• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2013

Today, the modification of carbon foam for high performance remains a major issue in the environment and energy industries. One promising way to solve this problem is the optimization of the pore structure for desired properties as well as for efficient performance. In this study, using a sol-gel process followed by carbonization in an inert atmosphere, hollow spherical carbon foam was prepared using resorcinol and formaldehyde precursors catalyzed by 4-aminobenzoic acid; the effect of carbonization temperature and re-immersion treatment on the pore structure and characteristics of the hollow spherical carbon foam was investigated. As the carbonization temperature increased, the porosity and average pore diameter were found to decrease but the compression strength and electrical conductivity dramatically increased in the temperature range of this study ($700^{\circ}C$ to $850^{\circ}C$). The significant differences of X-ray diffraction patterns obtained from the carbon foams carbonized under different temperatures implied that the degree of crystallinity greatly affects the characteristics of the carbon form. Also, the number of re-impregnations of carbon form in the resorcinol-formaldehyde resin was varied from 1 to 10 times, followed by re-carbonization at $800^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours under argon gas flow. As the number of re-immersion treatments increased, the porosity decreased while the compression strength improved by about four times when re-impregnation was repeated 10 times. These results imply the possibility of customizing the characteristics of carbon foam by controlling the carbonization and re-immersion conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.57-62
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• 2012

The purpose of this paper is to find dangerous factors of a water purifier when water leaks due to inappropriate use and analyze the patterns of damaged parts in order to provide data for the examination of the cause of the problem. If the water purifier is inspected and managed by a non-specialist, when the FLC(Float Level Controller) at the top is inclined, water leakage may occur to the water purifier. The leaked water flows onto the cables and hoses and enters the thermostat terminal, heater, PCB, power supply connection connector, etc., becoming a dangerous factor that may cause a system failure, fire, etc. Due to the water that entered the input terminal, low noise and white smoke were generated at first. However, the flame gradually propagated due to the continuous inflow of moisture. It was found that when moisture reached the PCB, a carbonized conductive path was formed at the varistor terminal, input terminal, semiconductor device terminal, etc., and the flame became larger, which might result in a fire. From the metal microscope analysis of a damaged condenser terminal, it was found that the amorphous structure unique to copper cable disappeared, and voids, boundary surface and disorderly fine particles occurred. Also, in the case of the connector into which moisture penetrated, fusion and deformation occurred at the cable connection clips. The result of analysis of the power supply cable connector using a thermal image camera showed that most of the heat was generated from the cable connection clips and the temperature at the connection center was normal.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.35-39
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• 2012

This paper analyzes the combustion diffusion pattern when a water purifier is artificially ignited outside and inside in order to provide data to examine the cause of fire of a water purifier damaged by fire. The analysis result of the combustion diffusion pattern of a water purifier shows that the combustion diffused at a higher speed when it was ignited inside the purifier than when ignited outside. It took approximately 360 seconds for the water purifier to be half-burned when ignited on the outside, and approximately 180 seconds when ignited from inside. That is, it is thought that the internal combustion speed is higher because the internal ignition causes the generated heat to be accumulated and radiated instantly. It was observed that the water purifier damaged by fire caused by external ignition showed a uniform carbonization pattern and the carbide burned down at the bottom were gradually deposited. The water purifier damaged by internal ignition showed a relatively clear boundary of carbonized surface, which formed a V-pattern. The difference in the combustion patterns presents an objective base from which to determine where the fire started. By the time the purifier was half-burned by fire, the built-in fuse had not melted and the power supply protection device did not operate. In addition, as was found in the case of the fuse damaged by a general fire, carbonization occurred at the metal holder, and it is thought that this fact may be used as a basis from which to determine the cause of a fire.