• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.304-310
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• 2010

To manufacture a carbon/carbon composite the coal tar pitch was used as the matrix precursor and the PAN (polyacrylonitrile)-based carbon fiber was used as the reinforcing material to weave 3-directional preform. For pressure carbonization HIP equipment was used to produce a maximum temperature of $1000^{\circ}C$ and a maximum pressure of 100 MPa. The carbonization was induced by altering the dwell temperature between $250^{\circ}C$ and $420^{\circ}C$, which is an ideal temperature for the moderate growth of the mesophase nucleus that forms within the molten pitch during the pressure carbonization process. The application of high pressure during the carbonization process inhibits the mesophase growth and leads to the formation of spherical carbon particles that are approximately 30 nm in size. Most particles were spherical, but some particles were irregularly shaped. The spread of the carbon particles was larger on the surface of the carbon fiber than in the interior of the matrix pocket.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2013

Graphene-based polymer nanocomposites are very promising candidates for new high-performance materials that offer improved mechanical, barrier, thermal and electrical properties. Herein, an approach is presented to improve the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) by using graphene nano sheets (GNS). The extent of dispersion of GNS into the polymer matrix was also observed by using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which indicated homogeneous dispersion of GNS through the UPR matrix and strong interfacial adhesion between the GNS and UPR matrix were achieved in the UPR composite, which enhanced the mechanical properties. The tensile strength of the nanocomposites improved at a tune of 52% at a GNS concentration of 0.05%. Again the flexural strength also increased around 92% at a GNS concentration of 0.05%. Similarly the thermal properties and the electrical properties for the nanocomposites were also improved as evidenced from the differential scanning caloriemetry (DSC) and dielectric strength measurement.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2014

Low temperature cure prepregs are being developed for use in the preparation of large-structured fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites with good performance. Cure behavior and chemorheology of low temperature cure epoxy resin system, based on epoxy resin, curing agent, and accelerators, were investigated to provide a matrix resin suitable for the prepreg preparation. Characteristics of cure reaction were studied in both dynamic and isothermal conditions by means of differential scanning calorimetry and rheometry. The low temperature cure epoxy resin system suggested in this study as a matrix resin was curable at $80^{\circ}C$ for 3 h, and showed the gel times of 120 and 20 min at 80 and $90^{\circ}C$, respectively. Thermal and mechanical properties of the cured sample were almost the same as high temperature cure counterparts.

• Composites Research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.83-89
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• 1999

The impact strength and fracture behavior of rubber/polymer composites were investigated with respect to two factors: (i) characteristic ratio, $C_{\infty}$ as a measure of chain flexibility of the polymer matrix and (ii) the rubber particle size in polymer blend system. In this study C was controlled by the composition ratio of polyphenylene oxide (PPO) and polystyene (PS). Izod impact test and fractographic observation of the fracture surface using scanning electron microscope were conducted. Finite element analysis were carried out to gain understanding of plastic deformation mechanism (shear yielding and crazing) of these materials. Shear yielding was found to be enhanced when the flexibility of matrix polymer was relatively low and the rubber particles were small.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2006

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite films were prepared by casting a DMSO solution of PVA and MWNTs, whereby the MWNTs were dispersed by sonication. A significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the PVA drawn films was achieved by the addition of a small amount of MWNTs. The initial modulus and the tensile strength of the PVA drawn film increased by 30 % and 45 %, respectively, with the addition of 1 wt% MWNTs, which are close to those calculated from the rule of mixtures, and were strongly dependent upon the orientation of the PVA matrix. The mechanical properties, however, were not improved with a further increase in the MWNT content. The orientation of MWNTs in the composite was not well developed compared to that of the PVA matrix. This result suggests that the improvement of the molecular orientation of the PVA matrix plays a major role in the increase of the mechanical propeties of the drawn PVA/MWNT composite films.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.335-347
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• 2007

Green composites composed of long maize fibers and poly $\varepsilon$-caprolactone (PCL) biodegradable polyester matrix were manufactured by the thermo-mechanical processing termed as 'Sequential Molding and Forming Process' that was developed previously by the authors' research group. A variety of processing parameters such as fiber area fraction, molding temperature and forming pressure were systematically controlled and their influence on the tensile properties was investigated. It was revealed that both tensile strength and elastic modulus of the composites increase steadily depending on the increase in fiber area fraction, suggesting a general conformity to the rule of mixtures (ROM), particularly up to 55% fiber area fraction. The improvement in tensile properties was found to be closely related to the good interfacial adhesion between the fiber and polymer matrix, and was observed to be more pronounced under the optimum processing condition of $130^{\circ}C$ molding temperature and 10 MPa forming pressure. However, processing out of the optimum condition results in a deterioration in properties, mostly fiber and/or matrix degradation together with their interfacial defect as a consequence of the thermal or mechanical damages. On the basis of microstructural observation, the cause of strength degradation and its countermeasure to provide a feasible composite design are discussed in relation to the optimized process conditions.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.419-424
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• 2022

