• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2008

An oligomeric diol was utilized as a modifier for the reaction rate and mechanical properties of a RT-castable polyurethane elastomer. Both the reaction rate and the tensile strength of the blend samples, in which the modifier and the base resins were mixed with one-shot method, showed an exponential decrease as the increase of modifier concentration. Thermal analysis method of Kissinger was also effectively applied in the present study, showing good linearity in the plot of ln $(q/T^2_p)$ vs. $(1/T_p)$ and activation energy $E_a$ of 44.80 kJ/mol, which is similar to the general castable polyurethane. In the mechanical properties, remarkable decrease of strength was found by the addition of modifier concentration range up to about 20 phr, while characteristic elongation property of the elastomer, high elongation at lower strength, was observed over 20 phr of the modifier. Exponential decrease of the break strength of the blend sample exhibited that the mechanical properties of the blend might be considerably sensitive to the modifier concentration.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2002

In this work, the surface of inorganic fillers were modified with some functional groups such as stearic acid, aliphatic long chain, vinylsilane and aminosilane to control the interaction between inorganic fillers and polymer matrix. Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) with various amount of vinyl-acetate and copolyether-ester elastomer were used as polymer matrix. The addition of inorganic fillers increases flame retardancy, but results in steep drop of electrical and mechanical properties, which may be caused by the defects in the interface between organic/inorganic hybrid composites. The hybrid composites are found to show better mechanical properties and higher volume resistivities as inorganic fillers are well dispersed and have good adhesion with polymer matrix. Also, the most effective type of functional group coated on fillers depends on the chemical structure of polymer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2003

The effect of fluorination of nanoscaled silicas on mechanical interfacial properties and thermal stabilities of the silica/polyurethane composites was investigated. The surface properties of the silica were studied in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Their mechanical interfacial properties and thermal stabilities of the composites were characterized by tearing energy and decomposition activation energy, respectively. As experimental results, the London dispersive component of surface free energy and fluorine functional groups of silica surfaces were increased as a function of fluorination temperature resulting in improving the trearing energy ($G_{IIIC}$) of the composites. Also, the thermal stabilities of the composites were increased as the treatment temperature increases. These results could be explained that the fluorine functional groups on silica surfaces played an important role in improving the intermolecular interactions at interfaces between silicas and polyurethane matrix in a composite system.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.122-131
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• 2000

In this work, the effect of chemical surface treatments on morphology of carbon blacks was investigated in terms of cure behavior and tearing energy ($G_T$) of carbon blacks/rubber composites. As experimental results, the polar or nonpolar chemical treatment led to a significant physical change of carbon black morphology. The cure activation energies (Ea) and frequency factor (A) obtained from Kissinger equation decreased with improving the dispersion of carbon flacks, resulting in high reactivity. However, a significant advantage of carbon black/rubber composites is gained by carbon blacks treated in basic (BCB) or nonpolar (NCB) chemical solution, resulting in increasing the tearing energy. These results could be explained by changes of dispersion, agglomerate, surface functional group, void volume, and cross-linking density of carbon black/rubber composites.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.258-264
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• 2002

In this work, the influence of thermal treatment on surface properties of silicas and mechanical interfacial properties of silicas/polyurethane composites was investigated. The surface properties of thermally treated silicas were studied in the context of Fourier Transform-IR (FT-IR), solid-state 29Si NMR spectroscopy, and contact angle. And the mechanical interfacial properties of the silica/polyurethane composites were evaluated by composite tearing energy (GIIIC). As a result, it was found that the thermally treated silica surfaces became hydrophobic in nature, due to the condensation of surface hydroxyls and the formation of siloxane bonds, resulting in increasing the London dispersive component of surface free energy. From which, the increase of the London dispersive component of the silicas led to an improvement of the dispersion of silicas in a polyurethane matrix, finally resulting in improving the tearing energy (GIIIC) of the silicas/polyurethane composites.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.445-451
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• 2002

In this work, the adsorption characteristics and mechanical interfacial properties of treated silicas by silane coupling agents, such as, ${\gamma}$-methacryloxy propyl trimethoxy silane (MPS), ${\gamma}$-glycidoxy propyl trimethoxy silane (GPS), and ${\gamma}$-mercapto propyl trimethoxy silane (MCPS), were investigated. The equilibrium spreading pressure ($pi_e$), surface free energy ($gamma_s$ s/), and specific surface area ($S_{BET}$) were studied by the BET method with $N_2$/77 K adsorption. The developments of nonpolar functional groups of the silica surfaces treated by silane coupling agents led to the increase in the $S_{BET}$, $pi_e$, and $gamma_s$, resulting in the improved tearing energy ($G_{mc}$)of the silica/rubber composites. The composites treated by MPS showed the superior mechanical interfacial properties in these systems. These results explained by changing of crystalline size, dispersion, agglomerate, and surface functional group of silica/rubber composites.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2005

In this work, the effect of oxygen plasma treatment of nano-scaled silica on the mechanical interfacial properties and thermal stabilities of the silica/rubber composites was investigated. The surface properties of the silica were studied in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angles. And, their mechanical interfacial properties and thermal stabilities of the composites were characterized by tearing energy ($G_{IIIC}$) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. As a result, it was found that the introduction rate of oxygen-containing polar functional groups onto the silica surfaces was increased by increasing the plasma treatment time, resulting in improving the tearing energy. Also, the thermal stabilities of the composites were increased by increasing the treatment time. These results could be explained that the polar rubber, such as acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), showed relatively a high degree of interaction with oxygen-containing functional groups of the silica surfaces in a compounding system.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.353-356
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• 1999

Highly proten-conductive elastic composites have been successfully prepared from $H_3PO_4$-doped silica gel and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block elastic copolymer. In addition solid state electric double-layer capacitors have been fabricated using the composite as an electrolyte and activated carbon powders(ACP) hybridized with the composite as a polrizable electrode. The cyclic voltammogram of the electric double-layer capacitor fabricated demonstrated that electric charge was stored in the elecric double-layer at the interface between the polarizable electrode and the electrolyte. The value of capacitance of the capacitor was 10 F/(gram of total ACP), which was comparable to that of the capacitors using conventional liquid electrolytes.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.272-281
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• 2012

Flexible/stretchable electronics have recently focused, since their applications extend to emerging flexible displays, sensors, dielectric elastomer actuator and generators, and smart surgical tools. Flexible/stretchable electrodes should be synchronized with employing mechanical deformations of either flexing or stretching modes. Thus, the research area is one of the tough subjects, since the electrodes should keep their basic functions of electrodes under various mode of mechanical deformations. In this review, we discuss the recent development in the preparation and properties of such flexible/stretchable electrodes.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2023

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a material whose mechanical properties change according to the phase separation of its unique internal microstructure and is therefore used in various industries. Use of TPU as composites helps in improving the desirable characteristics and properties in accordance with usage. Eco-friendly fillers one of the fillers are on the rise and those are mostly used for reinforcing role. Suberin, which can be extracted from cork, is the main component of cork. It is known to serve high damping property of elastomer composite. The original chemical structure of Suberin is an aliphatic polyester aggregate. In this research, Suberin is obtained after depolymerization into an oligomer having 2 or 3 ester bonds through alkaline hydrolysis. The extracted suberin was added to the matrix which is thermoplastic polyurethane as an eco-friendly filler for improving vibration damping property. As a result, when 10 wt% of suberin was added into thermoplastic polyurethane the existing trade-off relationship was overcome. And it is attained the elastic modulus and damping factor at room temperature improving 92 and 59%, respectively, compared to the original matrix. Those results are from the interaction between the microstructure of TPU and suberin.