• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2000

Cure characteristics. tensile properties, and dynamic properties were investigated on the carbon black-filled natural rubber compounds, in which three typical vulcanization types conventional vulcanization(Conv), semi-efficient(Semi-EV), and efficient(EV) vulcanizations were used. The effects of vulcanization temperature on both the mechanical property and aging resistance of rubber compounds were also investigated. The Conv cure system showed a slightly slower rate of vulcanization than those of Semi-EV and EV ones. On the other hand, it showed a higher value in the maximum torque of cure curve. Higher tensile moduli were observed in Conv system than those in Semi-EV and EV ones, while lower elongation at break were obtained in Conv one. The tensile strength at break were found to be about the same for three cute systems. Hardness, modulus, and tensile strength decreased with increasing the vulcanization temperature, and the degree of changes in the properties was found to be smaller for EV and Semi-EV systems than that in Conv one. The EV system was found to be superior in thermal-aging resistance to Conv one.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.234-242
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• 2021

The demand for truck bus radial (TBR) tires with enhanced fuel efficiency and wear resistance have grown in recent years. In addition, as the issue of particulate matter and air pollution increases, efforts are being made to reduce the generation of particulate matter. In this study, the properties of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) containing a silica-friendly functional group were evaluated by considering it as a base rubber and varying the silica ratio in this binary filler system. The results showed that the wear resistance of the NR/BR blend compound decreased as the silica ratio increased. In contrast, the ENR/BR blend compound exhibited an increase in wear resistance as the silica ratio was increased. In particular, the ENR-50/BR blend compound showed the best wear resistance due to the presence of several epoxide groups. Furthermore, we observed that for tan 𝛿 at 60℃, higher epoxide content resulted in the higher T_g of the rubber, indicating a higher tan 𝛿 at 60℃. On the other hand, it was confirmed that increasing the silica ratio decreased the value of tan 𝛿 at 60℃ in all compounds. In addition, we measured the amount of wear particulate matters generated from the compound wear. These measurements confirmed that in the binary filler system, regardless of the filler type, the quantity of the generated wear particulate matters as the filler-rubber interaction increased. In conclusion, the silica filled ENR/BR blend compound exhibited the lowest generation of wear particulate matters.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2019

In this study, we reported a solid-state supercapacitor consisting of titanium nitride (TiN) nanofiber and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-PSS) conducting polymer electrode and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based polymer electrolyte membrane. The TiN nanofiber was selected as electrode materials due to high electron conductivity and 2-dimensional structure which is beneficial for scaffold effect. PEDOT-PSS is suitable for organic/inorganic composites due to good redox reaction with hydrogen ions in electrolyte and good dispersion in solution. By synergetic effect of TiN nanofiber and PEDOT-PSS, the PEDOT-PSS/TiN electrode showed higher surface area than the flat Ti foil substrate. The PVA-based polymer electrolyte membrane could prevent leakage and explosion problem of conventional liquid electrolyte and possess high specific capacitance due to the fast ion diffusion of small $H^+$ ions. The specific capacitance of PEDOT-PSS/TiN supercapacitor reached 75 F/g, which was much higher than that of conventional carbon-based supercapacitors.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.361-372
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• 2019

Tubular joints are used in the construction of offshore structures and other land-based structures because of its ease of fabrication. These joints are subjected to different environmental loadings in their lifetime. At the time of fabrication or modification of an existing offshore platform, tubular joints are usually strengthened to withstand the environmental loads. Currently, various strengthening techniques such as ring stiffeners, gusset plates are employed to strengthen new and existing tubular joints. Due to some limitations with the present practices, some new techniques need to be addressed. Many researchers used Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) to strengthen tubular joints. Some of the studies were focused on axial compression of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) strengthened tubular joints and found that it was an efficient technique. Earlier, the authors had performed studies on Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strengthened tubular joint subjected to axial compression. The study steered to the conclusion that FRP composites is an alternative strengthening technique for tubular joints. In this work, the study was focused on axial compression of Y-joint and in plane and out of plane bending of T-joints. Experimental investigations were performed on these joints, fabricated from ASTM A106 Gr. B steel. Two sets of joints were fabricated for testing, one is a reference joint and the other is a joint strengthened with CFRP. After performing the set of experiments, test results were then compared with the numerical solution in ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). It was observed that the joints strengthened with CFRP were having improved strength, lesser surface displacement and ovalization when compared to the reference joint.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.645-658
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• 2018

Despite being one of the most abundantly used construction materials because of its exceptional properties, concrete is susceptible to deterioration and damage due to various factors particularly corrosion, improper loading, poor workmanship and design discrepancies, and as a result concrete structures require retrofitting and strengthening. In recent times, Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites have substituted the conventional techniques of retrofitting and strengthening of damaged concrete. Most of the research studies related to concrete strengthening using FRP have been performed on undamaged test specimens. This contribution presents the results of an experimental study in which concrete specimens were damaged by mechanical loading and elevated temperature in laboratory prior to application of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets for strengthening. The test specimens prepared using concrete of target compressive strength of 28 MPa at 28 days were subjected to compressive and splitting tensile testing up to failure and the intact pieces of the failed specimens were collected for the purpose of repair. In order to induce damage as a result of elevated temperature, the concrete cylinders were subjected to $400^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$ temperature for two hours duration. Concrete cylinders damaged under compressive and split tensile loads were re-cast using concrete and rich cement-sand mortar, respectively and then strengthened using CFRP wrap. Concrete cylinders damaged due to elevated temperature were also strengthened using CFRP wrap. Re-cast and strengthened concrete cylinders were tested in compression and splitting tension. The obtained results revealed that re-casting of specimens damaged by mechanical loadings using concrete & mortar, and then strengthened by single layer CFRP wrap exhibited strength even higher than their original values. In case of specimens damaged by elevated temperature, the results indicated that concrete strength is significantly dropped and strengthening using CFRP wrap made it possible to not only recover the lost strength but also resulted in concrete strength greater than the original value.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.177-184
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• 2019