Using non-biodegradable polymers is a severe environmental problem as they are not recyclable and generate a large amount of waste. Biopolymers, such as starch-based composites, have been considered one of the most promising replacement materials. These eco-friendly materials have the advantage of being low-cost, biodegradable, and obtained from renewable sources. However, as starch tends to be brittle and hydrophilic, it can make these materials unusable when exposed to water and limit its processability for further applications. In this work, a biobased modified starch was grafted using two bioderived materials, lauryl methacrylate (LMA) and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA), by radical polymerization. A polylactic acid (PLA) composite based on the modified starch (m-St) was fabricated to enhance its toughness. These samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analysis, optical and scanning electron microscopy. The starch was successfully grafted, thus improving the compatibility with the PLA matrix. The mechanical properties of these films were also studied. Results from mechanical tests showed a slight enhancement of the mechanical performance of these composites when m-St was added to the PLA matrix. Such behavior is related to the improved dispersion of m-St 1:2 on PLA, confirmed by SEM images showing enhanced compatibility between modified starch and PLA matrix. This indicated excellent properties of the produced composite film for further eco-friendly applications.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2019

Application of liquid crystal (LC) materials to a flexible device is challenging because the bending of LC displays easily causes change in thickness of the LC layer and orientation of LCs, resulting in deterioration in a displayed image quality. In this work, we demonstrate a prototype device combining a flexible polymer substrate and an optically isotropic LC-polymer composite in which the device consists of interdigitated in-plane switching electrodes deposited on a flexible colorless polyimide substrate and the composite consisting of nano-sized LC droplets in a polymer matrix. The device can keep good electro-optic characteristics even when it is in a bending state because the LC orientation is not disturbed in both voltage-off and -on states. The proposed device shows a high potential to be applicable for future flexible LC devices.

• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2014

Conductive polymer composites (CPCs) consist of a polymeric matrix and a conductive filler, for example, carbon black, carbon fibers, graphite or carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The critical amount of the electrically conductive filler necessary to build up a continuous conductive network, and accordingly, to make the material conductive; is referred to as the percolation threshold. From technical and economical viewpoints, it is desirable to decrease the conductive-filler percolation-threshold as much as possible. In this study, we investigated the effect of polymer/conductive-filler interactions, as well as the processing and morphological development of low-percolation-threshold (${\Phi}c$) conductive-polymer composites. The aim of the study was to produce conductive composites containing less multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) than required for pure polypropylene (PP) through two approaches: one using various mixing methods and the other using immiscible polymer blends. Variants of the conductive PP composite filled with MWCNT was prepared by dry mixing, melt mixing, mechanofusion, and compression molding. The percolation threshold (${\Phi}c$) of the MWCNT-PP composites was most successfully lowered using the mechanofusion process than with any other mixing method (2-5 wt%). The mechanofusion process was found to enhance formation of a percolation network structure, and to ensure a more uniform state of dispersion in the CPCs. The immiscible-polymer blends were prepared by melt mixing (internal mixer) poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF, PP/PVDF, volume ratio 1:1) filled with MWCNT.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

Chitosan, fibroin, and hydroxyapatite are natural biopolymers and bioceramics that are biocompatible, biodegradable, and resorb able for biomedical applications. The highly porous, chitosan-based, bioceramic hybrid composite, chitosanlfibroin-hydroxyapatite composite, was prepared by a novel method using thermally induced phase separation. The composite had a porosity of more than 94% and exhibited two continuous and different morphologies: an irregularly isotropic pore structure on the surface and a regularly anisotropic multilayered structure in the interior. In addition, the composite was composed of an interconnected open pore structure with a pore size below a few hundred microns. The chemical composition, pore morphology, microstructure, fluid absorptivity, protein permeability, and mechanical strength were investigated according to the composition rate of bioceramics to biopolymers for use in tissue engineering. The incorporation of hydroxyapatite improved the fluid absorptivity, protein permeability, and tenacity of the composite while maintaining high porosity and a suitable microstructure.