• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.124-128
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• 2011

Electrospun webs have been widely investigated for applying to drug delivery system (DDS) because of their high specific surface area and high porosity. In this study, the composite webs of PLA (poly(lactic acid)) and $TiO_2$ were fabricated by melt-electro-spinning method for applying to drug delivery system. The morphologies of PLA/$TiO_2$, webs were observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and field emission transmission electron microscope (FE-TEM). The crystal structures of PLA/$TiO_2$ composite webs were confirmed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.611-616
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• 2010

A cobalt oxide - tin oxide nanocomposite based gas sensor on an $SiO_2$ substrate was fabricated. Granular thin film of tin oxide was formed by a rheotaxial growth and thermal oxidation method using dc magnetron sputtering of Sn. Nano particles of cobalt oxide were spin-coated on the tin oxide. The cobalt oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by polymer-assisted deposition method, which is a simple cost-effective versatile synthesis method for various metal oxides. The thickness of the film can be controlled over a wide range of thicknesses. The composite structures thus formed were characterized in terms of morphology and gas sensing properties for reduction gas of $H_2$. The composites showed a highest response of 240% at $250^{\circ}C$ upon exposure to 4% $H_2$. This response is higher than those observed in pure $SnO_2$ (90%) and $Co_3O_4$ (70%) thin films. The improved response with the composite structure may be related to the additional formation of electrically active defects at the interfaces. The composite sensor shows a very fast response and good reproducibility.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.185-193
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• 2004

Elastomeric nanocomposites were prepared by employing zinc dimethacrylate into an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, and their network structures, mechanical properties, and fracture morphologies were investigated according to the adding methods and contents of zinc dimethacrylate. The total crosslink density increased with increasing the zinc dimethacrylate level, due to increased ionic bonds. Both the tensile strength and tear strength increased with increasing zinc dimethacrylate loadings, and then decreased after reaching a maximum value. It was found that the tear strength and crack resistance were greatly affected by the mixing method of zinc dimethacrylate. The in-situ nanocomposites, where zinc dimethacrylate particles were formed by the reaction of zinc oxide and methacrylic acid, showed much improved tear strength and crack resistance compared to those of the nanocomposites based on the direct mixing of zinc dimetacrylate powders. This was because of the finer zinc dimethacrylate particles and improved dispersion of the in-situ nanocomposites.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.695-701
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• 2013

To understand how reactivity between reinforcing nanoparticles and aqueous solution affects electrodeposited Cu thin films, two types of commercialized cerium oxide (ceria, $CeO_2$) nanoparticles were used with copper sulfate electrolyte to form in-situ nanocomposite films. During this process, we observed variation in colors and pH of the electrolyte depending on the manufacturer. Ceria aqueous solution and nickel sulfate ($NiSO_4$) aqueous solutions were also used for comparison. We checked several parameters which could be key factors contributing to the changes, such as the oxidation number of Cu, chemical impurities of ceria nanoparticles, and so on. Oxidation number was checked by salt formation by chemical reaction between $CuSO_4$ solution and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. We observed that the color changed when $H_2SO_4$ was added to the $CuSO_4$ solution. The same effect was obtained when $H_2SO_4$ was mixed with ceria solution; the color of ceria solution changed from white to yellow. However, the color of $NiSO_4$ solution did not show any significant changes. We did observe slight changes in the pH of the solutions in this study. We did not obtain firm evidence to explain the changes observed in this study, but changes in the color of the electrolyte might be caused by interaction of Cu ion and the by-product of ceria. The mechanical properties of the films were examined by nanoindentation, and reaction between ceria and electrolyte presumably affect the mechanical properties of electrodeposited copper films. We also examined their crystal structures and optical properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis spectroscopy.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.623-649
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• 2016

Most of the early studies on plates vibration are focused on two-dimensional theories, these theories reduce the dimensions of problems from three to two by introducing some assumptions in mathematical modeling leading to simpler expressions and derivation of solutions. However, these simplifications inherently bring errors and therefore may lead to unreliable results for relatively thick plates. The main objective of this research paper is to present 3-D elasticity solution for free vibration analysis of continuously graded carbon nanotube-reinforced (CGCNTR) rectangular plates resting on two-parameter elastic foundations. The volume fractions of oriented, straight single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction. In this study, an equivalent continuum model based on the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach is employed to estimate the effective constitutive law of the elastic isotropic medium (matrix) with oriented, straight carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The proposed rectangular plates have two opposite edges simply supported, while all possible combinations of free, simply supported and clamped boundary conditions are applied to the other two edges. The formulations are based on the three-dimensional elasticity theory. A semi-analytical approach composed of differential quadrature method (DQM) and series solution is adopted to solve the equations of motion. The fast rate of convergence of the method is demonstrated and comparison studies are carried out to establish its very high accuracy and versatility. The 2-D differential quadrature method as an efficient and accurate numerical tool is used to discretize the governing equations and to implement the boundary conditions. The convergence of the method is demonstrated and to validate the results, comparisons are made between the present results and results reported by well-known references for special cases treated before, have confirmed accuracy and efficiency of the present approach. The novelty of the present work is to exploit Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach in order to reveal the impacts of the volume fractions of oriented CNTs, different CNTs distributions, various coefficients of foundation and different combinations of free, simply supported and clamped boundary conditions on the vibrational characteristics of CGCNTR rectangular plates. The new results can be used as benchmark solutions for future researches.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2020

