Designing and producing a low-cost, high-current-density electrode with good electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is still a major challenge for the industrial hydrogen energy economy. In this study, nanostructured Fe-doped CuCo(OH)2 was discovered to be a precedent electrocatalyst for OER with low overpotential, low Tafel slope, good durability, and high electrochemically active surface sites at reduced mass loadings. Fe-doped CuCo(OH)2 nanosheets are made using a hydrothermal synthesis process. These nanosheets are clumped together to form a highly open hierarchical structure. When used as an electrocatalyst, the Fe-doped CuCo(OH)2 nanosheets required an overpotential of 260 mV to reach a current density of 50 mA cm−2. Also, it showed a small Tafel slope of 72.9 mV dec−1, and superior stability while catalyzing the generation of O2 continuously for 20 hours. The Fe-doped CuCo(OH)2 was found to have a large number of active sites which provide hierarchical and stable transfer routes for both electrolyte ions and electrons, resulting in exceptional OER performance.

PURPOSES : The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of applying properties of asphalt binder other than absolute viscosity (AV) to evaluate the rejuvenation level of the binder from reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in recycled asphalt mixtures (RAMs). METHODS : The G*/sin and critical temperature (CT) for determining high performance grade by DSR, and the large molecular size (LMS) using gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) were measured simultaneously with the AV of two virgin asphalt binders (58–22 for RAM and 64–22 for normal mix) and recovered binders from a RAP and four RAMs. Based on mix design, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% recycled RAMs were prepared, and the deformation strength (SD) of the RAMs were measured. The AV, LMS, G*/sin , and CT were measured from the recovered binders from each RAM of the SD-tested specimens. Regression analyses were performed between the LMS and AV, G*/ sin and AV, and CT and AV to determine the correlation of each property with the AV. The feasibility of evaluating the rejuvenation level of the RMA binder using the three properties (LMS, G*/sin , and CT) was evaluated. Regression analysis was performed between SD and AV, and the feasibility of using SD instead of AV ≤ 5,000 poise (p) was analyzed to evaluate the rejuvenation level of the RAM. RESULTS : The AV, LMS, G*/sin , and CT of RAM binders increased with the recycling ratio. Mixes with recycle ratios of 20% and 30% satisfied the AV ≤ 5,000 p criterion, unlike mixes with higher recycle ratios. The regression analysis results showed that the R2 values between the LMS and AV, G*/sin and AV, and CT and AV exceeded 0.96. Since these regressions showed extremely high R2 values, it can be inferred that the estimation of binder rejuvenation level using the LMS, G*/sin and CT, i.e., instead of the AV criterion, is applicable. Because SD exhibits high correlation with the binder stiffness, and the regression between SD and AV indicated R2 > 0.98, SD can be applied instead of the AV for binder rejuvenation level estimation. The main advantage of using the LMS and SD is to estimate the binder rejuvenation level without recovering the binder from the mix. CONCLUSIONS : For the binder rejuvenation level estimation of recycled mixes, it is concluded that the LMS by GPC and G*/sin and CT by DSR, and SD can be applied instead of the AV criterion. However, since this study was performed using limited materials, further studies involving many other materials may be performed to generalize the current conclusion.

