• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2023

Currently, spray coating has attracted interest in the mass production of anode catalyst layers for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). The solvent in the spray ink is a critical factor for the catalyst dispersion in ink, the microstructure of the catalyst layer, and the PEMWE performance. Herein, various pure organic solvents were examined as a substitute for conventional isopropanol-deionized water (IPA-DIW) mixture for ink solvent. Among the polar solvents that exhibited better IrO₂ dispersion over nonpolar solvents, 2-butanol (2-BuOH) was selected as a suitable candidate. The PEMWE single cells were fabricated using 2-BuOH at various ionomer contents, spray nozzle types, and drying temperatures, and their performance was compared to the cells fabricated using a conventional IPA-DIW mixture. The PEMWE single cells with 2-BuOH solvent showed good performances comparable to the conventional IPA-DIW mixture case and highly durable performances under accelerated degradation tests.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.810-814
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• 2017

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are some of the most efficient electrochemical energy sources for transportation applications because of their clean, green, and high efficiency characteristics. The optimization of catalyst layer morphology is considered a feasible approach to achieve high performance of PEMFC membrane electrode assembly (MEA). In this work, we studied the effect of the solvent on the catalyst layer of PEMFC MEAs fabricated using the electrostatic spray deposition method. The catalyst ink comprised of Pt/C, a Nafion ionomer, and a solvent. Two types of solvent were used: isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and dimethylformamide (DMF). Compared with the catalyst layer prepared using IPA-based ink, the catalyst layer prepared with DMF-based ink had a dense structure because the DMF dispersed the Pt/C-Nafion agglomerates smaller and more homogeneously. The size distribution of the agglomerates in catalyst ink was confirmed through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and the microstructure of the catalyst layer was compared using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). In addition, the electrochemical investigation was performed to evaluate the solvent effect on the fuel cell performance. The catalyst layer prepared with DMF-based ink significantly enhanced the cell performance (1.2 A cm-2 at 0.5 V) compared with that fabricated using IPA-based ink (0.5 A cm-2 at 0.5 V) due to the better dispersion and uniform agglomeration on the catalyst layer.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.2767-2774
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• 2024

In this study, investment casting shell waste successfully utilized to produce cordierite/mullite/zircon composites. Green pellets, consisting of investment casting shell waste, alumina, and magnesia, were prepared and sintered at temperatures between 1250 and 1350 ℃. The influence of the sintering temperature on the crystalline phase composition, densification behavior, flexural strength, microstructure, and radiation shielding properties of the cordierite/mullite/zircon composites is investigated. Phase analysis showed that characteristic cordierite peaks appear at 1250 ℃, but the complete conversation of silica from investment casting shell waste into cordierite requires a sintering temperature of at least 1300 ℃. Notably, the cordierite/mullite/zircon composite sintered at 1350 ℃ exhibited a sixfold increase in flexural strength compared to the ceramic composite directly fabricated from investment casting shell waste at the same sintering temperature. Furthermore, the effect of Y₂O₃ addition on composites' radiation shielding properties is investigated. The results show that the Y₂O₃ addition improves densification behavior, enhancing the shielding capabilities of the composites against fast neutron and gamma radiation. Our findings suggest that the developed ceramic composites show significant potential for gamma-ray and neutron shielding applications.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.875-883
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• 2009

We investigated the effects of manufacturing method on the quality of beef jerky using electron micrography. Six types of beef jerky were prepared by the addition of sugar (A), licorice (B), one of three kinds of spice extract (clove: C, fennel fruit: D, and Chungyang green pepper extract: E), or a mixture of all spice extracts (F). Microstructural changes in beef jerky during preparation by drying, with respect to drying method and the nature of the added spice extract, were observed by scanning electron micrography (SEM) and transmission electron micrography (TEM). The latter technique showed that the microstructure of fresh meat showed actin and myosin in myofibril lines, and also mitochondria and inner membranes. Beef muscle structure was broken at many myofibril lines and decomposition of inner membrane material was evident after seasoning. SEM of air-blast dried beef jerky with added medicinal herb extracts showed both large spaces and regular myofibrils, whereas hot air-dried beef jerky had no spaces and the muscle myofibrils were still evident. After review of all available micrographs from SEM and TEM, we concluded that use of medicinal herb extracts could be helpful in preserving the muscle myofibril structure during drying, and the air-blast drying method is recommended to optimize the textural quality characteristics of beef jerky.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.302-307
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• 2017

In this study, Fe-Cu-C alloy is sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The sintering conditions are 60 MPa pressure with heating rates of 30, 60 and $9^{\circ}C/min$ to determine the influence of heating rate on the mechanical and microstructure properties of the sintered alloys. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the sintered Fe-Cu-C alloy is investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The temperature of shrinkage displacement is changed at $450^{\circ}C$ with heating rates 30, 60, and $90^{\circ}C/min$. The temperature of the shrinkage displacement is finished at $650^{\circ}C$ when heating rate $30^{\circ}C/min$, at $700^{\circ}C$ when heating rate $60^{\circ}C/min$ and at $800^{\circ}C$ when heating rate $90^{\circ}C/min$. For the sintered alloy at heating rates of 30, 60, and $90^{\circ}C/min$, the apparent porosity is calculated to be 3.7%, 5.2%, and 7.7%, respectively. The hardness of the sintered alloys is investigated using Rockwell hardness measurements. The objective of this study is to investigate the densification behavior, porosity, and mechanical properties of the sintered Fe-Cu-C alloys depending on the heating rate.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1999

