• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2014

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/epoxy composites are prepared by a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) method. The mechanical properties, fracture surface morphologies, and thermal stabilities of these nanocomposites are evaluated for epoxy resins with various amounts of MWCNTs. Composites consisting of different amounts of MWCNTs displayed an increase of the work of adhesion between the MWCNTs and the matrix, which improved both the tensile and impact strengths of the composites. The tensile and impact strengths of the MWCNT/epoxy composite improved by 59 and 562% with 0.3 phr of MWCNTs, respectively, compared to the epoxy composite without MWCNTs. Thermal stability of the 0.3 phr MWCNT/epoxy composite increased compared to other epoxy composites with MWCNTs. The enhancement of the mechanical and thermal properties of the MWCNT/epoxy nanocomposites is attributed to improved dispersibility and strong interfacial interaction between the MWCNTs and the epoxy in the composites prepared by VARTM.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2022

In this study, when the carbon fiber composite was manufactured, the correlation between the porosity and mechanical properties according to the number of glass fiber felts laminated together and the stacking sequence was confirmed. The carbon fiber composite was manufactured by stacking glass fiber felts, which are highly permeable materials, and using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). Porosity was measured by photographing the cross-section of the specimen with an optical microscope and then using porosity calculation code of MATLAB, and mechanical properties were measured for tensile strength, modulus by tensile test. Furthermore, Pearson correlation coefficient between porosity and mechanical properties was calculated to confirm the correlation between two variables. As a result, the number of glass fiber felt increased and the distance from the center of laminated composites increased, the porosity increasing were confirmed. In addition, tensile strength/modulus showed a weak positive correlation with porosity. Also, in order to confirm the effect of only porosity on tensile strength and modulus, mechanical properties calculated by CLPT (Classical Laminate Plate Theory) and experimental values were compared, and the difference in tensile strength showed a strong positive correlation with porosity and the difference in modulus showed a weak positive correlation with porosity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.183-188
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• 1999

Due to many advantages of advanced composite materials, research on the application of composites to the construction industry is initiated. In this paper, fabrication methods efficient for infrastructures and application examples of each method are discussed. It also presents the structural characteristics of concrete filled glass fiber reinforced composite tubular member. Experimental results shows that strength and ductility of composite compression member is considerably increased due to concrete confinement action of composite surface.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.276-281
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• 2018

In this paper, elastic behavior of woven fabric composites with various fiber yarn structure were predicted through a theoretical calculation model. A representative volume elements (RVE) that can represent the mechanical properties of the woven composites were selected and crimp angle of the weave yarn was defined by several sinusoidal functions. The effective material properties of the woven composite such as young's modulus, shear modulus and poisson's ratio was predicted by classical laminate theory (CLT). The fiber volume fractions were calculated according to the shape and pattern (plain, twill weave) of the fiber yarn, and the elastic behavior of each woven composite was obtained through a theoretical calculation model. Also, to verify the theoretical predictions, woven composite specimens of plain and twill weave were fabricated by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process and then mechanical test was conducted. As a results, a good correlation between theoretical and experimental results for the elastic behavior of woven composites could be achieved.

• Composites Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2002

To overcome the disadvantages of conventional excavation technology various trenchless (or excavation free, or no-dig) repair-reinforcement technologies have been developed and tried. But trenchless technologies so far developed have some drawbacks such as high cost and inconvenience of operation. In this study, a repairing-reinforcing process for underground pipes with glass fiber fabric polymer composites using VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) has been developed. The developed process requires shorter operation time and lower cost with smaller and simpler operating equipments than those of the conventional trenchless technologies. For the reliable operation of the developed method, a simple method to apply pressure and vacuum to the reinforcement was devised and flexible mold technology was tried. Also, resin filling and cure status during RTM process were monitored with a commercial dielectrometry cure monitoring system, LACOMCURE. From the investigation, it has been found that the developed repairing-reinforcing technology with appropriate process variables and on-line cure monitoring has many advantages over conventional methods.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2017

Eco-convivial composites with improved properties are essential to present polymer scenario and can be made easily by replacing partially/completely renewable materials either matrix or reinforcement along with few % of additives. In these investigations, Abaca fabric have been used as reinforcement for manufacturing of Vinyl ester composites through VARTM technique and study the effect of alkali surface treatment of abaca fabric and flame retardant additives i.e., ammonium polyphosphate (APP) with halloysite nano-clay (HNT) on mechanical and flame retardant properties. The results concluded that, surface treatment deceased the hydrophilic nature of fabric and enhanced the interfacial bonding with hydrophobic matrix and eventually increased mechanical properties slightly of developed composites. Similarly, the flame retardancy of the composites improved significantly and increases the burning time by varying the wt% of filler concentration.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.379-384
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• 2018

This paper aims to study flow characteristics of epoxy resin w.r.t. the sizing agents treated on the carbon fibers which have the same surface morphologies before sizing treatment. Dynamic contact angle (DCA) was measured to evaluate wettability of a single carbon fiber. Wicking test and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) were performed to find relation between DCA measurement results and impregnation characteristics. In addition, surface properties of the carbon fibers such as surface free energy and chemical compositions were measured and interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between the carbon fiber and the resin were experimentally characterized by using micro-droplet tests. According to these experimental results, the sizing agent for carbon fibers should have appropriate level of surface free energy and good chemical compatibility with the resin to reconcile resin flow characteristics and interfacial strength.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.43-48
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• 2001

To overcome the disadvantages of conventional excavation technology, various trenchless (or excavation free, or no-dig) repair-reinforcement technologies have been developed and tried. But trenchless technologies so fat developed have some brawbacks such as high cost and inconvenience of operation. In this study, a repairing-reinforcing process for underground pipes with glass fiber fabric polymer composites using VARTM(Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) has been developed. The developed process requires shorter operation time and lower cost with smaller and simpler operating equipments than those of the conventional trenchless technologies. For the reliable operation of the developed method, a simple method to apply pressure and vacuum to the reinforcement was devised and flexible mold technology was tried. Also, resin filling and cure status during RTM process were monitored with a commercial dielectrometry cure monitoring system, LACOMCURE. From the investigation, it has been found that the developed repairing-reinforcing technology with appropriate process variables and on-line cure monitoring has many advantages over conventional methods.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

Real time health monitoring system was studied to detect the . generation of defects in the composite structures during service life. The PZT sensors were embedded into the woven-glass/phenol composite plate during the fabrication. VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) process were used to fabricate the composite plate. A Teflon tape was embedded between glass fiber layers to mimic delamination induced during service. Normalized maximum amplitude and energy analyses were used for the acquired signals. Both amplitude and energy of acquired signals were extremely sensitive to the delamination. Therefore, it was successful to detect and to locate the defects in composite plate by monitoring signals from sensors and using the proposed method.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.378-381
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• 2007

탄소섬유가 중앙에 적층된 풍력발전용 블레이드 소재인 탄소 유리섬유 하이브리드 복합재료가 VARTM(Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding)공법을 이용하여 제작되었다. 아이조드 충격시험법을 이용하여 온도, 하이브리드화 비율 그리고 노치에 대한 충격강도의 영향을 연구하였다. 온도 감소 및 탄소섬유의 증가에 의해 충격강도는 감소하는 경향을 보였으며, 노치에 의해 하이브리드 복합재료는 약 $25{\sim}30$%가량의 충격강도 감소를 보였다. 그러나 단일 탄소섬유 복합재료의 경우 노치민감도는 없었으며, 이에 소량의 유리섬유 첨가로 인해 하이브리드화 하였을 경우 충격강도 향상 및 저온 충격강도 안정성을 확보 할 수 있었다.