• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.1444-1450
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• 2019

The fast-neutron shielding behaviour (FNSB) of two clay-materials (Ball clay and Kaolin)of Southwestern Nigeria ($7.49^{\circ}N$, $4.55^{\circ}E$) have been investigated using effective removal cross section, ${\Sigma}_R(cm^{-1})$, mass removal cross section, ${\Sigma}_{R/{\rho}}(cm^2g^{-1})$ and Mean free path, ${\lambda}$ (cm). These parameters decide neutron shielding behaviour of any material. A computer program - WinNC-Toolkit has been used for computation of these parameters. The toolkit evaluates these parameters by using elemental compositions and densities of samples. The proficiency of WinNC-Toolkit code was probe by using MCNPX and GEANT4 to model fast neutron transmission of the samples under narrow beam geometry, intending to represent the actual experimental setup. Direct calculation of effective removal cross section ($cm^{-1}$) of the samples was also carried out. The results from each of the methods for each types of the studied clay-materials (Ball clay and Kaolin) shows similar trend. The trend might be the fingerprint of water content retained in each of the samples being baked at different temperature. The compositions of each sample have been obtained by Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique (Tandem Pelletron Accelerator: 1.7 MV, Model 5SDH). The FNSB of the selected clay-materials have been compared with standard concrete. The cognizance of various factors such as availability, thermo-chemical stability and water retaining ability by the clay-samples can be analyzed for efficacy of the material for their FNSB.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.73 no.9
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• pp.1340-1345
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• 2018

Mo-10 at.% Cu nanocomposite powders were fabricated by using planetary ball-milling (PBM), a mechanical alloying technique for preparing nanocomposite alloy powders of metals with mutual insolubility, and the variations in the physical and the chemical characteristics with the process conditions were investigated. We observed that Mo-10 at.% Cu was an appropriate composition to ensure a good alloying grade and minimal welding between particles. The influences of the temperature and the milling conditions on the mechanical alloying process and the phase change of Mo-10 at.% Cu composite powders were investigated, and the particle and the grain sizes of the powders after mechanical alloying were confirmed. The Mo-10 at.% Cu powders showed homogeneous elemental distributions and no phase changes up to $1200^{\circ}C$; their compositions were retained after the mechanical alloying process. The finest grain size obtained was about 5 nm for powders processed using optimum PBM processing conditions: ball-to-powder weight ratio of 5 : 1, ambient air atmosphere, a milling time of 20 h, a rotation speed of 200 rpm, and a stearic acid content of 4 wt.% produced superfine-grained Mo-10 at.% Cu nanocomposite powders with an average grain size of 5 nm (which is smaller than that of other similar materials reported in the literature). The analytical results confirmed that the PBM technique presented here is a promising method for preparing superfine-grained Mo-10 at.% Cu powders with improved properties.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2011

Alnico magnets can be used as magnetic bearings for the precise electric power measuring instruments such as watt-hour meters because they have high remanence ($B_r$), relatively high maximum energy product ($(BH)_{max}$), and excellent temperature stability. In this study, Alnico composite magnets were fabricated by appropriately mixing alnico alloy powders with epoxy resin and binder. The Alnico powders mixed with epoxy resin and a hardening agent with a mixing ratio of 96:4 were pressed and then cured to be a toroid-type ring magnet with an outer diameter (${\Phi}_{out}$) of 15 mm, an inner diameter (${\Phi}_{in}$) of 6.5 mm and a thickness (t) of 2.5 mm, respectively. The magnetic properties of the Alnico ring magnets were varied with the mixing ratio of Alnico powders that possess different average particle sizes. The Alnico ring magnet prepared by mixing 5 wt% of $50{\mu}m$ (small size) powder, 15~20 wt% of $150{\mu}m$ (medium size) powder, and 75~80 wt% of $300{\mu}m$ (large size) powder showed the best magnetic properties (remanent induction, coercive force, maximum energy product, and surface flux density). In addition, measurements of temperature and moisture characteristics for the Alnico ring magnets showed that the surface flux densities of the N and S poles decreased little and the repulsive distance between the magnets decreased as small as 0.05 mm after 10 days.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.116-127
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• 2021

