• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.217-227
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• 2004

A new thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) containing a triad aromatic ester type mesogenic unit and butylene terephthalate unit(BT) in the main chain was synthesized by polycondensation reaction. The TLCP synthesized showed nematic mesophasic behavior and its transition temperature from solid to mesophase was $260^{\circ}C$. The TLCP/PBT blends were prepared by in-situ polymerization in PBT solution and characterized by differential scanning calorimeter(DSC), thermogavimetric analyzer(TGA), scanning electron microscope(SEM), x-ray diffractometer(XRD), and dynamic mechanical thermal analyze, (DMTA). The blends showed well dispersed TLCP phases with domain sizes $0.05{\sim}0.2{\mu}m$ in the PBT matrix. As the increasing TLCP content from 5 to 20 wt%, ${\Delta}Hm$ values of pure PBT in the blend were increased because TLCP acts as a nucleating agent in the PBT matrix. The mechanical properties of the blends depended on the TLCP contents because the TLCP acted effectively as a reinforcing material in the PBT matrix. The blends showed good interfacial adhesion between the TLCP phase and PBT matrix.The blends prepared by in-situ polymerization showed higher mechanical properties and well dispersed TLCP domains than those of the blends prepared by melt blending.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2019

Sloshing impact loads on liquefied natural gas (LNG) carr iers are the main issue of damage to the insulation system in LNG cargo containment system (LNG CCS). The damage to the insulation system would be fatal in maintaining a temperature-savings environment in LNG CCS. The typical method is to enhance the insulation materials that can maintain a constant cryogenic temperature. Insulation materials consist of polyurethane foam and plywood, an adhesive for bonding these two materials. This study intends to improve the absorption energy of the material when the impact load is applied by creating a glass bubble/epoxy composite resin as part of the insulation. The experimental scenarios consider the effect of temperature ($20^{\circ}C$, $-163^{\circ}C$), glass bubble weight fraction in epoxy resin through free fall experiments. Experiments have shown that if the glass bubble additive reaches 20 wt.%, the cryogenic absorption energy is a maximum performance and that 0 wt.% has a maximum ambient absorption energy. However, the agglomeration has been occurred due to deterioration of the stirring performance if weight fraction was 20 wt.% and the result of 0 wt.% have been revealed that ambient absorption energy is significantly lower.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.284-289
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• 2019

In the present paper, the dynamic force-moment equilibrium equations, driving power and energy equations are analyzed to formulate the equation for fuel economy(km/liter) equivalent to the driving distance (km) divided by the fuel volume (liter) of the vehicle, a selected model of gasoline powered KIA K3 (1.6v). In addition, the effects of the dynamic parameters such as speed of vehicle (V), vehicle total weight(M), rolling resistance ($C_r$) between tires and road surface, inclined angle of road (${\theta}$), as well as the aerodynamic parameters such as drag coefficient ($C_d$) of vehicle, air density(${\rho}$), cross-sectional area (A) of vehicle, wind speed ($V_w$) have been analyzed. And the possibility of alternative materials such as lightweight metal alloys, fiber reinforced plastic composite materials to replace the conventional steel and casting iron materials and to reduce the weight of the vehicle has been investigated by Ashby's material index method. Through studies, the following results were obtained. The most influencing parameters on the fuel economy at high speed zone (100 km/h) were V, the aerodynamic parameters such as $C_d$, A, ${\rho}$, and $C_r$ and M. While at low speed zone (60 km/h), they are, in magnitude order, dynamic parameters such as V, M, $C_r$ and aerodynamic ones such as $C_d$, A, and ${\rho}$, respectively.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.199-205
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• 2019

The composite material has the advantage that the fibers can be arranged in a desired direction and can be manufactured in one piece. However, micro voids can be formed due to micro air, moisture or improper curing temperature or pressure, which may cause the deterioration in mechanical strength. In this paper, the composite panels with different thicknesses were made by varying the curing pressure in an autoclave vacuum bag process and their microporosities were evaluated. Microporosity was measured by image analysis method, acid digestion method, and combustion method and their correlation with ultrasonic attenuation coefficient was analyzed. From the test results, it was found that the acid digestion method had the highest accuracy and the lower the curing pressure, the higher the microporosity and the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient. In addition, the microporosity and the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient were increased as the thickness of the composite panel was increased at the same curing pressure.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.421-428
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• 2018

In order to optimize the prepreg compression molding (PCM) process, the forming simulation is required to cope with any problems that may be raised during the process. For the improvement of simulation accuracy, the input data of material property should be measured accurately. However, most studies assume that the compressive properties of the prepreg are identical to the tensile properties without quantifying them separately. Therefore, in this study, the in - plane compressive properties of the prepreg are presented to improve the accuracy of the forming simulation. As a result, the compressive modulus of the fibers was measured to be about $10^{-2}$ times lower than the tensile modulus. Also we designed a square-cup mold with a tilting angle of $110^{\circ}$ to simulate the prepreg formability during the high temperature compression mold process. Shear angles were measured at each corner, which were compared with the simulation results. It was observed that the simulation results using the accurate compressive properties of the prepreg showed a similar trend with the experimental results. It was confirmed that the measured data of the in-plane compression property improved the accuracy of the forming simulation results.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2019

