• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2016

Sulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) random copolymers have merits such as high proton conductivity, relatively low production cost, and thermochemical resistance when applied as polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells. However, it is difficult to directly employ SPAES copolymers into practical fuel cell membrane applications owing to their low chemical stability and dimensional instability under harsh operation conditions. A plausible solution is to impregnate SPAES copolymers into support films (e.g., electrospun polyimide support) with interconnected pore structures and high thermochemical toughness. In this study, a SPAES copolymer with a swivel group, which induces high free volume for fast ion transport, is chosen as ionomers to prepare pore-filling membranes (PFMs). The feasibility of the resulting membranes is evaluated via membrane characterizations.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.97-101
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• 2017

Metal foams have a cellular structure consisting of a solid metal containing a large volume fraction of pores. In particular, open pores which are penetrable pores are necessary for industrial applications such as in high temperature filters and as support for catalysts. In this study, Fe foam with greater than 90% porosity and 2-mm pore size was successfully fabricated using a slurry coating process and the pore properties were characterized. The Fe and $Fe_2O_3$ powder mixing ratios were controlled to produce Fe foam samples with different pore sizes and porosity. First, the slurry was prepared through the uniform mixing of powders, distilled water, and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA). The amount of slurry coated with the PU foam increased with increasing $Fe_2O_3$ mixing powder ratio, but the shrinkage and porosity of the Fe foams decreased, respectively, with increasing $Fe_2O_3$ mixing powder ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.93-101
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• 2011

High quality X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) imaging of internal microstructures and pore space in geomaterials is often hampered by some inherent noises embedded in the images. In this paper, we introduce image calibration techniques for removing the most common noises in X-ray micro-CT, cupping (brightness difference between the periphery and central regions) and ring artifacts (consecutive concentric circles emanating from the origin). The artifacts removal sequentially applies coordinate transformation, normalization, and low-pass filtering in 2D Fourier spectrum to raw CT-images. The applicability and performance of the techniques are showcased by describing extraction of 3D pore structures from micro-CT images of porous basalt using artifacts reductions, binarization, and volume stacking. Comparisions between calibrated and raw images indicate that the artifacts removal allows us to avoid the overestimation of porosity of imaged materials, and proper calibration of the artifacts plays a crucial role in using X-ray CT for geomaterials.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.181-191
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• 2016

In geological storage of $CO_2$, the behavior of $CO_2$ is influenced by pore network of rock. In this study, the drilling cores from Pohang Basin were analyzed quantitatively using three-dimensional images acquired by X-ray micro computed tomography. The porosities of sandstone specimens around 740 m-depth (T1), 780 m-depth (T2) and 810 m-depth (T3) which were target strata were 25.22%, 23.97%, 6.28%, respectively. Equivalent diameter, volume, area, local thickness of pores inside the sandstone specimens were analyzed. As a result, the microstructural properties of T1 and T2 specimens were more suitable for geological storage of $CO_2$ than those of T3 specimens. The result of the study can be used as input data of the site for decision of injection condition, flow simulation and so on.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2012

For the recycling of rapid-cooled steel slag, various specimens were prepared with the various replacement ratios of the rapid-cooled steel slag and the addition ratios of polymer binders. The physical properties of these specimens were then investigated by absorption test, compressive strength test, flexural strength test and hot water resistance test, and the pore and the micro-structure analysis was performed using scanning electron microscope. Results showed that the flexural strength increased with the increase of rapid-cooled steel slag and polymer binder, but the compressive strength showed a maximum strength at a certain proportion. By the hot water resistance test, compressive strength and flexural strength decreased remarkably and the total pore volume increased but the pore diameter decreased. SEM observation of the structure before the hot water resistance test revealed a very compact infusion of structure but the decomposition or thermal degradation appeared in polymer binders when observed after the hot water resistance test.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.502-510
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• 2021

Hierarchically porous carbon materials with high nitrogen functionalities are extensively studied as high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials. In this study, nitrogen-doped porous carbon textile (N-PCT) with hierarchical pore structures is prepared as an electrode material for supercapacitors from a waste cotton T-shirt (WCT). Porous carbon textile (PCT) is first prepared from WCT by two-step heat treatment of stabilization and carbonization. The PCT is then nitrogen-doped with urea at various concentrations. The obtained N-PCT is found to have multi-modal pore structures with a high specific surface area of 1,299 m² g^-1 and large total pore volume of 1.01 cm³ g^-1. The N-PCT-based electrode shows excellent electrochemical performance in a 3-electrode system, such as a specific capacitance of 235 F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1, excellent cycling stability of 100 % at 5 A g^-1 after 1,000 cycles, and a power density of 2,500 W kg^-1 at an energy density of 3.593 Wh kg^-1. Thus, the prepared N-PCT can be used as an electrode material for supercapacitors.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2009

