• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.362-372
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• 2010

This paper surveys the physical properties of the multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) and polyurethane composite film for improvement of mechanical properties and electrical characteristics. The modification of MWNT was carried out by acid treatment with nitric and sulphuric acid mixed solution, and then followed by thermal treatment for enhancing MWNT dispersion with polyurethane. This modified MWNT was mixed with polyurethane by changing the loading content of MWNT and dispersion time under the dimethylformamide solution in the ultrasonic wave apparatus. Various physical characteristics of the modified PU/MWNT films were measured and analyzed in terms of the loading content and dispersion time. The maximum absorbance of the PU/MWNT films were observed with the 2wt% loading at dispersion times of 2 and 24 hour, respectively. The minimum electrical volume resistivity of PU/MWNT film was shown at the loading content of 0.5wt% or more irrespective of dispersion treating time. However the optimum condition was assumed to 2wt% loading at dispersion time of 2 hours by assessing the surface profile of the film using video microscope. The breaking stress and strain of the PU/MWNT film decreased with increasing loading content, but no change of physical properties was shown with increasing in dispersion time.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2007

This study investigated the effect of ultrasound irradiation on the blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). The blends of PLA/PBAT(50/50) (PBAT50) were prepared in a melt mixer with an ultrasonic device attached. Thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties, morphology, and biodegradability of the sonicated blends were analysed. The viscosity of the sonicated blends was increased by the ultrasound irradiation owing to the strong interaction. The morphology of the sonicated blends was significantly dependent on the duration o the ultrasound irradiation. For PBAT50, the phase size reduction was maximized when the blends were ultrasonically irradiated for 30 sec. At longer duration of ultrasound irradiation, the PBAT phase underwent flocculation. Measurement of the tensile properties showed an increased breakage tensile stress and an enhanced Young's modulus when the blends were properly irradiated. This improvement was ascribed to better adhesion between the PLA matrix and the PBAT domain and to better dispersion of the PBAT phase. However, the tensile properties were maximized after excessive energy irradiation, which was ascribed to an emulsifying effect leading to coalescence of the PBAT phase. Impact strength was increased to reach a peak with the ultrasound irradiation, and was higher than the untreated sample for all sonicated samples due to the difference of failure mechanism between the tensile test and the impact test.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.567-574
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• 2016

We have analyzed chemical properties of polysiloxane and polysilazane films, respectively, as sealing materials for electrostatic chuck (ESC) and have investigated the possibility of polysilazane as an alternative sealant to polysiloxane. It has been revealed that Si-O with organic bonding ($Si-CH_3$) existed in polysiloxane films compared to only pure Si-O bonding in polysilazane films. The sealing property of polysilazane has been found outstanding even in a short time of application. In the polysiloxane films containing $H_2O$, pin holes have been found possibly due to $CO_2$ gas evolution, and low adhesion with Si substrate has been observed after heat stress test in connection with the existence of organic bonding. After acid resistance test in 0.5 vol.% HF, 68 wt.% $HNO_3$, and 37 wt.% HCl solution, polyilazane films have shown a longer survival times. Compared to the conventional polysiloxane sealant, polysilazane is expected as a new sealing material because of good thermal and chemical stability.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2009

A polymer-based flexible neural probe was fabricated for monitoring of neural activities from a brain. To improve the insertion stiffness, a 5 ${\mu}m$ thick biocompatible Au layer was electroplated between the top and bottom polymer layers. The developed neural probe penetrated a gel whose elastic modulus is similar to that of a live brain tissue without any fracture, To minimize mechanical residual stress and bending from the probe, two new methods were employed: (1) use of a thermal annealing process after completing the device and (2) incorporation of multiple different layers to compensate the residual stress between top and bottom layers. Mechanical bending around the probe tip was clearly removed after employing the two processes. In electrical test, the developed probe showed a proper impedance value to record neural signals from a brain and the result remained the same for 72 hours. In simple in-vitro probe characterization, the probe showed a great removal of residual stress and an excellent recording performance. The in-vitro recording results did not change even after 1 week, suggesting that this electrode has the potential for great recording from neuron firing and long-term implant performance.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.343-359
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• 2016

