• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.221-231
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• 2018

A new procedure to produce poly(vinylidene fluoride)/boron nitride hybrid membrane is presented for application in membrane distillation (MD) process. The influence of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) incorporation on the performance of the polymeric membranes is studied through the present investigation. For this aim, h-BN nanopowders were successfully synthesized using the simple chemical vapor deposition (CVD) route and subsequent solvent treatments. The resulting h-BN nanosheets were blended with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) solution. Then, the prepared composite solution was subjected to phase inversion process to obtain PVDF/h-BN hybrid membranes. Various examinations such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wettability, permeation flux, mechanical strength and liquid entry pressure (LEP) measurements are performed to evaluate the prepared membrane. Moreover, Air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) experiments were carried out to investigate the salt rejection performance and the durability of membranes. The results show that our hybrid PVDF/h-BN membrane presents higher water permeation flux (${\sim}18kg/m^2h$) compared to pristine PVDF membrane. In addition, the experimental data confirms that the prepared nanocomposite membrane is hydrophobic (water contact angle: ${\sim}103^{\circ}$), has a porous skin layer (>85%), as well competitive fouling resistance and operational durability. Furthermore, the total salt rejection efficiency was obtained for PVDF/h-BN membrane. The results prove that the novel PVDF/h-BN membrane can be easily synthesized and applied in MD process for salt rejection purposes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.3593-3599
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• 2010

In an original effort, this lab attempted to employ polystyrene nanoparticles as a template for the synthesis of ordered and highly porous macroporous $SiO_2$ thin films, utilizing their high combustion temperature and narrow size distribution. However, polystyrene nanoparticle thin films were not obtained due to the low interaction between individual particles and between the particle and silicon substrate. However, polystyrene-polyacrylic acid (PS-AA) colloidal particles of a core-shell structure were synthesized by a one-pot miniemulsion polymerization approach, with hydrophilic polyacrylic acid tails on the particle surface that improved interaction between individual particles and between the particle and silicon substrate. The PS-AA thin films were spin-coated in the thickness ranges from monolayer to approximately $1.0\;{\mu}m$. Using the PS-AA thin films as sacrificial templates, macroporous $SiO_2$ thin films were successfully synthesized by vapor deposition or conventional solution sol-gel infiltration methods. Inspection with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed that the macroporous $SiO_2$ thin films consist of interconnected air balls (~100 nm). Typical macroporous $SiO_2$ thin films showed ultralow refractive indices ranging from 1.098 to 1.138 at 633 nm, according to the infiltration conditions, which were confirmed by spectroscopy ellipsometry (SE) measurements. This research shows how the synthetic control of the macromolecule such as hydrophilic polystyrene nanopaticles and silicate sol precursors innovates the optical properties and processabilities for actual applications.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.289-295
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• 2003

The corrosion behavior of Cr-N coated steels with different phases (${\alpha}-Cr$, CrN and $Cr_2N$) deposited by cathodic arc deposition on Hl3 steel was investigated in 3.5% NaCl solution at ambient temperature. Potentiodynamic polarization test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were the techniques applied to characterize the corrosion behavior. It was found that the CrN coating had a lower current density from potentiodynamic polarization test than others. The porosity, corresponding to the ratio of the polarization resistance of the uncoated and the coated substrate, was higher in the $Cr_2N$ coating than in the other Cr-N coated steels. EIS measurements showed, for the most of Cr-N coated steels, that the Bode plot presented two time constants. Also, the $Cr_2N$ coating represents the characteristic of Warburg behavior after 72hr of immersion. The coating morphologies were examined in planar view and cross-section by SEM analyses and the results were compared with those of the electrochemical measurement. The CrN coating had a dense, columnar grain-sized microstructure with minor intergranular porosity. From the above results, the CrN coating provided a better corrosion protection than the other Cr-N coated steels.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2015

