• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2012

PURPOSES : The purpose of the study was to examine dynamic features of concrete after mixing a little macro fiber with small aspect ratio and long length utilized for bridge, tunnel and shotcrete for tensile performance and crack control in domestic/overseas countries with cement concrete pavement mix. METHODS : Coarse aggregates with small aspect ratio and macro fibers with maximum length of approximately 32 mm are introduced in small quantities in the mix proportions of concrete pavement so as to prevent loss of the workability. Then, this study intends to evaluate the applicability of macro fibers in the mix proportions of concrete pavement by examining the basic construction performance, as well as the change of toughness, the equivalent bending strength and the flexural toughness index caused by compression, bending, tension and the flexural stress-displacement curve. RESULTS : As the results, in each kind of macro fiber, polyvinyl alcohol fiber and steel fiber displayed a good performance. CONCLUSIONS : In 0.2 and 0.3% of fiber contents, it is appeared that polyvinyl alcohol fiber has a large effect on improvement of tensile performance and steel fiber on improvement of deforming performance of bending stress.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2010.05a
• /
• pp.38.1-38.1
• /
• 2010

Nanofibers have a large potential in air filtration applications. In this work, we have developed a photocatalytic polyvinyl alcohol PVA/$TiO_2$ nanofibers membrane for the treatment of air filtration by using electrospinning method. PVA were electrospun into nanofibrous membranes and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were loaded in PVA nanofibers in various contents from 10% (w/w) to 50% (w/w). The UV-Vis spectra were conducted for testing the existence of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles in PVA fibers. SEM analysis indicated that $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were loaded on the surface of PVA fibers and dispersed linearly along the fiber direction, which originated from the effect of polarization and orientation caused by high electric field. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the crystalline of the membrane. Tensile strength was measured to evaluate the physical properties of the membrane. Therefore, our work suggested that PVA/$TiO_2$ nanofiber membrane has a potential application in air filtration area.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.146-150
• /
• 2007

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] microspheres were prepared using solvent evaporation technique. P(3HB-co-4HB) with 3.9 mol% 4HB was synthesized by fed-batch culture of Ralstonia eutropha. The effects of concentration and type of surfactant (Tween 80, sodium dodecylsulfate, and polyvinyl alcohol), addition of dispersion stabilizer (Acacia), concentration of polymer and model drug (bovine serum albumin) on particle size of the microspheres and their in vitro drug release characteristics were investigated. The average particle size of the microspheres decreased with the addition of dispersion stabilizer and increased with the concentration of surfactant, drug and polymer. Amount of drug release increased with decreasing particle size of the microspheres.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.341-346
• /
• 2008

Cellulose nanofibers from microfibril cellulose (MFC) was prepared by hydrobromic acid (HBr) treatment at different concentrations. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films at various loading level of nanofibers were manufactured by a film casting method. The analysis of degree of polymerization (DP), crystallinity ($X_c$) and molecular weight ($M_w$) of cellulose after acid treatment was conducted. The mechanical and thermal properties of the cellulose nanofibers reinforced PVA films were characterized using tensile tests and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DP and $M_w$ of MFC by HBr hydrolysis considerably decreased, but $X_c$ showed no significant change. After acid hydrolysis, the diameter of cellulose nanofibers was in the range of 100 to 200 nm. The thermal stability of the films was steadily improved with the increase of nanofiber loading. There was a significant increase in the tensile strength of PVA composite films with the increase in MFC loading. Finally, 5 wt.% nanofiber loading exhibited the highest tensile strength and thermal stability of PVA composite films.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.250-255
• /
• 2013

As a renewable nanomaterial, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) isolated from wood grants excellent mechanical properties in developing high performance nanocomposites. This study was undertaken to compare the reinforcing efficiency of two different CNCs, i.e., cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from hardwood bleached kraft pulp (HW-BKP) as reinforcing agent in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based nanocomposite. The CNWs were isolated by sulfuric acid hydrolysis while the CNFs were isolated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation. Based on measurements using transmission electron microscopy, the individual CNWs were about $6.96{\pm}0.87nm$ wide and $178{\pm}55nm$ long, while CNFs were $7.07{\pm}0.99nm$ wide. The incorporation of CNWs and CNFs into the PVA matrix at 5% and 1% levels, respectively, resulted in the maximum tensile strength, indicating different efficiencies of these CNCs in the nanocomposites. Therefore, these results suggest a relationship between the reinforcing potential of CNCs and their physical characteristics, such as their morphology, dimensions, and aspect ratio.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.161-167
• /
• 2018

