Hydraulic conductivity is a critical design parameter for buffers in high-level radioactive waste repositories. Most employed prediction models for hydraulic conductivity are limited to various types of bentonites, the main material of the buffer, and the associated temperature conditions. This study proposes the utilization of a novel integrated prediction model. The model is derived through theoretical and regression analyses and is applied to all types of compacted bentonites when the relationship between hydraulic conductivity and dry density for each compacted bentonite is known. The proposed model incorporates parameters such as permeability ratio, dynamic viscosity, and temperature coefficient to enable accurate prediction of hydraulic conductivity with temperature. Based on the results obtained, the values are in good agreement with the measured values for the selected bentonites, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed model. These results contribute to the analysis of the hydraulic behavior of the buffer with temperature during periods of high-level radioactive waste deposition.

This study investigates the effect of the microstructure of Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP), a solid electrolyte, on its ionic conductivity. Solid electrolytes, a key component in electrochemical energy storage devices such as batteries, differ from traditional liquid electrolytes by utilizing solid-state ionic conductors. LATP, characterized by its NASICON structure, facilitates rapid lithium-ion movement and exhibits relatively high ionic conductivity, chemical stability, and good electrochemical compatibility. In this study, the microstructure and ionic conductivity of LATP specimens sintered at 850, 900, and 950oC for various sintering times are analyzed. The results indicate that the changes in the microstructure due to sintering temperature and time significantly affect ionic conductivity. Notably, the specimens sintered at 900oC for 30 min exhibit high ionic conductivity. This study presents a method to optimize the ionic conductivity of LATP. Additionally, it underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the Li-ion diffusion mechanism and quantitative microstructure analysis.

Dimethyl silicone oil is widely used due to its excellent thermal stability and good wetting properties. In this study, a series of thermal conductive materials was prepared by physically blending and chemically loading graphene as a thermal conductive filler into dimethyl silicone oil, and their thermal conductivity and tribological properties were investigated. The thermal conductivity of the composites was tested by a thermal conductivity meter and a thermal imaging camera, while the tribological properties of the composites were evaluated using a CSM friction and wear tester. The results showed that both thermal conductivity and tribological properties were improved to a certain extent. The particle size and amount of graphene had a significant influence on the thermal conductivity. For graphene with a single particle size, the thermal conductivity increased with increasing graphene content. The friction coefficient under dry friction conditions was significantly reduced by adding graphene to the silicone oil, as revealed by the friction and wear test.

This comprehensive study delves into the intricate process of exfoliating and functionalizing boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) extracted from hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and meticulously explores their potential application within epoxy composites. The extensive research methodology encompasses a sequence of treatments involving hydrothermal and sonication processes aimed at augmenting the dispersion of BNNSs in solvents. Leveraging advanced analytical techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and FTIR spectroscopy, the study rigorously analyzes a spectrum of changes in the BNNS’s properties, including layer count variations, interlayer interactions, crystal structure modifications, and the introduction of functional groups. The research also rigorously evaluates the impact of integrating BNNSs, specifically glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-functionalized BNNSs, on the thermal conductivity of epoxy composites. The conclusive findings exhibit notable enhancements in thermal properties, predominantly attributed to the enhanced dispersion of fillers and enhanced interactions within the epoxy matrix. This pioneering work illuminates the wide potential of functionalized BNNSs for significantly enhancing the thermal conductivity of epoxy composites, paving the way for advanced materials engineering and practical applications.

Background: Estrus in cows can be detected through vaginal electrical resistance or conductivity. However, there are no studies measuring vaginal electrical resistance in Hanwoo cows. This study aims to measure the vaginal electrical resistance value in Hanwoo cows and compare it with estrus and ovulation. Methods: Vaginal electrical resistance values of 73 Hanwoo cows were measured before and after estrus at the Gyeongsangbuk-do Livestock Research Institute. Measurements were taken on days -6, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 6 of artificial insemination. Large follicles and ovulation were confirmed using transvaginal ultrasonography. Results: The vaginal electrical resistance averaged 225.6 ± 6.3 Ω days before the artificial insemination date, decreasing until the day of artificial insemination. The average vaginal electrical resistance was 163.7 ± 4.6 Ω on the date of artificial insemination, and 188.8 ± 4.3 Ω one day after artificial insemination, when large follicles were observed. In addition, on the 6th day after artificial insemination, the vaginal electrical resistance averaged 231.4 ± 5.5, which was similar to the 6th day before artificial insemination (222.5 ± 6.3). Transvaginal ultrasonography showed that most of the cows ovulated one day after artificial insemination. Conclusions: The accuracy of estrus is high if the vaginal electrical resistance is measured for cows with confirmed estrus, making is a potentially useful for determining the timing of artificial insemination.

