• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.715-723
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• 2017

Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) in the water environment assemble fine, colloidal particles, such as clays, microorganisms and biomass, in large flocs, which are eventually subject to sedimentation and deposition and determine water/sediment quality and quantity. This study hence aimed to investigate the way that water and colloidal chemistry affects EPS-mediated flocculation of colloidal particles, using a jar-test experiment. Especially, ionic strength, divalent cation and humic substances concentrations were selected as experimental variables in the jar-test experiments, to elucidate their effects on EPS-mediated flocculation. A higher ionic strength increased flocculation capability, reducing electrostatic repulsion between EPS-attached colloidal particles and enhancing particle aggregation. 0.1 M NaCl ionic strength had higher flocculation capability, with 3 times larger floc size and 2.5 times lower suspended solid concentration, than 0.001 M NaCl. Divalent cations, such as $Ca^{2+}$, built divalent cationic bridges between colloidal particles and EPS (i.e., $colloid-Ca^{2+}-EPS$ or $EPS-Ca^{2+}-EPS$) and hence made colloidal particles to build into large, settelable flocs. A small $Ca^{2+}$ concentration enhanced flocculation capability, reducing suspended solid concentration 20 times lower than the initial dosed concentration. However, humic substances, adsorbed on colloidal particles, reduced flocculation, because they blocked EPS adsorption on colloidal particles and increased negative charges and electrostatic repulsion of colloidal particles. Suspended solid concentration in the tests with humic substances remained as high as the initial dosed concentration, indicating stabilization rather than flocculation. Findings about EPS-mediated flocculation in this research will be used for better understanding the fate and transport of colloidal particles in the water environment and for developing the best management practices for water/sediment quality.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.347-362
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• 2020

Iron (hydro)oxides in aqueous environments are primarily formed due to mining activities, and they are known to be typical colloidal particles disturbing surrounding environments. Among them, hematites are widespread in surface environments, and their behavior is controlled by diverse factors in aqueous environments. This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of environmental factors, such as ionic composition and strength, pH, and natural organic matter (NOM) on the behavior of colloidal hematite particles. In particular, two analytical methods, such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and single-particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS), were compared to quantify and characterize the behavior of colloidal hematites. According to the variation of ionic composition and strength, the aggregation/dispersion characteristics of the hematite particles were affected as a result of the change in the thickness of the diffuse double layer as well as the total force of electrostatic repulsion and van der Walls attraction. Besides, the more dispersed the particles were, the farther away the aqueous pH was from their point of zero charge (PZC). The results indicate that the electrostatic and steric (structural) stabilization of the particles was enhanced by the functional groups of the natural organic matter, such as carboxyl and phenolic, as the NOM coated the surface of colloidal hematite particles in aqueous environments. Furthermore, such coating effects seemed to increase with decreasing molar mass of NOM. On the contrary, these stabilization (dispersion) effects of NOM were much more diminished by divalent cations such as Ca²⁺ than monovalent ones (Na⁺), and it could be attributed to the fact that the former acted as bridges much more strongly between the NOM-coated hematite particles than the latter because of the relatively larger ionic potential of the former. Consequently, it was quantitatively confirmed that the behavior of colloidal hematites in aqueous environments was significantly affected by diverse factors, such as ionic composition and strength, pH, and NOM. Among them, the NOM seemed to be the primary and dominant one controlling the behavior of hematite colloids. Meanwhile, the results of the comparative study on DLS and spICPMS suggest that the analyses combining both methods are likely to improve the effectiveness on the quantitative characterization of colloidal behavior in aqueous environments because they showed different strengths: the main advantage of the DLS method is the speed and ease of the operation, while the outstanding merit of the spICP-MS are to consider the shape of particles and the type of aggregation.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.246-256
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• 2003

