The stabilization behavior of poly(acrylonitrile)(PAN) fibers was monitored by measuring the changes in density, structural aspects and mechanical properties during continuous stabilization processing. The effects of the processing conditions, such as the speed of precursor supply, yam tension, oxidation temperature, and treatment time, on the mechanical properties of the final carbon fibers were also examined. The oxidized PAN fibers were analyzed by measuring the density and aromatization index. The change in yam tension had critical effects on the final mechanical properties of the carbon fibers. The maximum mechanical properties of carbon fibers were obtained by properly controlling the stabilization conditions.

Poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA) was grafted onto the surface of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using radical polymerization to assist the dispersion of MWCNTs before the polymerization of pyrrole. MWCNT-g-PSSA exhibited a higher dispersity in an aqueous solution compared with conventionally used carboxylated MWCNTs (c-MWCNTs), therefore, this composite acts as an excellent template for the high polymerization yield ofPolypyrrole (PPy). The measured polymerization yield was 95.5%, and its value was higher than that of PPy/c-MWCNT (61.8%). Consequently, the conductivity of the PPyIMWCNT-g-PSSA composite reached 124 S/cm, and this value was also higher than that of the PPy/c-MWCNT composite (48 S/cm) or PPylMWCNT doped with PSSA (91 S/cm). p-Toluenesulfonic acid (TSA)IHCI was selected as an additional dopant mixture to improve the electrical properties of the composite. As a result, the conductivity value of the composite improved to approximately 152 S/cm. The electrochemical and thermal stability were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and environmental stability testing. Overall, PPy/MWCNT-g-PSSA had good electrical and mechanical properties that are desired for materials of various electric devices.

Actuators of ionic electro-active polymer were prepared using single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), poly(vinylidene fluoride-heaxafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) and an ionic liquid. The effect of the composition of the electrode layer on the characteristics of the actuator was examined. The actuators were very light, flexible and bent largely at low voltages (IV). Overall, the maximum bending angle decreased with increasing amount of PVdF-HFP. The response time was also dependent on the type of ionic liquid. The actuator prepared with l-ethyl-3 methylimidazolium tetrafluoroboratre ($EMIBF_4$) operated faster and deformed morc than the one prepared with I-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroboratre ($BMIBF_4$) owing to its high ionic conductivity. Measurements of the voltage-displacement revealed the actuator made trom $EMIBF_4$ to have better linearity (recoverability). The composite actuator prepared in this study has potential applications ranging from micro switches to a11ificial muscles, robotics, etc..

This study examined the in-suit adaptability of geosynthetics as geocomposites, which can retard reflective cracks, to absorb stress from damaged roads. From the experimental results, for ultraviolet resistance, the retention of tensile properties was 80%. In addition, the geosynthetics of this study were found to be sufficiently stable for use as an asphalt overlay. The geocomposites as a hydraulic barrier showed 42~47% asphalt retention. The test of the crack growth rate and service life revealed the paved road to have twice the service life of a non-reinforced paved road.

Copolyamide 66/6T/610 was synthesized by the condensation polymerization of polyamide 66, 6T, 610 salts. Copolyamide nanocomposites containing well-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared using a solution mixing method. The crystallinity increased with increasing MWNT content, suggesting that MWNT can help the copolyamide crystallize further. The copolyamide/MWNT nanocomposites also showed improved mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces of the composite showed not only a uniform dispersion of MWNTs but also strong interfacial adhesion with the matrix, as evidenced by the presence of many broken but strongly embedded carbon nanotubes in the matrix.

The oxidation prevention effect and properties of polyester fabrics prepared by electro less silver plating were examined. Electroless silver plating was performed under the optimum conditions reported in previous studies. The e1ectroless silver plated fabric (polyurethane resin with a surface coating) was used to prevent oxidation. The surface morphology, electromagnetic wave shielding effectiveness and washing durability were measured by SEM and RF impedance analysis. The physical properties of the polyester fabrics by e1ectroless silver plating were analyzed by examining the oxidation prevention effect, tensile strength, stiffness, air permeability, antimicrobial activity and thermal resistance.

Antimicrobial PYA films containing various photoactivators were prepared using a solution casting method. Benzophenone, 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino )-benzophenone, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, 2-methyl-4'-(methylthio)-2-morpholinopropiophenone, thioxanthen-9-one, and 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone were selected as the photoactive additives. The UV absorption, transmittance and radical formation, thermal stability, structural and antimicrobial properties of the prepared films were examined by ESR, UV-vis, DSC, XRD and an antimicrobial test. The results showed that the UV activated benzophenone, 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)-benzophenone and thioxanthen-9-one provided excellent antimicrobial properties after UVA (365 nm) irradiation.

