• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.221-232
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• 2009

The allylamine plasma treatment is used to modify the surface properties of vapor grown carbon fibers (VGCF). It is to improve the interfacial bonding between the VGCF and epoxy matrix. The allylamine plasma process was performed by batch process in a vacuum chamber, using gas injection followed by plasma discharge for the durations of 20, 40 and 60 min. The interdependence of mechanical properties on the VGCF contents, treatment time and interfacial bonding between VGCF/ep was investigated. The interfacial bonding between VGCF and epoxy matrix was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of nanocomposites fracture surfaces. The changes in the mechanical properties of VGCF/ep, such as the tensile modulus and strength were discussed. The mechanical properties of allylamine plasma treated (AAPT) VGCF/ep were compared with those of raw VGCF/ep. The tensile strength and modulus of allyamine plasma treated VGCF40 (40 min treatment)/ep demonstrated a higher value than those of other samples. The mechanical properties were increased with the allyamine plasma treatment due to the improved adhesion at VGCF/ep interface. The modification of the carbon nanofibers surface was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). SEM micrographs showed an excellent dispersion of VGCF in epoxy matrix by ultrasonic method.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2005

Helium-oxygen plasma treatments were conducted to modify poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PIT) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) warp knitted fabrics under atmospheric pressure. Lubricant and contamination removals by plasma etching effect were examined by weight loss $(\%)$ measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Surface oxidation by plasma treatments was revealed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses, resulting in formation of hydrophilic groups and moisture regain $(\%)$ enhancement. Low-stress mechanical properties (evaluated by Kawabata evaluation system) and bulk properties (air permeability and bust strength) were enhanced by plasma treatment. Increasing interfiber and interyarn frictions might play important roles in enhancing surface property changes by plasma etching effect, and then changing low-stress mechanical properties and bulk properties for both fabrics.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2013

This work presents the tensile properties and water uptake behavior of plasma treated abaca fibers reinforced epoxy composites. The composites were prepared by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. The effects of treatment on tensile properties and sorption characteristics of abaca fiber composites in distilled water and salt solution at room temperature were investigated. The tensile strength of the composites increased with plasma treatment. With plasma treatment, an improvement of 92.9% was obtained in 2.5 min exposure time in plasma. This is attributed to high fiber-matrix compatibility. Less improvement on tensile properties of hybrid treatment of sodium hydroxide and plasma was obtained. However, both treatments reduced overall water uptake in distilled water and salt solution. Hydrophilicity of the fibers decreased upon plasma and sodium hydroxide treatment, which decreases water uptake.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.522-522
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• 2013

Plasma can be used to various applications such as sterilization, inactivation/removal of microorganisms, wound healing, tooth bleaching, cancer treatment, surface modification and plasma polymerization. In this research, we studied the effect of plasma irradiation on the structural, optical, and biological properties of the polymer films. Several polymers were synthesized and then deposited on the glass substrates. The polymer films were treated by oxygen and nitrogen plasmas. Plasma-treated films were investigated by contact angle, infrared absorption spectroscopy, cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Functional materials were prepared on plasma-treated surface, and their performances were investigated using various techniques. Next, we discuss relationship between the performance of functional materials and the structural properties of plasma-treated polymer films.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1332-1336
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• 2004

Amorphous carbon (a-C) films have been deposited on Si(100) substrate using RF magnetron system in order to investigate the electron field emission properties. The a-C films were treated by $N_2$ gas plasma at room temperature. Surface morphologices and structural properties of the a-C films before and after $N_2$ plasma treatment were observed by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscope, respectively. Structural properties and surface morphology of the a-C films were changed by $N_2$ plasma treatment. The emission properties can be improved by the plasma treatment according to the contents of nitrogen on the a-C films which is varied by plasma treatment time. Before the plasma treatment, the a-C films are found to have a threshold field of 14 V/$\mu$m, but the a-C film treated by $N_2$ plasma for 30 min exhibit threshold field as low as 6.5 V/$\mu$m.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.434-435
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• 2003

Physicochemical properties of a polymer surface significantly affect adhesion, wetting, and dyeing properties. In recent years, low temperature plasma technology has been widely used for surface modification of polymers. Surface fluorination by low temperature plasma treatment has been employed to improve the water and oily repellency of textile fabrics. However, very few results have been reported on soil release properties of the oxygen plasma treated textile fabrics. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.80-83
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• 2005

In this work, effects of oxygen plasma on surface characteristics of carbon fibers were investigated in mechanical properties interfacial of carbon fibers-reinforced composites. The surface properties of the carbon fibers were determined by acid/base values, FT-IR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Also, the mechanical properties of the composites were studied in and critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$) and critical strain energy release rate mode II ($G_{IIC}$) measurements. As experimental results, the $O_{lS}/C_{lS}$ ratio of the carbon fiber surfaces treated by oxygen plasma was increased compared to that of untreated ones, possibly due to development of oxygen-containing functional groups. The mechanical properties of the composites, including $K_{IC}$ and $G_{IIC}$ had been improved in the oxygen plasma on fibers. These results could be explained that the oxygen plasma was resulted in the increase of the adhesion of between fibers and matrix in a composite system.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.38-46
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• 2007

Surface properties of the plasma treated fabric were changed while maintaining its bulk properties. Surface of plasma treated fabric take charge of enhanced adhesion by surface etching, surface activity. The water repellency coating Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) fabric was treated with atmospheric pressure plasma using various parameters such as Argon gas, treatment time, processing power. Morphological changes by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment were observed using field emmission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and the zeta-potential measurement, contact angle measurement equipment. At the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment time of 150 sec, the power of 800W, the best wettability and peel strength were obtained. And we confirmed the possibility of industrial application by using atmospheric plasma system.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.152-156
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• 2001

Three different silicone polymer systems, such as aminofunctional, epoxyfunctional, and hydrophilic epoxyfunctional silicone polymers, were applied onto plasma pretreated wool fabric to improve the dimensional properties. The results showed that the plasma pretreatment modified the cuticle surface of the wool fiber and increased the reactivity of wool fabric toward silicone polymers. Felting shrinkage of plasma and silicone treated wool fabric was decreased with different level depending on the applied polymer system. Fabric tear strength and hand were adversely affected by plasma treatment, but these properties were favorably restored on polymer application. Therefore, it has been concluded that the combination of plasma and silicone treatments can achieve the improved dimensional stability, and better performance properties of wool fabric. The surface smoothness appearances of treated fabrics were measured using a new evaluation system, which showed good correspondence with the results of KES-FB4 surface tester.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2013

This study deals with effect of plasma treatment on the properties of unidirectional ligno cellulosic fabric Hildegardia Populofolia (HDP) fabric. Thermal stability of the fabric was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Thermo gravimetric analysis (DSC). Morphological properties was analyzed by SEM analysis and found that the surface was rough upon plasma treatment which provides good interfacial adhesion with matrix during composite fabrication. Thermal stability and mechanical properties of the plasma treated fabric slightly increases compare to alkali and untreated fabric. It was observed that tensile properties of the fabric increases upon plasma treatment due to the formation of rough surface. SEM analysis indicates formation of rough surface on plasma treatment which helps in increasing the interfacial interaction between the matrix (hydrophobic) and fabric (hydrophilic).