• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.135-139
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• 2011

In order to make high-purity ferro-manganese from $Mn_3O_4$ waste dust, the application of aluminothermite process to the reduction of the waste dust was investigated. The mixture from $Mn_3O_4$ dust as metallic source and Al metal powder as the reductant ignited, and reduced with an extremely intense exothermic reaction. The rapid propagation of the aluminothermite reaction occurred spontaneously and stably by ignition of the mixture. The Manganese having some alloy elements emerged as liquids due to the high temperatures reached up to about $2,500^{\circ}C$ and separated from the liquid by their differences of specific gravity. The result of thermite reaction showed the fact that can be obtained high purity ferro-manganese which have over about 90% of manganese content and lower impurities such as C, P, S than those of KS D3712 specification. The recovery of manganese from $Mn_3O_4$ dust was lower level of about 65% than about 75% from manganese ore by electric furnace process, that is due to spatter loss because of its extremely intense thermite reaction. But it will be improved by the process designed to provide CaO as the cooler or to use the Al metal powder having larger particle size distribution.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2013

Aluminium powder as reductant in aluminothermy process needs a fine particle size under 200 mesh, but it is not easy economically to make that because of its high ductility and powder production cost. In order to reduce the production cost of fine aluminum powder as reductant of $Mn_3O_4$ waste dust, therefore, the properties of aluminium alloy powder were investigated. Aluminium alloy ingot containing large amount of manganese can be crushed easily because of its intermetallic compounds having brittle properties. The manganese is also main element in ferro-manganese. We can obtain economically Al-15%Mn alloy powder by mechanical comminution process. And the result of thermite reaction using Al-15% Mn alloy powder instead of pure Al powder showed the fact that can be obtained the ferro-manganese which have a high purity in case of using pure aluminium powder as reductant. The recovery of manganese from $Mn_3O_4$ waste dust with Al-15%Mn alloy powder was higher level of about 70% than about 65% in case of using aluminium powder, that is due to lower spatter loss.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.302-312
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• 2017

Objectives: In this study, an evaluation of the working environment of furnace workers was performed and the work-relatedness of the occupational diseases were examined Methods: In this study, two electric furnaces at a single casting business site producing manganese-based iron alloy were selected, and occupational exposures to hazardous substances were evaluated for furnace workers and furnace worker assistants. Results: As a result, total dust concentration were $0.407{\sim}3.001mg/m^3$ and respirable dust concentration were $0.196{\sim}0.584mg/m^3$. The highest concentration of crystalline silica was $0.079mg/m^3$ In the case of Masato and Sosuckwhoi crystalline silica, they contained 90.85% and 4.17% respectively. Manganese concentration was the highest at a $0.205mg/m^3$ maximum. The average of black carbon is $11.56{\mu}g/m^3$ and the maximum concentration is $604.23{\mu}g/m^3$. PAHs concentration was the highest at a $78.301{\mu}g/m^3$ of naphthalene. The concentration of carbon monoxide was 18.82 ppm(total average 3.89 ppm) during pouring, and the maximum is 131 ppm. The formaldehyde concentration was 0.003 to 0.007 ppm. Conclusions: It seems that conditions in the past were worse, since casting has recently been performed only twice per day for about 20 minutes, reducing the amount of pouring, and local exhaust systems have been installed one-by-one. In addition, it was judged that the past exposure levels were higher considering the points measured on the back-side due to the risk of damage to the individual samples. It was found that operators could be exposed to high concentrations of crystalline silica, and that they were also exposed to high concentrations of metal(fume) and carbon monoxide during pouring. Therefore, there is a risk that occupational diseases such as lung cancer and COPD may occur with long-term work in such a process.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.76-87
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• 2015

Purpose: There is an ongoing search for a stent material that produces a reduced susceptibility artifact. This study evaluated the effect of manganese (Mn) content on the MRI susceptibility artifact of ferrous-manganese (Fe-Mn) alloys, and investigated the correlation between MRI findings and measurements of Fe-Mn microstructure on X-ray diffraction (XRD). Materials and Methods: Fe-Mn binary alloys were prepared with Mn contents varying from 10% to 35% by weight (i.e., 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35%; designated as Fe-10Mn, Fe-15Mn, Fe-20Mn, Fe-25Mn, Fe-30Mn, and Fe-35Mn, respectively), and their microstructure was evaluated using XRD. Three-dimensional spoiled gradient echo sequences of cylindrical specimens were obtained in parallel and perpendicular to the static magnetic field (B0). In addition, T1-weighted spin echo, T2-weighted fast spin echo, and $T2^*$weighted gradient echo images were obtained. The size of the low-intensity area on MRI was measured for each of the Fe-Mn binary alloys prepared. Results: Three phases of ${\alpha}^{\prime}$-martensite, ${\gamma}$-austenite, and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite were seen on XRD, and their composition changed from ${\alpha}^{\prime}$-martensite to ${\gamma}$-austenite and/or ${\varepsilon}$-martensite, with increasing Mn content. The Fe-10Mn and Fe-15Mn specimens comprised ${\alpha}^{\prime}$-martensite, the Fe-20Mn and Fe-25Mn specimens comprised ${\gamma}+{\varepsilon}$ phases, and the Fe-30Mn and Fe-35Mn specimens exhibited a single ${\gamma}$ phase. The size of the low-intensity areas of Fe-Mn on MRI decreased relative to its microstructure on XRD with increasing Mn content. Conclusion: Based on these findings, proper conditioning of the Mn content in Fe-Mn alloys will improve its visibility on MR angiography, and a Mn content of more than 25% is recommended to reduce the magnetic susceptibility artifacts on MRI. A reduced artifact of Fe-Mn alloys on MRI is closely related to the paramagnetic constitution of ${\gamma}$-austenite and/or ${\varepsilon}$-martensite.