For the olefin recovery from polyolefin off-gas, the permeation behaviors of olefins and nitrogen were investigated through three kinds of PDMS membranes - cross-linked PDMS membranes, a polysiloxaneimide membrane, and oligo-PDMS modified PDMS membranes. Their pure gas permeabilities were measured as a function of operation temperature(-20 to $50^{\circ}C$) and pressure(1 to 25 atm) with ethylene($C_2\;H_4$), propylene($C_3\;H_6$), butylene($C_4\;H_8$), and nitrogen($N_2$) gases. The permeabilities of olefins and nitrogen highly depended upon the nature of PDMS membranes. Among these membranes, cross-linked PDMS membranes showed stable and high olefin/nitrogen selectivities over a wide operation pressure range and further study in various test conditions. Their permeability of olefin and nitrogen were governed by the condensation temperature(solubility selectivity) and plasticization, not the order of the size(diffusivity selectivity) of gases, which matched well with the general permeation behavior of rubbery polymeric membranes for condensable and non-condensable gases. With increasing feed pressure or decreasing feed temperature, the permeabilities of more condensible olefins increase highly, presumably due to high solubility and plasticization, but that of non-condensible nitrogen decreases slightly and thus, the selectivities of olefin/nitrogen increase highly.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.573-580
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• 2009

This paper presents the mix composition, production method, and curing condition applied to the extruded ECC(Engineered Cementitious Composite) panel which are able to exhibit multiple cracking and potential pseudo strain-hardening behavior. In addition to the production technique of extruded ECC panel, the effect of fiber distribution characteristics, which are uniquely created by applying extrusion process, on the flexural behavior of the panel is also focussed. In order to demonstrate fiber distribution, a series of experiments and analyses, including image processing/analysis and micro-mechanical analysis, was performed. The optimum mix composition of extruded ECC panel was determined in terms of water matrix ratio, the amount of cement, ECC powder, and silica powder. It was found that flexural behavior of extruded ECC panel was highly affected by the slight difference in mix composition of ECC panel. This is mainly because the difference in mix composition results in the change of micro-mechanical properties as well as fiber distribution characteristics, represented by fiber dispersion and orientation. In terms of the average fiber orientation, the fiber distribution was found to be similar to the assumption of two dimensional random distribution, irrespective of mix composition. In contrast, the probability density function for fiber orientation was measured to be quite different depending on the mix composition.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.385-390
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• 2006

In this work, the effect of carbon nanofiber (CNF) on thermal properties, and friction and wear behavior of CNF/PMMA composites were examined. While thermal properties of the composites were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, thermograyimetric analyzer, and dynamic mechanical analyzer friction and wear behaviors were examined using a friction and wear tester. The glass transition temperature (Tg), integral procedural decomposition temperature (IPDT), storage modulus (E'), and tan ${\delta}$ appeared at higher temperatures with increasing CNF content, which were probably attributed to the presence of strong interactions between the carbonaceous fillers and the PMMA resins matrix. The wear loss in the composites decreased at 0.1 wt% CNF and then increased with 5-10 wt% CNF content. This was due to the existence of large aspect ratio CNF in PMMA which led to an alignment of PMMA chains and an increase of mechanical interlocking, resulting in the formation of crosslinked structures between CNF and PMMA in the composite.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.102-112
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• 2019

This paper studies impact fracture behavior under temperature variation and compressive flexural strength of cement composites using VAE(vinyl acetate ethylene) powder polymer and PVA(polyvinyl alcohol) fiber. Impact test were conducted in the temperature range selected for the $-35^{\circ}C$, $0^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. In this experimental study, impact test were carried out using a drop impact testing machine (Ceast 9350) to obtain such as displacement, time, and impact fracture energy of normal specimen and and cement composites specimen. As test results, the use of VAE powder polymer and PVA fiber were observed to enhance the flexural strength of mortar. The compressive strength of PVA fibers reinforced cement composites was slightly decreased at 28 days, but the flexural strength was observed to increase 24.4% of normal mortar strength. As a result of the drop impact tests, PVA fiber reinforced cement composites specimens showed microcracks due to energy dispersion and crack prevention with bridge effect of the fibers, and scabbing or perforation by impact was suppressed. On the other hand, the normal mortar and VAE powder polymer cement composites specimens were carried out to the perforation and macro crack. Most of normal mortar and the cement composites subjected to impact load on specimens shows mostly local brittle failure. The impact resistant performance of the specimen with PVA fiber was greatly improved due to the increase of flexure performance.

