frequency which were used to operate LCD device without any external energy supply.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.121-126
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• 2022

Owing to advantages of polymeric materials for hydrogen tank liner like light-weight property and high specific strength, polymer based composites have gained much attention. Despite of many benefits, polymeric materials for fuel cell tank cause problems which is critical to applications as low gas barrier property, and poor processability when adding fillers. For these reasons, improving gas barrier property of polymer composites is required to study for expanding application fields. This work presents impermeable polymer nanocomposites by introducing thin barrier coating using layer by layer (LBL) deposition method. Also, bi-layered and quad-layered nanocomposites were fabricated and compared for identifying relationship between deposition step and gas barrier property. Reduction in gas permeability was observed without interrupting mechanical property and processability. It is discussed that proper coating conditions were suggested when different coating materials and deposition steps were applied. We investigated morphology, gas barrier property and mechanical properties of fabricated nanocomposites by FE-SEM, Oxygen permeation analyzer, UTM, respectively. In addition, we revealed the mechanism of barrier performance of LBL coating using materials which have high aspect ratio.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.174-178
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• 2001

The microstructure and mechanical properties of $Si_3N_4/BN $nanocomposites synthesized by chemical processing were investigated. The nanocomposites containing 15 vol% hexagonal BN (h-BN) were fabricated by hot-pressing $\alpha-Si_3N_4$powders covered with turbostratic BN (t-BN). The t-BN coating on $\alpha-Si_3N_4$particles was prepared by heating $\alpha-Si_3N_4$ particles covered with a mixture of boric acid and urea in hydrogen gas. TEM observations of this nanocomposite revealed that nano-sized h-BN particles were homogeneously dispersed within $Si_3N_4$grains as well as at grain boundaries. The strength and thermal shock resistance were significantly improved in comparison with the $Si_3N_4/BN$ microcomposites.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.147-152
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• 2010

Conventional paints for conversion coating applications in steel production derived mainly from water-based polymer dispersions containing several additives actually show good general performance, but suffer from poor scratch and abrasion resistance during use. The reason for this is because the relatively soft organic binder matrix dominates the mechanical surface properties. In order to maintain the high quality and decorative function of coated steel sheets, the mechanical performance of the surface needs to be improved significantly. In fact the wear resistance should be enhanced without affecting the optical appearance of the coatings by using appropriate nanoparticulate additives. In this direction, nanocomposite coating compositions (Nanomer$^{(R)}$) have been derived from water-based polymer dispersions with an increasing amount of surface-modified nanoparticles in aqueous dispersion in order to monitor the effect of degree of filling with rigid nanoparticles. The surface of nanoparticles has been modified for optimum compatibility with the polymer matrix in order to achieve homogeneous nanoparticle dispersion over the matrix. This approach has been extended in such a way that a more expanded hybrid network has been condensed on the nanoparticle surface by a hydrolytic condensation reaction in addition to the quasi-monolayer type small molecular surface modification. It was expected that this additional modification will lead to more intensive cross-linking in coating systems resulting in further improved scratch-resistance compared to simple addition of nanoparticles with quasi-monolayer surface modification. The resulting compositions have been coated on zinc-galvanized steel and cured. The wear resistance and the corrosion protection of the modified coating systems have been tested in dependence on the compositional change, the type of surface modification as well as the mixing conditions with different shear forces. It has been found out that for loading levels up to 50 wt.-% nanoparticles, the mechanical wear resistance remains almost unaffected compared to the unmodified resin. In addition, the corrosion resistance remained unaffected even after $180^{\circ}$ bending test showing that the flexibility of coating was not decreased by nanoparticle addition. Electron microscopy showed that the inorganic nanoparticles do not penetrate into the organic resin droplets during the mixing process but rather formed agglomerates outside the polymer droplet phase resulting in quite moderate cross linking while curing, because of viscosity. The proposed mechanisms of composite formation and cross linking could explain the poor effect regarding improvement of mechanical wear resistance and help to set up new synthesis strategies for improved nanocomposite morphologies, which should provide increased wear resistance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.89-94
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• 2003

