• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2005

Polyurethanes containing mesogen unit (MPU-6) were prepared from 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 4,4'-bis(6-hydroxy hexoxy)biphenyl (BP-6) having flexible chain composed of 6 carbons. Intrinsic viscosities of MPU-6s were in the range of $0.23{\sim}0.56 dL/g$. The mesomorphic behaviors of MPU-6 were observed in X-ray and polarizing microscopy analysis. However, MPU-6s demonstrated a 'virtual liquid crystal' behavior, which did not exhibit mesophase on slow heating and slow cooling. MPU-6 having lower molecular weight exhibited higher crystallization rate and melting crystallization temperature due to increased mobility of polymer chains. The increased mobility of polymer chains facilitate the orientation of mesogen units that may act as a nucleating agent.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2014

The organic-inorganic composite membrane in polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have several fascinating technological advantages such as a proton conductivity, thermal stability and mechanical properties. As the inorganic filler, silicon carbide (SiC) fiber have been used in various fields due to its unique properties such as thermal stability, conductivity, and tensile strength. In this study, composite membrane was successfully fabricated by modified-silicon carbide fiber. Modified process, as a novel process in SiC, takes reaction by phosphoric acid after oxidation process (generated homogeniusly $SiO_2$ layer on SiC fiber). The mechanical property which was conducted by tensile test of the 5wt% modified-$SiO_2@SiCf$ composite membrane was better than that of Aquivion casting membrane as well as ion cxchange capacity(IEC) and proton conductivity. In addition, the single cell performance was observed that the 5wt% modified-$SiO_2@SiCf$ composite membrane was approximately $0.2A/cm^2$ higher than that of a Aquivion casting electrolyte membrane and electrochemical impedance was improved with the charge transfer resistance and membrane resistance.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2007

Hardness of rubbery materials, which is important for dimensional stability and product performance, was investigated upon temperature change in this study. A newly developed IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree) tester was used to measure the hardness changes of NR and SBR specimens at various temperatures and the hardness values were compared with the Young's modulus. The harness and Young's modulus of NR and SBR showed an abrupt change near the glass transition temperatures. The hardness and Young's modulus were increased by increasing temperature due to the increased random chain conformation of molecules. The effect of temperature on hardness and Young's modulus of NR and SBR specimens filled with carbon black and silica was decreased by increasing filler content.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2020

Service life prediction and evaluation of rubber components is the foundational technology necessary for securing the safety and reliability of the product and to ensure an optimum design. Even though the domestic industry has recognized the importance thereof, technology for a systematic design and analysis of the same has not yet been established. In order to develop this technology, identifying the fatigue damage parameters that affect service life is imperative. Most anti-vibration rubber components had been damaged by repeated load and aging. Hence, the evaluation of the fatigue characteristics is indispensable. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a method that can predict the service life of rubber components relatively accurately in a short period of time. This method works even in the initial designing stage. We followed the service life prediction procedure of the proposed rubber components. The weak part of the rubber and the maximum strain were analyzed using finite element analysis of the rubber bushing for the tracked vehicles. In order to predict the service life of the rubber components that were in storage for a certain period of time, the fatigue test was performed on the three-dimensional dumbbell specimen, based on the results obtained by the rubber material acceleration test. The service life formula of the rubber bushing for tracked vehicles was derived using both finite element analysis and the fatigue test. The service life of the rubber bushing for tracked vehicles was estimated to be about 1.7 million cycles at room temperature (initial stage) and about 400,000 cycles when kept in storage for 3 years. Through this paper, the service life for various rubber parts is expected be predicted and evaluated. This will contribute to improving the durability and reliability of rubber components.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.283-287
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• 2022

Stretchable strain sensors have been developed for potential future applications including wearable devices and health monitoring. For practical implementation of stretchable strain sensors, their stability and repeatability are one of the important aspects to be considered. In this work, we utilized 3D printed polymer structures having kirigami patterns to improve the stretchability and reduce the hysteresis. The polymer structures were coated with graphene/carbon nanofiber hybrids to make a robust electrical network. The stretchable strain sensors showed a high gauge of 36 at a strain of 32%. Because of the kirigami structures and the robust graphene/carbon nanofiber coating, the sensors also exhibited stable resistance responses at various strains ranging from 1% to 30%.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.342-348
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• 2023

