• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2022

Membrane distillation (MD) has emerged as a sustainable desalination technology to solve the water and energy problems faced by the modern society. In particular, the surface wetting properties of the membrane have been recognized as a key parameter to determine the performance of the MD system. In this study, a novel surface modification technique was developed to induce a Janus-type hydrophilic/hydrophobic layer on the membrane surface. The hydrophilic layer was created on a porous PVDF membrane by vapor phase polymerization of the pyrrole monomer, forming a thin coating of polypyrrole on the membrane walls. A rigid polymeric coating layer was created without compromising the membrane porosity. The hydrophilic coating was then followed by the in-situ growth of siloxane nanoparticles, where the condensation of organosilane provided quick loading of hydrophobic layers on the membrane surface. The composite layers of dual coatings allowed systematic control of the surface wettability of porous membranes. By the virtue of the photothermal property of the hydrophilic polypyrrole layer, the desalination performance of the coated membrane was tested in a solar MD system. The wetting properties of the dual-layer were further evaluated in a direct-contact MD module, exploring the potential of the Janus membrane structure for effective and low-energy desalination.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.511-516
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• 2010

The electrochemical coating of poly(3-octylthiophene) on carbon materials was studied in order to investigate the application possibility of the modified carbon materials in the photoelectronic devices. Commercial carbon paper and carbon fiber were used as substrate electrodes for electrochemical coating. The coating behaviors were analysed with the variation of monomer and electrolyte concentration, applied potential, and cycling number in cyclovoltammetry. The coating rate of poly(3-octylthiophene) formed on the substrate were proportional to the monomer and electrolyte concentration, applied potential, and cycling number with each independent exponent. The structure and morphology of electrochemically polymerized poly(3-octylthiophene) was investigated with scanning electron microscopy and FTIR reflectance measurement.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1032-1038
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• 2009

A polypyrrole (PPy)/alumina composite filler prepared via in-situ polymerization of pyrrole on alumina particles was incorporated into $Nafion^{(R)}$ to improve the performance of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators. The IPMCs with the pristine PPy without alumina support did not show bending displacements superior to that of the bare Nafion-based IPMC, except at a high PPy content of 4 wt%. This result was attributed to the low redox efficiency of the PPy alone in the IPMC and may have also been related to the modulus of the IPMC. However, at the optimized filler contents, the cyclic displacement of the IPMCs bearing the PPy/alumina filler was 2.2 times larger than that of the bare Nafion-based IPMC under an applied AC potential of 3 Vat 1 Hz. Even under a low AC potential of 1.5 V at 1 Hz, the displacement of the PPy/alumina-based IPMCs was a viable level of performance for actuator applications and was 2.7 times higher than that of the conventional Nafion-based IPMC. The generated blocking force was also improved with the PPy/aiumina composite filler. The greatly enhanced performance and the low-voltage-operational characteristic of the IPMCs bearing the PPy/alumina filler were attributed to the synergic effects of the neighboring alumina moiety near the PPy moiety involving electrochemical redox reactions.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.581-585
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• 2014

We conducted investigation on the hybridization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT : PSS) with graphene derivative (G-PSS), which has been prepared by wrapping reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with PSS. In situ polymerization of PEDOT/PSS in the presence of G-PSS afforded the PEDOT/PSS and graphene hybrid (GP). The analysis of XPS, IR and Raman spectroscopies for GP showed that PEDOT/PSS was successfully synthesized and hybridized with graphene. Compared to the G-PSS, GP showed an enhanced electrical conductivity of $4.46{\times}10^2S/m$ with a good wter-dispersity.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 2008

High impact polystyrene (HIPS) nanocomposites with organically modified montmorillonite (organoclay) via in situ polymerization were synthesized, and the effects of organoclay incorporation on material properties were investigated. Organoclays having a reactive group, vinylbenzyltrimethyl clay (VBC) and octadecylvinylbenzyldimethyl clay (ODVC), were prepared by the ion-exchange reactions of sodium montmorillonite with vinylbenzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (VBTMAC) and octadecylvinylbenzyldimethyl ammonium bromide (ODVBDAB), respectively, and a commercial organoclay, $Cloisite^{(R)}$ 10A(C10A), was used for comparison. It was confirmed that the X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak of the nanocomposites prepared by ODVC disappeared, which indicates the exfoliation of silicate layers. On the contrary, the XRD peak of the nanocomposites prepared by C10A shifted to lower angle, indicative of the intercalation of polymer chains into silicate layers. Rheological properties such as storage modulus and complex viscosity increased with increasing organoclay.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2016

