• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.260-266
• /
• 2003

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/clay nanocomposites were synthesized by blending a solution of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer containing 12% vinyl acetate abbreviated as EVA-12 in toluene and dispersion of dodecyl ammonium ion intercalated montmorillonite (l2Me-MMT) in N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc). X-ray patterns of sodium montmorillonite ($Na^+$-MMT) and 12Me-MMT exhibited $d_{001}$ peak at $2{\theta}=7.4^{\circ}$ and $2{\theta}=5.6^{\circ}$ respectively; that is, the interlayer spacing of MMT increased by about 0.39 nm due to intercalation of dodecyl ammonium ions. The XRD trace of EVA showed no peak in the angular range of $3-10^{\circ}(2{\theta})$. In the XRD patterns of EVA/clay hybrids with clay content up to 6 wt% the basal reflection peak of 12Me-MMT was absent. leading to the formation of delaminated configuration of the composites. When the 12Me-MMT content was 8 wt% in the EVA-12 matrix, the hybrid revealed a peak at about $2{\theta}=5.6^{\circ}$, owing to the aggregation of aluminosilicate layers. Transmission electron microscopic photograph exhibited that an average size of 12-15 nm clay layers were randomly and homogeneously dispersed in the polymer matrix, which led to the formation of nanocomposite with delaminated configuration. The formation of delaminated nanocomposites was manifested through the enhancement of mechanical properties and thermal stability, e.g. tensile strength of an hybrid containing only 2 wt% 12Me-MMT was enhanced by about 36% as compared with neat EVA-12.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.395-401
• /
• 2011

MWNT/PMMA and MWNT/PDMAEMA nanocomposites were prepared using an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The FTIR and XRD analysis results showed that the nanocomposites were composed of MWNTs grafted by either PMMA(PMMA-g-MWNTs) or PDMAEMA(PDMAEMA-g-MWNTs). A controlled living radical polymerization of ATRP was characterized by the thermogram analysis for the nanocomposites. The morphologies of prepared nanocomposites were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Raman analysis results for the nanocomposites showed that there occurred covalent bonding between acrylic polymers and MWNTs.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.17 no.9
• /
• pp.688-696
• /
• 2009

In this study, a new class of polyurethane (PU) nanofibers containing silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) was synthesized by electrospinning. A simple method that did not depending on additional foreign chemicals was used to self synthesize the silver NPs in/on PU nanofibers. The synthesis of silver NPs was carried out by exploiting the reduction ability of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), which is used mainly to decompose silver nitrate to silver NPs. Typically, a sol-gel consisting of $AgNO_3$/PU was electrospun and aged for one week. Silver NPs were created in/on PU nanofibers. SEM confirmed the well oriented nanofibers and good dispersion of pure silver NPs. TEM indicated that the Ag NPs were 5 to 20 nm in diameter. XRD demonstrated the good crystalline features of silver metal. The mechanical properties of the nanofiber mats showed improvement with increasing silver NPs content. The fixedness of the silver NPs obtained on PU nanofibers was examined by harsh successive washing of the as-prepared mats using a large amount of water. The results confirmed the good stability of the synthesized nanofiber mats. Two model organisms, E. coli and S. typhimurium, were used to check the antimicrobial influence of these nanofiber mats. Subsequently, antimicrobial tests indicated that the prepared nanofibers have a high bactericidal effect. Accordingly, these results highlight the potential use of these nanofiber mats as antimicrobial agents.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.224-231
• /
• 2007

Polyurethane (PU) was prepared with the compositions of polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) having two different molecular weight (250, 1000 g/mol). The optimum composition of PTMG 250/1000 was 60/40 based on the mechanical properties. PU/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared with several kinds of organoclay. The mechanical properties of nanocomposite prepared with 93A were considerable. The improvement in tensile strength and modulus for PU/organoclay nanocomposite with the application of ultrasound compared to the PU/organoclay nanocomposite without the application of ultrasound was factors of 1.2, and hardness (shore A type) increased from 90 to 95. The difference in thermal degradation was not observed. The results of transmission electron micrographs and X-ray measurements suggest that the intercalated organoclay in PU matrix was observed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.76-82
• /
• 2014

1-Methylimidazole-2-thiol, as a kind of mercaptans, is a typical organic pollutant which has not been efficiently removed. In this study, titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst based on magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was synthesized via hydrothermal and sol-gel methods. The as-prepared photocatalyst was extensively characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray energy diffraction spectrum (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). This photocatalyst of $TiO_2$/$Fe_3O_4$/MWCNTs was proved to exhibit high photocatalytic efficiency and the photodegradation rate could reach nearly 82.7% for the degradation of 1-methylimidazole-2-thiol under ultraviolet irradiation. In addition, the results demonstrated that inorganic ions had a negative impact on photodegradation of 1-methylimidazole-2-thiol to varying degrees. Moreover, pH had a great and complex effect on photocatalytic degradation of 1-methylimidazole-2-thiol under ultraviolet irradiation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.2974-2978
• /
• 2014