In steel-concrete composite beams, to improve the cracking resistance of the concrete slab in the hogging moment region, a new type of connector in the interface, named uplift-restricted and slip-permitted screw-type (URSP-S) connector has been proposed. This paper focuses on the behavior of steel-concrete composite beams with URSP-S connectors. A total of three beam specimens including a simply supported beam with URSP-S connectors and two continuous composite beams with different connectors arrangements were designed and tested. More specifically, one continuous composite beam was equipped with URSP-S connectors in negative moment region and traditional shear studs in other regions. For comparison, the other one was designed with only traditional shear studs. The failure modes, crack evolution process, ultimate capacities, strain responses at different locations as well as the interface slip of the three tested specimens were measured and evaluated in-depth. Based on the experimental study, the research findings indicate that the larger slip deformation is allowed while using URSP-S connectors. Meanwhile, the tensile stress reduces and the cracking resistance of the concrete slab improves accordingly. In addition, the overall stiffness and strength of the composite beam become slightly lower than those of the composite beam using traditional shear studs. Moreover, the arrangement suggestion of URSP-S connectors in the composite beam is discussed in this paper for its practical design and application.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.141-155
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• 2017

This paper presents an investigation into the magneto-thermo-mechanical vibration and damping of a viscoelastic functionally graded-carbon nanotubes (FG-CNTs)-reinforced curved microbeam based on Timoshenko beam and strain gradient theories. The structure is surrounded by a viscoelastic medium which is simulated with spring, damper and shear elements. The effective temperature-dependent material properties of the CNTs-reinforced composite beam are obtained using the extended rule of mixture. The structure is assumed to be subjected to a longitudinal magnetic field. The governing equations of motion are derived using Hamilton's principle and solved by employing differential quadrature method (DQM). The effect of various parameter like volume percent and distribution type of CNTs, temperature change, magnetic field, boundary conditions, material length scale parameter, central angle, viscoelastic medium and structural damping on the vibration and damping behaviors of the nanocomposite curved microbeam is examined. The results show that with increasing volume percent of CNTs and considering magnetic field, material length scale parameter and viscoelastic medium, the frequency of the system increases and critically damped situation occurs at higher values of damper constant. In addition, the structure with FGX distribution type of CNTs has the highest stiffness. It is also observed that increasing temperature, structural damping and central angle of curved microbeam decreases the frequency of the system.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.900-909
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• 2018

A $ZnO/TiO_2$ photocatalyst decorated with PbS quantum dots (QDs) was synthesized to achieve high photocatalytic efficiency for the decomposition of dye in aqueous media. A $TiO_2$ porous layer, as a precursor photocatalyst, was fabricated using micro-arc oxidation, and exhibited irregular porous cells with anatase and rutile crystalline structures. Then, a ZnO-deposited $TiO_2$ catalyst was fabricated using a zinc acetate solution, and PbS QDs were uniformly deposited on the surface of the $ZnO/TiO_2$ photocatalyst using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. For the PbS $QDs/ZnO/TiO_2$ photocatalyst, ZnO and PbS nanoparticles are uniformly precipitated on the $TiO_2$ surface. However, the diameters of the PbS particles were very fine, and their shape and distribution were relatively more homogeneous compared to the ZnO particles on the $TiO_2$ surface. The PbS QDs on the $TiO_2$ surface can induce changes in band gap energy due to the quantum confinement effect. The effective band gap of the PbS QDs was calculated to be 1.43 eV. To evaluate their photocatalytic properties, Aniline blue decomposition tests were performed. The presence of ZnO and PbS nanoparticles on the $TiO_2$ catalysts enhanced photoactivity by improving the absorption of visible light. The PbS $QDs/ZnO/TiO_2$ heterojunction photocatalyst showed a higher Aniline blue decomposition rate and photocatalytic activity, due to the quantum size effect of the PbS nanoparticles, and the more efficient transport of charge carriers.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.533-545
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• 2021

What is desirable in engineering is to bring the engineering model as close to reality as possible while the simplicity of model is also considered. In recent years, several studies have been performed on nanocomposites but some of these studies are somewhat far from reality. For example, in many of these studies, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are assumed completely straight, flawless and uniformly distributed throughout the matrix but by studying nanocomposites, we find that this is not the case. In this paper, three steps have been taken to bring the presented models for nanocomposites closer to reality. One is that assuming the straightness of nanotubes is removed and the waviness is considered. Also, the nanotubes are not considered to be pristine and the influence of defect is included in accordance with reality. In addition, the approximation of uniform distribution of nanotubes is ignored and according to experimental observations, the effect of nanotube aggregation is considered. As far as we know, this is the first study on these three topics together in an article. Moreover, we also include the size effects in our models for nanocomposites. To show the accuracy of our models, our results are calibrated with experimental results and compared with theoretical model. For numerical examples, we present the buckling behaviors of nanocomposites including the size effects using nonlocal theory and compare the results of our models with the results of models with above-mentioned approximations.