Objective:In this study, we designed working clothes for livestock farmers to wear in spring and autumn to improve their work efficiency, conducted a physiological test on their performance, and evaluated their comfort. Background: In recent years, livestock farming in Korea has expanded, yet farmers' safety and sanitation levels remain low in hazardous environments that include organic dust, toxic gas, and heat stress, as well as the risk of accidents. Furthermore, most livestock farmers wear ordinary or dust-resistant clothes that are unsuitable for rearing livestock and compromise their safety and health. Thus, it is important to design specialized working clothes for livestock farmers that are comfortable and that minimize their health and safety risks. Method: To this end, we examined the literature on livestock (poultry, swine, and cattle) farmers' safety and sanitation issues, designed appropriate working clothes, and tested them in terms of sensory feel, physiological response, and subjective comfort. Results: The respondents expressed satisfaction with the new working clothes. The results of a physiological test showed a decline in temperature and humidity inside the clothes, a lower pulse rate, and a lower oxygen intake compared to the measurements taken when famers wore their previous working clothes. This indicates a fall in heat stress and fatigue, which was mostly consistent with the results of the assessment of subjective comfort. Conclusion: The results of the analysis show an improvement in the comfort of the new working clothes compared to the dust-resistant clothes that are widely worn. Based on this study, the new working clothes need to be further tested and evaluated to improve the design. Application: This study is expected to contribute to designing better working clothes for livestock farmers.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2008

In this study, we investigated effects of hydrogen annealing (HA) and plasma nitridation (PN) applied in order to improve $Si/SiO_2$ interface characteristics of TiN metal gate. In result, HA and PN showed a positive effect decreasing number of interface state $(N_{it})$ respectively. After FN stress for verifying reliability, however, we identified rapid increase of $N_{it}$ for TiN gate with HA, which is attributed to hydrogen related to a change of $Si/SiO_2$ interface characteristic. In contrast to HA, PN showed an improved Nit and gate oxide leakage characteristic due to several possible effects, such as blocking of Chlorine (Cl) diffusion and prevention of thermal reaction between TiN and $SiO_2$.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.328-332
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• 2014

Thin film transistors (TFTs) with an amorphous silicon zinc tin oxide (a-2SZTO) channel layer have been fabricated using an RF magnetron sputtering system. The effect of the change of excitation electron on the variation of the total interfacial trap states of a-2SZTO systems was investigated depending on sputtering power, since the interfacial state could be changed by changing sputtering power. It is well known that Si can effectively reduce the generation of the oxygen vacancies. However, The a-2SZTO systems of ZTO doped with 2 wt% Si could be degraded because the Si peripheral electron belonging to a p-orbital affects the amorphous zinc tin oxide (a-ZTO) TFTs of the s-orbital overlap structure. We fabricated amorphous 2 wt% Si-doped ZnSnO (a-2SZTO) TFTs using an RF magnetron sputtering system. The a-2SZTO TFTs show an improvement of the electrical property with increasing power. The a-2SZTO TFTs fabricated at a power of 30 W showed many of the total interfacial trap states. The a-2SZTO TFTs at a power of 30 W showed poor electrical property. However, at 50 W power, the total interfacial trap states showed improvement. In addition, the improved total interfacial states affected the thermal stress of a-2SZTO TFTs. Therefore, a-2SZTO TFTs fabricated at 50 W power showed a relatively small shift of threshold voltage. Similarly, the activation energy of a-2SZTO TFTs fabricated at 50 W power exhibits a relatively large falling rate (0.0475 eV/V) with a relatively high activation energy, which means that the a-2SZTO TFTs fabricated at 50 W power has a relatively lower trap density than other power cases. As a result, the electrical characteristics of a-2SZTO TFTs fabricated at a sputtering power of 50 W are enhanced. The TFTs fabricated by rf sputter should be carefully optimized to provide better stability for a-2SZTO in terms of the sputtering power, which is closely related to the interfacial trap states.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.26 no.6_3
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• pp.1297-1303
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• 2023