$Mn_3O_4$/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites are prepared by chemically synthesizing $Mn_3O_4$ nanoparticles on a MWCNT film at room temperature. Structural and morphological characterization has been carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM). These reveal that polycrystalline $Mn_3O_4$ nanoparticles, with sizes of about 10-20 nm, aggregate to form larger nanoparticles (50-200 nm), and the $Mn_3O_4$ nanoparticles are attached inhomogeneously on MWCNTs. The electrochemical behavior of the composites is analyzed by cyclic voltammetry experiment. The $Mn_3O_4$/MWCNT composite exhibits a specific capacitance of $257Fg^{-1}$ at a scan rate of $5mVs^{-1}$, which is about 3.5 times higher than that of the pure $Mn_3O_4$. Cycle-life tests show that the specific capacitance of the $Mn_3O_4$/MWCNT composite is stable up to 1000 cycles with about 85% capacitance retention, which is better than the pure $Mn_3O_4$ electrode. The improved supercapacitive performance of the $Mn_3O_4$/MWCNT composite electrode can be attributed to the synergistic effects of the $Mn_3O_4$ nanoparticles and the MWCNTs, which arises not only from the combination of pseudocapacitance from $Mn_3O_4$ nanoparticles and electric double layer capacitance from the MWCNTs but also from the increased surface area, pore volume and conducting property of the MWCNT network.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.96-102
• /
• 2012

Outer diameter stress corrosion cracking (ODSCC) has occurred for Alloy 600 (Ni 75 wt%, Cr 15 wt%, Fe 10 wt%) as a heat exchanger tube of the steam generator (SG) in nuclear power plants (NPP) during long term operation. Among many causes for SCC, lead (Pb) is known to be one of the most deleterious species in the secondary system. In the present work, the oxide formed on Alloy 600 was characterized as a function of the PbO content in 0.1 M NaOH at $315^{\circ}C$ by using an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a transmission electron microscopy (TEM), equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The oxide property was analyzed in view of SCC susceptibility.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.63-68
• /
• 1999

The activities of Ni(20wt%)/$La_2O_3$, Ni(20wt%)/${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$, and Ni(20wt%)/$SiO_2$ catalyst for $CO_2$ reforming of $CH_4$ were investigated in a fixed bed flow reactor under atmospheric condition. Catalyst characterization using XRD, TEM, SEM, BET analysis were also conducted. The catalytic activity of Ni(20wt%)/$La_2O_3$ catalyst has relatively superior to that of Ni(20wt%)/${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ and Ni(20wt%)/$SiO_2$ catalyst. The good activity of Ni(20wt%)/$La_2O_3$ catalyst seems to depend on reduced $Ni^{\circ}$ phases of NiO($\rightarrow$ Ni + O), $LaNiO_3$($\rightarrow$ $Ni+La_2O_3$), Ni crystalline phases, and decoration of Ni phases by lanthanum species is also an important factor. Ni(20wt%)/${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ and Ni(20wt%)/$SiO_2$ catalyst due to surface acidity resulted in the deposition of wisker type and encapsulate carbon on the surface of catalyst, but Ni(20wt%)/$La_2O_3$ catalyst did not show carbon on the surface of catalyst up to 8.5hr reaction.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.141-147
• /
• 2003

Sputter-deposited Nb-Al-Cr alloys. $3-5{\mu}m$ thick, have been prepared on quartz substrates as oxidation-and sulfidation-resistant materials at high temperatures. The oxidation or the alloys in the $Ar-O_2$ atmosphere of an oxygen partial pressure of 20 kPa follows approximately the parabolic rate law, thus being diffusion controlled. Their oxidation rates are almost the same as or even lower than those ofthc typical chromia-forming alloys. The multi-lavered oxide scales are formed on the ternary alloys. The outermost layer is composed of $Cr_2O_3$, which is"mainly responsible for the high oxidation'resistance of these alloys. In contrast to sputter-deposited Cr-Nb binary alloys reported previously, the inner layer is not porous. TEM observation as well as EDX analysis indicates that the innermost layer is a mixture of $Al_2O_3$ and niobium oxide. The dispersion of $Al_2O_3$ in niobium oxide may be attributable to the prevention of the formation of the porous oxide layer. The sulfidation rates of the present ternary alloys arc higher than those of the sputter-deposited Nb-AI binary alloys, but still several orders of magnitude lower than those of conventional high temperature alloys. Two-layered sulfide scales are formed, consisting of an outer $Al_2S_3$ layer containing chromium and an inner layer composed of $NbS_2$ and a small amount of $Cr_2S_3$. The presence of $Cr_2S_3$ in the inner protective $NbS_2$ layer may be attributed to the increase in the sulfidation rates.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.717-724
• /
• 2008

In this study, we prepared all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-encapsulated, surfactant-free, PLGA nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were formed by nanoprecipitation process, after which the solvent was removed by solvent evaporation or dialysis method. When a nanoparticle was prepared by the nanoprecipitation - solvent evaporation method, the nanoparticles were bigger than the nanoparticles of the nanoprecipitation - dialysis method, despite the higher although loading efficiency. Nanoparticles from the nanoprecipitation - dialysis method were smaller than 200 nm in diameter, while the loading efficiency was not significantly changed. Especially, nanoparticles prepared from DMAc, 1,4-dioxane, and DMF had a diameter of less than 100 nm. In the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, all of the nanoparticles showed spherical shapes. The loading efficiency of ATRA was higher than 90% (w/w) at all formulations with exception of THF. The drug content was increased with increasing drug-feeding amount while the loading efficiency was decreased. In the drug release study, an initial burst was observed for $2{\sim}6$ days according to the variations of the formulation, after which the drug was continuously released over one month. Nanoparticles from the nanoprecipitation - dialysis method showed faster drug release than those from the nanoprecipitation - solvent evaporation method. The decreased drug release kinetics was observed at lower drug contents. In the tumor cell cytotoxicity test, ATRA-encapsulated, surfactant-free, PLGA nanoparticles exhibited similar cytotoxicity with that of ATRA itself.