Predicting carbon distribution of soil aggregates is difficult due to complexity in organo-mineral formation. This limits global warming mitigation through soil carbon sequestration. Therefore, knowledge of land use effect on carbon stabilization requires quantification of soil mineral cations. The study was conducted to quantify carbon and base cations on soil mineral fractions in Natural Forest, Plantation Forest and Farm Land. Five 0.09 ha were demarcated alternately along 500 m long transect with an interval of 50 m in Natural Forest (NF), Plantation Forest (PF) and Farm Land (FL). Soil samples were collected with soil cores at 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm depths in each plot. Soil core samples were oven-dried at 105℃ and soil bulk densities were computed. Sample (100 g) of each soil core was separated into >2.0, 2.0-1.0, 1.0-0.5, 0.5-0.05 and <0.05 mm aggregates using dry sieve procedure and proportion determined. Carbon concentration of soil aggregates was determined using Loss-on-ignition method. Mineral fractions of soil depths were obtained using dispersion, sequential extraction and sedimentation methods of composite soil samples and sieved into <0.05 and >0.05 mm fractions. Cation exchange capacity of two mineral fractions was measured using spectrophotometry method. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and ANOVA at α_0.05. Silt and sand particle size decreased while clay increased with increase in soil depth in NF and PF. Subsoil depth contained highest carbon stock in the PF. Carbon concentration increased with decrease in aggregate size in soil depths of NF and FL. Micro- (1-0.5, 0.5-0.05 and <0.05 mm) and macro-aggregates (>2.0 and 2-1.0 mm) were saturated with soil carbon in NF and FL, respectively. Cation exchange capacity of <0.05 mm was higher than >0.05 mm in soil depths of PF and FL. Fine silt (<0.05 mm) determine the cation exchange capacity in soil depths. Land use and mineral size influence the carbon and cation exchange capacity of Gambari Forest Reserve.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.945-952
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• 2020

In this study, the effects of Low Earth Orbit(LEO) environments on the degradation behavior of epoxy nano silica composite materials were investigated. The nanocomposite materials containing silica particles in different weight ratios of 10% and 18% were prepared and degraded in a LEO simulator to compare with the neat epoxy cases. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on the degraded nanocomposites and the activation energies were calculated by Friedman method, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) method, Kissinger method, and DAEM (Distributed Activation Energy Method) based on the iso-conversional method. As the results, for the neat epoxy sample cases, it was found that the average activation energy was increased as the degradation was progressed. When the nano particles were mixed, however, the energy increased to the 15 environmental test cycles, and decreased afterwards, meaning that the particle mixture contributed adversely to the thermal degradation. Discussions on the results of the different calculation methods were also given.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 2022

This work presents an experiment study to evaluate the nanoparticle adhesion and surface hydrophobicity characteristics of Teflon-polyurethane top coat depending on the number of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) coatings, which is a carbon-based hydrophobic particle. In order to measure the adhesion between the nanoparticles and the top coat, adhesion pull-off test was performed with different MWCNT oxidation times. Static contact angle and roughness measurements were carried out to characterize the surface hydrophobic behavior. Through the roughness evaluation, it was confirmed that the carbon nanotubes were wetted in the Teflon-polyurethane top coat, and the degree carbon nanotube wetting was confirmed through a USB-microscope. As a result, it was found that the larger the degree of wetting, the better the adhesion. From the experimental results, as the hydrophobicity of Teflon-polyurethane increased, the adhesive propertydecreased with the number of coatings. It was possible to improve the adhesive force and determine the number of coatings of carbon nanotubes with optimized hydrophobicity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.621-627
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• 2022

