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

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2004

To investigate the effect of the cell wall on the pigmentation and branching in Aspergillus nidulans, ultrastructure of cell wall in suppressor mutant of the null pigmentation (SU-NPG, SU602) has been examined. Scanning electron microgrphs (SEM) revealed that the most outer layer of conidia wall peeled off in SU-NPG on day 6 from the complete conidiation. They also showed that hyphal growth and branching were not well developed in SU-NPG. Transmission electron micrographs (TEM) showed that the plasma membrane was not crenulated and the hyphal wall was thick in SU-NPG. These results indicated that the ultrastructure of cell wall in SU-NPC might be modified. Cytochemical analysis showed that the cell wall in SU-NPG was differentiated into Cl, C3, C2 and C4 layer in conidia and H1, H3, H2 and H4 layer in hyphae. C3 layer and H3 layer existed in SU-NPG. The increment of the diameter in SU-NPG hyphae might be caused by the thickness of H3 layer. These results suggest that SU-NPG may have an immature but the differentiated structure for the pigmentation in cell wall.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.4A
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• pp.761-766
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• 2006

Polymer composite are increasingly considered as structural components for use in civil engineering, on account of their enhanced strength-to-weight ratios. Unsaturated polyester (UP) resin have been widely used for the matrix of composites such as FRP and polymer composite, due to its excellent adhesive. Polymer nanocomposites are new class of composites derived from the nano scale inorganic particles with dimensions typically in the range of 1 to 1000 nm that are dispersed in the polymer matrix homogeneously. Owing to the high aspect ratio of the fillers, mechanical, thermal, flame, retardant and barrier properties are enhanced without significant loss of clarity, toughness or impact strength. To prepare the MMT (Montmorillonite)-UP exfoliated nanocomposites, UP was mixed with MMT at $60^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours by using pan mixer. XRD (X-ray diffraction) pattern of the composites and TEM (Transmission Electron Micrographs) showed that the interlayer spacing of the modified MMT were exfoliated in polymer matrix. The mechanical properties also supported these findings, since in general, tensile strength, modulus with modified MMT were higher than those of the composites with unmodified MMT. The thermal stability of MMT-UP nanocomposite is better than that of pure UP, and its glass transition temperature is higher than that of pure UP. The polymer concrete made with MMT-UP nanocomposite has better mechanical properties than of pure UP. Therefore, it is suggested that strength and elastic modulus of polymer concrete was found to be positively tensile strength and tensile modulus of the MMT-UP nanocomposites.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2006

The heartwood of cengal (Neobalanocarpus heimii) is known to have a high degree of decay resistance by virtue of its high extractive content. After 30 years in ground contact an utility pole of this tropical hardwood was found to be degraded only in the surface layers by cavity-forming soft rot fungi. The present work was undertaken 1) to characterize the degradation of cengal heartwood from the aspect of ultrastructure and chemistry and 2) to investigate the correlation between soft rot decay and its extractive microdistribution in wood tissues. The chemical analysis of cengal heartwood revealed the presence of a high amount of extractives as well as lignin. The wood contained a relatively high amount of condensed lignin and the guaiacyl units. Microscopic observations revealed that vessels, fibers and parenchyma cells (both ray and axial parenchyma) all contained extractives in their lumina, but in variable amounts. The lumina of fibers and most axial parenchyma were completely or almost completely filled with the extractives. TEM micrographs showed that cell walls were also impregnated with extractives and that pit membranes connecting parenchyma cells were well coated and impregnated with extractives. However, fungal hyphae were present in the extractive masses localized in cell lumina, and indications were that the extractives did not completely inhibit fungal growth. The extent of cell wall degradation varied with tissue types. The fibers appeared to be more susceptible to decay than vessels and parenchyma. Middle lamella was the only cell wall region which remained intact in all cell types which were severely degraded. The microscopic observations suggested a close correlation between extractive microdistribution and the pattern and extent of cell wall degradation. In addition to the toxicity to fungi, the physical constraint of the extractive material present in cengal heartwood cells is likely to have a profound effect on the growth and path of invasion of colonizing fungi, thus conferring protection to wood by restricting fungal entry into cell walls. The presence of relatively high amount of condensed lignin is also likely to be a factor in the resistance of cengal heartwood to soft rot decay.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2005

Nanocomposites of three different polyesters with dodecyltriphenylphosphonium-montmorillonite $(C_{12}PPh-MMT)$ as an organoclay are compared with their thermal properties, mechanical properties, and morphologies. Poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) were used as matrix polymers in the fabrication of polyester nanocomposite fibers. The variations of their properties with organoclay content in the polymer matrix and draw ratio (DR) are discussed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs show that some of the clay layers are dispersed homogeneously within the polymer matrix on the nano-scale, although some clay particles are agglomerated. We also found that the addition of only a small amount of organoclay is enough to improve the thermal stabilities and mechanical properties of the polyester nanocomposite fibers. Even polymers with low organoclay contents $(<5\;wt\%)$ were found to exhibit much higher strength and modulus values than pure polyester fibers. In the cases of all polyester hybrid fibers, the values of the tensile mechanical properties were found to decrease linearly with increasing DR. However, the initial tensile modulus of the PTT hybrid fibers were found to be independent of DR.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.457-460
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• 2005

Nano-sized titanium oxide and zirconium oxide powders were synthesized by hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide $[Ti(OC_3H7)_4]$ and zirconium tetrachloride ($ZrC1_4$) via a sol-gel technique. Lead titanate powders were prepared by mixing $TiO_2$ precursors with PbO slurry made with dilute $NH_4OH$. Lead zirconate titanate powders were, then, synthesized by mixing $PbTiO_3$ with $ZrO_2$ powders. The goal of this research was to obtain the $PbZrTiO_3(PZT)$ powders and sintering these powders at low temperature. The $PbTiO_3$ and PZT powders after firing were analyzed by X-ray diffraction(XRD) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) was utilized to observe the shape and size of the synthesized nano-particles. In the XRD pattern, the well-crystallized PZT phase could be obtained in consequence of firing at $900^{\circ}C$. SEM micrographs also showed that grains of PZT were relatively well grown with the size of the range of $2{\~}4{\mu}m$. The densified perovskite structure of $PbZrTiO_3$ could be obtained by sintering at temperature as low as $900^{\circ}C$. Characterization of the samples showed improved piezoelectric properties.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.25-29
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• 2014

Plasma organic thin film for PCB surface finish is a potential replacement of the conventional PCB finishes because of environment-friendly process, high corrosion-resistance and long shelf life over 1 year. In this study, solder joint properties of the plasma organic surface finish were estimated and compared with OSP surface finish. The plasma surface finish was deposited by chemical vapor deposition from fluorine-based precursors. The thickness of the plasma organic coating was 20 nm. Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) solder was used as solder joint materials. From a salt spray test, the plasma organic coating had higher corrosion resistance than the OSP surface finish. The spreadability of SAC305 on plasma organic coating was higher than that on OSP surface finish. SEM and TEM micrographs showed that the interfacial microstructure of the plasma surface finish sample were similar to that of the OSP sample. Solder joint strength of the plasma finish sample was also similar to that of the OSP finished sample.