• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.213-220
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• 2005

Penetration and health effect of fibers was related with their diameters and length. The purpose of this study is to characterize and compare the diameter and length of airborne man-made mineral fibers(MMMF) or synthetic vitreous fibers in the related industries. The average fiber length of the continuous filament glass, rock wool, refractory ceramic, and glass wool fibers production industries approximately 27, 28, 35, $50-105{\mu}m$. Airborne glass fibers were longest in all the type of MMMFs. The average diameters of airborne fibers generated from refractory ceramic, rock wool, glass wool, continuous filament glass fibers production industries were approximately 1.0, 1.6, 1.5-4 and $10{\mu}m$, respectively. The percentages of respirable fibers(<$3{\mu}m$) were 94% for RCFs, 73% for rock wool fibers, 61.0% for glass fibers, and 1.6% for filament glass fibers. The length of glass fibers were the longest in all types of fibers, and length of the others were similar. The refractory ceramic fibers were smallest in diameters and highest in fraction of respirable fibers.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.134-139
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was conducted to study the analytical variability of A & B counting rules in counting using a phase contrast microscope airborne fibers collected on filters in man-made mineral or vitreous fibers (MMMFs) industries. Methods: Fibers in filters were counted using A & B rules of NIOSH Method 7400. Intra-counter and inter-counter variations by fiber type and density were obtained. The types of MMMFs analyzed were glass wool fiber, rock wool fiber, slag wool fiber, and refractory ceramic fibers. The densities of fibers classified were <20 $fibers/mm^2,$ 20 - <50 $fibers/mm^2$, 50 - <100 $fibers/mm^2,$ and ${\geq}100$ $fibers/mm^2,$ respectively. Results: Intra-counter relative standard deviations by rule A were 0.084, 0.102, 0.071 for glass wool fibers, rock wool fibers and refractory ceramic fibers, and those by rule B were 0.139, 0.120 and 0.142, respectively. Inter-counter relative standard deviations by rule A were 0.281, 0.296, 0.180 for glass wool fibers, rock wool fibers and refractory ceramic fibers, and those by rule B were 0.396, 0.337 and 0.238, respectively. Conclusions: Intra-counter variation was not different significantly among fiber types (p>0.05), but B rule variation for ceramic fibers approximately 2 times greater than corresponding A rule estimates, and intra-counter and inter-counter variations were higher in the low fiber density.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2000

Various man-made mineral fibers(MMMF) including refractory ceramic fiber(RCF) have been used widely in industries as insulation materials. The effect of fibrous dust on human health depends on fiber size, concentration (exposure level), and durability in biological system. Therefore, these parameters should be determined to evaluate accurately the potential risk of fibers on human health. The purpose of this study was to characterize the size of airborne fiber and the workers＇ exposure to airborne fibers in refractory ceramic fiber manufacturing and processing factories. Airborne fibers were collected on 25-mm mixed cellulose ester membrane filters at personal breathing zones, and analyzed by A and B counting rules of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH) Method # 7400. The average ratios of the fiber density by B rule to the fiber density by A rule was 0.84. This result indicates that the proportion of respirable fibers (<3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ diameter) in air samples was high. The average diameter and length of airborne fibers were 1.05${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and 35${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, respectively. The average fiber concentrations (GM) of all personal samples was 0.26f/cc, and the average concentration was highest at blanket cutting and packing processes. The fifty seven percent of personal air samples was exceeded the proposed American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value(TLV), i.e. 0.2 f/cc. It was concluded that the RCF industrial workers had the higher potential health risk due to small fiber diameter, long fiber length, and high exposure level to the airborne fibers.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.11-16
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• 2006

There are many counting rules for analyzing man-made mineral fibers. The representatives are the NIOSH Method 7400 A and B counting rules. The two rules have different rules of length-to-width ratio(aspect ratio) and diameter. The A rule counts only fibers $>5{\mu}m$ in length, and only fibers with aspect ratio >3:1. The B rule counts only ends of fibers $>5{\mu}m$ in length and $<3{\mu}m$ in diameter, and only fibers with aspect ratio ${\geq}5:1$. The A counting rule had been used before the B counting rule was introduced. The purpose of this study is to compare the A and B counting rules for airborne fibers from various man-made mineral fibers(glass wool fibers, rock wool fibers, refractory ceramic fibers, and continuous filament glass fibers) industries. There were significantly differences between the paired counts of A and B rules in all types of fibers(p<0.05). A rule counts/B rule counts(A/B ratios) were 1.52 for glass fibers, 1.53 for rock wool fibers, 1.19 for RCF, and 1.82 for continuous filament glass fibers. The counting results by A and B counting rules were highly correlated in glass wool fibers, rock wool fibers and refractory ceramic fibers(RCF) samples (r=0.96 for all types of fibers) except continuous filament glass fibers(r=0.82). Regression equations to correct for the differences between counting rules were presented in this paper.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.357-363
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• 2022