Background: Panax ginseng (ginseng) is a traditional medicine that is reported to have cardioprotective effects; ginsenosides are the major bioactive compounds in the ginseng root. Methods: Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) nanoparticles might be useful for both the extraction of the targeted (imprinted) molecules, and for the delivery of those molecules to cells. In this work, plant growth regulators were used to enhance the adventitious rooting of ginseng root callus; imprinted polymeric particles were synthesized for the extraction of ginsenoside Rb₁ from root extracts, and then employed for subsequent particle-mediated delivery to cardiomyocytes to mitigate hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. Results: These synthesized composite nanoparticles were first characterized by their specific surface area, adsorption capacity, and magnetization, and then used for the extraction of ginsenoside Rb₁ from a crude extract of ginseng roots. The ginsenoside-loaded MMIPs were then shown to have protective effects on mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular viability for H9c2 cells treated with CoCl₂ to mimic hypoxia injury. The protective effect of the ginsenosides was assessed by staining with JC-1 dye to monitor the mitochondrial membrane potential. Conclusion: MMIPs can play a dual role in both the extraction and cellular delivery of therapeutic ginsenosides.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.288-297
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• 2022

This study investigated the effect of addition of zirconia(zirconium oxide) powder on the curing behavior of phenolic resins. The heating rate controlled curing and isothermal curing behaviors of the phenol resin according to the content of the zirconia powder were analyzed. The viscosity and thermal decomposition characteristics of the phenolic resin with the zirconia content were also examind. From the DSC analysis, the degree of cure and the rate of cure were obtained. Finally, the activation energy for the cure reaction were calculated from the DSC data of the zirconia added phenolic resin. As a found, the higher the zirconia content, the longer the curing was delayed and the greater the activation energy required for curing. Additionally, the TGA result that as the content of zirconia increased, less weight loss was observed. The surface tackiness of the Carbon/Phenol prepreg was partially changed according to the zirconia content, but had no significant effect.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.375-391
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• 2022

This paper examined the impact of the cross-sectional structure on the structural results under different loading conditions of reinforced concrete (RC) members' management limited in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP). The mechanical properties of CFRC was investigated, then, totally 32 samples were examined. Test parameters included the cross-sectional shape as square, rectangular and circular with two various aspect rates and loading statues. The loading involved concentrated loading, eccentric loading with a ratio of 0.46 to 0.6 and pure bending. The results of the test revealed that the CFRP increased ductility and load during concentrated processing. A cross sectional shape from 23 to 44 percent was increased in load capacity and from 250 to 350 percent increase in axial deformation in rectangular and circular sections respectively, affecting greatly the accomplishment of load capacity and ductility of the concentrated members. Two Artificial Intelligence Models as Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) were used to estimating the tensile and flexural strength of specimen. On the basis of the performance from RMSE and RSQR, C-Shape CFRC was greater tensile and flexural strength than any other FRP composite design. Because of the mechanical anchorage into the matrix, C-shaped CFRCC was noted to have greater fiber-matrix interfacial adhesive strength. However, with the increase of the aspect ratio and fiber volume fraction, the compressive strength of CFRCC was reduced. This possibly was due to the fact that during the blending of each fiber, the volume of air input was increased. In addition, by adding silica fumed to composites, the tensile and flexural strength of CFRCC is greatly improved.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.359-367
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• 2023

This experimental study investigates the replacement of conventional Portland cement and sand with non-sintered cement and ferro-nickel slag to formulate eco-friendly cement mortar. The examination aimed to understand the strength properties of non-sintered cement mortar using ferro-nickel slag as fine aggregate by classifying mortar production types, fine aggregates, and curing methodologies. From flexural and compressive strength tests, it was observed that non-sintered cement mortars, incorporating ferro-nickel slag as fine aggregate, exhibited superior strength when compared to both plain mortar and steam-cured non-sintered mortar. This increased strength is attributed to the influence of the particle size, density, and absorption capabilities of the ferro-nickel slag. Furthermore, X-ray Diffraction(XRD) analyses of the mortars verified the presence of MgO, a component of ferro-nickel slag, in the form of a composite oxide. This finding substantiates the consistent strength manifestation of non-sintered cement mortars utilizing ferro-nickel slag as a fine aggregate.