• The Korean Journal of Rheology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1999

Viscoelastic characteristics of cured phenolic resin/carbon fiber composite materials were investigated through glass transition and degradation reaction processes in the high temperature region up to $400^{\circ}C$. A typical glass transition of the cross-linked thermoset polymer was followed by irreversible degradation reactions, which were exhibited by the increasing storage modulus and loss modulus peak. A degradation master curve was constructed by using the vertical and horizontal shift factors, both of which complied well with the Arrhenius equation in light of the kinetic expression of degradation rate constants. Using an analogy to the Havriliak-Negami equation in dielectric relaxation phenomena, a viscoelastic modeling methodology was developed to characterize the frequency- and temperature-dependent complex moduli of the degrading thermoset polymer composite systems. The temperature-dependent relaxation time of the degrading composites was determined in a continuous fashion and showed a minimum relaxation time between the glass transition and degradation reaction regions. The capability of the developed modeling methodology was demonstrated by describing the complex behavior of the viscoelastic complex moduli of reacting phenolic resin composite systems.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2012

Though steel reinforcing bars are the most widely used tensile reinforcement, corrosion problems are encountered due to the exposure to aggressive environments. As an alternative material to steel, the fiber reinforced polymers have been used as reinforcement in concrete structures. However, bond strength of FRP rebar is relatively low compared to steel rebar. It has been reported that fibers in matrix can resist crack growth, propagation and finally result in an increase of toughness. In this study, high-strength concrete reinforced with structural fibers was produced to enhance interfacial bond behavior between FRP rebar and concrete matrix. The interfacial bond-behaviors were investigated from a direct pullout test. The test variables were surface conditions of GFRP bars and fiber types. Total of 54 pullout specimens with three different types of bars were cast for bond strength tests. The bond strength-slip responses and resistance of the bond failure were evaluated. The test results showed that the bond strength and toughness increased according to the increased fiber volume.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.278-285
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• 2012

Effects of ion species on the expansion behavior of Poly(styrene sufonic acid)(PSSA) hydrogel were investigated in aqueous solution of selected anions, cations and hydrophobic ions. The deexpansion extent of Poly(stylene sulfonic acid) gel follow the sequence $SCN^-$<$Br^-$<$Cl^-$<$F^-$ in low concentration solutions due to the destabilization of anions to hydrogen bond between ${SO_3}^-$ and water. The deexpansion in cations followed the sequence of counterion interactions between ${SO_3}^-$ and cations. It was discussed the effects of ions on the hydrogen bonding through ${SO_3}^-$ and phenyl ring in salt solutions. Other interactions, such as the cation-${\pi}$ interaction, hydrophobic interaction, and dispersion force, contributed to the ion specific swelling of PSSA hydrogel.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.557-562
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• 2018

High molecular weight sodium alginate (HMWSA)/low molecular weight sodium alginate (LMWSA) microcapsules containing phytoncide oil were prepared with different LMWSA contents. The effects of the stirring rate and ratio of HMWSA/LMWSA on the diameter and morphology of the phytoncide/alginate beads were investigated by optical microscopy and the release behaviors of phytoncide oil from the phytoncide/alginate beads were characterized by UV/Vis. spectrophotometry. The mean particle size of the phytoncide/alginate beads decreased with increasing stirring rate and concentration of the calcium chloride solution. The surface morphology of the phytoncide/alginate beads changed from smooth surfaces to skin-like rough surfaces with increasing LMWSA content. These results were due mainly to the increased hydrophilic groups at the bead surface, resulting in an increase in the release rate of phytoncide oil in the phytoncide/alginate beads.