• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.4
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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.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2023

Growing environmental concerns regarding pollution caused by conventional plastics have increased interest in biodegradable polymers as alternative materials. The purpose of this study is to develop a 100% biodegradable nanocomposite material by introducing organic nucleating agents into the biodegradable and thermoplastic resin, poly(lactic acid), to improve its properties. Accordingly, cellulose nanofibers, an eco-friendly material, were adopted as a substitute for inorganic nucleating agents. To achieve a uniform dispersion of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) within PLA, the aqueous solution of nanofibers was lyophilized to maintain their fibrous shape. Then, they were subjected to primary mixing using a twin-screw extruder. Test specimens with double mixing were then produced by injection molding. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to confirm the reinforced physical properties, and it was found that the addition of 1 wt% CNFs acted as a reinforcing material and nucleating agent, reducing the cold crystallization temperature by approximately 14℃ and increasing the degree of crystallization. This study provides an environmentally friendly alternative for developing plastic materials with enhanced properties, which can contribute to a sustainable future without consuming inorganic nucleating agents. It serves as a basis for developing 100% biodegradable green nanocomposites.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to estimate physical properties and fishing performances of net twine with improved PBS copolymer resin (Bio-new), the existing PBS/PBAT blending resin (Bio-old) and commercial Nylon (Nylon). The tensile strength of Bio-new monofilament was equal to Bio-old and the elongation of Bio-new was about 6 % higher than that of Bio-old in wet condition. The physical properties tests were carried out to estimate breaking load and stiffness in dry and wet conditions, respectively. In the results, the breaking load of Nylon netting was the highest whereas the elongation of Bio-new was 1.4 times higher than that of Nylon netting in wet condition. The breaking load of Bio-old netting was about 9.2 % higher than that of Bio-new netting. However, the elongation of the Bio-new netting was about 3% higher than that of Bio-old. The stiffness of the Bio-new compared to Bio-old was improved about 34 % in dry condition and about 32 % in wet condition. The filed experiments of the fishing performance were conducted with three kinds of drift nets with different netting materials in the coastal sea of Jeju. The each experimental drift net made of different materials showed the similar fishing performance. Bio-old drift net yielded less catches of small sized yellow croaker than other drift nets. The netting materials affected the fishing performance and length distribution of catches in the drift nets.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.767-777
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• 2002

In this work, biodegradable modified aliphatic polyester (MAP) in tetrafunctional epoxy (4EP) resin was investigated in terms of cure kinetics, thermal stabilities, rheological properties, and mechanical interfacial properties. DSC results of the blends show that the cure activation energies (E$\_$a/) were increased in 10 wt% of MAP compared with neat 4EP, due to the increasing intermolecular interaction between 4EP and MAP. The decomposed activation energies (E$\_$t/) derived from Coats-Redfern method, were increased within the 10∼30 wt% composition range of MAP contents, resulting from increasing the cross-linking density of the blend system. Rheological properties of the blend system were investigated under isothermal condition using a rheometer. Cross-linking activation energies (E$\_$c/) were determined from the Arrhenius equation based on gel time and curing temperature. As a result, the E$\_$c/ showed a similar behavior with E$\_$a/. The fracture toughness (K$\_$IC/) of the mechanical interfacial properties was discussed in semi-IPN behaviors of the casting specimen.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.382-387
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• 2013

Biodegradable polyurethane (PU)/clay nanocomposite films were prepared via extrusion compounding process followed by casting film process. Organically modified montmorillonite (denoted as C30B) with a large amount of hydroxyl groups on its surface was used for the formation of strong bonding with PU resin. From both XRD analysis and TEM observations, the intercalated and exfoliated structure, and dispersion state of silicate platelets in the compounded nanocomposite films were confirmed. In addition, the rheological and tensile properties, optical transparency, oxygen permeability of the prepared nanocomposites were investigated as a function of added nanoclay content, and moreover based on these results, the corelation between the morphology and the resulting properties of the nanocomposites could be presented. The inclusion of nanoclays at appropriate content resulted in remarkable improvement in the nanocomposite performance including tensile modulus, elongation, transparency, and oxygen barrier property, however at excess amount of nanoclays, reduction or very slight increase was observed due to poor dispersion. The biodegradability of the prepared nanocomposite film was evaluated by examining the deterioration in the barrier and tensile properties during degradation period under compost.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.323-329
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• 2023

