• Elastomers and Composites
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• 제59권2호
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• pp.51-63
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• 2024

Polypropylene (PP) is a commodity plastic that is widely used owing to its cost-effectiveness, lightweight nature, easy processability, and outstanding chemical and thermomechanical characteristics. However, the imperative to address energy and environmental crises has spurred global initiatives toward a circular economy, necessitating sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil-fuel-derived plastics. In this study, we conducted a series of comparative investigations of bio-based polypropylene (bio-PP) blends with current PP of the same and different grades. An extrusion-based processing methodology was employed for the bio-PP composites. Talc was used as an active filler for the preparation of the composites. A comparative analysis with the current petroleum-based PP indicated that the thermal properties and tensile characteristics of the bio-PP blends and composites remained largely unaltered, signifying the feasibility of bio-PP as a potential substitute for the current PP. To achieve a higher Young's modulus, elongation at break (EAB), and melt flow index (MFI), we prepared different composites of PP of different grades and bio-PP with varying talc contents. Interestingly, at higher biomass contents, the composites exhibited higher MFI and EAB values with comparable Young's moduli. Notably, the impact strengths of the composites with various biomass and talc contents remained unaltered. In-depth investigations through surface analysis confirmed the uniform dispersion of talc within the composite matrix. Furthermore, the moldability of the bio-PP composites was substantiated by comprehensive rheological property assessments encompassing shear rate and shear viscosity. Thus, from these outcomes, the fabricated bio-PP-based composites could be an alternative to petroleum-based PP composites for sustainable automobile applications.

• Advances in materials Research
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.119-131
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• 2023

The development of sustainable composites materials, from recycled polymeric materials and waste from the wood industry and stone processing, allows reducing the volume of these by-products, minimizing impacts on health and the environment. Nowadays, Polypropylene (PP) is the most recycled polymer in industry, while the furniture industry has increasingly used timber felled from sustainable forest plantations as a eucalypt. The powder tailing from the ornamental stone extraction and processing industry is commonly disposed of in the environment without previous treatment. Thus, the technological option for the development of composite materials presents itself as a sustainable alternative for processing and manufacturing industries, enabling the development of new materials with special technical features. The results showed that powder granite particles may be incorporated into the polypropylene matrix associated with short eucalyptus fibres forming green hybrid composites with potential application in structural engineering, such as transport and civil construction industries.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.857-873
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• 2014

Structural behaviors of a sustainable hybrid column with the ultra high performance cementitious composites (UHPCC) permanent form under compression and flexure were studied. Critical state and failure stage characters are analyzed for large and small eccentricity cases. A simplified theoretical model is proposed for engineering designs and unified formulas for loading capacity of the hybrid column under compression and flexure loads are derived, including axial force and moment. Non-linear numerical analysis is carried out to verify the theoretical predictions. The theoretical predictions agree well with the numerical results which are verified by the short hybrid column tests recursively. Compared with the traditional reinforced concrete (RC) column, the loading capacity of the sustainable hybrid column is improved significantly due to UHPCC confinements.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제76권5호
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• pp.613-618
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• 2020

Exhausting oil resources and increasing pollution around the world are forcing researchers to look for new, renewable, biodegradable materials to lead sustainable development. The use of fiber reinforced composites based on natural fibres has increasingly begun as prospective materials for various engineering applications in the automotive, rail, construction and aerospace industries. The natural fiber chosen to make the composite material is plant-based fibre, e.g. jute fibre, and hemp fibre. Thermosetting polymer based Epoxy (LY556) was utilized as matrix material and The composites were produced using hand lay-up technique. The fabricated composites were tested for acoustic testing, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and flammability testing to asses sound absorption, thermal decomposition and fire resistivity of the structures. Hemp fibre composites have shown improved thermal stability over Jute fibre composites. However, the fire resistance characteristics of jute fibre composites are better as compared to hemp fibre composites. The sound absorption coefficient of composites was found to enhance with the increase of frequency.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.269-282
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• 2007

Fully biodegradable high strength composites or 'advanced green composites' were fabricated using yearly renewable soy protein based resins and high strength liquid crystalline cellulose fibers. For comparison, E-glass and aramid ($Kevlar^{(R)}$) fiber reinforced composites were also prepared using the same modified soy protein resins. The modification of soy protein included forming an interpenetrating network-like (IPN-like) resin with mechanical properties comparable to commonly used epoxy resins. The IPN-like soy protein based resin was further reinforced using nano-clay and microfibrillated cellulose. Fiber/resin interfacial shear strength was characterized using microbond method. Tensile and flexural properties of the composites were characterized as per ASTM standards. A comparison of the tensile and flexural properties of the high strength composites made using the three fibers is presented. The results suggest that these green composites have excellent mechanical properties and can be considered for use in primary structural applications. Although significant additional research is needed in this area, it is clear that advanced green composites will some day replace today's advanced composites made using petroleum based fibers and resins. At the end of their life, the fully sustainable 'advanced green composites' can be easily disposed of or composted without harming the environment, in fact, helping it.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제29권 5호
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• pp.347-360
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• 2022

Fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) have emerged as a response to the calls for strong, ductile and sustainable concrete mixes. FRCC has shown outstanding mechanical properties and ductility where special fibres are used in the mixes to give it the strength and the ability to exhibit strain hardening. With the possibility of designing the FRCC mixes to include sustainable constituents and by-products materials such as fly ash, FRCC started to emerge as a green alternative as well. To be able to design mixes that achieve these conflicting properties in concrete, there is a need to understand the composition effect on FRCC and optimize these compositions. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the influence of FRCC compositions on the properties of fresh and hardened of FRCC and then to optimize these mix compositions using factorial design approach. Three factors, water-to-binder ratio (w/b), mineral admixtures (total of fly ash and metakaolin by cement content (MAR)), and metakaolin content (MK), were investigated to determine their effects on the properties of fresh and hardened FRCC. The results show the importance of combining both FA and MK in obtaining a satisfactory fresh and mechanical properties of FRCC. Models were suggested to elucidate the role of the studied factors and a method for optimization was proposed.