Hard coatings are known to improve the performance of cutting tools in aggressive machining applications, such as high speed machining. New superhard Ti-Al-Si-W films, characterized by a nanocomposite nano-sized (Ti,Al,Si)N crystallites embedded in amorphous $Si_3 N_4$ matrix, could be successfully synthesized on WC-Co substrates by a hybrid coating system of arc ion plating(AIP) and sputtering method. The hardness of Ti-Al-Si-N film increased with incorporation of Si, and had the maximum value ~50 GPa at the Si content of 9 at.%, respectively. And the X-ray diffraction patterns of Ti-Al-Si-N films with various Si content is investigated. In this study, Ti-Al-Si-N coatings were applied to end-mill tools made of WC-Co material by a hybrid coating system. Cutting tests fir the high-hardened material (STD11,$H_R$)C62 and their performances in high speed cutting conditions were studied. Also, the tool wear and tool lift of Ti-Al-Si-N with various si(6, 9, 19) contents were measured.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.230-237
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• 2021

In this study, the influence of silicon contents on the microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of Ti-Al-Si-N coatings were systematically investigated for application of cutting tools. The composition of the Ti-Al-Si-N coatings were controlled by different combinations of TiAl₂ and Ti₄Si composite target powers using an arc ion plating technique in a reactive gas mixture of high purity Ar and N₂ during depositions. Ti-Al-Si-N films were nanocomposite consisting of nanosized (Ti,Al,Si)N crystallites embedded in an amorphous Si₃N₄/SiO₂ matrix. The instrumental analyses revealed that the synthesized Ti-Al-Si-N film with Si content of 5.63 at.% was a nanocomposites consisting of nano-sized crystallites (5-7 nm in dia.) and a three dimensional thin layer of amorphous Si₃N₄ phase. The hardness of the Ti-Al-Si-N coatings also exhibited the maximum hardness value of about 47 GPa at a silicon content of ~5.63 at.% due to the microstructural change to a nanocomposite as well as the solid-solution hardening. The coating has a low friction coefficient of 0.55 at room temperature against an Inconel alloy ball. These excellent mechanical and tribological properties of the Ti-Al-Si-N coatings could help to improve the performance of machining and cutting tool applications.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.295-298
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• 2013

Nano-size manganese ferrite reinforced conductive polypyrrole composites reveal a core-shell structure by in situ polymerization, in the presence of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid as the surfactant and dopant, and iron chloride as the oxidant. The structure and magnetic properties of manganese ferrite nano-fillers were measured, by using X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometer. The morphology, microstructure, and conductivity of the composite were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and four-wire technique. The microwave-absorbing properties of composites reinforcement dispersed in resin coating with the coating thickness of 1.2 nm were investigated, by using vector network analyzers, in the frequency range of 8~12 GHz. A reflection loss of -8 dB was observed at 10.5 GHz.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.463-481
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• 2017

Bacteria have been considered as a major foulant that initiates the formation of biofilm on the polymeric membrane surface. Some polymeric membranes are naturally antibacterial and have low fouling properties, however, numerous efforts have been devoted to improve their antibacterial performance. These modifications are mostly carried out through blending the membrane with an antibacterial agent or introducing the antibacterial agent on the membrane surface by chemical grafting. Currently, a significant number of researches have reported nanocomposite membrane as a new approach to fabricate an excellent antibacterial membrane. The antibacterial nanoparticles are dispersed homogenously in membrane structure by blending method or coating onto the membrane surface. Aim of the modifications is to prevent the initial attachment of bacteria to membrane surface and kill bacteria when attached on the membrane surface. In this paper, several studies on antibacterial modified membranes, particularly for water treatment, will be reviewed comprehensively. Special attention will be given on polymeric membrane modifications by introducing antibacterial agents through different methods, such as blending, grafting, and coating.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2009

Quinary Ti-Al-Si-C-N films were successfully synthesized on SUS 304 substrates and Si wafers by a hybrid coating system combining an arc ion plating technique and a DC reactive magnetron sputtering technique. In this work, the effect of Si content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-Al-C-N films were systematically investigated. It was revealed that the microstructure of Ti-Al-Si-C-N coatings changed from a columnar to a nano-composite by the Si addition. Due to the nanocomposite microstructure of Ti-Al-Si-C-N coatings, the microhardness of The Ti-Al-Si-C-N coatings significantly increased up to 56 GPa. In addition the average friction coefficients of Ti-Al-Si-C-N coatings were remarkably decreased with Si addition. Therefore, Ti-Al-Si-C-N coatings can be applicable as next-generation hard-coating materials due to their improved hybrid mechanical properties.