• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.201-218
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• 2018

In this study, the effects of magnesium sulfate on the mechanical performance and the durability of confined and unconfined geopolymer concrete (GPC) specimens were investigated. The carbon and basalt fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) fabrics with 1-layer and 3-layers were used to evaluate the performances of the specimens under static and cyclic loading in the ambient and magnesium sulfate environments. In addition, the use of FRP materials as a rehabilitation technique was also studied. For the geopolymerization process of GPC specimens, the alkaline activator has selected a mixture of sodium silicate solution ($Na_2SiO_3$) and sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) with a ratio ($Na_2SiO_3/NaOH$) of 2.5. In addition to GPC specimens, an ordinary concrete (NC) specimens were also produced as a reference specimens and some of the GPC and NC specimens were immersed in 5% magnesium sulfate solutions. The mechanical performance and the durability of the specimens were evaluated by visual appearance, weight change, static and cyclic loading, and failure modes of the specimens under magnesium sulfate and ambient environments. In addition, the microscopic changes of the specimens due to sulfate attack were also assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the macroscale behavior of the specimens. Results indicated that geopolymer specimens produced with nano-silica and fly ash showed superior performance than the NC specimens in the sulfate environment. In addition, confined specimens with FRP fabrics significantly improved the compressive strength, ductility and durability resistance of the specimens and the improvement was found higher with the increased number of FRP layers. Specimens wrapped with carbon FRP fabrics showed better mechanical performance and durability properties than the specimens wrapped with basalt FRP fabrics. Both FRP materials can be used as a rehabilitation material in the sulfate environment.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2009

In this study, experimental findings on the resistance to magnesium sulfate attack of portland cement mortar and paste specimens incorporating metakaolin (MK) are presented. Specimens with four replacement levels of metakaolin (0, 5, 10 and 15% of cement by mass) were exposed to solutions with concentrations of 0.424% and 4.24% as $MgSO_4$ at ambient temperature. The resistance of mortar specimens was evaluated through visual examination and linear expansion measurements. Additionally, in order to identify the products formed by magnesium sulfate attack, microstructural analyses such as XRD, DSC and SEM/EDS were also performed on the paste samples incorporating metakaolin. Results confirmed that mortar specimens with a high replacement level of metakaolin exhibited lower resistance to a higher concentration of magnesium sulfate solution. It was found that the negative effect of metakaolin on the magnesium sulfate attack is partially attributed to the formation of gypsum and thaumasite. Conclusively, it is necessary to pay a special attention when using metakaolin in concrete structures, particularly under highly concentrated magnesium sulfate environment.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.335-346
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• 2022

Geopolymers are an important alternative material supporting recycling, sustainability, and waste management. Durability properties are among the most critical parameters to be investigated; in this study, the durability of manufactured geopolymer samples under the attack of 10% magnesium sulfate and 10% sodium sulfate solution was investigated. 180 cycles of freezing and thawing were also tested. The experimentally obtained results investigate the durability of geopolymer mortar prepared with fly ash (class F) and alkali activator. Three different quarry dust wastes replaced the river sand aggregate: limestone, marble, and basalt powder as fine filler aggregate in three different replacement ratios of 25%, 50%, and 75% to produce ten series of geopolymer composites. The geopolymer samples' visual appearance, weight changes, UPV, and strength properties were studied for up to 12 months at different time intervals of exposure to sulfate solutions to investigate sulfate resistance. In addition, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), EDS, and XRD were used to study the microstructure of the samples. It was beneficial to include quarry waste as a filler aggregate in durability and mechanical properties. The compact matrix was demonstrated by microstructural analysis of the manufactured specimens. The geopolymer mortars immersed in sodium sulfate showed less strength reduction and deterioration than magnesium sulfate, indicating that magnesium sulfate is more aggressive than sodium sulfate. Therefore, it is concluded that using waste dust interrogation with partial replacement of river sand with fly ash-based geopolymers has satisfactory results in terms of durability properties of freeze-thaw and sulfate resistance.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2016

This paper presents an investigation into the durability alkali-activated materials(AAM) mortar and paste samples manufactured using fly-ash(FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBFS) exposed to a sulfate environment with different GGBFS replace ratios(0, 30, 50 and 100%), sodium silicate modules($Ms[SiO_2/Na_2O]$ 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) and initial curing temperatures($23^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$). The tests involved immersions for a period of 6 months into 10% solutions of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. The evolution of compressive strength, weight, length expansion and microstructural observation such as x-ray diffraction were studied. As a results, as higher GGBFS replace ratio or Ms shown higher compressive strengths on 28 days. In case of immersed in 10% sodium sulfate solution, the samples shows increase in long-term strength. However, for samples immersed in magnesium sulfate solutions, the general observation was that the compressive strength decreased after immersion. The most drastic reduction of compressive strength and expansion of weight and length occurred when GGBFS or Ms ratios were higher. Also, the XRD analysis of samples immersed in magnesium sulfate indicated that expansion of AAM caused by gypsum($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$); the gypsum increased up to 6 months continuously.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 2009

Much attention has been paid to the processing of inorganic whisker, especially calcium carbonate whisker, which can be used as reinforcement materials of polymer composite due to its low price. Unfortunately, the present synthesis technique of calcium carbonate whisker starts from calcinations of limestone, which involves high energy consumption and furthermore is a highly environment polluting reaction. In this report, needle-like aragonite was synthesized with a reversible solution reaction from limestone without calcination. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize the morphology and crystal structure of intermediates as well as that of the product, aragonite. GCC (grinding calcium carbonate) powder was dissolved in an aqueous solution of magnesium sulfate with reflux and air flush. EDTA titration was used to evaluate reaction rate of the dissolution. A kinetics equation of the dissolution reaction was constructed, which displayed second-order kinetics with respect to the concentration of magnesium sulfate. A rate constant of $0.0015\;l^{-3}{\cdot}mol^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$ was obtained. The dissolution reaction gave fiber-like magnesium hydroxide sulfate and gypsum crystal. Then needle-like aragonite with a length of $9.13\;{\pm}\;1.02\;{\mu}m$ and an aspect ratio of $5.64\;{\pm}\;1.37$ was synthesized from the dissolution product with $CO_2$ bubbling at $70^{\circ}C$.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.48-51
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• 2020