The objective of this study is development of graphite-boron composite material as a replacement for metal canisters to Improve the heat dissipation and radiation shielding performance of dry spent nuclear fuel storage system and reduce the volume of waste storage system. KEARI research team plan to use the graphite matrix manufacturing technology to pelletize the graphite matrix and adjust the content of phenolic resin binder to minimize pore formation. Specifically, we plan to adjust the ratio of natural and synthetic graphite powder and use uniaxial pressing technology to manufacture black graphite matrix with extremely high radial thermal conductivity. After optimizing the thermal conductivity of the graphite matrix, we plan to mix it with selected boron compounds, shape it, and perform sintering and purification heat treatments at high temperatures to manufacture standard composite materials.

In the design of HLW repositories, it is important to confirm the performance and safety of buffer materials at high temperatures. Most existing models for predicting hydraulic conductivity of bentonite buffer materials have been derived using the results of tests conducted below 100°C. However, they cannot be applied to temperatures above 100°C. This study suggests a prediction model for the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite buffer materials, valid at temperatures between 100°C and 125°C, based on different test results and values reported in literature. Among several factors, dry density and temperature were the most relevant to hydraulic conductivity and were used as important independent variables for the prediction model. The effect of temperature, which positively correlates with hydraulic conductivity, was greater than that of dry density, which negatively correlates with hydraulic conductivity. Finally, to enhance the prediction accuracy, a new parameter reflecting the effect of dry density and temperature was proposed and included in the final prediction model. Compared to the existing model, the predicted result of the final suggested model was closer to the measured values.

This study investigates the behavior of the thermal conductivity among material properties in order to develop a thermal evaluation methodology of spent fuel assembles in a transport cask. It is inefficient to model each element of the spent fuel assembly in detail, and it is generally calculated by modeling the effective thermal conductivity (ETC). The ETC model was developed to allow a much simpler representation of a spent fuel assembly within a fuel compartment by treating the entire spent fuel rod array and the surrounding fill gas within the confines of the compartment as a homogenous solid material. The fuel rod assembly and surrounding gas are modeled with an effective conductivity that is designed to yield an overall conduction heat transfer rate that is equivalent to the combined effect of local conduction and radiation heat transfer in a plane through the assembly. When this model is applied to the transport cask, it tends to predict the cladding peak temperature lower than the results of detailed model in which the fuel rod arrangement and shape of the fuel assembly are simulated. As for the tendency of the error, the model tended to under-predict when basket temperature was lower than a certain temperature, and over-predict when it was higher. The purpose of this study is to investigate the attenuation effect of the cladding peak temperature on the related variables when the ETC model is applied to the transport cask. In addition, based on the thermal characteristics of this model, a correction factor that can compensate for this attenuation effect is presented. This correction factor is obtained by finding the difference between a separate ETC homogeneous model and a separate detailed fuel model, rather than directly applying the ETC calculated from the detailed fuel model to the transport cask.

High-temperature and high-pressure post-processing applied to sintered thermoelectric materials can create nanoscale defects, thereby enhancing their thermoelectric performance. Here, we investigate the effect of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) as a post-processing treatment on the thermoelectric properties of p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3.0 compounds sintered via spark plasma sintering. The sample post-processed via HIP maintains its electronic transport properties despite the reduced microstructural texturing. Moreover, lattice thermal conductivity is significantly reduced owing to activated phonon scattering, which can be attributed to the nanoscale defects created during HIP, resulting in an ~18% increase in peak zT value, which reaches ~1.43 at 100oC. This study validates that HIP enhances the thermoelectric performance by controlling the thermal transport without having any detrimental effects on the electronic transport properties of thermoelectric materials.

Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3(LATP) is considered a promising material for all-solid-state lithium batteries owing to its high moisture stability, wide potential window (~6 V), and relatively high ion conductivity (10-3–10-4 S/cm). Solid electrolytes based on LATP are manufactured via sintering, using LATP powder as the starting material. The properties of the starting materials depend on the synthesis conditions, which affect the microstructure and ionic conductivity of the solid electrolytes. In this study, we synthesize the LATP powder using sol-gel and co-precipitation methods and characterize the physical properties of powder, such as size, shape, and crystallinity. In addition, we have prepared a disc-shaped LATP solid electrolyte using LATP powder as the starting material. In addition, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements are conducted to analyze the grain size, microstructures, and ion conduction properties. These results indicate that the synthesis conditions of the powder are a crucial factor in creating microstructures and affecting the conduction properties of lithium ions in solid electrolytes.

