• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2017

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) has received widespread attention in the field of civil engineering because of its superior durability and corrosion resistance. This article presents the damage mechanisms of a novelty composite called carbon nanofiber modified flax fiber polymer (CNF-modified FFRP). The ability of acoustic emission (AE) to detect damage evolution for different configurations of specimens under uniaxial tension was examined, and some useful AE characteristic parameters were obtained. Test results shows that the mechanical properties of modified composites are associated with the CNF content and the evenness of CNF dispersed in the epoxy matrix. Various damage mechanisms was established by means of scanning electron microscope images. The fuzzy c-means clustering were proposed to classify AE events into groups representing different generation mechanisms. The classifiers are constructed using the traditional AE features -- six parameters from each burst. Amplitude and peak-frequency were selected as the best cluster-definition features from these AE parameters. After comprehensive comparison, a correlation between these AE events classes and the damage mechanisms observed was proposed.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

Cu-Salen complex was prepared and attached into chitosan (Cs) polymer backbone. Nanocomposite of the synthesized polymer was prepared with functionalized carbon nano-particles (Cs-Cu-sal/C) to modify the electrode surface. The surface morphology of (Cs-Cu-sal/C) nanocomposite film showed a homogeneous distribution of carbon nanoparticles within the polymeric matrix. The cyclic voltammogram of the modified electrode exhibited a redox behavior at -0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl) in 0.1 M PB (pH 7) and showed an excellent hydrogen peroxide reduction activity. The Cs-Cu-sal/C electrode displays a linear response from $5{\times}10^{-6}$ to $5{\times}10^{-4}M$, with a correlation coefficient of 0.993 and detection limit of $0.9{\mu}M$ (at S/N = 3). The sensitivity of the electrode was found to be $0.356{\mu}A\;{\mu}M^{-1}\;cm^{-2}$.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

In this study, wasted stone powders (WSP) obtained from sludge and Wasted Tire Chips (WTC) as fillers have been used to formulate polymer hybrid composites based on Unsaturated Polyester (UPE) resin. To further enhance not only the interfacial bond between the inorganic filler and the polymer matrix, but also the filler dispersion by wetting the particulate surfaces to uniformly spread the resin during the mixing, silane coupling agent[${\gamma}$-methacryloxy propyl trimethoxy silane (${\gamma}$-MPS)] was used. The influences of organic recycled fillers contents and the concentrations of coupling agent in polymer hybrid composite formulations have been investigated from a mechanical and microstructural point o view through Mercury Porosimeter and SEM.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2008

Biocomposite was fabricated with biodegradable polymer and natural fiber that has potential to be used as replacement for glass fiber reinforced polymer composite with the benefits of low cost, low density, acceptable specific strength, biodegradability, etc. Until now, mostly natural cellulosic fibers on land have been used as reinforcement for biocomposite. The present study focused on investigating the fabrication and the characterization of biocomposite reinforced with red algae fibers from the sea. The bleached red algae fiber (BRAF) showed very similar crystallinity to the wood cellulose. It has high stability against thermal degradation (maximum thermal decomposition temperature of 359.3$^{\circ}C$) and thermal expansion. Biocomposites reinforced with BRAF have been fabricated by a compression molding method and their mechanical and thermal properties have been studied. The storage modulus and the thermomechanical stability of PBS (polybuthylenesuccinate) matrix are markedly improved by reinforcing with the BRAF. These results indicate that red algae fiber can be used as an excellent reinforcement of biocomposites, which are sometimes called as "green-composites" or "eco-composites".

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.357-367
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• 2003

The linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/zeolite composite using novel inorganic filler, zeolite, is prepared by a conventional compounding procedure using a twin-screw extruder. The observed scanning electron microscopic (SEM) morphology shows a good dispersion and adhesion of zeolite in the LLDPE matrix. The mechanical properties in terms of the Young's modulus, the yield stress, the impact strength, and the elongation at break were enhanced with a successive increment of zeolite content up to 40 wt%. The X-ray diffraction measurement is of supportive for the improved mechanical properties and the complex melt viscosity is as well. Upon applying a certain level of strain on the composites, the dewetting, the air hole formation and its growth are characterized. The dewetting originates around the filler particles at low strain and induces elliptical micropores upon further stretching. The microporosity such as the aspect ratio, the number and the total area of the air holes is also characterized. Thus, the composites loaded 40 % zeolite and 300 % elongation may be applicable for breathable microporous films with improved modulus, impact and yield stress, elongation at break, microporosity and air hole properties.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.279-295
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• 2016

