• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.203-208
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• 2005

The main emphasis of this study is to optimize the process variables for manufacturing aluminum foam materials by direct foaming of remelted aluminum scraps. Aluminum foams were fabricated from two different raw materials, pure aluminum and used beverage cans. For both cases, $TiH_{2}$ was used as a foaming agent. Calcium was added as a thickener for the foaming of pure aluminum and no thickener was added for that of used beverage Cans because the pre-existing oxides of the used beverage cans are used as a thickener. Calcium and $TiH_{2}$ content varies from 0.5wt.% to 2.0wt.% and from 0.5wt.% to 1.5wt.%, respectively. The processing conditions, such as the effect of calcium on the melt viscosity, foaming temperature, and the optimum amount of the foaming agent with regard to the melt viscosity were discussed.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 2005

Melt extrusion foaming process for the preparation of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds was carried out and the effects of foaming conditions on the pore structure of PLLA scaffolds and their mechanical properties were investigated. The porosity and mechanical properties of fabricated scaffolds were compared with the scaffolds obtained from the salt leaching method as well. It was found that the optimum pore structure was achieved when the PLLA melt was kept in extruder for the maximum decomposition time of blowing agent. In order to maintain the proper scaffolds structure, the blowing agent content should be less than $10\;wt\%$. It can be concluded that melt extrusion foaming process allows for the production of scaffold having higher mechanical properties with reasonable pore size and open cell structure for hard tissue regeneration even though it has less porosity than scaffolds made by salt leaching process.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.323-329
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• 2023

There are many types of foam molding methods. The most commonly used methods are the pressure foaming method, in which foam resin is mixed with a foaming agent at high temperature and high pressure, and the normal pressure foaming method, which foams at high temperature without pressure. The polymer resins used for foaming have different viscosities. For foaming under normal pressure, they need to be designed and analyzed for optimal foaming conditions, to obtain resins with low melt-viscosity or a narrow optimal viscosity range. This study investigated how changes in viscosity, molding temperature, and cross-link foaming conditions affected the characteristics of the molded foam, prepared by blending rubber polymer with biodegradable resin. The morphologies of cross sections and the cell structures of the normal pressure foam were investigated by SEM analysis. Properties were also studied according to cross-link/foaming conditions and torque. Also, the correlation between foaming characteristics was studied by analyzing tensile strength and elongation, which are mechanical properties of foaming composites.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.314-319
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• 2011

Melt foaming method is one of cost-effective methods to make metal foam and it has been successfully applied to fabricate Mg foams. In this research, AZ31 Mg alloy ingot was used as a metal matrix, using AlCa granular as thickening agent and $CaCO_3$ powder as foaming agent, AZ31 Mg alloy foams were fabricated by melt-foaming method at different foaming temperatures. The porosity was above 41.2%~73.3%, pore size was between 0.38~1.52 mm, and homogenous pore structures were obtained. Microstructure and mechanical properties of the AZ31 Mg alloy foams were investigated by optical microscopy, SEM and UTM. The results showed that pore structure and pore distribution were much better than those fabricated at lower temperatures. The compression behavior of the AZ31 Mg alloy foam behaved as typical porous materials. As the foaming temperature increased from $660^{\circ}C$ to $750^{\circ}C$, the compressed strength also increased. The AZ31 Mg alloy foam with a foaming temperature of $720^{\circ}C$ had the best energy absorption. The energy absorption value of Mg foam was 15.52 $MJ/m^3$ at a densification strain of 52%. Furthermore, the high energy absorption efficiencies of the AZ31 Mg alloy foam kept at about 0.85 in the plastic plateau region, which indicates that composite foam possess a high energy absorption characteristic, and the Vickers hardness of AZ31 Mg alloy foam decreased as the foaming temperature increased.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.707-718
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• 2001

Polypropylene (PP) exhibits many beneficial properties such as low density high thermal stability, chemical resistance, good processability and recyclability. However, only limited research has been done on expanded polypropylene (EPP). In this study, we were trying to prepare EPP with chemical blowing agent. Ethylene-octene copolymer (mPE) was melt blended with PP to enhance melt fluidity of PP at processing temperature and to make more flexible foamed material. Prior to foaming, phase morphology of PP/mPE blends were investigated to examine the effect of phase morphology on the foaming ratio and cell structure of foams. Phase morphology of PP/mPE blends were affected by the content of mPE and mixing torque ratio. At the same composition, it was affected by mixing rpm. High blowing ratio and stable cell structure were obtained in the blend which has the continuous PP matrix with dispersed droplets of mPE.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

In this study, we applied microcellular foaming injection molding process to improve the performance of system air-conditioner drain fan which had been produced by injection molding process and studied the optimization of process conditions through 6-sigma process and response surface method (RSM) to reduce weight and deformation of products. Additive type, melt temperature, mold temperature, and injection screw shape were selected as the factor affecting the weight and deformation of the products by carrying out analysis of trivial many through ANOVA and design of experiment (DOE) method. Among the effect factor, we set the addictive type to Long G/F and screw shape to foaming screw which had the highest level of weight reduction and deformation reduction. The amount of foaming agent gas was set at 60 ml, which was the limit beyond which the weight of product did not decrease any more. For melt temperature and mold temperature, we studied the conditions where both weight and deformation were minimized using the RSM. As a result, we set the melt temperature to $250^{\circ}C$, fixed mold temperature to $20^{\circ}C$, and moving mold temperature to $40^{\circ}C$. The improvement effect was analyzed by appling the selected optimal conditions to the production process using the microcellular foaming injection molding. The results showed that the mean weight of product was measured to be 1,420g which was 19% lower than that measured in the current process. The standard deviations of the weights were found to be similar to those in the current process and it showed a low dispersion. The mean deformation was measured to be 0.9237mm, which represented a 57% reduction compared to the mean deformation in the current process, and the standard deviation decreased from 0.3298mm to 0.1398mm. Moreover, we analyzed the process capability for deformation, and the results showed that the short-term process capability increased from 2.73 to 6.60 which was even higher than targeted level of 6.0.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.107.2-107.2
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.33.2-33.2
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.48.1-48.1
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• 2008

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2000

The effects of bromelain and $\alpha$-chymotrypsin treatments on the functional properties(foaming capacity, foaming stability, emulsifying capacity, and emulsifying stability) of soy protein isolate(SPI) and the addition of various sweeteners(sucrose, sorbitol, xylitol) on the quality attributes(viscosity, overrun ratio, melt-down property, and sensory characteristic) of soy ice cream were studied. SPI was more effectively hydrolyzed with $\alpha$-chymotrypsin than bromelain, resulting in a better foaming and emulsifying capacity. Adding xylitol could significantly improve the viscosity, overrun and melt-down property of soy ice creams while the effect was the lowest in the sucrose addition. Bromelain treatment caused a lower apparent viscosity of SPI suspension compared with $\alpha$-chymotrypsin treatment and untreated. The overrun ratios of the soy ice cream prepared with bromelain and $\alpha$-chymotrypsin treated SPI were 18.9∼25.9% and 24.9∼40.3%, respectively as a result of freezing with agitation for 20 min in an ice cream maker. Comparatively, untreated SPI could bring only 15.8∼21.4% overrun ratios after operating for 15 min. The bromelain treatment caused high melt-down tendency of the product while soy ice cream with untreated SPI showed an opposite trend. In sensory characteristics, no significant differences in the strength of beany flavor were noted among the samples. Sweetness, bitter taste, icy feel, and mouthfeel of the product were greatly affected by the enzyme-treatment of SPI. Soy ice cream added with xylitol after $\alpha$-chymotrypsin treatment was the most acceptable among all samples.