If what the mechanical properties according to a layer have was found out by analyzing the already fabricated composite, it could be possible to develop the composite of the better performance than the existing products. In this study, we tried to calculate the mechanical properties of the inner prepreg lamina by applying the reverse design technique to the composite structure made by laminating prepregs. When the physical quantities obtained by the simple tensile test are used alone and the physical quantities obtained by the tensile test and the mode analysis are used at the same time, the results of this study show that the accuracy of the latter is higher Finally, the maximum error of $E_1$ predicted was 0.09% and the maximum error of predicted $E_2$ was 7%.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2018

The degradation mechanism and physical properties of an FKM O-ring were observed with thermal aging in this experiment. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, we could observe carbon (285 eV), fluoro (688 eV), and oxygen (531 eV) peaks. Before thermal aging, the concentration of fluoro atoms was 51.23%, which decreased to 8.29% after thermal aging. The concentration of oxygen atoms increased from 3.16% to 20.39%. Under thermal aging, the FKM O-ring exhibited debonding of the fluoro-bond by oxidation. Analysis of the C1s, O1s, and F1s peaks revealed that the degradation reaction usually occurred at the C-F, C-F2, and C-F3 bonds, and generated a carboxyl group (-COOH) by oxidation. Due to the debonding reaction and decreasing mobility, the glass transition temperature of the FKM O-ring increased from $-15.91^{\circ}C$ to $-13.79^{\circ}C$. From the intermittent CSR test, the initial sealing force was 2,149.6 N, which decreased to 1,156.2 N after thermal aging. Thus, under thermal aging, the sealing force decreased to 46.2%, compared with its initial state. This phenomenon was caused by the debonding reaction and decreasing mobility of the FKM O-ring. The S-S curve exhibited a 50% increase in modulus, with break at a low strain and stress state. This was also attributed to the decreasing mobility due to thermal aging degradation.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.371-378
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• 2018

In this study, the thermoelastic properties of poly lactic acid (PLA) based nanocomposites are predicted by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and a micromechanics model. The stereocomplex mixed with L-lactic acid (PLLA) and D-lactic acid (PDLA) is modeled as matrix phase and a single walled carbon nanotube is embedded as reinforcement. The glass transition temperature, elastic moduli and thermal expansion coefficients of pure matrix and nanocomposites unit cells are predicted though ensemble simulations according to the hydrolysis. In micromechanics model, the double inclusion (D-I) model with a perfect interface condition is adopted to predict the properties of nanocomposites at the same composition. It is found that the stereocomplex nanocomposites show prominent improvement in thermal stability and interfacial adsorption regardless of the hydrolysis. Moreover, it is confirmed from the comparison of MD simulation results with those from the D-I model that the interface between CNT and the stereocomplex matrix is slightly weak in nature.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.697-702
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• 2012

In this study, unidirectional and plain woven carbon fiber reinforced magnesium matrix composite laminates were fabricated by the liquid pressing infiltration process, and evolutions of the microstructure and compressive strength of the composite laminates under corrosion were investigated by static immersion tests. In the case of the unidirectional composite laminate, the main microstructural damage during immersion appeared as a form of corrosion induced cracks, which were formed at both CF/Mg interfaces and the interfaces between layers. On the otherhand, wrap/fill interface cracks were mainly formed in the plain woven composite laminate, without any cracks at the CF/Mg interface. The formation of these cracks was considered to be associated with internal thermal residual stress, which was generated during cooling after the fabrication process of these materials. As a consequence of the corrosion induced cracks, the thickness of both laminates increased in directions vertical to the fibers with increasing immersion time. With increasing immersion time, the compressive strengths of both composite laminates also decreased continuously. It was found that the plain woven composite laminates have superior corrosion resistance and stability under a corrosive condition than unidirectional laminates.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.243-252
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• 2021

With increasingly strict requirements for advanced energy storage devices in electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary energy storage systems (EES), the development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high power density and safety has become an urgent task. Because the performance of LIBs is determined primarily by the physicochemical characteristics of its electrode material, TiO₂, owing to its excellent stability, high safety levels, and environmentally friendly properties, has received significant attention as an alternative material for the replacement of commercial carbon-based anode materials. In particular, self-organized TiO₂ micro and nanostructures prepared by anodization have been intensively investigated as promising anode materials. In this review, the mechanism for the formation of anodic TiO₂ nanotubes and microcones and the parameters that influence their morphology are described. Furthermore, recent developments in anodic TiO₂-based composites as anode electrodes for LIBs to overcome the limitations of low conductivity and specific capacity are summarized.