• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.588-595
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• 2009

The knowledge of grain growth of carbide particles is very important for manufacturing micrograined cemented carbides. In the present study, continuous and discontinuous grain growth in WC-Co and WC-VC-Co cemented carbides is investigated using the Monte Carlo computer simulation technique. The Ostwald ripening process (solution/re-precipitation) and the grain boundary migration process are assumed in the simulation as the grain growth mechanism. The effects of liquid phase fraction, grain boundary energy and implanted coarse grain are examined. At higher liquid phase content, mass transfer via solid/liquid interfaces plays a major role in grain growth. Growth rate of the implanted grain was higher than that of the matrix grains through solution/re-precipitation and coalescence with neighboring grains. The results of these simulations qualitatively agree with experimental ones and suggest that distribution of liquid phase and carbide particle/carbide grain boundary energy as well as contamination by coarse grain are important factors controlling discontinuous grain growth in WC-Co and WC-VC-Co cemented carbides. The contamination by coarse grains must by avoided in the manufacturing process of fine grain cemented carbides, especially with low Co.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.95.1-95.1
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• 2013

The RBSPICE (Radiation Belt Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment) is one of five instrument suites onboard the twin Van Allan Probes (or Radiation Belt Storm Probes; RBSP), launched August 30, 2012 by NASA. One of science targets of RBSPICE instrument is to determine "how changes in that ring current affect the creation, acceleration, and loss of radiation belt particles?". For that purpose, it measures ions and electrons simultaneously. Ion's energy range is from ~20 keV to ~1 MeV and electron's energy channel is from ~35 keV to 1 MeV in order to provide supplementary information about the radiation belts. In this paper, we investigate a reliability of the electron flux measured from the RBSPICE by comparing with ECT (The Energetic Particle, Composition and Thermal Plasma Suite) data. We found there is a critical proton contamination problem in the electron channels of ~ 1MeV of RBSPICE observations during one moderate storm event of Sym H ~ -76 nT on March 1, 2013.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.287-293
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• 2007

Heavy metal contamination and biological toxicity of mine drainages and sediments in abandoned mines were studied. Mine drainages had pH at a range of 2.94~7.86, and contained heavy metals at a toxic level. For coal mines, toxicity of mine drainage to Daphnia magna was attributable to acidic pH. In addition to the low pH, suspended heavy metals such as Zn and Cu contributed to toxicity of mine drainages at abandoned metalliferous mines. All mine sediments studied in this work showed biological toxicity to Chironomus riparius, having mortality at a range of 15~60%. However, its relationship with physicochemical properties including heavy metal content of the sediments was not statistically explained. Exceptionally clay ($< 2{\mu}m$ particle) content was negatively correlated with the biological toxicity for sediment samples collected at the same abandoned mines.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.627-634
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• 2023

Tire wear particles(TWPs), regarded as a microplastic, is generated in significant quantities each year and exist in various spaces and have a negative impact on the surrounding environment. Particularly, roadside environments fall within the direct influence of TWPs, necessitating proactive investigation for contamination management and response. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the soil acidity and electrical conductivity(EC) and TWPs in the roadside soil of six sites based on traffic volume. The analysis revealed that the soil in all sites exhibited subacidity, and there were no significant differences in EC. Microscopic and FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of microscopic particles in soil samples that exhibited common visual characteristics of TWPs. In the road with the highest traffic volume, 48,300 TWPs were detected per unit area. Furthermore, a proportional relationship between traffic volume and TWPs particles was established. However, influences other than traffic volume on TWPs particle count within the soil were observed. Therefore, for the management of TWPs contaminated roadside soil, a proactive response is necessary in areas with high traffic volumes. However, in order to effectively address the factors contributing to the generation and dispersion of TWPs, further research is required with a multidimensional approach.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.8-25
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• 2020

Industrialization has increased the production of road-deposited sediments (RDS) and the level of heavy metals in those RDS, which can have a significant impact on the surrounding aquatic environments through non-point pollution. Although the relationship between contamination characteristics and particle size of RDS is important for pollution control, there is very little information on this. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of grain size distribution and heavy metal concentrations in the road-deposited sediments (RDS) collected from 25 stations in Shihwa Industrial Complex. The environmental impact of RDS with particle size is also studied. I_geo, the contamination assessment index of each metal concentration, represents the RDS from Shihwa Industrial Complex are very highly polluted with Cu, Zn, Pb and Sb, and the levels of those metals were 633~3605, 130~1483, 120~1997, 5.5~50 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of heavy metals in RDS increased with the decrease in particle size. The particle size fraction below 250 ㎛ was very dominant with mass and contamination loads, 78.6 and 70.4%, respectively. Particles less than 125 ㎛ of RDS were highly contaminated and toxic to benthic organisms in rivers. RDS particles larger than 250 ㎛ and smaller than 250 ㎛ were contaminated by the surrounding industrial facility and vehicle activities, respectively. As a result of this study, the clean-up of fine particles of RDS, smaller than 125-250 ㎛, is very important for the control and reduction of non-point pollution to nearby water in Shihwa Industrial Complex.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.518-526
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• 2019