Research on enhancing the mechanical strength, lightweight properties, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity of composite materials by incorporating nano-materials is actively underway. Thermoplastic resins can change their form under heat, making them highly processable and recyclable. In this study, Polyamide-Nylon 6 (PA6), a thermoplastic resin, was utilized, and as reinforcing agents, fused carbon nano-materials (FCN) formed by structurally combining Carbon Nanotube(CNT) and Graphene were employed. Nano-materials often face challenges related to cohesion and dispersion. To address this issue, Silane functional groups were introduced to enhance the dispersion of FCN in PA6. The manufacturing conditions for the composite materials involved determining the use of a dispersant and varying FCN content at 0.05 wt%, 0.1 wt%, and 0.2 wt%. Tensile strength measurements were conducted, and FE-SEM analysis was performed on fracture surfaces. As a result of the tensile strength test, it was confirmed that compared to pure PA6, the strength of the polymer composite with a content of 0.05 wt% was improved by about 60%, for 0.1 wt%, about 65%, and for 0.2 wt%, the strength was improved by 50%. Also, when compared according to the content of FCN, the best strength value was shown when 0.1 wt% was added. The elastic modulus also showed an improvement of about 15% in the case of surface treatment compared to the case without surface treatment, and an improvement of about 70% compared to pure PA6. Through FE-SEM, it was confirmed that the matrix material and silane-modified nanomaterial improved the dispersibility and bonding strength of the interface, helping to support the load evenly and enabling effective stress transfer.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.427-436
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• 2021

Background: Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies have been used to treat patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). However, the effect of therapies in cancer patients has yet to be investigated comprehensively. We hypothesized that cyclic thermal therapy would improve blood flow and microcirculation and improve the symptoms driven by CIPN. Methods: The criteria of assessment were blood volume in region of interest (ROI) in the images, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20 questionnaire scores. The blood volume was quantified by using red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy. All patients were treated 10 times during 10 days. The thermal stimulations, between 15° and 41°, were repeatedly delivered to the patient's hands. Results: The total score of the questionnaires, the score of questions related to the upper limbs, the score of questions closely related to the upper limbs, and the score excluding the upper limbs questions was decreased. The blood volume was decreased, and the variance of blood volume was decreased. During cooling stimulation, the blood volume was decreased, and its variance was decreased. During warming stimulation, the blood volume was decreased, and its variance was decreased. Conclusions: We suggest that cyclic thermal therapy is useful to alleviate CIPN symptoms by blood circulation improvement. RBC scintigraphy can provide the quantitative information on blood volume under certain conditions such as stress, as well as rest, in peripheral tissue.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2012

RMembrane LNG storage tanks have been recently investigated to replace full-containment LNG storage tanks because of safety and cost aspects. Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) and Finite Element Method (FEM) were used to evaluate safety of membrane LNG storage tanks. In this study, structural safety evaluation results via FEM analysis showed that both membrane type and full-containment type cryogenic LNG storage tanks with 140,000 $m^3$ capacity were equivalently safe in terms of strength safety and leakage safety of a storage tank system. Also, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) was used to improve the safety of membrane LNG storage tanks and membrane LNG tanks were modified by adding three safety equipments: impact absorber structure for the low part of the membrane, the secondary barrier to diminish the thermal stress of the corner part of the outer tank, and a pump catcher in case of falling of a pump. Consequently, the safety of the modified membrane LNG storage tanks were proved to be equivalent to that of full-containment LNG storage tanks.