• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.555-566
• /
• 2023

In this study, a composite phase change material (CPCM) produced using the SOL-GEL technique was developed as a thermal energy storage medium for low-temperature applications. Tetradecane and activated carbon (AC) were used as the core and supporting materials, respectively. The tetradecane phase change material (PCM) was impregnated into the porous structure of AC using the vacuum impregnation method, and a thin layer of silica gel was coated on the prepared composite using the SOL-GEL process, where tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as the silica source. The thermal performance of the CPCM was analysed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). DSC results showed that the pure tetradecane PCM had melting and freezing temperatures of 6.4℃ and 1.3℃ and corresponding enthalpies 226 J/g and 223.8 J/g, respectively. The CPCM exhibited enthalpy of 32.98 J/g and 27.7 J/g during the melting and freezing processes at 7.1℃ and 2.4℃, respectively. TGA test results revealed that the AC is thermally stable up to 500℃, which is much higher than the decomposition temperature of the pure tetradecane, which is around 120℃. Moreover, in the case of AC-PCM and CPCM thermal degradation started at 80℃ and 100℃, respectively. The chemical stability of the CPCM was studied using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and the results confirmed that the developed composite is chemically stable. Finally, the surface morphology of the AC and CPCM was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which confirmed the presence of a thin layer of silica gel on the AC surface after the SOL-GEL process.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.121-131
• /
• 2014

Due to the high UV light scattering effect of Zinc oxide (ZnO), it is frequently used in sunscreen skincare products. Recently ZnO coated with silica has been used in cosmetics to improve UV protection, texture, decreased photocatalytic activity, dispersibility and stability of the skin care product. In this study, we developed a ZnO composite powder coated with silica for the future application to skincare products to block UV rays that could cause photoaging. To improve consumer's satisfaction rating, we used ZnO microparticles which are widely used in the cosmetics industry. The silica was coated using hydrothermal method with sodium silicate and acid hydrolysis. UV protection of the composite powder was analyzed by UV-Vis and in-vitro test and the advantages for practical use of this powder as a skincare product were determined.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.188-192
• /
• 2016

In this work, the SiC powders were synthesized through the carbonized matter from the mixture of silica powder and rice husks. The SiC powders, obtained from the carbothermal reduction reaction of silica and carbonized rice husks, were investigated by XRD patterns, XPS, FE-SEM and FE-TEM. In the XRD patterns, the specimens showed clearly very high strong peak of (111) plane near $35^{\circ}$ as well as weak (220) and (311) peak respectively at approximately $60^{\circ}$ and $72^{\circ}$. Under Ar atmosphere, the power synthesized from the mixture (in case of mixing ratio, 6 : 4) of carbonized rice husks and silica showed mainly cubic SiC crystalline phase showing relatively lower ratio of hexagonal phase without residual carbon in XRD pattern. In the TEM analysis, the specimen, synthesized from carbonized rice husks and silica with mixing ratio of 6 : 4 under Ar atmosphere, showed relatively fine particles under $5{\mu}m$ and a crystalline SiC phase of (100) diffraction pattern.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2003.05a
• /
• pp.361-366
• /
• 2003

Recently, construction materials have been guickly advancing. Especially, the rate of development of cement based construction materials is much quicker than steel or composite materials. In order to optimize the ductility and strength of cement based materials, Micro-Mechanics based fiber concrete called Engineered Cement Composite (ECC) has been developed and studied extensively by many researchers in the field due to ECC's remarkable flexural strain and strength capacities, many leading nation (i.e., US, Japan and European countries have reached the point of being able to use ECC in actual constructions. But, due to the belated interest in the field, Korea is lagging behind the leading countries. ECC's ability to use its short fibers to bridge micro-cracks (50-80㎛ in width) allows great ductility and strength. ,In this study, ECC with superior material capacities are manufactured using domestic materials such as cement, silica sand, metal cellulose, etc. Using only domestic products, the optimal W/C ratio and mixing procedures are determined.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.91-97
• /
• 2003

The effect of fluorination of nanoscaled silicas on mechanical interfacial properties and thermal stabilities of the silica/polyurethane composites was investigated. The surface properties of the silica were studied in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Their mechanical interfacial properties and thermal stabilities of the composites were characterized by tearing energy and decomposition activation energy, respectively. As experimental results, the London dispersive component of surface free energy and fluorine functional groups of silica surfaces were increased as a function of fluorination temperature resulting in improving the trearing energy ($G_{IIIC}$) of the composites. Also, the thermal stabilities of the composites were increased as the treatment temperature increases. These results could be explained that the fluorine functional groups on silica surfaces played an important role in improving the intermolecular interactions at interfaces between silicas and polyurethane matrix in a composite system.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.112-119
• /
• 2022