There are many types of foam molding methods. The most commonly used methods are the pressure foaming method, in which foam resin is mixed with a foaming agent at high temperature and high pressure, and the normal pressure foaming method, which foams at high temperature without pressure. The polymer resins used for foaming have different viscosities. For foaming under normal pressure, they need to be designed and analyzed for optimal foaming conditions, to obtain resins with low melt-viscosity or a narrow optimal viscosity range. This study investigated how changes in viscosity, molding temperature, and cross-link foaming conditions affected the characteristics of the molded foam, prepared by blending rubber polymer with biodegradable resin. The morphologies of cross sections and the cell structures of the normal pressure foam were investigated by SEM analysis. Properties were also studied according to cross-link/foaming conditions and torque. Also, the correlation between foaming characteristics was studied by analyzing tensile strength and elongation, which are mechanical properties of foaming composites.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.827-833
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• 2004

The biodegradability of vinyl acetate acrylate resin and com starch blend was studied by determination of the reduced sugars produced after enzymatic hydrolysis. The starch hydrolysis reaction by $\alpha-amylase$ was achieved within 5 minutes. Optimal ranges of temperature and pH for the starch hydrolysis by $\alpha-amylase$ were around $80^{\circ}C$ and 6.5-7.2, respectively. The biodegradability of the starch-filled acrylate films increased as the content of starch increased. The biodegradation of starch in the starch-filled acrylate film by $\alpha-amylase$ was about 48.6% of that of pure starch. This value of biodegradable starch-filled acrylate film gave a good result with enzymatic shortcut test. The surface morphologies of the starch-filled acrylate film after enzymatic hydrolysis were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.600-614
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• 2011

Classical methods which used for removal of heavy metals from contaminated water are adsorption, precipitation, coagulation, ion exchange resin, evaporation, and membrane processes. Microbial biosorption can be used for the removal of contaminated waters with pollutants such as heavy metals and dyes which are not easily biodegradable. Microbial biosorbents are inexpensive, eco friendly and more effective for the removal of toxic metals from aqueous solution. In this review, the bacterial and fungal abilities for heavy metals ions removal are emphasized. Environmental factors which affect biosorption process are also discussed. A detailed description for the most common isotherm and kinetic models are presented. This article reviews the achievements and the current status of bacterial and fungal biosorption technology for heavy metals removal and provides insights for further researches.

• Composites Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.8-15
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• 2002

In this work, the effect of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate)(PBS) in difunctional epoxy(21:P) resin was investigated in terms of rheological properties, cure kinetics, thermal stabilities, and mechanical interfacial properties. Rheological properties of the blend system were measured under isothermal condition using a rheometer. Cross-linking activation energies($\textrm{E}_c$) were determined from the Arrhenius equation based on gel time and curing temperature. The $\textrm{E}_c$ was increased in the presence of 10 wt% PBS as compared with neat 2EP. From the DSC results of the blends, the cure activation energies($\textrm{E}_a$) showed a similar behavior with $\textrm{E}_c$ due to the increased intermolecular interaction between 2EP and PBS. The decomposed activation energies($\textrm{E}_t$) for the thermal stability derived from the integral method of Horowitz-Metzger equation, were also increased in 10 wt% PBS. In addition, 20 wt% PBS showed the highest critical stress intensity factor($\textrm{E}_{IC}$). which was explained by increasing the fracture toughness of the 2EP/PBS blend systems.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.935-939
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• 2018

3D Printing technology is developing in various prototypes for medical treatment, food, fashion as well as machinery and equipment parts production. 3D printing technology is also able to fully be utilized to other industries in terms of developing its technology which has been reported in many field of areas. 3D printing technology is expected to be used in various applications related to $4^{th}$ industrial revolution such as finished products and parts even it is still carried out in the prototype model. In this study, we have investigated and developed conductive resin for 3d printing application based on reduced graphene oxide(rGO)/Polypyrrole(Ppy) composite and polycaprolactone(PCL) as a biodegradable polymer. The electrical properties and surface morphology of the conductive PCL resin based on therGO/Ppy composite were analyzed by 4point-probe and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The conductive PCL resin based on rGO/Ppy composite is expected to be applicable not only 3D printing, but also electronic materials in other industrial fields.