Background: Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly expanding new technology involving challenges to occupational health. Here, metal exposure in an AM facility with large-scale metallic component production was investigated during two consecutive years with preventive actions in between. Methods: Gravimetric analyzes measured airborne particle concentrations, and filters were analyzed for metal content. In addition, concentrations of airborne particles <300 nm were investigated. Particles from recycled powder were characterized. Biomonitoring of urine and dermal contamination among AM operators, office personnel, and welders was performed. Results: Total and inhalable dust levels were almost all below occupational exposure limits, but inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry showed that AM operators had a significant increase in cobalt exposure compared with welders. Airborne particle concentrations (<300 nm) showed transient peaks in the AM facility but were lower than those of the welding facility. Particle characterization of recycled powder showed fragmentation and condensates enriched in volatile metals. Biomonitoring showed a nonsignificant increase in the level of metals in urine in AM operators. Dermal cobalt and a trend for increasing urine metals during Workweek Year 1, but not in Year 2, indicated reduced exposure after preventive actions. Conclusion: Gravimetric analyses showed low total and inhalable dust exposure in AM operators. However, transient emission of smaller particles constitutes exposure risks. Preventive actions implemented by the company reduced the workers' metal exposure despite unchanged emissions of particles, indicating a need for careful design and regulation of the AM environments. It also emphasizes the need for relevant exposure markers and biomonitoring of health risks.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.87-94
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• 2013

As sediment contamination problems have recently been raised in Korea, the need for technologies to remove contaminants in sediments has increased. Contaminated sediments in Korea has been annually dredged and treated using processes of coagulation/flocculation, sedimentation on barges, dewatered and dried at prepared site, and then disposed at a landfill site, which is very costly, and only a limited landfill space available in Korea. Contaminants in media containing a high percentage of silt and clay sized particles, typically, are strongly adsorbed on the particles and difficult to remove. Particle separation processes that separate the fine clay and silt particles from the coarser sand and gravel and concentrate the contaminants into a smaller volume of sediment that can be further treated of disposed of, are very effective in the post step processes. In this study are to test the feasibility of treating dredged sediments using a hydrocyclone process, and to estimate design parameters for a pilot scale test. A hydrocyclone was operated to separate larger particles from the sediments. It was found that the particle separation was greatly affected by the solid contents and inlet pressure in the hydrocyclone.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.281-286
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• 2015

Automotive transmission systems are assembled with a large number of gears and shafts, and rolling bearings are used to ensure their smooth operation. Gear oil in the gear box contains solid particles such as wear debris from contacting gears and metallic chips. This particle-enriched lubricating oil can cause premature failure of the rolling bearings. Research aimed at improving the service life of these rolling bearings has been confined mainly to design and lubrication of the inner/outer rings and the rolling elements. In this paper, we redesigned the shape of the cage pocket of a deep groove ball bearing to reduce the premature failure due to particle contamination. Test bearings are assembled with this new cage design containing a hole punched in the cage pocket. Endurance tests are carried out using the contaminated lubricating oil with miracle grid as hard particle. The duration and damaged bearing component shapes are compared for two different cages. The B₁₀ life of bearing with new cage is increased by about 66% compared to the conventional cage. This is because the hard particles can be easily discharged through the pocket hole without staying for a long time in the lubrication regions. This greatly decreases abrasive wear and dents on the highly stressed ball bearing surfaces. Therefore, the cage design of this study, containing a pocket hole, can significantly delay the premature failure of rolling bearings and improve the endurance life.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2022

In this study, a novel antiviral coating method for the air filtration system of subway station was investigated. Using dry aerosol coating process, we developed a high-performance antiviral air filter with spark discharger and carbon brush type ionizer. Silver nanoparticles were produced by a spark discharge generation system with ion injection system and were used as antiviral agents coated onto a medium grade air filter. The pressure drop, filtration efficiency, and antiviral ability of the filter against aerosolized MS2 virus particles as a surrogate of SARS-CoV-2 virus were tested with dust contamination. Dust contamination caused the increase of the filtration efficiency and pressure drop, while the antiviral agents (in this study, silver nanoparticles) coating did not have any significant effect on the filtration efficiency and pressure drop. Using these properties, we suggested a novel method to maximize the antiviral performance of the antiviral air filter that was contaminated by dust particles. Moreover theoretical analysis of antiviral ability with dust contamination and re-coated antiviral agents was carried out using a mathematical model to calculate the time-dependent antiviral effect of the filter under actual conditions of subway station. Our model can be used to apply on antiviral air filtration system of subway station for prevention of pandemic diffusion, and predict the life cycle of an antiviral filter.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.252-271
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• 2020

In this study, we investigated physical and chemical properties such as grain size, heavy metal pollution, magnetic properties, and their environmental impacts of road dusts (RD) collected from 14 sampling points in Daebul industrial Complex. Heavy metal concentrations in RD were in the order of Fe>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Ni>As>Cd>Hg, and this pollution pattern was related to major industries and traffic activities in this area. The results of the correlation analysis between heavy metal elements and particle size in RD showed that Fe and all of analyzed heavy metals had a significant correlation with each other and metal concentrations had a significantly negative correlation (p<0.05). However, due to the input of large metal particles some heavy metal concentrations in the particle fraction of >1000 ㎛ were highest. Pollution load per unit area of this fraction was the highest among the grain size fractions. Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb levels in RD decreased and the levels of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were reduced to 85 (As) -22 (Ni)% of the whole after removal of MFs fraction from RD. The mean heavy metal levels in the study area did not exceed the soil contamination guide value of Korea, indicating that heavy metal levels in RD were not a concern. However, at some sampling points, Zn concentrations were exceeded the soil contamination guide value for the 3rd areas of Korea and this result indicated that further studies of the impact of RD on the surrounding environment through re-suspension or non-point pollution, and of effective management methods are required.