• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2014

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a synthetic biodegradable polymer with excellent mechanical properties. $TiO_2$ (titanium dioxide) has a hydrophilic, high density and excellent biocompatibility. In this work, we produced three-dimensional porous scaffolds with PCL and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles using a salt-leaching method. Physical properties of the scaffolds were analyzed by FE-SEM, FTIR, TGA and compressive strength. Interestingly, the addition of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles decreased the water absorption and swelling ratio of the porous scaffolds. However, the compressive strength was increased by $TiO_2$. CCK-8 assay, which is generally used for the analysis of cell growth, shows that $TiO_2$ nanoparticles have no cytotoxicity. Taken together, we suggest that the PLC/$TiO_2$-scaffold can be used for biomedical applications.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.854-860
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• 2017

PSf/D2EHPA/CNTs beads were prepared by immobilizing extractant di-(2-ethylhexyl)- phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and adsorbent carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on polysulfone (PSf), and the adsorption characteristics of Sr(II) on the beads were studied. The morphological characteristics of the prepared PSf/D2EHPA/CNTs beads were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The equilibrium time for the removal of Sr(II) by PSf/D2EHPA/CNTs beads was 60 min. The experimental kinetic data followed pseudo-second-order model more than pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The maximum removal capacity of Sr(II) obtained from Langmuir isotherm was 4.75 mg/g. The removal efficiencies of Sr (II) by PSf/D2EHPA/CNTs beads were improved 2.5 times by adding the adsorbent CNTs more than by using only the extractant D2EHPA.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.564-572
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• 2012

A terpolymer of vinylbenzyl chloride-co-ethyl methacrylate-co-styrene (VBC-EMA-St) was prepared for membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) by radical polymerization and amination reaction of various amination times. Nonfluoro aminated VBC-EMA-St anion-exchange membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. Molecular weight, polydispersity and thermal stability were obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The basic properties such as water uptake, ion exchange capacity, electrical resistance and CDI charge-discharge current were measured. The optimal values of ion exchange capacity, water uptake, electrical resistance and molecular weight of synthesized anion-exchange membrane were 1.69 meq/g, 23.7%, 1.61 ${\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ and $3.4{\times}10^4$ g/mol, respectively. As compared with conventional membrane, the pattern of cyclic charge-discharge current of synthesized anion-exchange membrane indicated efficient electrosorption and desorption.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.152-156
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• 2011

We have performed microencapsulation of phenyl acetate using poly (urea-formaldehyde) as a shell material, and studied the effect of agitation rate,. core/shell mass ratio, surfactant concentration, and reaction time on capsule characteristics such as size, shell thickness, and surface morphology. The formation of microcapsules was confirmed by FTIR and TGA, and capsule characteristics were studied by optical microscopy and FE-SEM. Capsule size and shell thickness reduced with increasing agitation rate. As the mass of shell material was increased, shell thickness and nanoparticles on capsule surface increased. Capsule size and shell thickness decreased with increasing the concentration of a surfactant. Increasing reaction time caused increased capsule yield and shell thickness.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.17-24
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• 2015

The formation of heat islands causes high energy demand for space cooling and peak cooling loads in conditioned buildings. High-temperature fluctuations on a building roof may cause mechanical stress and increase surface deterioration. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems using microencapsulated phase-change materials (MPCMs) have been recognized as one of the most advanced energy technologies for enhancing the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings. In this study, we prepared MPCM/paint composites for mitigating the heat island effect and reducing peak temperature. In addition, we carried out thermal and physical analysis of prepared MPCM composite samples by means of SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, DSC, and TGA. Further, we evaluated the dynamic heat transfer performance of heat-storage tiles painted with 10 g of heat-storage paint. From the obtained results, we deduced that MPCM/hydrophilic paint composites are more applicable to various fields, including the building sector, than MPCM/hydrophobic paint composites. On the basis of SEM and FTIR spectroscopy results, we concluded that materials with hydrophilic properties are more compatible with MPCMs than those with hydrophobic properties. In addition, DSC analysis results revealed that MPCM/hydrophilic paint composites have better compatibility, higher latent heat capacity, and better thermal properties than other composites. TGA results showed that hydrophilic-paint-based composites have higher thermal durability than hydrophobic-paint-based composites. Finally, a lot of MPCM-loaded heat-storage tiles showed lower peak temperatures at all measurement positions.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2009