Metals had been significantly substituted by synthetic polymers in most of our daily requirements, thus relaxing our life. Out of many applied areas, synthetic polymers especially conducting polymers had shown their marked effect and potential. Batteries, pseudocapacitors, superconductors, etc. are the potential zones where conducting polymers are chiefly employed owing to their appreciable conductivity, cost efficiency, and corrosion inhibition nature. Apart from energy storage devices, these conducting polymers find their potential application in biosensors, lasers, corrosion inhibitors, electrostatic materials, conducting adhesives, electromagnetic interference shielding, and others. These all applications including energy storage are due to astonishing properties like high conductivity, flexibility, tuneability, easy processibility, chemical, thermal and mechanical stability, easy and enhanced charge transportation, lightweight, etc. Conducting polymers are extensively studied for their application in energy storage batteries, for which the material under investigation needs to be electrically conductive. However, the conducting nature of these specific conducting polymers is dependent on numerous factors. This review discussed the effect of certain potential factors such as polymerization techniques temperature, doping, bandgap, extended conjugation, solvent, etc. on the electrical/electrochemical conductivity of these conducting polymers. These all factors with their specific variations are found to have a noticeable consequence on the electrical conductivity of the investigated conducting polymer and hence on the energy storage carried by them. This review could be proved beneficial to the readers, who can judiciously implement the conclusions to their research related to conducting polymers and their composites for generating highly efficient energy storage systems.

This research studied the electrical characteristics, IR transmission characteristics, stealth functions, and thermal characteristics of infrared thermal-imaging cameras of copper-sputtered samples. Nylon samples were prepared for each density as a base material for copper-sputtering treatment. Copper-sputtered NFi, NM1, NM2, NM3, NM4, and NM5, showed electrical resistance of 0.8, 445.7, 80.7, 29.7, 0.3, and 2.2 Ω, respectively, all of which are very low values; for the mesh sample, the lower the density, the lower the electrical resistance. Measuring the IR transmittance showed that the infrared transmittance of the copper-sputtered samples was significantly reduced compared to the untreated sample. Compared to the untreated samples, the transmittance went from 92.0–64.1%. When copper sputtered surface was directed to the IR irradiator, the IR transmittance went from 73.5 to 43.8%. As the density of the sample increased, the transmittance tended to decreased. After the infrared thermal imaging, the absolute values of △R, △G, and △B of the copper phase increased from 2 to 167, 98 to 192, and 7 to 118, respectively, and the closer the density of the sample (NM5→NFi), the larger the absolute value. This proves that the dense copper phase-up sample has a stealth effect on the infrared thermal imaging camera. It is believed that the copper-sputtered nylon samples produced in this study have applications in multifunctional uniforms, bio-signal detection sensors, stage costumes, etc.

본 연구에서는 용제를 전혀 사용하지않고 UV경화가 가능한 나노 실버 페이스트를 개발하였다. 무용제(solvent-free) 타입으로 개발한 나노 실버 페이스트의 점도 및 점탄성 측정하였다. 그리고 스크린인쇄로 패턴을 인쇄한 후에 UV 경화로 전극도막을 형성시켰다. 형성된 전극도막의 전도성, 연필경도, 접착력에 대해서 평가하였다. 또한 전극 도막 을 광 소결하여 전도성을 평가하였다. 마지막으로 전극도막의 경화특성은 TGA 및 FT-IR로 평가하였다. 이러한 결 과를 정리하면 UV경화만 시켰을 경우에는 전도성, 접착력, 경화특성에 대해서는 Paste(3)이 가장 우수하였다. 그러 나 광소결 후에는 Paste(1)이 가장 우수한 전도성을 얻을수있었다. 그 이유는 10nm 실버 파우더를 사용한 것이 소 결 특성이 가장 우수했기 때문이라고 판단된다.

This research investigated how adding Sb (0.75, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 wt%) to as-extruded aluminum alloys affected their microstructure, mechanical properties, electric and thermal conductivity. The addition of Sb resulted in the formation of AlSb intermetallic compounds. It was observed that intermetallic compounds in the alloys were distributed homogenously in the Al matrix. As the content of Sb increased, the area fraction of intermetallic compounds increased. It can be clearly seen that the intermetallic compounds were crushed into fine particles and homogenously arrayed during the extrusion process. As the Sb content increased, the average grain size decreased remarkably from 282.6 μm (0.75 wt%) to 109.2 μm (5.0 wt%) due to dynamic recrystallization by the dispersed intermetallic compounds in the aluminum matrix during the hot extrusion. As the Sb content increased from 0.75 to 2.0 wt%, the electrical conductivity decreased from 61.0 to 59.8 % of the International Annealed Copper Standard. Also, as the Sb content increased from 0.75 to 2.0 wt%, the ultimate tensile strength did not significantly change, from 67.3 to 67.8 MPa.