Two-pore domain $K^+(K_{2P})$ channels contribute to setting the resting membrane potential in excitable and nonexcitable cells. However, the cellular or tissue distribution and function of $K_{2P}$ channels expressed in mammalian germ cells and reproductive organs have not yet been reviewed by researchers. In this review, we focus on expression, localization and expected properties of $K_{2P}$ channels in germ cells and reproductive organs. The $K_{2P}$ channels are expressed in human cytotrophoblast cells, myometrium, placental vascular system, uterine smooth muscle, and pregnant term tissue, suggesting that $K_{2P}$ channels might be involved in the processes of pregnance. The $K_{2P}$ channels are also expressed in mouse zygotes, monkey sperm, ovary, testis, germ cells, and embryos of Korean cattle. Interestingly, $K_{2P}$ channels are modulated by changes in temperature and oxygen concentration which play an important role in embryonic development. Also, $K_{2P}$ channels are responsible for $K^+$ efflux during apoptotic volume decreases in mouse zygotes. These expression patterns and properties of the $K_{2P}$ channels in reproductive organs and germ cells are likely to help the understanding of ion channel-related function in reproductive physiology.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.237-243
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• 2018

The surface chemistry of WCK-AC, WCN-AC and WCZ-AC which are activated carbons prepared from waste citrus peel using KOH, NaOH, and $ZnCl_2$ as activating chemicals were investigated. Also the relationships between the adsorption capacities of the target gases such as acetone, benzene and methyl mercaptan (MM) by the prepared activated carbons and the pore characteristics of each activated carbon were examined. According to XPS analysis of the prepared activated carbons, graphite and phenolic were the main surface functional groups of C1, and the sum of phenol, carbonyl and carboxyl groups increased in the order of WCK-AC > WCN-AC > WCZ-AC. The breakthrough curves obtained from the adsorption experiments for the three target gases in the fixed bed adsorption reactor were well simulated by the empirical equations proposed by Yoon and Nelson. The adsorption capacity for acetone, benzene and MM was larger for activated carbons with the larger sum of surface functional groups. The larger the specific surface area and the pore volume of activated carbons and the smaller the pore size, the better the adsorption performance. In particular, the specific surface area was the best criterion for the adsorption performance of activated carbons used in this study.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2020

Mesoporous silica solid catalysts modified with sulfonic acid were prepared for cationic ring-opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄). Two sets of MCM-41 (1.7 and 2.8 nm) and SBA-15 (8.1 and 15.9 nm) with different pore sizes were used as catalyst supports. The surface of silica materials was modified with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane by silylation reaction and oxidized to sulfonic acid. The structures of the prepared catalysts were examined by X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. The pore size, specific surface area, and pore volume of the modified solid catalysts decreased slightly. In addition, the modification of the sulfonic acid on the silica surface was confirmed by using infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To observe the effect of the particle size on the catalytic activity, it was observed with a scanning electron microscope. The catalysts were used to synthesize PDMS through a ring-opening polymerization of D₄, and the conversion and polymerization rate of the polymerization reaction depended on the pore size, specific surface area, particle size, and particle agglomeration of the catalysts. In order for the polymerization rate, the catalyst prepared with SBA-15 of 8.1 nm pore size had the fastest reaction rate and showed the best catalytic activity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.20-35
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• 2017

In the case of the seabed around and under gravity structures such as submerged breakwater is exposed to a large wave action long period, the excess pore pressure will be significantly generated due to pore volume change associated with rearrangement soil grains. This effect will lead a seabed liquefaction around and under structures as a result of the decrease in the effective stress, and eventually the possibility of structure failure will be increased. The study of liquefaction potential for regular waves had already done, and this study considered for irregular waves with the same numerical analysis method used for regular waves. Under the condition of the irregular wave field, the time and spatial series of the deformation of submerged breakwater, the pore water pressure (oscillatory and residual components) and pore water pressure ratio in the seabed were estimated and their results were compared with those of the regular wave field to evaluate the liquefaction potential on the seabed quantitatively. Although present results are based on a limited number of numerical simulations, one of the study's most important findings is that a safer design can be obtained when analyzing case with a regular wave condition corresponding to a significant wave of the irregular wave.