Recently, as carbon neutrality has been important factor in the construction industry, many studies have been conducted on the high-volume fly ash concrete. High volume fly ash concrete(HVFC) is usually made by replacing more than 50% of cement with fly ash. However, HVFC has a disadvantage of low compressive strength in early age. To overcome this shortcoming of HVFC, improve this, interest in techonolgy using nanomaterials is increasing. Nano silica is expected to improve the early age strength of HVFC as a pozzolanic material. This study investigated the effect of nano silica on the early hydration reaction and microstructure of HVFC. The early hydration reaction of HFVC was analyzed through setting time, isothermal calorimeter, compressive strength and thermal weight analysis. In addition, the microstructure of HVFC was measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. From the test results, it was confirmed that nano silica increased the early age strength and improve the microstructure of HVFC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.34 no.7
• /
• pp.341-354
• /
• 2024

Today, the principles of green chemistry are being fundamentally applied in the chemical industry, such as the nitrobenzene industry, which is an essential intermediate for various commercial products. Research on the application of response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize nitrobenzene synthesis was conducted using a sulfated silica (SO₄/SiO₂) catalyst and batch microwave reactor. The nitrobenzene synthesis process was carried out according to RSM using a central composite design (CCD) design for three independent variables, consisting of sulfuric acid concentration on the silica (%), stirring time (min), and reaction temperature (℃), and the response variable of nitrobenzene yield (%). The results showed that a three-factorial design using the response surface method could determine the optimum conditions for obtaining nitrobenzene products in a batch microwave reactor. The optimum condition for a nitrobenzene yield of 63.38 % can be obtained at a sulfuric acid concentration on the silica of 91.20 %, stirring time of 140.45 min, and reaction temperature of 58.14 ℃. From the 20 experiments conducted, the SO₄/SiO₂ catalyst showed a selectivity of 100 %, which means that this solid acid catalyst can potentially work well in converting benzene to nitrobenzene.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2004.05a
• /
• pp.746-749
• /
• 2004

A new-type of FRP-concrete composite bridge deck system is proposed and its behaviors are experimentally studied. The new-typedeck consists of FRP as a permanent form and main tension resisting member and concrete as a compression resisting member. A suitable bonding method such as silica coating is applied to the interface between FRP and concrete to ensure composite behavior. The proposed deck system uses the box-shape FRP member, while a typical FRP-concrete composite deck uses the I-shape FRP member. Theproposed deck system has inherent advantages of a FRP-concrete composite deck like corrosion free and easy construction. The new-type deck shows the equal performances compared to a previous one, and has the advantage of reducing self-weight. In this study, the static tests on 3-span FRP-concrete decks in full scale are carried out, so that load-displacement relation, stress distribution, failure mode and design criteria are analyzed. The test results show that the deflection design criterion (L/800, L: span length) is satisfied at the service load state. No concrete tensile crack occurs in the negative moment region above the main girder, regardless of no tensile reinforcement at upper concrete portion.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.605-609
• /
• 2011

Composite nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and thermal treatment from poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-$SiO_2$ blend solution. The nanofibers were stacked on layers to produce fully interconnected pores. TEM micrographs and EDX spectra confirmed the presence of $SiO_2$ in the composite nanofibers. The porosity of nanofibers was effectively enhanced by the introduction of electrospinning technique. ATR-FTIR and XRD results revealed that PVDF in the composite nanofibers exhibited the mixture crystal structure of ${\alpha}$-phase and ${\beta}$-phase. The crystal structure of ${\alpha}$-phase and crystallinity increased by the thermal treatment. In addition, the mechanical properties, thermal stability and hydrophobicity were markedly amplified by the thermal treatment.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.142-148
• /
• 2019

In this study, the effects of filler particle size and shape on the physical properties of silicone rubber composites were investigated using inorganic fillers (Minusil 5, Celite 219, and Nyad 400) except silica, which was already present as a reinforcing filler of silicone rubber. Fillers with small particle sizes are known to facilitate the formation of the bound rubber by increasing the contact area with the polymer. However, in this experiment, the bound rubber content of Celite 219-added silicone composite was higher than that of Minusil 5-added silicone composite. This was attributed to the porous structure of Celite 219, which led to an increase in the internal surface area of the filler. When the inorganic fillers were added, both thermal decomposition temperature and thermal stability were improved. The bound rubber formed between the silicone rubber and inorganic filler affected the degree of crosslinking of the silicone composite. It is well-known that as the size of the reinforcing filler decreases, the reinforcing effect increases. However, in this experiment, the hardness of the composite material filled with Celite 219 was the highest compared to the other three composites. Furthermore, the highest value of 2.19 MPa was observed for 100% modulus, and the fracture elongation was the lowest at 469%. This was a result of excellent interaction between Celite 219 filler and silicone rubber.