A new innovative composite material is textile reinforced cementitious composite (TRCC). To achieve high flexural performance researchers suggest polymer modification of TRCC matrices. In this study, nine ready mix repair mortars commonly used in construction industry and the production of TRCC elements were examined. Mechanical properties such as compressive and flexural strength, drying shrinkage were studied. Being a significant durability concern, alkali silica reaction tests were performed according to related standards. Results showed that, some ready repair mortar mixes are potentially reactive due to the alkali silica reaction. Two of the ready mortar mixes labelled as non-shrinkage in their technical data sheets showed the highest shrinkage. In this experiment, researchers designed new matrices. These matrices were fine grained concretes modified with polymer additives; latexes and redispersible powders. Two latexes and six redispersible powder polymers were used in the study. Mechanical properties of fine grained concretes such as compressive and flexural strengths were determined. Results showed that some of the fine grained concretes cast with redispersible powders had higher flexural strength than ready mix repair mortars at 28 days. Matrix composition has to be designed for a suitable consistency for planned production processes of TRCC and mechanical properties for load-carrying capacity.

• Composites Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.34-38
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• 2011

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely investigated as reinforcements of CNT/polymer nanocomposites to enhance mechanical and electrical properties of polymer matrices since their discovery in the early 90's. Furthermore, the number of studies about incorporating CNTs into carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) to reinforce their polymer matrices is increasing recently. In this study, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) were dispersed in epoxy with 0.2 wt.% and 0.5 wt.%. Then, the SWNT/epoxy mixtures were processed to carbon fiber composites by a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) and a wet lay up method. The processed composite samples were tested for the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). The relationship between the interlaminar shear strengths and processing, and the reinforcement mechanism of carbon nanotubes were investigated. CNT/epoxy nanocomposite specimens showed the increased tensile properties. However, the ILSS of carbon fiber composites was not enhanced by reinforcing the matrix with CNTs because of processing issues caused by increased viscosity of the matrix due to addition of CNTs particularly for a VARTM method.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.282-287
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• 2018

In this paper, we explore interfacial properties of the mineralized CNTs when they are employed as reinforcing fillers in a polymer nanocomposite using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Recently, several studies on mineralizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with an aid of nitrogen doping to CNTs have been reported. However, there is a lack of studies on the reinforcing effects of the mineralized CNTs when it is employed as a filler of nanocomposites. Silica ($SiO_2$) is used as a mineral material and poly (methyl metacrylate) (PMMA) is used as a polymer matrix. Pull-out simulations are conducted to obtain the interfacial energy and the interfacial shear stress. It was found that the silica mineralized CNTs have higher interfacial interaction with the polymer matrix. In the future, by examining various thermomechanical properties of the mineralized-CNT-filler/polymer nanocomposites, we will search for potential applications of the novel reinforcing filler.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Poly(ether block amide) (PEBA) is one of the commercially important class of block copolymer very much suitable specifically for $CO_2$ separation. Gas separation membrane need to have good mechanical strength as well as high gas permeability. The crystalline polyamide (PA) block provides the mechanical strength while the rubbery polyether (PE) group being $CO_2$-philic facilitate $CO_2$ permeation though the membrane. Composition of thermoplastic and rubbery phase in the polymer are changed to fit into suitable gas separation application. Although PEBA has good permeability, the selectivity of the membrane can be enhanced by incorporating molecular sieve without affection much the gas permeability. Mixed matrix membrane (MMM), a class of composite membrane combine the advantage of polymer matrix with the inorganic fillers. However, there are some disadvantages based on the compatibility of the inorganic fillers and polymeric phase. This review covers both the advantage and limitations of PEBA block copolymer based composite membrane.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.474-480
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• 2014

Process conditions for the impregnation of polycarbosilane preceramic polymer into SiC-based composites were investigated. Two kinds of preceramic polymer (PCP) was impregnated into SiC-fiber fabrics with different solvents of n-hexane and divinylbenzene (DVB). Both microstructural observations and mechanical tests were conducted to evaluate the impregnation. The matrix phases were particulated in the case of hexane solvents. Apparent relative density of the matrix was about 78.8%. The density of matrix was increased to about 96.1-98.8% when the DVB was used; however, brittle fracture was observed during a bending test. The modulus of toughness was less than $0.74J/m^3$. The fabric impregnated with a mixed PCP-dissolved solution showed intermediate characteristics with relative high density of filling (apparent density of ~96.1%) as well as proper bending behavior. The modulus of toughness was increased to about $5.31J/m^3$. The composites developed by changing the precursor and solvent suggested the possibility of fabricating SiCf/SiC composites without a fiber to matrix interphase coating.