• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.227-232
• /
• 2013

Al-based alloys have recently attracted considerable interest as structural materials and light weight materials due to their excellent physical and mechanical properties. For the investigation of the potential of Al-based alloys, a surface porous $Al_{88}Cu_6Si_6$ eutectic alloy has been fabricated through a chemical leaching process. The formation and microstructure of the surface porous $Al_{88}Cu_6Si_6$ eutectic alloy have been investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The $Al_{88}Cu_6Si_6$ eutectic alloy is composed of an ${\alpha}$-Al dendrite phase and a single eutectic phase of $Al_2Cu$ and ${\alpha}$-Al. We intended to remove only the ${\alpha}$-Al phase and then the $Al_2Cu$ phase would form a porous structure on the surface with open pores. Both acidic and alkaline aqueous chemical solutions were used with various concentrations to modify the influence on the microstructure and the overall chemical reaction was carried out for 24 hr. A homogeneous open porous structure on the surface was revealed via selective chemical leaching with a $H_2SO_4$ solution. Only the ${\alpha}$-Al phase was successfully leached while the morphology of the $Al_2Cu$ phase was maintained. The pore size was in a range of $1{\sim}5{\mu}m$ and the dealloying depth was nearly $3{\mu}m$. However, under an alkaline NaOH, aqueous solution, an inhomogeneous porous structure on the surface was formed with a 5 wt% NaOH solution and the morphology of the $Al_2Cu$ phase was not preserved. In addition, the sample that was leached by using a 7 wt% NaOH solution crumbled. Al extracted from the Al2Cu phase as ${\alpha}$-Al phase was dealloyed, and increasing concentration of NaOH strongly influenced the morphology of the $Al_2Cu$ phase and sample statement.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.207-217
• /
• 2009

After replicating 10 bronze types such as Gyemija, Gyeongjaja, Eulhaeja, etc. before the Imjin war, we studied the change of microstructure from each casting process, method, and alloy ratio by Gyechukja replicated from "Donggukyeojiseungnam". We selected the average of compositions of Eulhaeja in the National Museum of Korea as the standard(Cu 86.7%, Sn: 9.7%, Pb: 2.3%) of bronze types, so we decided on the alloy's composition of Cu 87%, Sn 15%, Pb 8% added to 5% Sn and Pb contents because of evaporating the Sn and the Pb. Before replicating major metal types, we made master-alloy first, melting it again, and then replicated metal types. The composition of the 1'st replicated Gyechukja showed the range of Cu 85.81~87.63%, Sn 9.27~10.51%, Pb 3.05~3.19%. The 2'nd replicated Gyechukja made using the branch metal left after casting the 1st replica. The 2nd replicated Gyechukja showed the composition range of Cu 87.21~88.09%, Sn 9.06~9.36%, Pb 2.80~3.05%. This result decreases a little contents of Sn and Pb as compared with metal types of the 1st replica. However, it's almost the same as the Eulhaeja's average composition ratio in the National Museum of Korea. As a result of observing the microstructure of restored Gyechukja, it showed the dendrite structure of the typical casting structure and the segregation of Pb. There is no big difference of microstructure between the 1st and the 2nd restored metal types, even though the 2nd restored types partially decreases the eutectoid region in comparison with the 1st types. The systematic and scientific restoration experiment of metal types using Joseon period will be showed the casting method and alloy ratio, and this will be of great help to the study of restoration metal types in the future.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.16-26
• /
• 2007

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease catalyzing the proteolytic conversion of plasminogen into plasmin, which is involved in thrombolysis. During last two decades, the role of tPA in brain physiology and pathology has been extensively investigated. tPA is expressed in brain regions such as cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and cerebellum, and major neural cell types such as neuron, astrocyte, microglia and endothelial cells express tPA in basal status. After strong neural stimulation such as seizure, tPA behaves as an immediate early gene increasing the expression level within an hour. Neural activity and/or postsynaptic stimulation increased the release of tPA from axonal terminal and presumably from dendritic compartment. Neuronal tPA regulates plastic changes in neuronal function and structure mediating key neurologic processes such as visual cortex plasticity, seizure spreading, cerebellar motor learning, long term potentiation and addictive or withdrawal behavior after morphine discontinuance. In addition to these physiological roles, tPA mediates excitotoxicity leading to the neurodegeneration in several pathological conditions including ischemic stroke. Increasing amount of evidence also suggest the role of tPA in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis even though beneficial effects was also reported in case of Alzheimer's disease based on the observation of tPA-induced degradation of $A{\beta}$ aggregates. Target proteins of tPA action include extracellular matrix protein laminin, proteoglycans and NMDA receptor. In addition, several receptors (or binding partners) for tPA has been reported such as low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and annexin II, even though intracellular signaling mechanism underlying tPA action is not clear yet. Interestingly, the action of tPA comprises both proteolytic and non-proteolytic mechanism. In case of microglial activation, tPA showed non-proteolytic cytokine-like function. The search for exact target proteins and receptor molecules for tPA along with the identification of the mechanism regulating tPA expression and release in the nervous system will enable us to better understand several key neurological processes like teaming and memory as well as to obtain therapeutic tools against neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.65-75
• /
• 2021

Coin cell is a basic testing platform for battery research, discovering new materials and concepts, and contributing to fundamental research on next-generation batteries. Li metal batteries (LMBs) are promising since a high energy density (~500 Wh kg^-1) is deliverable far beyond Li-ion. However, Li dendrite-triggered volume fluctuation and high surface cause severe deterioration of performance. Given that such drawbacks are strongly dependent on the cell parameters and structure, such as the amount of electrolyte, Li thickness, and internal pressure, reliable Li metal coin cell testing is challenging. For the LMB-specialized coin cell testing platform, this study suggests the optimal coin cell structure that secures performance and reproducibility of LMBs under stringent conditions, such as lean electrolyte, high mass loading of NMC cathode, and thinner Li use. By controlling the cathode/anode (C/A) area ratio closer to 1.0, the inactive space was minimized, mitigating the cell degradation. The quantification and imaging of inner cell pressure elucidated that the uniformity of the pressure is a crucial matter to improving performance reliability. The LMB coin cells exhibit better cycling retention and reproducibility under higher (0.6 MPa → 2.13 MPa) and uniform (standard deviation: 0.43 → 0.16) stack pressure through the changes in internal parts and introducing a flexible polymer (PDMS) film.