There has been increasing demand for real-time monitoring of body and ambient temperatures using wearable devices. Graphene-based thermistors have been developed for high-performance flexible temperature sensors. In this study, the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of monolayer graphene was controlled by coating polyethylenimine (PEI) on graphene surfaces to enhance its temperature-sensing performances. Monolayer graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was wet-transferred onto a target substrate. To facilitate the interfacial doping by PEI, the hydrophobic graphene surface was altered to be hydrophilic by oxygen plasma treatments while minimizing defect generation. The effect of PEI doping on graphene was confirmed using a back-gated field-effect transistor (FET). The CVD-grown monolayer graphene coated with PEI exhibited an improved TCR of -0.49(±0.03) %/K in a temperature range of 30~50℃.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.377-382
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• 2023

To enhance the performance of graphene-based devices, it is of great importance to better understand the interfacial interaction of graphene with its underlying substrates. In this study, the adhesion energy of monolayer graphene placed on dielectric substrates was characterized using mode I fracture tests. Large-area monolayer graphene was synthesized on copper foil using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with methane and hydrogen. The synthesized graphene was placed on target dielectric substrates using polymer-assisted wet transfer technique. The monolayer graphene placed on a substrate was mechanically delaminated from the dielectric substrate by mode I fracture tests using double cantilever beam configuration. The obtained force-displacement curves were analyzed to estimate the adhesion energies, showing 1.13 ± 0.12 J/m² for silicon dioxide and 2.90 ± 0.08 J/m² for silicon nitride. This work provides the quantitative measurement of the interfacial interactions of CVD-grown graphene with dielectric substrates.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.81-86
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• 2019

Metal oxide/graphene composites have been known as promising functional materials for advanced applications such as high sensitivity gas sensor, and high capacitive secondary battery. In this study, tin dioxide ($SnO_2$) nanostructures were grown on chemically synthesized graphene nanosheets using a two-zone horizontal furnace system. The large area graphene nanosheets were synthesized on Cu foil by thermal chemical vapor deposition system with the methane and hydrogen gas. Chemically synthesized graphene nanosheets were transferred on cleaned $SiO_2$(300 nm)/Si substrate using the PMMA. The $SnO_2$ nanostuctures were grown on graphene nanosheets at $424^{\circ}C$ under 3.1 Torr for 3 hours. Raman spectroscopy was used to estimate the quality of as-synthesized graphene nanosheets and to confirm the phase of as-grown $SnO_2$ nanostructures. The surface morphology of as-grown $SnO_2$ nanostructures on graphene nanosheets was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). As the results, the synthesized graphene nanosheets are bi-layers graphene nanosheets, and as-grown tin oxide nanostructures exhibit tin dioxide phase. The morphology of $SnO_2$ nanostructures on graphene nanosheets exhibits complex nanostructures, whereas the surface morphology of $SnO_2$ nanostructures on $SiO_2$(300 nm)/Si substrate exhibits simply nano-dots. The complex nanostructures of $SnO_2$ on graphene nanosheets are attributed to functional groups on graphene surface.

• Composites Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.15-24
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• 2008

In this study, shear thickening fluid (STF) filled with rigid nano silica particles was impregnated in plain woven Kevlar fabrics to improve the impact resistance performance. The nano silica particles with an average diameter of 100nm, 300nm, and 500nm were used to make shear thickening fluid to estimate the effect of particle size on the impact behavior of STF impregnated Kevlar fabrics. The yam pull-out and frictional tests were conducted to estimate the effect of impregnated STF on the frictional characteristics. The test results showed that the friction forces were dramatically increased at the STF onset shear strain rates that were measured in preliminary rheology tests. The low speed impact tests were performed using the drop test machine. The results showed that the impregnated STF improved the impact resistance performance of the Kevlar fabrics in terms of the impact energy absorption and the deformation. It has been shown through tests that the impregnated STF affects the interfacial friction which contributes to improve the energy absorption in the Kevlar fabrics. Especially, the impregnation of the STF with the smaller particle size into the Kevlar fabrics showed the better performance in impact energy absorption.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.241-245
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• 2013

Granular bamboo-derived active carbons (AC) were impregnated (or coated) with $TiO_2$ nano crystalline powders. The photocatalytic activity of the $TiO_2$-impregnated active carbons ($TiO_2$/AC) were determined on the basis of the degradation rate of methylene-blue aqueous solution under UV irradiation. The active compounds of $TiO_2$ were impregnated onto the AC under moderate hydrothermal conditions (${\leq}200^{\circ}C$, pH 11). The mean size of $TiO_2$ particles calculated from BET surface area were found to be as 50 nm. The $TiO_2$ precipitates were coated on the cavities or pores on the surfaces of highly activated carbons. Since the hydrothermal process led to a lowering of the on-set temperature of the anatase-to-rutile transition of $TiO_2$ as low as $200^{\circ}C$, $TiO_2$ crystallites of a pure anatase or a mixed form with rutile were successfully coated on the AC depending on the synthesis temperatures.