• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2008

In our previous publication, the problem of particle deformation and coagulation at the nucleation stage in the presence of cross-linker was intensely studied by seeded batch dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA). In the present work, highly cross-linked, monodisperse PMMA particles were prepared under various reaction conditions by seeded semi-continuous process. Monodisperse, $6.5{\mu}m$-diameter PMMA particles containing up to 8 wt% of DVB or EGDMA were successfully made by seeded semi-continuous process and multi-semi-continuous addition process, respectively. Therefore, this study shows that seeded semi-continuous process is more effective and efficient to prepare highly cross-linked, monodisperse particles than non-seeded and seeded batch processes.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.178-181
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• 2008

Polystyrene (PS) nanospheres with a monodisperse size distribution, positive surface charge and high molecular weight were successfully synthesized using various types of metal stearates in an aqueous NaOH medium. The diameter of the PS nanospheres was controlled from 80 to 450 nm by changing the type of metal stearate. It was also found that controlling the NaOH concentration in solution was important for producing monodisperse PS nanoparticles. The nanospheres prepared with zinc stearate possessed a positive surface charge of 60 to 80 mV, confirming that PS particles were functionalized with metal stearates. It is believed that the metal stearates provide PS particles with not only colloidal stability but also a positive surface charge.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2006

When the monodisperse polystyrene(PS)/HDDA polymer particles were synthesized via one-step polymerization using polystyrene seed particles by dispersion polymerization, the effects of 1) the molecular weight of seed polymer particles, 2) the ratio of the absorbed HDDA to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio) and 3) seeded polymerization rate on the surface morphology of PS/HDDA polymer particles were investigated. It was observed that the creation of the crater shaped defect on the surface of PS/HDDA polymer particles was irrespective of the molecular weight of seed polymer ant swelling ratio. But its surface morphology could be controlled by the change of the seeded polymerization rate.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.332-337
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• 2006

Monodisperse polymer particles were prepared via one-step seeded polymerization using PMMA seed particles and HDDA (or EGDMA) as crosslinking monomer. For the study, the effects of 1) the ratio of the absorbed monomer or monomer mixture to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio), 2) the ratio of EGDMA in absorbed monomer mixture, 3) the dosage of initiator, and 4) electro less Ni plating on the variation of mechanical properties of monodisperse polymer particles, such as recovery rate, K-values, breaking strength and breaking displacement, were investigated by using MCT (micro compression test). It was observed that monomer swelling ratio influenced only breaking strength, but EGDMA ratio in monomer mixture, dosage of initiator and electroless Ni plating affected both K-values and breaking strength.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.410-416
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• 2007

Monodisperse polymer particles were prepared via one- step seeded polymerization using PMMA as seed particles, and HDDA, triEGDMA or EGDMA as crosslinking monomer. For the study, the effects of 1) the ratio of the absorbed monomer to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio), 2) the characteristics of crosslinking monomer, 3) electroless Ni plating, and 4) electroless Au Plating on the variation of mechanical properties of polymer particles, such as recovery rate, K-values, breaking strength and breaking displacement were investigated by using MCT (micro compression test). It was observed that swelling ratio of polymer particles influenced only on breaking strength of polymer Particles, while electroless plating did on recovery rate, K-values ($K_{10}\;and\;K_{20}$) and breaking strength of electroless plated polymer particles. However, breaking displacement and K-values ($K_{30}{\sim}K_{50}$) were more or less insensitive to electroless plating.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.203-211
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• 2009

In flows with deformation rates larger than the inverse Rouse time of the polymer chain, chains are stretched and their confining tubes become increasingly anisotropic. The pressures exerted by a polymer chain on the walls of an anisotropic confinement are anisotropic and limit chain stretch. In the Molecular Stress Function (MSF) model, chain stretch is balanced by an interchain pressure term, which is inverse proportional to the $3^{rd}$ power of the tube diameter and is characterized by a tube diameter relaxation time. We show that the tube diameter relaxation time is equal to 3 times the Rouse time in the limit of small chain stretch. At larger deformations, we argue that chain stretch is balanced by two restoring tensions with weights of 1/3 in the longitudinal direction of the tube (due to a linear spring force) and 2/3 in the lateral direction (due to the nonlinear interchain pressure), both of which are characterized by the Rouse time. This approach is shown to be in quantitative agreement with transient and steady-state elongational viscosity data of two monodisperse polystyrene melts without using any nonlinear parameter, i.e. solely based on the linear-viscoelastic characterization of the melts. The same approach is extended to model experimental data of four styrene-butadiene random copolymer melts in shear flow. Thus for monodisperse linear polymer melts, for the first time a constitutive equation is presented which allows quantitative modeling of nonlinear extension and shear rheology on the basis of linear-viscoelastic data alone.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.266-272
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• 2002

Although the reptational model of Doi and Edwards gives a successful description of viscoelasticity of flexible linear polymers, the success is restricted to the terminal region./sup 1/ There have been several attempts to modify the Doi-Edwards model to describe wider range of time or frequency./sup 2-6/ This paper suggests a simple phenomenological model which can describe wider range of molecular weight than such molecular models can. Although our model is a phenomenological one, it is practical and convenient to predict the effect of molecular weight distribution on linear viscoelastic data because of its simple mathematical form.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2009

Polystyrene/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PS/MWCNT) composites were prepared by the use of latex technology. The monodisperse PS latex was synthesized by an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization from styrene/potassium persulfate/water system in the presence of ethanol. The MWCNTs were first treated with acid mixture to eliminate impurities, dispersed in deionized water driven by ultrasonicator, and then mixed with the PS latex. From these mixtures, PS/MWCNT composites were prepared by freeze-drying and subsequent compression molding. In the small-amplitude oscillatory shear experiments, both complex viscosity and storage modulus increased with increasing MWCNT content. A pronounced effect of MWCNT content was observed, resulting in larger storage modulus and stronger yield behavior at low frequencies when compared to unmodified PS. It showed a transition from viscous to elastic behavior with increasing MWCNT content. Over the MWCNT content of 3 wt%, the storage modulus was higher than the loss modulus across all frequencies.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.244-255
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• 2007

Nucleation is the most sensitive stage in the preparation of highly cross-linked, monodisperse microspheres by dispersion polymerization, since the addition of a small amount of cross-linker results in particle deformation and coagulation. To overcome these problems, $5\;{\mu}m$ poly(methyl methacrylate) seed particles prepared by dispersion polymerization were used in the preparation of mono disperse, cross-linked PMMA particles containing up to 7 wt% divinylbenzene by seeded batch dispersion polymerization. Spherical particles with a narrow size distribution containing up to 8 wt% of EGDMA were prepared by seeded multi-batch dispersion polymerization processes. These particles were identified by scanning electron microscopy and DSC.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.184-188
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• 2007

Monodisperse PMMA/HDDA polymer particles were coated via electroless Ni plating using sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent in an acidic environment. In this study, the effects of 1) the pretreatment conditions, 2) the plating temperature, 3) the plating pH, and 4) the initial pH, control of plating bath on the variation of plating rate, surface state of plated particles and plating reproducibility were investigated. It was observed that every pretreatment steps, especially conditioning and acceleration step, were very important for obtaining uniform Ni plating and the plating rate was increased with the increase of plating temperature and pH. Moreover, the initial pH control of plating bath was critical for the plating reproducibility.