• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2015

Crosslink density of a rubber vulcanizate determines the chemical and physical properties, while bound rubber is an important factor to estimate reinforcement of a filled rubber compound. Extender oil is added to a raw rubber with very high molecular weight for improving processability of a rubber composite. Influence of extender oil on crosslink density, bound rubber formation, and physical properties of solution styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR) composites with differing microstructures was investigated. Crosslink densities of non-oil-extended SSBR (NO-SSBR) vulcanizates were higher than those of oil-extended SSBR (OE-SSBR) ones. Bound rubber contents of NO-SSBR compounds were also greater than those of OE-SSBR ones. The experimental results could be explained by interfering of extender oil. The OE-SSBR vulcanizates had low modulus but long elongation at break, whereas the NO-SSBR ones had high modulus but short elongation at break. It was found that the crosslink densities affected the physical properties more than the bound rubber contents. The moduli increased with increase in the crosslink density irrespective of extender oil, while the elongation at break decreased. Each variation of the tensile strengths of NO-SSBR and OE-SSBR vulcanizates with the crosslink density showed a decreasing trend. Tear strength of the OE-SSBR vulcanizate increased with increase in the crosslink density, whereas variation of the tear strength of NO-SSBR vulcanizate with the crosslink density showed a weak decreasing trend.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2014

A tissue-specific and developmentally expressed gene was isolated from Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis), designated BrREF (B. rapa Rubber elongation factor). BrREF transcripts were expressed at high levels in seedlings and at low levels in flower buds and roots. To study the activity of this promoter, the 2.2 kb upstream sequence of BrREF gene was fused to a β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana and B. napus by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Strong expression of GUS driven by the BrREF promoter was detected in the cotyledons and hypocotyls of transgenic plant seedlings, but GUS expression was weak in roots, excluding the root tips. GUS expression in the cotyledons and hypocotyls decreased dramatically as the seedlings matured and was not detected in the tissues of mature plants. During floral development, GUS expression was observed in immature anthers. These findings suggest that the BrREF promoter can modulate the tissue-specific and developmental expression of gene at the early stages of growth and development.

• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.275-290
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• 2009

This paper considers accelerated thermal degradation tests which are performed for rubber seal materials used for undersea tunnels constructed by immersion method. Three types of rubber seals are tested; rubber expansion seal, omega seal, and shock absorber hose. Main ingredient of rubber expansion seal is EPDM(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) and that of both omega seal and shock absorber hose is SBR(Styrene Butadiene Rubber). The accelerated stress is temperature and an Arrhenius model is introduced to describe the relationship between the lifetime and the stress. From the accelerated degradation tests, dominant failure mode of the rubber seals is found to be the loss of elongation. The lifetime distribution and the service life of the rubber seals at use condition are estimated from the test results. The acceleration factor for three types of rubber seals are also investigated.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2004

New compounds were made using various NR/BR blend ratio and oil content to improve mechanical properties of rubber isolator at low temperature. Mechanical properties were investigated as a function of NR/BR blend ratio and oil content. Hardness and tensile modulus generally increased, but tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with increasing BR content. Hardness, tensile modulus and tensile strength decreased, but elongation at break were nearly the same with increasing oil content. The glass transition temperature of NR and BR were found to be $-50^{\circ}C$ and $-90^{\circ}C$ respectively based on the abrupt drops in storage elastic modulus and peak of loss factor. Two distinct transition temperature were observed in NR/BR blend compounds and each transition point was not affected by blend level indicating incompatible nature of NR/BR blend.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.237-241
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• 2017

The tensile strength (TS) and elongation-at-break (EB) loss of a CR/CB rubber composite sample prepared for the automotive parts were measured after accelerated thermal ageing at temperatures of 100, 120, 140, and $150^{\circ}C$. The change in TS was observed to be linear from the master curve prepared using the time-temperature superposition-principle (TTSP). An Arrhenius type of shift factor, $a_T$ was used to predict the life time of the sample, and a plot of ln $a_T$ vs. 1/T was also shown to be linear. The activation energy ($E_a$) of the sample was calculated as 70.30 kJ/mole from the Arrhenius plot. The expected life time of the sample was predicted at the given operating conditions by applying Arrhenius analysis. Assuming the $E_a$ value was constant at lower operating condition, life time of the sample was calculated as 2.3 years when the life limit was set as time to reach the 20% decrease of the initial TS value at operating temperature of $40^{\circ}C$.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2011