Thermal management is significant to maintain the reliability and durability of electronic devices. Heat can be dissipated using thermal interface materials (TIMs) comprised of thermally conductive polymers and fillers. Furthermore, it is important to enhance the thermal conductivity of TIMs through the formation of a heat transfer pathway. This paper reports a polymer composite containing vertically aligned electrochemically exfoliated graphite (EEG). We modify the EEG via edge selective oxidation to decorate the surface with iron oxides and enhance the dispersibility of EEG in polymer resin. During the heat treatment and curing process, a magnetic field is applied to the polymer composites to align the iron oxide decorated EEG. The resulting polymer composite containing 25 wt% of filler has a remarkable thermal conductivity of 1.10 W m− 1 K− 1 after magnetic orientation. These results demonstrate that TIM can be designed with a small amount of filler by magnetic alignment to form an efficient heat transfer pathway.

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have garnered significant attention in the field of thermal management materials due to their unique morphology and remarkable thermal conductive properties. Their impressive thermal properties make them an interesting choice of nanofillers with which to produce multifunctional composite materials and a host of other applications whilst their structural and thermal properties significantly improve their target materials or composites. Therefore, this present study reviewed recent advances in the use of GNPs as nanofillers to enhance the thermal conductivity of various materials or composites. The improved thermal conductivity that GNPs impart in composites is also comprehensively compared and discussed. Therefore, this review may reveal hitherto unknown opportunities and pave the way for the production of materials with enhanced thermal applications including electronics, aerospace devices, batteries, and structural reinforcement.

This research investigated the effect of Si addition on the microstructure, mechanical properties, electric and thermal conductivity of as-extruded Al 6013 alloys. As the content of Si increased, the area fraction of the second phase increased. As the Si content increased, the average grain size decreased remarkably, from 182 (no Si addition) to 142 (1.5Si), 78 (3.0Si) and 77 μm (4.5Si) due to dynamic recrystallization by the dispersed second particles in the aluminum matrix during the hot extrusion. As the Si content increased, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength increased. The maximum values of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were 224 MPa and 103 MPa for the 6013-4.5Si alloy. As the amount of Si added increased, the electrical and thermal conductivity decreased. The electrical and thermal conductivity of the Al6013-4.5Si alloy were 44.0% IACS and 165.0 W/mK, respectively. The addition of Si to Al 6013 alloy had a significant effect on its thermal conductivity and mechanical properties.

식물의 생장과 발달은 지하부 환경에도 영향을 받으므로 근 권 환경의 변수들을 관수전략의 수립에 고려하는 것이 매우 중요하다. 본 연구의 목적은 수분이동 특성이 다른 2종류의 암 면배지에서 FDR센서를 활용하여 체적함수율(VWC)과 Bulk EC(ECb) 그리고 식물의 뿌리가 이용하는 Pore EC(ECp)에 대한 관계를 분석하고, 이를 활용하여 이용가능한 근권 환경 데이터 수집과 보정 방법을 확립하고자 진행되었다. 실험은 물리적 특성이 다른 2종류의 암면배지(RW1, RW2)를 사용 하였다. FDR 센서를 활용하여 함수율(MC)과 ECb를 측정하 였으며, ECp는 체적함수율(VWC) 10－100%에서 배지 중 앙부위에 일회용 주사기를 이용하여 배지 잔류 양액을 추출 후 측정하였다. 이후 2종류 배지(RW1, RW2)에 서로 다른 농 도(증류수, 0.5－5.0)의 배양액을 각 체적함수율 범위(0－ 100%)로 공급하여 ECb와 ECp를 측정하였다. RW1, RW2 배지에서 ECb와 ECp의 관계는 3차 다항식에 가장 적합하였 다. 체적함수율(VWC) 범위 3차 다항식에 따른 ECb와 ECp 의 관계는 낮은 체적함수율(VWC) 10－60% 구간에서 큰 오 차율을 보였다. 체적함수율(VWC)범위에 따른 센서 측정값 (ECb) 및 식물 뿌리가 이용하는(ECp)의 상관관계는 2종류 배 지(RW1, RW2) 모두 Paraboloid 식에서 결정계수값이 각각 0.936, 0.947로 가장 높았다.