Background: Refractory ceramic fibers (RCFs) are a suspected carcinogen but have been widely used as insulations. Depending on the temperature, RCFs can transform into crystalline SiO₂, which is a carcinogen that can be present in the air during bulk RCF handling. This study analyzed the physicochemical and morphological characteristics of RCFs at high temperatures and determined the exposure levels during the semiconductor scrubber maintenance. Methods: Sampling was conducted at a company that manufactures semiconductor scrubbers using RCFs as insulation. Bulk RCF samples were collected both before and after exposure to a scrubber temperature of 700℃. Airborne RCFs were collected during scrubber maintenance, and their characteristics were analyzed using microscopes. Results: The components of bulk RCFs were SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, having an amorphous structure. Airborne RCFs were morphologically different from bulk RCFs in size, which could negatively affect maintenance workers' health. 58% of airborne RCFs correspond to the size of thoracic and respirable fibers. RCFs did not crystallize at high temperatures. The exposure caused by airborne RCFs during the scrubber frame assembly and insulation replacement was higher than the occupational exposure limit. Conclusion: Workers conducting insulation replacement are likely exposed to airborne RCFs above safe exposure limits. As RCFs are suspected carcinogens, this exposure should be minimized through prevention and precautionary procedures.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.158-166
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between airborne total dust and man-made mineral fibers (MMMF), and to estimate total dust concentration to maintain below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV$^{(R)}$) for the MMMF. The regression coefficients between airborne total dust concentrations and fiber concentrations determined in the industries producing glass fibers, rock wool. refractory ceramic and continuous filament glass fibers products were 0.41, 0.42, 0.20 and 0.19, respectively. The size characteristics of fibers as well as the amounts of contaminated non-fibrous dusts could affect the correlation intensities. When total dust and fiber exposure data were compared with the occupational exposure limits, there was a large gap between two evaluation results. The regression coefficient between total dust and fiber data was increased ($r^2=0.88$) in the process of insulation installation generating in the higher levels of glass or rock wool fibers. In this case, an estimated total dust concentration of glass wool or rock wool fibers complying with the ACGIH TLV (1 f/cc) was $1.7mg/m^3$. In conclusion, the total dust and fibers concentrations was highly correlated at the higher exposure levels so that total dust-monitoring data could be used to control simply and economically and to estimate worker's exposure to fibers.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.287-294
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• 2012

Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) represent a class of non-brittle refractory materials for harsh and extreme environments in aerospace and other applications. The quasi-ductility of these structural materials depends on the quality of the interface between the matrix and the fiber surface. In this study, a manufacture route is described where in contrast to most other processes no additional fiber coating is used to adjust the fiber/matrix interfaces in order to obtain damage tolerance and fracture toughness. Adapted microstructures of uncoated carbon fiber preforms were developed to permit the rapid infiltration of molten alloys and the subsequent reaction with the carbon matrix. Furthermore, any direct reaction between the melt and fibers was minimized. Using pure silicon as the reactive melt, C/SiC composites were manufactured with an aim of employing the resulting composite for friction applications. This paper describes the formation of the microstructure inside the C/C preform and resulting C/C-SiC composite, in addition to the MAX phases.

• 한국세라믹학회지
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.347-351
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• 2012

Vermiculite-silica composites with a layered structure were fabricated by adding cellulose fibers as a pore former and by a simple uniaxial pressing and subsequent sintering process. Three different combinations of additives were used and their effects on the compressive strength and thermal conductivity of the composites were investigated. Both compressive strengths (42-128 MPa) and thermal conductivities (0.75-1.48 $W/m{\cdot}K$) in the direction perpendicular to the pressing direction (T) were higher than those (19-81 MPa and 0.32-1.04 $W/m{\cdot}K$) in the direction parallel to the pressing direction (S) in all samples. The anisotropy in both properties was attributed to the microstructural anisotropy, which was caused by the layered structure developed in the composites.

• 지질공학
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.543-553
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• 2023

본 연구는 국내 산업원료 광물인 납석의 지속적이고 체계적인 개발과 안정적인 수급 관리를 위할 목적으로 국내 납석 광산 현황을 살펴보고 산업용 원료로써 그 활용 방안을 모색하기 위함이다. 국내 납석 광산은 대부분 중생대 화산암류가 열수변질을 받아 형성된 광상으로써, 납석의 주 구성 광물인 엽납석의 물리적 특성은 비중 2.65~2.90, 굳기 1~2, 밀도 1.60~1.80, 내화도 29 이상이며, 색은 보통 백색, 회색, 회백색, 회녹색, 황색, 황녹색을 띠는 것으로 나타났다. 국내 납석의 화학성분 중 SiO₂와 Al₂O₃는 엽납석의 경우 58.2~67.2%와 23.1~28.8%, 엽납석 + 딕카이트의 경우 49.2~72.6%와 16.5~31.0%, 엽납석 + 일라이트의 경우 45.1%와 23.3%, 일라이트의 경우 43.1~82.3%와 11.4~35.8%, 딕카이트의 경우 37.6~69.0%와 19.6~35.3%인 것으로 분석되었다. 국내 납석 광산의 분포는 한반도 남서부와 남동부 지역에 집중해서 분포하며, 그 외에 한반도 동북부 지역에도 일부 분포하는 것으로 조사되었다. 국내 납석 생산 광산은 21개이며, 매장량은 전남(45.6%) > 충북(30.8%) > 경남(13.0%) > 강원(4.8%), 경북(4.8%) 순으로 전남이 가장 많은 것으로 나타났다. 국내 납석 생산량 상의 10개 광산은 중앙자원광산(37.9%) > 완도광산(25.6%) > 나주세라믹광산(13.4%) > 청석-사지원광산(5.4%) > 경주광산(5.0%) > 백암광산(5.0%) > 민경-노화도광산(3.3%) > 부곡광산(2.3%) > 진해납석광산(2.2%) > 보해광산 순인 것으로 분석되었다. 납석은 열전전도, 열팽창성, 열변형, 팽창계수, 부피밀도가 낮고, 내열성과 부식 저항성이 높으며, 살균 및 살충 효능이 우수한 성질이 있으므로 내화 재료, 도자기 재료, 시멘트 첨가제, 살균및 살충 제조재, 충전재 등 다양한 분야에 활용되는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 납석은 수처리 세라믹 분리막 소재, 디젤엔지 배기가스 저감장치 세라믹 필터 소재, 그리고 유리섬유 및 LCD 패널 소재 등 활용범위가 첨단산업분야로까지 확대되는 것으로 분석되었다.