PURPOSE. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of cleaning solutions on saliva-contaminated zirconia in comparison to air-abrasion in terms of resin bonding. MATERIALS AND METHODS. For saliva-contaminated air-abraded zirconia, seven cleaning methods)-no contamination (NC), water-spray rinsing (WS), additional air-abrasion (AA), and cleaning with four solutions (Ivoclean [IC]; 1.0 wt% sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS], 1.0 wt% hydrogen peroxide [HP], and 1.0 wt% sodium hypochlorite [SHC])-were tested. The zirconia surfaces for each group were characterized using various analytical techniques. Three bonded resin (Panavia F 2.0) cylinders (bonding area: $4.5mm^2$) were made on one zirconia disk specimen using the Ultradent jig method [four disks (12 cylinders)/group; a total of 28 disks]. After 5,000 thermocycling, all specimens were subjected to a shear bond strength test with a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/minute. The fractured surfaces were observed using an optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS. Contact angle measurements showed that groups NC, AA, IC, and SHC had hydrophilic surfaces. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed similar elemental distributions between group AA and groups IC and SHC. Groups IC and SHC showed statistically similar bond strengths to groups NC and AA (P>.05), but not groups SDS and HP (P<.05). For groups WS, SDS, and HP, blister-like bubble formations were observed on the surfaces under SEM. CONCLUSION. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, some of the cleaning solutions (IC or SHC) were effective in removing saliva contamination and enhancing the resin bond strength.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.611-620
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• 2018

In this study, a metal-organic framework (MOF) material $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe) was synthesized using the solvothermal method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible spectrophotometry, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and surface area measurements. The XRD pattern of the synthesized $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe) was similar to the previously reported patterns of MIL-101 type materials, which indicated the successful synthesis of $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe). The FT-IR spectrum showed the molecular structure and functional groups of the synthesized $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe). The UV-visible absorbance spectrum indicated that the synthesized material could be activated as a photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. FE-SEM and TEM images showed the formation of hexagonal microspindle structures in the synthesized $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe). Furthermore, the EDS spectrum indicated that the synthesized material consisted of Fe, N, O, and C elements. The synthesized $NH_2$-MIL-101(Fe) was then employed as an adsorbent and photocatalyst for the removal of Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B from aqueous solutions. The initial 30 min of adsorption for Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B without light irradiation achieved removal efficiencies of 83.6% and 70.7%, respectively. The removal efficiencies thereafter gradually increased with visible light irradiation for 180 min, and the overall removal efficiencies for Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B were 94.2% and 83.5%, respectively. These results indicate that the synthesized MOF material can be effectively applied as an adsorbent and photocatalyst for the removal of dyes.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2018

The aims of this study were to determine the corrosion behavior of pure copper in the presence of Desulfovibrio sp. and also to investigate the effects of glutaraldehyde (GD) and isothiazolinone (ISO) on the corrosion behavior of pure copper in the presence of this sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) strain by using electrochemical techniques. Electrochemical measurements of pure copper were carried out at specified time intervals (0, 8, 24, 48, and 96 hr) over a period of exposure. Corrosion rates of pure copper from anodic and cathodic Tafel slopes and corrosion potential ($E_{corr}$) were determined. Biofilm and corrosion products on the copper surfaces were observed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) analyses. The effects of solution types (PC (Postgate's C medium) and SRB (Desulfovibrio sp.)) and exposure times of copper and biocides (ISO or GD) on the corrosion rates of pure copper were evaluated by statistical analyses. As a result of the FESEM analysis, biofilm formation was observed on the surfaces of pure copper exposed to the Desulfovibrio sp. cultures both with and without the biocides. The results show that the pure copper was corroded by Desulfovibrio sp. However, the addition of GD or ISO to the Desulfovibrio sp. culture resulted in a decrease in the corrosion rate of the pure copper. It was also observed that both of the biocides showed a similar effect on pure copper's corrosion rate caused by Desulfovibrio sp.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 2011

