• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.29-39
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• 2015

Natural fibers reinforced polymer composites are being used in several low strength applications. More research is going on to improve their mechanical and interface properties for structural applications. However, these composites have serious issues regarding flammability, which are not being focused broadly. A limited amount of literature has been published on the flame retardant techniques and flammability factor of natural fibers based polymer matrix composites. Therefore, it is needed to address the flammability properties of natural fibers based polymer composites to expand their application area. This paper summarizes some of the recent literature published on the subject of flammability and flame retardant methods applied to natural fibers reinforced polymer matrix composites. Different factors affecting the flammability, flame retardant solutions, mechanisms and characterization techniques have been discussed in detail.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.299-314
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• 2007

In the present study, natural fibers (jute, kenaf and henequen) reinforced thermoplastic (poly(lactic acid) and polypropylene) and thermosetting (unsaturated polyester) matrix composites were well fabricated by a compression molding technique using all chopped natural fibers of about 10 mm long, respectively. Prior to green composite fabrication, natural fiber bundles were surface-treated with tap water by static soaking and dynamic ultrasonication methods, respectively. The interfacial shear strength, flexural properties, and dynamic mechanical properties of each green composite system were investigated by means of single fiber microbonding test, 3-point flexural test, and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The result indicated that the properties of the polymeric resins were significantly improved by incorporating the natural fibers into the resin matrix and also the properties of untreated green composites were further improved by the water treatment done to the natural fibers used. Also, the property improvement of natural fiber-reinforced green composites strongly depended on the treatment method. The interfacial and mechanical results agreed with each other.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.28-35
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• 1997

Sole-binder formulation has been recently introduced to solve the problems of coating process and printability caused by use of natural polymer However, the decrease of natural polymer application causes another problem in paper coating. Therefore, synthetic thickener is used to get similar effect to natural polymer usage. In this study. low shear viscosity, dewatering of coating colors were measured to evaluate the performance of the alkali sensitive water retention and rheology modifiers. The effects of alkali sensitive thickener on the physical properties of coated paper and printability were also investigated. The gloss and printability of coated paper containing the synthetic flow modifier were similar or superior to those of CMC containing coated paper. This modifier was also effective to improve the problems caused by the use of starch. The results indicated that the flow modifier synthesized with alkali sensitive thickener can reduce the problems of natural polymer and could be a good substitute f3r a natural polymer.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2010

Carbon materials such as graphite and graphene exhibit high electrical conductivity. We examined the electrical conductivity of synthetic and natural graphene powders after the chemical reduction of synthetic and natural graphite oxide from synthetic and natural graphite. The trend of electrical conductivity of both graphene (synthetic and natural) was compared with different graphite materials (synthetic, natural, and expanded) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under compression from 0.3 to 60 MPa. We found that synthetic graphene showed a marked increment in electrical conductivity compared to natural graphene. Interestingly, the total increment in electrical conductivity was greater for denser graphite; however, an opposite behavior was observed in nanocarbon materials such as graphene and CNTs, probably due to the differing layer arrangement of nanocarbon materials.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.32-38
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• 2007

Natural fibers can refer to all types of fibres only produced by nature. Their lengths vary from particles to long strands. Natural fibers are categorized roughly by six types, depending on the types of sources; base, leaf, seed, grasses, fruit and wood. Of these fibers, jute, flax, sisal and ramie are the most commonly used as reinforced materials in preparing polymer composites. In development and improvement of these composites, many studies have been implemented to overcome the drawbacks such as incompatibility, moisture problems and so on. The range of industry sectors of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites becomes more extensive gradually and many of the companies all over the world are engaged in fabrications or applications. This paper mainly discussed the recent status of the domestic/overseas market and research issues of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites. We made an exception of wood-polymer composites market which have played a great role because they had been often dealt with.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.41-57
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• 2022

Electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) based on solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have gained an immense recognition in the present world due to their unique properties. This study is about preparing and characterizing EDLCs using a natural rubber (NR) based SPE with natural graphite (NG) electrodes. NR electrolyte was consisted with 49% methyl grafted natural rubber (MG49) and zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate ((Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂-ZnTF). It was characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test, dc polarization test and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) test. NG electrodes were made using a slurry of NG and acetone. EIS test, cyclic voltammetry (CV) test and galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) test have been done to characterize the EDLC. Optimized electrolyte composition with NR: 0.6 ZnTF (weight basis) exhibited a conductivity of 0.6 x 10^-4 Scm^-1 at room temperature. Conductivity was predominantly due to ions. The electrochemical stability window was found to be from 0.25 V to 2.500 V. Electrolyte was sandwiched between two identical NG electrodes to fabricate an EDLC. Single electrode specific capacitance was about 2.26 Fg^-1 whereas the single electrode discharge capacitance was about 1.17 Fg^-1. The EDLC with this novel NR-ZnTF based SPE evidences its suitability to be used for different applications with further improvement.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.331-343
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• 2017

In this study a polymer concrete, made up of natural aggregates and an orthophthalic polyester binder, reinforced with natural Alfa fibers has been studied. The results of flexural testing of unreinforced polymer concrete with different rates of charges (marble) showed that the concrete with 20% of marble is stronger and more rigid compared to other grades. Hence, a rate of 20% of marble powder is selected as the optimal value in the development of polymer concrete reinforced Alfa fibers. The fracture results of reinforced polymer concrete with 1 and 2 wt% of chopped untreated or treated Alfa fibers showed that treated Alfa (5% NaOH) fiber reinforced polymer concrete has higher fracture properties than other composites. We believe that this type of concrete provides a very promising alternative for the building industry seeking to achieve the objectives of sustainable development.

• Polymer Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.503-513
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• 2014

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.7-18
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• 1990

This study measured the smouldering temperature of dust layer for various combustible natural polymer material by practical apparatus. The dust layer was either put on the preheated plate of constant temperature, or formed with cylinderical metal sleeve of various diameters and depths at room temperature and then heated up to a pre-determined smouldering temperature. Plots of arrival times versus smouldering temperature were made to compare the smouldering characteristics with kinds of dusts. The natural polymer material was divided into theree groups by characteristics of smouldering mechanism. This groups are cellulose group, lipide group and glucose group.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.2803-2808
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• 2014

High potential and fast electron transfer of a cathode mediator are significant factors for improving the performance of biofuel cells. This paper reports the first synthesis of a cathode redox polymer that is a coordination complex of poly (acrylic acid-vinylpyridine-acryl amide) (PAA-PVP-PAA) and [Os(4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine)$_2Cl_2]^{/+}$ ($E^{\circ}=0.48V$ versus Ag/AgCl). Bilirubin oxidase can be easily incorporated into this polymer matrix, which carried out the four-electron oxygen under typical physiological conditions (pH 7.2, 0.14 M NaCl, and $37^{\circ}C$). This new polymer showed an approximately 0.1 V higher redox potential than existing cathode mediators such as PAA-PVI-$[Os(dCl-bpy)_2Cl]^{+/2+}$. In addition, we suggest increasing the polymer solubility with two hydrophilic groups present in the polymer skeleton to further improve fast electron transfer within the active sites of the enzyme. The maximum power density achieved was 60% higher than that of PAA-PVI-$[Os(dCl-bpy)_2Cl]^{+/2+}$. Furthermore, high current density and electrode stability were confirmed for this osmium polymer, which makes it a promising candidate for high-efficiency biofuel cells.