New coupling agent or surface modified agent (9-decenoic acid) was used to enhance the compatibility between silica and polystyrene in silica/polystyrene hybrid nanocomposite, synthesized by in situ miniemulsion polymerization. Composites contain well dispersed nanosize silica particles. Related tests and analyses confirmed the success of synthesis. Functionalization of silica by 9-decenoic acid and silica on the polystyrene was confirmed by FTIR. TGA showed presence and amount of silica in final latex. The glass transition temperature of the hybrid nanocomposite was increased with the silica amount. SEM and TEM analysis showed the spherical morphology of PS and composite with an average diameter of 55 nm. The presence of silica within composite was confirmed by EDS attached to the existing TEM.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.448-454
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• 2012

A poly(amic acid) (PAA) was prepared by reaction of 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluropropane (BAPP) in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). The cast films of the synthesized PAA were thermally treated at different temperatures to create polyimide (PI) films. The heat treatment temperature varied between 80 and $230^{\circ}C$ to investigate the imidization index in relation with the solvent evaporation rates. The progress of PAA imidization was examined using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR) at various time and temperature. The experimental results showed that the imidization index was fast at the initial stage in the presence of solvent, DMAc, reaching the final imidization. When the imidization temperature is high over $200^{\circ}C$, the imidization index decreased because the solvent was evaporated too fast.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.356-362
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• 2011

The branched polycarbonates (B-PCs) with two different branching agents were synthesized from melt polymerization. The contents of branching agent were in the range of 0.001~0.005 mol%. The chemical structure of the synthesized PC was determined by FTIR, $^1H$ NMR, and $^{13}C$ NMR, spectroscopy. The molecular weight, glass transition and degradation temperatures were determined by GPC, DSC, and TGA. The molecular weight of the phloro type B-PC had a lower value than the other one, and the glass transition temperature increased with molecular weight. Compared with linear PC, the rheological properties of the B-PC indicated an increase of complex viscosity in the low frequency region and shear thinning tendency. Power law index(n) representing shear thinning was calculated by linear regression and the values were in the range of 0.483~0.996. The rheological properties of the B-PCs were measured by a dynamic rheometer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.717-721
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• 2013

Biomaterials like silk fibroin (SF) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) have received increasing attention in biomedical applications because of their attractive properties such as hydrophobicity and biocompatibility. In this study, efficient systems consisting of interpenetrating SF/PVA hydrogels were prepared as potential candidate for wound dressing applications. A simple approach consisting of sonication and a freezing-thawing technique was adopted to fabricate the hydrogels. Different blend ratios consisting of SF (100, 75, 50, 25 and 0%) with respect to the weight of PVA were prepared. The produced hydrogels were characterized for physico-chemical investigations using various states of techniques like; FE-SEM, TGA, FTIR and tensile strength. The addition of PVA to SF was proved to be beneficial in terms of reducing the pore size and swelling ratio of hydrogels. The mechanical property of SF had been increased by addition of PVA. These results show that SF/PVA hydrogels may serve as potential candidates for wound dressing application.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.677-684
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• 2013

Zinc alginate films were prepared by a film maker from sodium alginate solutions of different weight ratios and then they solidified into 3 wt% content $ZnCl_2$ coagulation solution and washed and dried at a $60^{\circ}C$ oven for 20 min. The characteristics were measured by several methods (antimicrobial activity, viscosity, FTIR, TGA, SEM, EDS, contact angle, tensile strength and solubility) and the film properties were investigated. The antimicrobial test showed that the zinc alginate films result in excellent antimicrobial activity in the two strains (Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus). The surface of zinc alginate film from the solution of 9 wt% sodium alginate showed more uniform shape than any other films and the cross-section were hard and rough when the films were well-solidified by the $ZnCl_2$ solution. The tensile strength of zinc alginate films increased along with the concentration of sodium alginate solution due to the cross-linking, and the initial thermal decomposition temperature increased gradually.