Transformation behavior and shape memory characteristics of Ti-(45-x)Ni-5Cu-xCr (x=0.5-2.0) alloys have been investigated by means of electrical resistivity measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and thermal cycling tests under constant load. Two-stage B2-B19-B19' transformation occurred in Ti-(45-x)Ni-5Cu-xCr alloys. The B2-B19 transformation was separated clearly from the B19-B19' transformation in Ti-44.0Ni-5Cu-1.0Cr and Ti-43.5Ni-5Cu-1.5Cr alloys. A temperature range where the B19 martensite exists was expanded with increasing Cr content because decreasing rate of Ms (85 K / % Cr) was larger than that of Ms' (17 K / % Cr). Ti-(45-x)Ni-5Cu-xCr alloys were deformed in plastic manner with a fracture strain of 68% ~ 43% depending on Cr content. Substitution of Cr for Ni improves the critical stress for slip deformation in a Ti-45Ni-5Cu alloy due to solid solution hardening.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.1-10
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• 1996

Solar cells made of the edge-defined film-fed growth Si are characterized using current-voltage, surface photovoltage, electron beam induced current, electron microprobe, scanning electron microscopy, and electron backscattering. The weak temperature dependence of the I-V curves in the EFG solar cells is due to a voltage variable shunt resistance giving higher diode ideality factors than the ideal one. The voltage variable shunt resistance is modeled by a modified recombination mechanism which includes carrier tunneling to distributed impurity energy states in the band gap within the space-charge region. The junction integrity and the substrate quality are characterized simultaneously by combining I-V and surface photovoltage (SPV) measurements. The diode ideality factors and the surface photovoltages characterize the junction integrity while the SPV diffusion lengths characterizes the substrate quality. Most of the measured samples show the voltage variable shunt resistance although how serious it is depends on the solar cell efficiency. The voltage variable shunt resistance is understood as one of the most important factors of the degradation of EFG solar cells.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.487-507
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• 1995

Composite resin repair requires strong bond strength between the new and old materials. The objective of the current study was to identify the optimal treatments for sufficient bond strengths. Bondings between same kinds of materials and cross bondings using chemical curing composites and light curing composites were tested. Surface treatments included the methods of sand-blasting, acid etching and coating of bonding agent. Seven kinds cases of combinations from three kinds of methods were experimented and compared with a control group of which surfaces were highly polished. Measurements of shear bond strength and observations of surface morphologic changes using a scanning electron microscope were done. Following conclusions were drawn : 1. The highest bond strength among composite resins were exhibited by the treatment of the sand-blasting and the coating of bonding agent. 2. Acid etched surfaces showed the lowest bond strength. Bond strengths obtained from experimental groups including acid etching were lower than those obtained from same kinds of experimental groups without acid etching. 3. Simple method of the coating of bonding agent produced the slightly increased bond strength on chemical curing composite and reduced bond strength on light curing composite. 4. Bonding surfaces of chemical curing composite resin showed slightly higher bond strengths than light curing composite resin, however significant differences were not confirmed statistically. 5. More significant irregular surfaces were created by sand-blasting method than acid etching method. 6. A principal component of fillers of both resins was silicon. Acid etching method produced the seperations and degradations of fillers, these were significant on light curing composite resins which containing barium fillers.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2017

Objectives: To determine the optimal timing for post space preparation of root canals sealed with epoxy resin-based AH Plus sealer in terms of its polymerization and influence on apical leakage. Materials and Methods: The epoxy polymerization of AH Plus (Dentsply DeTrey) as a function of time after mixing (8, 24, and 72 hours, and 1 week) was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and microhardness measurements. The change in the glass transition temperature ($T_g$) of the material with time was also investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Fifty extracted human single-rooted premolars were filled with gutta-percha and AH Plus, and randomly separated into five groups (n = 10) based on post space preparation timing (immediately after root canal obturation and 8, 24, and 72 hours, and 1 week after root canal obturation). The extent of apical leakage (mm) of the five groups was compared using a dye leakage test. Each dataset was statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test (${\alpha}=0.05$). Results: Continuous epoxy polymerization of the material with time was observed. Although the $T_g$ values of the material gradually increased with time, the specimens presented no clear $T_g$ value at 1 week after mixing. When the post space was prepared 1 week after root canal obturation, the leakage was significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.05), among which there was no significant difference in leakage. Conclusions: Poor apical seal was detected when post space preparation was delayed until 1 week after root canal obturation.