Poly(glycolide-co-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone)(PGCL) block copolymers were synthesized by two step polymerization using glycolide and ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone as starting materials. The chain-microstructures of the resulting block copolymers were characterized by $^1H-NMR$. The structure and thermal properties of the PGCL block copolymer were strongly affected by the chain-microstructure of the prepolymer. The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the PGCL block copolymers was examined at various cooling rates and analyzed with modified-Avrami and Ziabicki equations. The PGCL block copolymer with a lower degree of randomness in the prepolymer block had a higher crystallization temperature and faster crystallization rate, which suggests that differences in chain-microstructure of the PGCL prepolymer can affect the crystallization characteristics, such as crystallinity and crystallization rate.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) was dissolved in DMSO(dimethyl sulfoxide) and m-aramid was dissolved in DMAc(dimethyl acetamide). The composite fibers were prepared by wet-spinning a mixture of the m-aramid and PYA solutions with methyl alcohol as a coagulant. The ratio of m-aramid to PYA was 10/90, 20/80, 30/70, 40/60, 50/50 wt%. The composite fibers had sea-island bicomponent structures; the island component was m-aramid and the sea component was PYA. The nano-sized m-aramid fibers were obtained by washing out PYA with boiling water. Phase separation in theses immiscible polymer solution blends led to m-aramid being extracted in a nano-sized fiber state. The diameter of the fibrillated m-aramid fibers decreased as the PYA contents increased (130~313 nm). This study provided a new method to make nano-sized m-aramid fibers with wet-spinning.

To investigate the effects of clothing weights on subjective sensation and physiological responses of the human body under a temperature-controlled environment ($24.5^{\circ}C$), the clothing microclimate, including the temperature, humidity, and sweating rate, was measured from five young male volunteers in their 20's who wore clothing A (680 g) or clothing B (910 g). The temperature inside the clothing temperature on the breast was $28.7^{\circ}C$ in clothing A and $29.0^{\circ}C$ in clothing B. The temperature was lower than the standard clothing microclimate, and had a tendency to decrease over time. Regardless of clothing weight, the tympanic temperature was in the normal range. However, the mean skin temperature was significantly different between clothing A and B: $32.8^{\circ}C$ and $33.6^{\circ}C$, respectively. Skin temperatures of the forehead and abdomen were not affected by clothing weight, while skin temperatures of the breast, thigh, and leg were higher in clothing B than in A. There was no significant difference in the mean total sweating rates between clothing A and B. The average thermal, humid, and comfort sensations were 3.9, 4.2, and 1.1, respectively, in clothing A and 4.1, 4.3, and 1.2, respectively, in clothing B. None of these values were affected by clothing weight. As a result, we found that the mean skin temperature was significantly altered by clothing weight, but the tympanic temperature, sweating rate, and subjective sensation were not affected. In addition, the clothing climate was lower than the standard climate. Therefore, lighter and warmer materials are recommended for air-conditioning environments ($24.5^{\circ}C$), and the clothing covering area should be expanded.

Female body parts, such as breasts, the abdomen, and hips, have three-dimensional shapes that are important for both the ergonomics and beauty of clothing design. The purpose of this study is the three-dimensional analysis and classification of women's abdomens using a geometric model of a three-dimensional human body. The geometric model used in this study is a method of modeling the body surface data acquired by three-dimensional measurements. It describes the shape of the body surface by means of control points on a cylindrical bi-cubic B-spline surface normalized using reference points on the body surface. The three-dimensional body shape measurement data were derived from 556 Japanese females aged 19 to 63. After finding the control points that determine the abdominal shape by applying the measurement data of each three-dimensional human body to the developed geometric model, 99 three-dimensional coordinates of the abdominal shape control points, comprising $99{\times}3$ (x, y, z coordinates)=297 coordinates, were obtained. The method used for analysis was the principal components method based on the variance-covariance matrix. The cumulative contribution rate from the first principal component to the fourth principal component was 82%, indicating that abdominal shapes can be described accurately by these four components. The I st component describes the abdominal protrusion and waist thickness. The 2nd component describes the longitudinal length and crosswise radius of the abdomen. The 3rd component indicates the degree of slimming and skin fold droop. The 4th component describes the lower abdomen droop level and the upper abdomen swelling level.