• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.528-532
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• 2009

The size and shape of free volume (FV) holes available in membrane materials control the rate of gas diffusion and its permeability. Based on this principle, a segmented, thermo-sensitive polyurethane (TSPU) membrane with functional gate, i.e., the ability to sense and respond to external thermo-stimuli, was synthesized. This smart membrane exhibited close-open characteristics to the size of the FV hole and water vapor permeation and thus can be used as smart food packaging materials. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), positron annihilation lifetimes (PAL) and water vapor permeability (WVP) were used to evaluate how the morphological structure of TSPU and the temperature influence the FV holes size. In DSC and DMA studies, TSPU with a crystalline transition reversible phase showed an obvious phase-separated structure and a phase transition temperature at $53^{\circ}C$ (defined as the switch temperature and used as a functional gate). Moreover, the switch temperature ($T_s$) and the thermal-sensitivity of TSPU remained available after two or three thermal cyclic processes. The PAL study indicated that the FV hole size of TSPU is closely related to the $T_s$. When the temperature varied cyclically from $T_s-10{\circ}C$ to $T_s+10^{\circ}C$, the average radius (R) of the FV holes of the TSPU membrane also shifted cyclically from 0.23 to 0.467 nm, exhibiting an "open-close" feature. As a result, the WVP of the TSPU membrane also shifted cyclically from 4.30 to $8.58\;kg/m^2{\cdot}d$, which produced an "increase-decrease" response to the thermo-stimuli. This phase transition accompanying significant changes in the FV hole size and WVP can be used to develop "smart materials" with functional gates and controllable water vapor permeation, which support the possible applications of TSPU for food packaging.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.495-500
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• 2010

In this study, $Al_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$ films was deposited on to PES (poly(ethersulfon) substrate by using atomic layer deposition as functions of deposition temperature and plasma power. The density and carbon contents of $Al_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$ films was changed by varying process conditions. High density thin films was achieved through optimizing the process conditions. Buffer layer was deposited prior to the processing of upper thin films to avoid PES surface destruction during the high power plasma process and to enhances the tortuous path for water vapor permeation for the defect decoupling effect. The water vapor transmission rate by using MOCON test was investigated to analyze the effect. Water vaper permeation properties was improved by using the inorganic multi-layer passivation layer and activation energy of the water vapor permeation was increased.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.121-129
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• 2000

The membrane requires both high in selectivity and flux. However, the permselective membrane has low flux. In this study, the porous alumina membrane was coated with silane coupling agent in order to enhance the flux with proper selectivity. The contact angle of water to the surface-modified alumina membrane was greater than 90$^{\circ}$, which indicated the high hydrophobicity. The modified membrane was tested in vapor permeation for the concentration of aqueous ethanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol. With the increase of ethanol, isopropanol, butanol concentration in the feed, permeation flux increased due to the greater affinity of ethanol, isopropanol, butanol with surface-modified alumina membrane than that of water. The experimental results showed that the permeation tate of surface-modified alumina membrane was 20~1000 times greater than that of a polymer membranes.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.12
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• pp.873-880
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• 2009

Water-vapor permeation through metallic barriers deposited on polymer substrates has been an important technological issue because the performance of the barrier is critical to the reliability of flexible organic devices. For the development of long-lifetime flexible organic devices, two different sets of samples were designed and demonstrated from the viewpoint of the water-vapor transmission rate (WVTR). Aluminum (Al) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were chosen for the barrier layer and the polymer substrate, respectively. Two stacking structures, a single-layer (Al/PET) structure and a double-layer (Al/PET/Al) structure, were used for the WVTR measurement. For the single-layer structure, the WVTR decreases as the thickness of the barrier layer increases. Compared to the single-layer sample, the double-layer sample showed superior WVTR performance (by nearly three times) when the total thickness of the Al barrier was greater than 100 nm.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2007

In this study, 3-(trihydroxysilyl)-1-propanesulfonic acid (THS-PSA) was added to poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes crosslinked with poly(styrene sulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSA_MA) to improve the separation characteristics toward water vapors in the air. The prepared membranes varying both PSSA_MA and THS-PSA amounts were also synthesized at different cross linking temperatures. Then, in order to investigate the separation characteristics of the resulting membranes, the dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) and vapor permeation experiments were carried out. The increase of cross-linking temperature showed longer time to reach the equilibrium sorption state from the dynamic vapor sorption experiments. PVA/PSSA_MA (3%)/THA-PSA(7%) prepared at $120^{\circ}C$ gave the highest permeability of 480 barrer at $35^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.34-37
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• 2001

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2006

The crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) mwmbranes with poly(styrene sulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSA-MA) were used to measure the water vapor and air permeabilities at 25 and $35^{\circ}C$. In addition, the contact angles of crosslinked PVA membranes were observed and increased with PSSA-MA contents. The water vapor permeability of 15300 Baller (1 Baller=$10^{-10}cm^3(STP){\cdot}cm/cm^2{\cdot}s{\cdot}cmHg$) was shown the maximum value at $35^{\circ}C$ when PSSA-MA=7 wt% membrane was used. The gas permeability of 146 Barrer was indicated the maximum at PSSA-MA=7 wt% at $35^{\circ}C$ and $P(H_2O)/P(Air)$ was the highest value 109.2 at $25^{\circ}C$.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.186-191
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• 2000

The recovery of three ethyl esters (aroma model compounds; ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate. ethyl butyrate) from aqueous solutions was studied for vapor permeation with surface-modified hydrophobic alumina membrane, Although the driving force of ethyl butyrate is the highest, the ethyl butyrate concentration in permeate is lower than those of propionate and acetate. Since the solubility of aroma compounds for water is very low, phase separation occurred in permeate, and we could obtain pure ethyl esters. The experimental results showed that the porous hydrophobic alumina membrane had high selectivity and permeation flux on the ester-model compounds.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2013

We fabricated several composite membranes with selectively permeable performance designed to facilitate water vapor transport and resist DMMP vapor permeation. Materials for selective permeable membrane were based on polyvinyl alcohol and functional polymer containing basic functional group. With these materials, we characterized selectively permeable performance to identify next-generation material with chemical-biological protective capability. Results showed that polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) materials possessed performance with superior water vapor permeation ($2,200{\sim}2,900g/m^2/day$) and protective capability against DMMP vapor ($47g/m^2/day$).

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2014

The object of this research is to perform the basic research for the development of selectively permeable membrane fabrics which is suitable for korean military in sense of embattlement. As a key factor of selectively permeable membrane fabrics which is suitable for korean military, this study selected the best PVA thickness and membrane selection for DMMP protection, pre-treatment method for conformational stability of face fabric and water/oil repellent process condition. Especially as the PVA coating thickness of the fabrics increase, peneration of DMMP decrease including water vapor permeation is lower. This study shows how physical features and permeability of chemical agents can be influenced by pre-treatment methods, the selection of selectively permeable membrane, the thickness of PVA etc. Results showed that outer shell / PVA / e-PTFE materials possessed performance with superior water vapor permeation (Over $3,000g/m^2/day$) and protective capability against DMMP vapor ($0.6{\mu}g/cm^2{\cdot}16hr$).