Background: The etiopathogenesis of late preterm (LPT) birth is undetermined. Placental histopathology, which reflects an adverse intrauterine environment and is reportedly associated with preterm labor and neonatal morbidities, has not been studied in LPT infants. Purpose: We investigated placental pathological lesion as markers of an adverse intrauterine environment during LPT labor. Methods: This retrospective case-control study compared placental histopathological and clinical variables between LPT and term neonates. Placental variables included chorioamnionitis, funisitis, hemorrhage, abruption, infarction, calcification, and syncytial knots. Maternal variables included age, substance abuse, pregnancyassociated diabetes mellitus and hypertension, duration of rupture of membrane, antibiotic use, and magnesium sulfate, whereas, those of neonates included gestational age, birth weight, race, sex, and Apgar scores. Standard statistical proedures were applied to analyze the data. Results: Chorioamnionitis (50% vs. 17.8%, P<0.001) and funisitis (20% vs. 4.4%, P=0.002) were more common in term infants. Placental infarction rate was insignificantly higher in LPT infants (25.6% vs. 14.3%, P=0.08). The mothers in the LPT group were older (30.4 years vs. 28.1 years, P=0.05; odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.998-1.12, P=0.056) and more often suffered from hypertension (28.9 vs. 12.9 %, P=0.02), and received magnesium sulfate (48.9 vs. 20%, P< 0.001; OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.12-7.29, P<0.05). Duration of rupture of membrane was higher in term infants (13.6 hours vs. 9.1 hours, P<0.001). Chorioamnionitis (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.13-0.79; P<0.05) was associated with a lower risk of LPT delivery. Conclusion: Placental infection is not a risk factor for LPT births. There is a nonsignificant predominance of vascular anomalies in LPT placentas. Higher maternal age, magnesium sulfate therapy, and maternal hypertension are clinical risk factors for LPT labor.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2016

This paper focuses on the estimation of durability and service-life of reinforced concrete structures in Wolsong Low- and intermediate-level wastes Disposal Center (WLDC) in Korea. There are six disposal silos located in the saturated environment. The silo concrete is degraded due to reactions with groundwater and chemical attacks, and finally it will lose its properties as a transport barrier. The infiltration of sulfate and magnesium, leaching of potassium hydroxide, and chlorine induced corrosion are the most significant factors for degradation of reinforced concrete structure in underground environment. From the result of evaluation of the degradation time for each factor, the degradation rate of the reinforced concrete due to sulfate and magnesium is $1.308{\times}10^{-3}cm/yr$, and it is estimated to take 48,000 years for full degradation while potassium hydroxide is leached in depth of less than 1.5 cm at 1,000 years after the initiation of degradation. In case of chlorine induced corrosion, it takes 1,648 years to initiate corrosion in the main reinforced bar and 2,288 years to reach the lifetime limit of the structural integrity, and thus it is evaluated as the most significant factor.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.683-688
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• 2001

In case of constructing the concrete structures under seawater environment, the concrete suffers from deterioration due to penetration of various ions such as chloride, sulfate and magnesium in seawater. Tn the present study, Immersion tests with artificial seawater were carried out to investigate the resistance to seawater attack of antiwashout underwater concrete. From the results of compressive strength, it was found that blended cement concrete due to mineral admixtures such as fly ash(FA) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag(SGC), were superior to ordinary portland cement concrete with respect to the resistance to seawater attack. Moreover, XRD analysis indicated that the formed reactants of ordinary portland cement paste by sulfate and magnesium ions led to the deterioration of concrete. As expected, however, the blended cements with FA or SGC have a good resistance to seawater attack. This paper would discuss the mechanism of seawater deterioration and benefical effects of antiwashout underwater concretes with mineral admixtures.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.18-23
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• 2011

The electrokinetic transport characteristics of salts were investigated using nitrate and sulfate accumulated saline greenhouse soil. Within 8 days, 95% of nitrate was removed from the soil, while sulfate removal was 19% for 8 days. The low removal of sulfate came from adsorption reaction on the soil particles or organic matter and precipitation with calcium. Divalent cations such as calcium and magnesium were transported toward cathode via electromigration, and most monovalent cation such as potassium was removed. The pattern of residual electrical conductivity was similar with that of sulfate. Based on the results, electrokinetic technique is effective to restore nitrate-accumulated saline soil, but is not effective to restore sulfate-accumulated soil.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.573-583
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• 2000

In order to investigate the characteristics of PM(sub)2.5 in the background area, the following pollutant were measured from February 1996 to June 1999 in Kanghwa: PM(sub)2.5 mass, sulfate, nitrate, chloride, ammonium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium. The mean concentration of PM(sub)2.5 mass was 25.8$\pm$1.2$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥(range 5.18~85.74). This value was higher than the annual PM(sub)2.5 US NAAQS(15$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥) and the total number of samples higher than the 24-h PM(sub)2.5 US NAAQS(65$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥) was seven. PM(sub)2.5 masses also showed temporal variations both yearly and seasonally. Total water soluble ions constituted about 45% of PM(sub)2.5 miss, and sulfate, nitrate and ammonium were main components in water soluble ions. Compared with the literature data from other areas, the measured PM(sub)2.5 concentrations were relatively high.