본 연구에서는 가교제인 붕산과 아크릴 수지 바인더에 삼인산(3 인산), 피트산(6 인산) 또는 폴 리인산암모늄(10 인산)을 혼합하여 인계 난연 코팅액을 제조하였다. 제조된 인계 난연 코팅액을 부직포에 각각 코팅하여 높은 난연 효과를 얻었다. 이렇게 제조된 난연성 부직포를 연기밀도기준시험(ASTM E662), 산소한계지수기준시험(ISO E622), 수직연소기준시험(UL 94)을 이용하여 평가하였다. 그들의 난연 효과는 phosphate 그룹의 수에 의해 영향을 받았으며, 천연 또는 합성 바인더 수지에 관계없이 그 효과는 ammonium polyphosphate > phytic acid > triphosphate의 순서로 나타났다. 천연 탄화수소 화합물도 바인더 수지의 난연성을 결정하기 위해 조사되었다. 그 결과 천연 탄화수소 바인 더 수지가 난연성 부직포 제조에 사용될 수 있음을 보여주었다.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the asphalt binder properties using FTIR analysis. METHODS : To investigate the chemical properties of asphalt binders, FTIR tests were performed. Recently, FTIR was used for quantification under various aging conditions. Three scans were averaged for each sample within the wavenumber range of 4000 to 400 cm-1, at a resolution of 4 cm-1 (default Simatech software settings). To determine the oxidation of the extracted asphalt binder and the remaining TCE solution in the extracted asphalt binder, the penetration test was adopted and compared. To track the changes in the chemical composition of the aged bitumens, the ATR spectrum of each sample was analyzed, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative analysis involved identifying characteristic absorption peaks for the functional group of interest, such as polymer components, carbon and sulfur oxidation products, and polar aromatics. RESULTS : The asphalt binder is easily oxidized in air during FTIR testing. To reduce the oxidization of the asphalt binder, the asphalt binder must avoid air contact to measure constant results. Sometimes, the extracted asphalt binder has a residual solvent (TCE), which affects the evaluation of the extracted asphalt binder rheology, such as absolute viscosity and penetration testing. To solve this problem, the research team adopted the FTIR test method. First, the TCE was scanned with FTIR to obtain the chemical characteristics of TCE. After that, the extracted asphalt binder was scanned and the FTIR spectra were compared with those of TCE. If there is a TCE in the extracted asphalt binder, a typical peak was found in the spectrum. Thus, it is possible to estimate the content of the TCE remaining in the extracted asphalt binder via the FTIR test method. CONCLUSIONS : It is possible to evaluate the aging of asphalt binder through FTIR analysis used for the analysis of the chemical structure of asphalt. In addition, during FTIR analysis, the sample is required to avoid air contact to obtain accurate results. FTIR analysis was conducted to confirm whether the solvent (TCE) remained in the extracted asphalt binder and it was confirmed that the penetration increased by a factor of two when the solvent remained. This suggests that it is difficult to control the quality of the asphalt mixture by controlling the amount of recycled additive, as well as the aging of the extracted asphalt binder.

In the present study, carbon molded bodies were prepared by using graphite/coke fillers and petroleum-based binder pitch with various softening points, and the thermal properties of the prepared carbon molded bodies were investigated. The ratio of a binder affects the molded body preparation: no molded body was prepared at a low binder pitch content, and swelling occurred during the thermal treatment at a high binder pitch content. The binder pitch thermal treatment yield was the highest at 41 wt% at the softening point of 150 °C and the lowest at 23 wt% at the softening point of 78 °C. A significant mass reduction was found in the range of 150 to 300 °C in the petroleum-based binder pitch, and in the range of 300 to 475 °C in the coal-based binder pitch. The molecular weight of the binder pitch was analyzed through the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) method. The molecular weight ratio within the interval showing the highest binder pitch molecular weight (178 to 712 m/z) was the highest at 66.4% in the coal-based binder pitch (softening point 115 °C) and the lowest at 46.0% in the petroleum-based binder pitch (softening point 116 °C). When the petroleumbased binder pitch was applied, as the softening point was increased, the voids decreased and thus the thermal conductivity increased. The highest thermal conductivity was 99.5 W/mK for the carbon molded bodies prepared using the coal-based binder pitch and 102.8 W/mK for those prepared by using the petroleum-based binder pitch. The results showed that the thermal properties were similar between the coal-based binder pitch (softening point 115 °C) and the petroleum-based binder pitch (softening point 150 °C).

The design and fabrication of catalysts with low-cost and high electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have remained challenging because of the sluggish kinetics of this reaction. The key to the pursuit of efficient electrocatalysts is to design them with high surface area and more active sites. In this work, we have successfully synthesized a highly stable and active NiCo2S4 nanowire array on a Ni-foam substrate (NiCo2S4 NW/NF) via a two-step hydrothermal synthesis approach. This NiCo2S4 NW/NF exhibits overpotential as low as 275 mV, delivering a current density of 20 mA cm-2 (versus reversible hydrogen electrode) with a low Tafel slope of 89 mV dec-1 and superior long-term stability for 20 h in 1M KOH electrolyte. The outstanding performance is ascribed to the inherent activity of the binder-free deposited, vertically aligned nanowire structure, which provides a large number of electrochemically active surface sites, accelerating electron transfer, and simultaneously enhancing the diffusion of electrolyte.