Single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) has been used as a material for reinforcing various advanced materials because it has superior mechanical properties. However, pure SWCNT that does not have any functional group has a hydrophobic character, and exists as bundles due to the strong Van der Waals attraction between each SWCNT. Due to these reasons, it is very difficult to disperse SWCNTs in the water. In this work, in order to use SWCNT for production of cementitious composites, SWCNT was first dispersed in water to make an aqueous solution. Sodium deoxycholate (DOC) and Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were chosen as surfactants, and the dosage of DOC and SDS were 2wt% and 1wt%, respectively. Sonication and ultracentrifugation were applied to separate each SWCNT and impurities. Using such processed SWCNT solutions, cement paste was prepared and its shear stress vs. strain rate relationship was studied. The yield stress and plastic viscosity of cement paste were obtained using Bingham model. According to the results in this work, cement pastes made with DOC and SDS showed similar rheological behavior to that of air entrained cement paste. While cement paste made with DOC 2 wt.% SWCNT solution showed similar rheological behavior to that of plain cement paste, cement paste made with SDS 1 wt.% SWCNT solution showed different rheological behavior showing much less yield stress than plain cement paste.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.54-60
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• 2019

Recently, various composite materials for additive manufacturing are interested to expand the application field of 3D printing. 3D printing technique was mainly developed using polymer, and ceramic materials for 3D printing are still in the early stage of research due to the requirement of high solid content and post treatment process. In this study, silica particles with various diameters were surface treated with silane coupling agent, and synthesized as silica composite with photopolymer to apply DLP 3D printing process. DLP is an additive manufacturing technology, which has high accuracy and applicability of various composite materials. The rheological behavior of silica composite was analyzed with various solid contents. After DLP 3D printing was performed using silica composites, the printing accuracy of the 3D printed specimen was less than about 3 % to compare with digital data and he bending strength was 34.3 MPa at the solid content of 80 wt%.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2022

Low-temperature characteristics according to internal temperature conditions during rotational molding of Type 4 pressure vessel liners were studied in this paper. Since rotational molding has a sensitive effect on the formability of the liner depending on the temperature conditions, the temperature conditions for the polyamide used should be accurately set. The structural changes of polyamide as the liner material was analyzed the surface by atomic force microscope (AFM), and the crystallinity measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is used to evaluate the change of the mechanical strength value at low temperature. In addition, the formability of the liner was confirmed by observation of the yellow index inside the liner. As a result, as the melting range of the internal temperature becomes wider, the yellow index shows a lower value, and the elongation and impact characteristics at low temperatures are improved. It was also confirmed that the structure of the polyamide was uniform and the crystallinity was high by AFM and DSC. These experimental results contribute to the improvement of characteristics at low temperatures due to changes in temperature conditions during rotational molding.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.378-393
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• 2022

As an emerging power generation technology, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have received increasing attention due to their boundless promise in energy harvesting and self-powered sensing applications. The recent rise of soft robotics has sparked widespread enthusiasm for developing flexible and soft sensors and actuators. TENGs have been regarded as promising power sources for driving actuators and self-powered sensors, providing a unique approach for the development of soft robots with soft sensors and actuators. In this review, TENG-based soft robots with different morphologies and different functions are introduced. Among them, the design of biomimetic soft robots that imitate the structure, surface morphology, material properties, and sensing/generating mechanisms of nature has greatly benefited in improving the performance of TENGs. In addition, various bionic soft robots have been well improved compared to previous driving methods due to the simple structure, self-powering characteristics, and tunable output of TENGs. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive review of various studies within specific areas of TENG-enabled soft robotics applications. We first explore various recently developed TENG-based soft robots and a comparative analysis of various device structures, surface morphologies, and nature-inspired materials, and the resulting improvements in TENG performance. Various ubiquitous sensing principles and generation mechanisms used in nature and their analogous artificial TENG designs are demonstrated. Finally, biomimetic applications of TENG enabled in tactile displays as well as in wearable devices, artificial electronic skin and other devices are discussed. System designs, challenges and prospects of TENGs-based sensing and actuation devices in the practical application of soft robotics are analyzed.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.447-455
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• 2022

Currently, the problem of pollution of the marine environment by microplastics is emerging seriously internationally. In this study, to develop a lightweight portable microplastic collection device, the types and number of microplastics in 21 coastal areas nationwide in Korea were investigated. And CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic), GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene copolymer) and aluminum were applied for design and analysis of microplastic collection device to have the durability, corrosion resistance and lightweight. As a result of sample collection and classification from the shore, it was confirmed that microplastics were distributed the most in Hamdeok beach, and the polystyrene was found to be mainly distributed microplastics. Particle information through coastal field survey and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis were used to analyze the flow rate and distribution of particles such as sand and impurities, which were applied to the structural analysis of the cyclone device using the finite element method. As a result of structural analysis considering the particle impact inside the cyclone device, the structural safety was examined as remarkable in the order of CFRP, GFRP, aluminum, and ABS. In the view of weight reduction, CFRP could be reduced in weight by 53%, GFRP by 47%, and ABS by 61% compared to aluminum for the cyclone device.