• 분석과학
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.39-46
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• 2024

Alizarin dye, a persistent and hazardous contaminant in aquatic environments, presents a pressing environmental concern. In the quest for efficient removal methods, adsorption has emerged as a versatile and sustainable approach. This study focuses on the development and application of Zinc Oxide/Nickel Oxide (ZnO/NiO) nano-composites as adsorbents for alizarin dye removal. These semiconducting metal oxide nano-composites exhibit synergistic properties, offering enhanced adsorption capabilities. Key parameters affecting alizarin removal, such as contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, and temperature, were systematically investigated. Notably, the ZnO/NiO nano-composite demonstrated superior performance, with a maximum alizarin removal percentage of 76.9 % at pH 6. The adsorption process followed a monolayer pattern, as suggested by the Langmuir model. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model provided a good fit to the experimental data. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the process is endothermic and thermodynamically favorable. These findings underscore the potential of ZnO/NiO nano-composites as effective and sustainable adsorbents for alizarin dye removal, with promising applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

• 한국수소및신에너지학회논문집
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.780-786
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• 2011

Mg hydride had high hydrogen capacity (7.6%), lightweight and low cost materials and it was promising hydrogen storage material at high temperature. However, commercial applications of the Mg hydride are currently hindered by its high absorption/desorption temperature, and very slow reaction kinetics. one of the approaches to improve the kinetic is $MgH_x$ intermixed with carbon. And it shows that carbon and carbon allotropes have a beneficial effect on hydrogen sorption in Mg. The graphene is a kind of carbon allotropes which is easily desorbed reaction at low temperatures because its reaction is exothermic. In this work, the effect of graphene concentration on the kinetics of Mg hydrogen absorption reaction was investigated. The $MgH_x$-Graphene composites has been prepared by hydrogen induced mechanical alloy (HIMA). The synthesized powder was characterized by XRD and simultaneous TG, DSC analysis. The hydrogenation behaviors were evaluated by using a sievert's type automatic PCT apparatus. In this research, results of kinetic profiles exhibit hydrogen absorption rate of $MgH_x$-5wt.% and 10wt.% graphene composite, as 1.25wt.%/ms, 10.33wt.%/ms against 0.88wt.%/ms for $MgH_x$ alone at 473K.

• 폴리머
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.46-55
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• 2015

There is a limit for deforestation in order to keep the environmental cycle undisturbed. The heart of the paper is to replace the wood to a maximum extent to obtain a sustainable environment. This research aims at new natural composites in which treated hemp fiber used as reinforcement, synthetic cellulose used as particulate to improve the adhesion between matrix - fiber interface and Epoxy LY556 acted as matrix fabricated by hand layup technique. The density, water absorption, tensile properties, impact strength, hardness, flexural properties and compressive properties have been evaluated under ASTM standards and compare the results with existing materials such as wood, aluminium, etc., The composite hemp fiber reinforced polymer (HFRP) could be exploited as an effective replacement for wood and it would be suitable for automotive applications by comparing results.

• 한국포장학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

환경문제에 대한 관심이 증가함에 따라 지속가능한 소재에 대한 요구가 증가하고 있다. 전 세계적으로 커피는 가장 많이 소비되는 음료이며, 커피음료의 가공 및 소비로 발생하는 커피 부산물에는 셀룰로오스, 헤미셀룰로오스, 리그닌, 지질 및 생리활성물질 등이 풍부하지만 대부분 폐기되는 실정이다. 따라서, 많은 연구자들이 커피 부산물을 고부가가치 소재로 개발하기 위하여 노력하고 있다. 본 총설에서는 고분자/커피 은피 복합화 연구, 커피 은피로부터 셀룰로오스 추출 및 응용연구, 고분자/커피찌꺼기 복합화 연구, 커피찌꺼기로부터 셀룰로오스 추출 및 이를 활용한 연구, 커피찌꺼기로부터 지질 추출 및 이를 활용한 PHAs합성, 가소제로써 커피찌꺼기로부터 추출한 지질의 응용가능성 연구 등에 대하여 조사하였다. 선행 연구에서는 커피 부산물인 커피 은피 및 커피찌꺼기 자체를 고분자와 혼합하여 복합소재를 제조하고 물성을 평가하는 연구는 광범위하게 수행되고 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 하지만, 커피 은피 및 커피찌꺼기로부터 나노셀룰로오스를 추출하거나, 상대적으로 친수성인 커피 부산물과 소수성인 석유계 고분자 또는 생분해성 고분자와 복합화 시 상용성 개선과 관련된 커피 부산물의 표면 개질 및 상용화제 도입 등의 연구는 부족함을 확인하였다. 또한 커피 부산물로부터 추출한 지질을 활용하여 PHAs를 합성하는 연구가 일부 진행되고 있지만 합성된 PHAs를 활용하여 포장소재로의 제조 및 응용에 관한 추가적인 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다. 또한, 커피찌꺼기의 발생량 대비 국내외 관리방안 마련 및 제품 적용 시 안전성 평가방법에 관한 연구는 거의 실시되지 않아 이에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요하다고 판단된다.