Gas pressure sintered silicon nitride based composites with 0~5wt% $\beta$-Si3N4 whiskers were prepared. The whiskers were unidirectionally oriented by a modified tape casting technqiue and green bodies with various microstructure were formed by changing stacking sequences of sheets cut from the tape. Orientations of the large elongated grains of the sample after gas pressure sintering were the same as the those of the whiskers of green body, and the sintering shrinkage and mechanical properties of sintered sample were consistent with the microstructural characteristics. In case of unidirectional samples, the sintering shrinkage normal to whisker alignment direction was larger than that parallel to the direction. The shrinkage difference inceaed as the whiskercontent increaed. As whisker content increaed, the crack length normal to and parallel to tape casting direction became shorter and larger, respectively. Although the grain size increased by th whisker addition, the flexural strength of unidirectional samples was not lower than that of smaple without the whisker. In case of crossplied and 45$^{\circ}$rotated samples, the anisotropy of mechanical preoperties disappeared.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.363-368
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• 2012

Nitriding and post-sintering behavior of powder mixture compacts were investigated. As mixture compacts are different from simple Si compacts, the fabrication of a sintered body with a mixture composition has engineering implications. In this research, in specimens without a pore former, the extent of nitridation increased with $Si_3N_4$ content, while the highest extent of nitridation was measured in $Si_3N_4$-free composition when a pore former was added. Large pores made from the thermal decomposition of the pore former collapsed, and they were filled with a reaction product, reaction-bonded silicon nitride (RBSN) in the $Si_3N_4$-free specimen. On the other hand, pores from the decomposed pore former were retained in the $Si_3N_4$-added specimen. Introduction of small $Si_3N_4$ particles ($d_{50}=0.3{\mu}m$) into a powder compact consisting of large silicon particles ($d_{50}=7{\mu}m$) promoted close packing in the green body compact, and resulted in a stable strut structure after decomposition of the pore former. The local packing density of the strut structure depends on silicon to $Si_3N_4$ size ratio and affected both nitriding reaction kinetics and microstructure in the post-sintered body.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-71
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• 1990

The fabrication of ceramic machine components by injection molding(CIM : Ceramic Injection Molding) is critically dependent on the shaping and binder extraction techniques. Injection molding is of keen interest to ceramic industries because CIM is suitable for making an intricate shape and manufacturing cost is lower than other process when production scale is large. The success of the molding process is dependent on the correct formulation of the organic vehicle and the achievement of optimum filler loading. Fine alumina powders and polyethylene binder systems were employed to prepare moldable blend then produce a simple specimen by compression molding. Flow characteristics of the mixture was evaluated by viscosity measurement. Optimum binder system and ceramic volume loading for injection molding were determind. A good debinding technique was utilized to improve the quality of debinded parts and save the debinding time. The simple ceramic part was successfully sintered after debinding and its microstructure examined with SEM revealed good consolidation.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2012

Tool steels serve a large range of applications including hot and cold workings of metals and injection mouldings of plastics or light alloys. The high speed steels (HSS) are specifically used as cutting tools and wear parts because it has high strength, wear resistance and hardness along with appreciable toughness and fatigue resistance. From the view of HSS microstructure, it can be described as metallic matrix composites formed by a ferrous with a dispersion of hard and wear resistant carbides. The experimental specimens were manufactured using the PIM with T42 powders (50~80 vol.%) and polymer (20~50 vol.%). The green parts were debinded in n-hexane solution at $60^{\circ}C$ for 8 hours and thermal debinded at an $N_2-H_2$ mixed gas atmosphere for 8 hours. Specimens were sintered in high vacuum ($10^{-5}$ Torr) and various temperatures.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.68-72
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• 2004

Sm-doped YBCO high $T_c$ superconductor was directionally grown by zone melt growth process in air atmosphere. Cylindrical green rods of $(Sm/Y)_{1.8}Ba_{2.4}Cu_{3.4}O_{7-x}$[(Sm/Y)1.8] oxides were fabricated by cold isostatic pressing (CIP) method using rubber mold. Based on the variation of melting temperature and growth rate, the microstructure and superconducting properties were systematically measured by using optical micrographs, TEM and SQUID magnetometer. In this study optimum melting temperature and growth rate were $1085^{\circ}C$ and 3.5 mm/hr respectively. Nonsuperconducting $(Sm/Y)_2BaCuO_5$ inclusions of (Sm/Y)1.8 superconductor were uniformly distributed within the superconducting (Sm/Y) $Ba_2Cu_3O^{7-x}$ matrix. The directionally melt-textured (Sm/Y)1.8 superconductor showed an onset $T_c$ $\geq$ 90K and sharp superconducting transition.