Natural fiber/natural rubber composites were fabricated by uniformly compounding natural rubber and cellulose- based natural fiber kenaf and then by compression molding. The effect of kenaf fiber content on their vulcanization behavior, hardness, tensile properties, tear strength and static and dynamic properties was investigated. The contents of kenaf fiber in the composites were 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 phr, compared to natural rubber and additives. The result indicated that various properties of natural rubber depended on the kenaf fiber content. With increasing kenaf fiber content, the torque for vulcanization of natural rubber was increased whereas the vulcanization time was reduced as well. The hardness, tensile modulus and tear strength of kenaf/natural rubber composites were gradually decreased with the fiber content whereas the tensile strength and elongation at break were decreased. Also, with increasing the kenaf fiber content the dynamic property of natural rubber was changed more greatly than the static property. The loss factor, which is closely related with the damping or absorption of the energy given to natural rubber, was proportionally increased with the fiber content.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2011

MuSI, a gene that corresponds to a domain that contains the rubber elongation factor (REF), is highly homologous to many stress-related proteins in plants. Since MuSI is up-regulated in the roots of plants treated with cadmium or copper, the involvement of MuSI in cadmium tolerance was investigated in this study. Escherichia coli cells overexpressing MuSI were more resistant to Cd than wild-type cells transfected with vector alone. MuSI transgenic plants were also more resistant to Cd. MuSI transgenic tobacco plants absorbed less Cd than wild-type plants. Cd translocation from roots to shoots was reduced in the transgenic plants, thereby avoiding Cd toxicity. The number of short trichomes in the leaves of wild-type tobacco plants was increased by Cd treatment, while this was unchanged in MuSI transgenic tobacco. These results suggest that MuSI transgenic tobacco plants have enhanced tolerance to Cd via reduced Cd uptake and/or increased Cd immobilization in the roots, resulting in less Cd translocation to the shoots.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2012

Herein, life time prediction based on the deterioration of physical properties of chloroprene rubber (CR)aged by heat and seawater was performed. CR samples were experienced an accelerated test at $80^{\circ}C$, $100^{\circ}C$, $120^{\circ}C$ for heat aging, and $40^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, $80^{\circ}C$ for seawater aging for 20,000 hrs. The change in tensile strength, maximum elongation,hardness was measured. As a result, the decrease in elongation was a major factor causing failure. The life time estimated using an Arrhenius model was 125 years at $23^{\circ}C$ for thermal aging and 9 years at $23^{\circ}C$ for seawater aging. SEM and elemental analysis reveal that cracks were generated and the content of oxygen was increased for CR agined by seawater. FT-IR spectrum shows the new C-O and C = O bonds were generated by the chemical reaction with seawater. Also, the glass transtion temperature was increased and the thermal decomposition was decreased by seawater aging.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2016

The research aims to study the different flexible rubber tube diffusers used in urban wastewater treatment processes and aquaculture systems. The experiment was conducted in small-scale aeration tank with different physical properties of the tubes that were used as aerators. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient ($k_La$), oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE) and aeration efficiency (AE) were measured and determined to compare the diffusers. Moreover, the bubble hydrodynamic parameters were analyzed in terms of bubble diameter ($d_B$) and rising velocity ($U_B$) by a high speed camera (2,000 frames/s). Then the interfacial area (a) and liquid-side mass transfer coefficient ($k_L$) can be calculated. The physical properties (tube wall thickness, tensile strength, orifice size, hardness and elongation) have been proven to be the key factor that controls the performance (kLa and OTE). The effects of hardness and elongation on bubble formation, orifice size and a-area were clearly proved. It is not necessary to generate too much fine bubbles to increase the a-area: this relates to high power consumption and the decrease of the kL. Finally, the wall thickness, elongation and hardness associated of the flexible tube diffuser (tube No. 12) were concluded, to be the suitable properties for practically producing, in this research.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.182-188
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• 2016

A decoy is a weapon system that can protect vessels from an enemy's torpedo. Thus, the decoy should be able to operate in the field without any failure. Because the decoy can be inoperable once its sealing is broken and water permeates inside the system, the hermetic sealing capability considering the operational environment is mandatory. To be hermetically sealed, a rubber-type O-ring is generally used in a decoy system. The sealed performance of rubber-type products, however, tends to age and deteriorate with time. Therefore, the O-ring needs to be maintained or changed periodically. This paper proposes a method to estimate the proper maintenance period using the hardness and elongation percentage, which represents the performance of the O-ring product and test data from Accelerated Life Test (ALT) of the product. The O-ring used in this paper is a NBR type, and the temperature was chosen to be the main accelerating factor as referenced in many studies. The criteria for the failure of the O-ring was set for the product to be 50% degraded compared to the initial performance. In addition, the Korean standard KS M 6518 was adopted and referenced for the preparation of test samples and the calculation of estimates. The O-ring's predicted life was simulated by analyzing the test results from a computer program, and the optimized maintenance period for the product was determined.