본 연구에서는 고분자 전해질막을 구성하고 있는 고분자 주쇄의 반복단위 개수를 변경해 가며 수화채널 모폴로지 와 이온전도도의 변화를 비교하였고, 최종적으로 분자동역학 전산모사 수행 시에 적정한 고분자 모델을 선정하기 위한 기준 을 제시하고자 하였다. 고분자 주쇄의 길이가 가장 짧은 모델에서 주쇄 및 술폰산기의 움직임이 커지는 것을 관찰할 수 있었 지만, 수화채널 모폴로지는 특별한 상관관계를 발견할 수 없었다. 또한, 수화채널 모폴로지에 가장 큰 영향을 받는 수소이온 전달 능력의 특성 상, 수소이온 전도도에서도 고분자 주쇄의 길이와 큰 상관관계를 보이지는 않았다. 이러한 결과는 특히 바 인더용 이오노머 제조에 대한 중요한 정보를 제공한다. 일반적으로 바인더용 이오노머의 경우 고분자 전해질막 소재를 저분 자량으로 합성하여 사용하게 되는데, 이때 주쇄/술폰산기의 움직임이 향상되므로 촉매층을 잘 둘러싸는 역할을 할 수 있는 반면에, 수소이온 전달 능력 자체에 있어서는 특별한 변화가 없을 것을 예상할 수 있다. 결론적으로, 바인더용 이오노머 제조 시에는 수소이온 전달 성능보다는 물성에 좀 더 초점을 맞추어 분자량 및 구조 설계가 필요할 것이다.

미세먼지발생 문제는 커다란 사회적 문제로 대두되고 있다. 선박에서는 주 추진 동력원으로 디젤엔진을 주로 사용하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 디젤엔진에서 발생하는 미세먼지로 알려진 입자상 물질을 줄이기 위해서 디젤엔진의 후처리시스템으로 사용 중인 DPF(디 젤미립자 필터, Diesel particulate filter)를 소개하고자 한다. DPF의 소재로는 Cordierite와 SiC (Silicon carbide)의 두 가지가 사용되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 SiC DPF에 사용되는 접합제의 물성 향상을 위해서 기존 접합제로 사용된 SiC 계열의 물질 대신 코디얼라이트를 사용하여 열 팽창계수 변화를 통한 고온 변형에 대한 열 내구성을 평가하였으며, 접합제와 Segment 사이의 결합을 결정짓는 바탕제에 주성분인 실리카 졸의 pH 변화에 따른 물성 변화를 확인하였다. 이를 기반으로 실리카 졸의 반응성을 높이기 위해 Siline계 커플링제를 첨가하거나 SiC를 일부 첨가함으로써 접합제의 물성 변화의 영향에 대해서 실험을 통하여 확인하였다.

PURPOSES : It is well known that low temperature cracking is one of the most serious distresses on asphalt pavement, especially for northern U.S. (including Alaska), Canada and the northern part of south Korea. The risk of thermal cracking can be numerically measured by estimating thermal stress of a given asphalt mixture. This thermal stress can be computed by low temperature creep testing. Currently, in-direct tensile (IDT) mixture creep test mentioned in AASHTO specification is used for measuring low temperature creep properties of a given asphalt mixture. However, IDT requires the use of expensive testing equipment for performing the sophisticated analysis process, however, very few laboratories utilize this equipment. In this paper, a new and simple performance test (SPT) method: bending beam rheometer (BBR) mixture creep testing equipment is introduced, and the estimated experimental results were compared with those of conventional IDT tests. METHODS: Three different asphalt mixtures containing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and roofing shingles were prepared in the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) research laboratory. Using the BBR and IDT, the low temperature creep stiffness data were measured and subsequently computed. Using a simple power-law function, the creep stiffness data were converted into relaxation modulus, and subsequently compared. Finally, thermal stress results were computed from relaxation modulus master curve using Gaussian quadrature approach with condierations of 24 Gauss number. RESULTS: In the case of the conventional asphalt mixture, similar trends were observed when the relaxation modulus and thermal stress results were compared. In the case of RAP and Shingle added mixtures, relatively different computation results were obtained. It can be estimated that different experimental surroundings and specimen sizes affected the results. CONCLUSIONS: It can be said that the BBR mixture creep test can be a more viable approach for measuring low temperature properties of asphalt mixture compared to expensive and complex IDT testing methods. However, more extensive research and analysis are required to further verify the feasibility of the BBR mixture creep test.

