The dielectric medium used in electrophoretic displays (EPDs) is required to be an environmentally friendly solvent with high density, low viscosity, and a large electric constant. Hydrofluoroether, a highly fluorinated solvent with eco-friendly characteristics, is regarded as a viable alternative medium for EPDs, owing to the similarity of its physical properties to those of the conventional EPD medium. Surface modification of particles is required, however, in order for it to disperse in the charged solvent. Also, positive/negative charges should be present on the particle surface to enable electrophoretic behavior. In this study, carbon black particles wrapped with positively charged nitrogen (N-CBs) were fabricated by a simple hydrothermal process using a poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) solution as a black coloring agent for the EPD. The dispersion behavior of N-CBs was investigated in various solvents.

An extensive investigation has been made for the possible utilization of polypropylene spunbonded fabrics in rice seedling nursery. Considering the cropping systems available in southern part of Korea, sowing dates were fixed at April 5 and April 20 for single cropping and May 6 and May 26 for double cropping. Nursery period was fixed to 35 days for each sowing date. Four different thickness of polypropylene spunbonded fabrics, 40, 60, 80, 100 g/m2 , were tested in rice seedling nursery. The temperature and light intensity were not significantly different among the thickness of polypropylene spunbonded fabrics. Light intensity was significantly reduced in polypropylene spunbonded fabric (72.2 Klux) compared with polyethylene mm (85.5 Klux), however, the reduced light intensity was enough for seedling growth. The temperature in the polypropylene spunbonded fabric covering during low air temperature was higher than that in polyethylene mm tunnel. At transplanting, the rice seedlings grown in polypropylene spunbonded fabric condition was shorter (17cm) but healthier than those in polyethylene mm (23cm). The estimated possible nursery periods using the polypropylene spunbonded fabric covering may start from April 1 at Chinju (plain area in Southern Korea, 20m altitude) and April 15 at Susang (mountainous area, 430m altitude). Labour hours and cost were reduced by about 28% and 48%, respectively.