For the distribution of fresh produce, the thermoelectric cooling system combined with thermo electric materials (TEM) and phase change material (PCM) was studied. The PCM used this study was produced by in-situ polymerization technology which referred microencapsulation of hydrocarbon (n-tetradecane and n-hexadecane). In this study, quality characteristics of bell peppers in thermoelectric cooling system combined with TEM and PCM were analyzed and control was placed in an EPS (expanded polystyrene) box. As a result of quality characteristics analysis, weight of bell peppers decreased and moisture content of bell peppers was 90.96~94.43% during storage. Vitamin C content of bell pepper decreased during storage and reduction ratio of control was higher than that of BPT-5 treatment(bell pepper in thermoelectric cooling system with PCM which is kept the temperature at $5^{\circ}C$). The result of color value, on 21 day, ${\Delta}E$ value of BPT-5 treatment was 5.05 while that of control was 41.8. On 21 day, total bacteria count of BPT-5 treated bell pepper shown less than that of control. In conclusion, it suggested that the thermoelectric cooling system combined with PCM improved quality of fresh produce during transportation and storage.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 1994

The objective of this study is to develop polymer-impregnated concrete(PIC), which is a newly developed composite material made by impregnating polymer impregnanls into hardened normal concrete, and to develop analytical techniques for its proper applications. Crystalline methyl methacrylate(MMA) is chosen as a monomer of polymer impregnants. The corrlpositions of polymer impregnants and producing processes are developed by analyzing the effects of penetration, polymerization, thermal safety, and strengthening characteristics. On t he basis of experimental results of this study, various strength characteristics and stress strain constitutive relations are formulated in terms of the compressive strength of normal concrete and the polymer loadings, which can be applied for analysis and design of PIC members. In order to provide a model for fracture analysis of flexural members, fracture toughness, fracture energy, critical crack width, and tension softening relations near crack tip are also formulated in terms of member depth, initial notch depth, and the flexural strength of normal concrete. The structural analysis procedure and the finite element computer program developed in the study are applicable to evaluate elastic behavior, ultimate strength, and tension softening behavior of MMA type PIC structural members subject to various loading conditions. The accuracy and effectiveness of the developed computer program is examined by comparing the anal ytical results with the experimental results. Therefore, it is concluded that the developed structural analysis procedure and the finite element computer program are applicable to analysis and design of in-situ and precast PIC structural members.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.636-642
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• 2013

In order to overcome drawbacks (i.e., filtration and recovery) of conventional powder type photocatalysts, nano-ZnO/Laponite/PVA (ZLP) photocatalyzed adsorption balls were developed by using in situ mixing of nanoscale ZnO as a photocatalyst, and Laponite as both adsorbent and supporting media in deionized water, followed by the poly vinyl alcohol polymerization with boric acid. The optimum mixing ratio of nano-ZnO:Laponite:PVA:deionized water was found to be 3:1:1:16 (by weight), and the mesh and film produced by PVA polymerization with boric acid might inhibit both swelling of Laponite and detachment of nanoscale ZnO from ZLP balls. Drying ZLP balls with microwave (600 watt) was found to produce ZLP balls with stable structure in water, and various sizes (55~500 ${\mu}m$) of pore were found to be distributed based on SEM and TEM results. In the initial period of reaction (i. e., 40 min), adsorption through ionic interaction between methylene blue and Laponite was the main removal mechanism. After the saturation of methylene blue to available adsorption sites for Laponite, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue occurred. The effective removal of methylene blue was attributed to adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. Based on the results from this study, synthesized ZLP photocatalyzed adsorption balls were expected to remove recalcitrant organic compounds effectively through both adsorption and photocatalytic degradation, and the risks of environmental receptors caused by detachment of nanoscale photocatalysts can be reduced.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2020

Sustainable plastics can be mainly categorized into (1) biodegradable plastics decomposed into water and carbon dioxide after use, and (2) biomass-derived plastics possessing the carbon neutrality by utilizing raw materials converted from atmospheric carbon dioxide to biomass. Recently, biomass-derived engineering plastics (EP) and natural nanofiber-reinforced nanocomposites are emerging as a new direction of the industry. In addition to the eco-friendliness of natural resources, these materials are competitive over petroleum-based plastics in the high value-added plastics market. Polyesters and polycarbonates synthesized from isosorbide and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, which are representative biomass-derived monomers, are at the forefront of industrialization due to their higher transparency, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and gas barrier properties. Moreover, isosorbide has potential to be applied to super EP material with continuous service temperature over 150 ℃. In situ polymerization utilizing surface hydrophilicity and multi-functionality of natural nanofibers such as nanocellulose and nanochitin achieves remarkable improvements of mechanical properties with the minimal dose of nanofillers. Biomass-derived tough-plastics covered in this review are expected to replace petroleum-based plastics by satisfying the carbon neutrality required by the environment, the high functionality by the consumer, and the accessibility by the industry.