본 연구에서는 기존 상용 SCR 촉매보다 비표면적, 경량성 및 온도 응답성이 우수한 SCR 촉매의 개발을 목적으로 바나듐과 텅스텐의 함량과 바인더의 첨가량을 달리하여 Metal foam 형태의 지지체에 코팅하여 SCR 촉매를 제조한 후, 실험실 규모의 마이크로 상압반응기상에서 공간속도별로 NOx 저감 성능을 측정하였다. 촉매의 특성은 Porosimeter, SEM(scanning electron microscope), EDX(energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer) 및 ICP(inductively coupled plasma), 실체현미경(Stereomicroscope) 기기를 이용하여 분석하였다. 연구 결과 NOx 저감 성능은 공간속도가 증가할수록 감소하였고, 바나듐과 텅스텐의 함량이 3.5 wt.% 일 때 가장 우수한 것으로 확인하였다. 또한, 바인더 첨가량이 많을수록 NOx 저감 성능이 감소하는 것으로 나타났는데, 이는 촉매 표면상의 활성점수가 바인더에 의해 점유되어 감소된 것에 따른 것으로 판단된다. 또한 표면 코팅 상태 분석을 통하여 바인더의 첨가량이 적절히 조절 되어야 함을 알 수 있었다.

Tungsten carbide (WC) hard materials are used in various industries and possess a superior hardness compared to other hard materials. They have particularly high melting points, high strength, and abrasion resistance. Accordingly, tungsten carbide hard materials are used for wear-resistant tools, cutting tools, machining tools, and other tooling materials. In this study, the WC-5wt.%Co, Fe, Ni hard materials are densified using the horizontal ball milled WC-Co, WC-Fe, and WC-Ni powders by a spark plasma sintering process. The WC-5Co, WC-5Fe, and WC-5Ni hard materials are almost completely densified with a relative density of up to 99.6% after simultaneous application of a pressure of 60 MPa and an electric current for about 15 min without any significant change in the grain size. The average grain size of WC-5Co, WC-5Fe, and WC-5Ni that was produced through SPS was about 0.421, 0.779, and 0.429 μm, respectively. The hardness and fracture toughness of the dense WC-5Co, WC-5Fe, WC-5Ni hard materials were also investigated.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term physical and mechanical properties of domestic asphalt binders. METHODS: The physical properties are evaluated by penetration, softening point, penetration index, and binder viscosity. The mechanical properties were confirmed by the changes of G*, phase angle (δ), stiffness, and m-value. RESULTS: The physical properties of the asphalt binder were not clearly distinguished. In the case of G* flowing after using a pressure-aging vessel, the two types of PG 64-22 (a paving asphalt) showed similar results. However, the PG 76-22 binder was confirmed to have variations in value. The two types of PG 64-22 showed stiffness changes over time at the lowest temperatures, whereas the PG 76-22 binder maintained a constant range of change and exhibited stable behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The PG 76-22 binder showed stable behavior across physical and mechanical properties, but PG 64-22 binders showed viscosityy changes in some sections.

Water electrolysis is a representative electrochemical process to generate hydrogen gas together with oxygen gas by applying electric power. Perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomers have been widely used as electrode binder materials, in addition to polymer electrolyte membrane materials for water electrolysis to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases with a high purity simultaneously. PFSA binder materials act as physical supports for inorganic catalyst materials in both electrodes. The binder materials play role in transporting protons for hydrogen gas and oxygen gas evolution reaction in the cathode and the anode, respectively. In this study, PFSA ionomers with different chemical architectures and equivalent weights were used as binder materials for water electrolysis. The structure property performance relationship was disclosed.