• 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.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2013

Delamination crack detection is very important for improving the structural reliability of laminated composite structures. This requires real-time delamination detection technologies. For composite laminates that are reinforced with carbon fiber, an electrical potential method uses carbon fiber for reinforcements and sensors at the same time. The use of carbon fiber for sensors does not need to consider the strength reduction of smart structures induced by imbedding sensors into the structures. With carbon fiber reinforced (CF/) epoxy matrix composites, it had been proved that the delamination crack was detected experimentally. In the present study, therefore, similar experiments were conducted to prove the applicability of the method for delamination crack detection of CF/polyetherethereketone matrix composite laminates. Mode I and mode II delamination tests with artificial cracks were conducted, and three point bending tests without artificial cracks were conducted. This study experimentally proves the applicability of the method for detection of delamination cracks. CF/polyetherethereketone material has strong electric resistance anisotropy. For CF/polyetherethereketone matrix composites, a carbon fiber network is constructed, and the network is broken by propagation of delamination cracks. This causes a change in the electric resistance of CF/polyetherethereketone matrix composites. Using three point bending specimens, delamination cracks generated without artificial initial cracks is proved to be detectable using the electric potential method: This method successfully detected delamination cracks.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.186-190
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• 2015

$TiO_2$ nanoparticles can be used to improve the performance of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites. In this study, the effect of the size of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites was investigated. The size of the $TiO_2$ nanoparticles was easily controlled using heat treatment. The size of the $TiO_2$ nanoparticles for this study were20nm, 100nm, and 200nm. Three types of carbon fibers with different diameters were also used in this study. The carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composites with 20-nm $TiO_2$ powder showed the highest tensile strength compared to the other types of CFRP, regardless of the fiber maker or fiber diameter. The size of the $TiO_2$ powder and the diameter of the carbon fiber strongly affected the interfacial properties of all kinds of CFRP in this study.

• Carbon letters
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• v.27
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• pp.72-80
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• 2018

In the present work, a comparative study of the mechanical behavior of two series of elastomeric composites, based on carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber (X-SBR) and reinforced with rice bran carbon (RBC) and graphite, is reported. Hybrid composites of X-SBR filled with RBC-graphite were also investigated in terms of the cure characteristics, hardness, tensile properties, abrasion resistance, and swelling. It was observed that the cure times decreased with the incorporation of a carbon filler whereas the torque difference, tensile strength, tensile modulus, hardness, and swelling resistance increased compared to the neat X-SBR revealing a favorable characteristic of crosslinking. Dynamic rheological analysis showed that the G' values of the composites, upon the addition of RBC-graphite, were changed to some extent. This demonstrates that the presence of a strongly developed network of fillers will ensure a reinforcing characteristic in a polymer matrix.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2010

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1137-1144
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• 2013

$TiO_2$ composites with seven different carbon materials (activated carbons, graphite, carbon fibers, single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphene oxides, and reduced graphene oxides) that are virgin or treated with nitric acid are prepared through an evaporation method. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples are evaluated in terms of $H_2$ production from aqueous methanol solution (photo-catalytic reduction: PCR) and degradation of aqueous pollutants (phenol, methylene blue, and rhodamine B) (photocatalytic oxidation: PCO) under AM 1.5-light irradiation. Despite varying effects depending on the kinds of carbon materials and their surface treatment, composites typically show enhanced PCR activity with maximum 50 times higher $H_2$ production as compared to bare $TiO_2$. Conversely, the carbon-induced synergy effects on PCO activities are insignificant for all three substrates. Colorimetric quantification of hydroxyl radicals supports the absence of carbon effects. However, platinum deposition on the binary composites displays the enhanced effect on both PCR and PCO reactions. These differing effects of carbon materials on PCR and PCO reactions of $TiO_2$ are discussed in terms of physicochemical properties of carbon materials, coupling states of $TiO_2$/carbon composites, interfacial charge transfers. Various surface characterizations of composites (UV-Vis diffuse reflectance, SEM, FTIR, surface area, electrical conductivity, and photoluminescence) are performed to gain insight on their photocatalytic redox behaviors.

• Carbon letters
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• v.19
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

In efforts to characterize and understand the properties and processing of phenylethynyl-terminated imide (LaRC PETI-5, simply referred to as PETI-5) oligomers and polymers as a high-temperature sizing material for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites, PETI-5 imidization and thermal curing behaviors have been extensively investigated based on the phenylethynyl end-group reaction. These studies are reviewed here. In addition, the use of PETI-5 to enhance interfacial adhesion between carbon fibers and a bismaleimide (BMI) matrix, as well as the dynamic mechanical properties of carbon/BMI composites, are discussed. Reports on the thermal expansion behavior of intercalated graphite flake, and the effects of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP) on the properties of PETI-5 matrix composites are also reviewed. The dynamic mechanical and thermal properties and the electrical resistivity of xGnP/PETI-5 composites are characterized. The effect of liquid rubber amine-terminated poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile) (ATBN)-coated xGnP particles incorporated into epoxy resin on the toughness of xGnP/epoxy composites is examined in terms of its impact on Izod strength. This paper provides an extensive overview from fundamental studies on PETI-5 and xGnP, as well as applied studies on relevant composite materials.

• International Journal of Ocean System Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.147-151
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• 2013

This study was to correctly estimate the friction and wear behavior of carbon fiber and PEEK sheet composites, and the validity of using them as alternatives to the metal-based materials used for artificial hip joints. Moreover, this work evaluated the friction coefficient according to the fiber ply orientation, along with the fractured surfaces of the carbon/PEEK composites. The unidirectional composites had higher friction coefficients than those multidirectional composites. This was caused by the debonding between the carbon fiber and the PEEK sheet, which was proportional to the contact area between the sliding surface and the carbon fiber. The friction test results showed that there was no significant differences in relation to the fiber ply orientation. However, in a case where the speed was 2.5 m/s, the friction coefficient was relatively large for configuration I. The friction surface of the specimen was analyzed using an electron microscope. In all cases, the debonding of the fiber and PEEK could be confirmed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.11-19
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• 2022

This paper presents the effects of high temperature and water absorption on the mechanical behaviors of carbon-aramid fiber composites, specifically their strength, elastic modulus, and fracture. These composites are used in industrial structures because of their high specific strength and toughness. Carbon fiber composites are vulnerable to the impact force of external objects despite their excellent properties. Aramid fibers have high elongation and impact absorption capabilities. Accordingly, a hybrid composite with the complementary properties and capabilities of carbon and aramid fibers is fabricated. However, the exposure of aramid fiber to water or heat typically deteriorates its mechanical properties. In view of this, tensile and flexural tests were conducted on a twill woven carbon-aramid fiber hybrid composite to investigate the effects of high temperature and water absorption. Moreover, a multiscale analysis of the stress behavior of the composite's microstructure was implemented. The results show that the elastic modulus of composites subjected to high temperature and water absorption treatments decreased by approximately 22% and 34%, respectively, compared with that of the composite under normal conditions. The crack behavior of the composites was well identified under the specimen conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2019.11a
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• pp.176-177
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• 2019

As a result of the Rietveld analysis to determine the effect of carbon nanotubes on the hydration products of cement composites, the quantitative difference of hydration products according to the addition rate of carbon nanotubes was not significant. Ettringite, an early hydration product, was measured to be slightly higher than the planes with carbon nanotubes over all ages. Therefore, it seems that carbon nanotubes have no effect on the hydration production in cement paste.