Polyvinyl alcohol/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (PVA/NaCMC) hydrogels were prepared by physical crosslinking (cyclic freezing/thawing) and gamma (${\gamma}$)-ray irradiation to evaluate the effect of NaCMC concentration (2~8 wt%) on the mechanical properties and the biocompatibility of the PVA/NaCMC hydrogels. The swelling rate of PVA/NaCMC hydrogels regardless of irradiation rose with increasing NaCMC content from 2 wt% to 8 wt%, while the gelation rate was the reverse. As the NaCMC content increased from 2 wt% to 6 wt%, the compressive strength of the hydrogels increased dramatically from $8.5{\pm}2.0kPa$ to $52.7{\pm}2.5kPa$ before irradiation and from $13.5{\pm}2.9kPa$ to $65.5{\pm}8.7kPa$ after irradiation. When 8 wt% NaCMC was added afterwards, the compressive strength decreased however. The irradiated PVA/NaCMC hydrogels containing 6 wt% NaCMC exhibited the tailored properties of the swelling rate of $118{\pm}3.7%$, the gelation rate of $71.4{\pm}1.3%$, the strength of $65.5{\pm}8.7kPa$, respectively, and no cytotoxicity was observed.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2020

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/gelatin hydrogels were prepared by repeating freezing/thawing three times to evaluate the influence of PVA concentration on the strength and the cell growth behavior of the PVA/gelatin hydrogels. The swelling rate of the PVA/gelatin hydrogels decreased with raising the PVA content from 6 wt% to 12 wt% due to the formation of 3-D network inside the hydrogel. No appreciable degradation of the hydrogels was detected. As the PVA content increased from 6 wt% to 12 wt%, the strength of the PVA/gelatin hydrogels increased drastically from 6.4±0.9 kPa to 46.6±9.0 kPa. The PVA/gelatin hydrogels did not show any evidence of causing cell lysis or toxicity, implying that the hydrogels are clinically safe and effective. Although the strength increased with increasing the PVA content, the PVA/gelatin hydrogels containing 8 wt% exhibited the fastest cell growth, which is highly suitable for wound dressing requiring fast healing regeneration.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.29-43
• /
• 2017

This study investigates the blast resistance of fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (FRCC) panels, with fiber volume fractions of 2%, subjected to contact explosions using an emulsion explosive. A number of FRCC panels with five different fiber mixtures (i.e., micro polyvinyl alcohol fiber, micro polyethylene fiber, macro hooked-end steel fiber, micro polyvinyl alcohol fiber with macro hooked-end steel fiber, and micro polyethylene fiber with macro hooked-end steel fiber) were fabricated and tested. In addition, the blast resistance of plain panels (i.e., non-fiber-reinforced high strength concrete, and non-fiber-reinforced cementitious composites) were examined for comparison with those of the FRCC panels. The resistance of the panels to spall failure improved with the addition of micro synthetic fibers and/or macro hooked-end steel fibers as compared to those of the plain panels. The fracture energy of the FRCC panels was significantly higher than that of the plain panels, which reduced the local damage experienced by the FRCCs. The cracks on the back side of the micro synthetic fiber-reinforced panel due to contact explosions were greatly controlled compared to the macro hooked-end steel fiber-reinforced panel. However, the blast resistance of the macro hooked-end steel fiber-reinforced panel was improved by hybrid with micro synthetic fibers.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.101-107
• /
• 2008

This study investigated fundamental characters of the concrete according to various fiber types and contents and their properties of spatting resistance and residual compressive strength after fire test corresponding to ISO and RABT heating corves. The results were summarized as following. The Flowability was gradually declined as the increase of fiber contents, and it was the most favorable with nylon(NY) fibers. The decrease of air contents due to increasing fiber contents was in order by polypropylene(PP), polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) and NY fibers. The compressive strengths were over 40 MPa at 7 days and 50 MPa at 28 days. It was in order by PVA, PP and NY fibers. For the spatting properties, all specimens were prevented at ISO heating curve. In the other hand, the partial spatting at the surface occurred on the plain without fibers, but it was prevented over 0.10 % of PVA and 0.05 % of PP and NY fibers at the RABT heating curve.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.5 s.112
• /
• pp.285-292
• /
• 2005

Extrusion process and physical properties of extrudates of pulp powder (TMP, thermomechanical pulp fibers) mixed with expanding additives was evaluated to develop biodegradable packaging materials. To find out the optimum condition, the status of extrusion process, coefficient of elastic and expansion ratio of extrudates were tested on the composites (wheat flour, soluble starch, polyvinyl alcohol), blending conditions of composites and moisture contents of extrudates. In case of material composition, wheat flour played a key role to keep extrusion process irrespective of the added amounts of soluble starch and polyvinyl alcohol. The coefficient of elastic of extrudates was increased and the expansion ratio was reduced as the added amounts of wheat flour increased. Also, the coefficient of elastic of extrudates was decreased as the moisture content of extrudates increased. The lowest coefficient of elastic was 439.55 kPa under the condition, of pulp powder mixed with $20\%$ of wheat flour based on pulp weight and $10\%$ of soluble starch based on wheat flour weight and controlled $20\%$(wb) of moisture content.