• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2019

Superabsorbent hydrogel (SAH) is a lightly crosslinked hydrophilic functional polymer material comprising a flexible chain structure, which can absorb and retain high amounts of water or aqueous fluids even under high pressure. Therefore, it is important to improve their characteristics such as absorption performance, residual monomer content, and water permeability. SAH nanocomposites were prepared using clay mineral as an inorganic filler and the influence of post-treatment processes such as quenching and aging process on their properties was studied. In addition, surface-crosslinking process was applied to improve the absorption performance associated with mechanical properties and water permeability. The structure of the SAH was characterized using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2007

Hardness of rubbery materials, which is important for dimensional stability and product performance, was investigated upon temperature change in this study. A newly developed IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree) tester was used to measure the hardness changes of NR and SBR specimens at various temperatures and the hardness values were compared with the Young's modulus. The harness and Young's modulus of NR and SBR showed an abrupt change near the glass transition temperatures. The hardness and Young's modulus were increased by increasing temperature due to the increased random chain conformation of molecules. The effect of temperature on hardness and Young's modulus of NR and SBR specimens filled with carbon black and silica was decreased by increasing filler content.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.470-477
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• 2013

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) based nano-composite pastes having a high filler content are prepared for the facile fabrication of a counter electrode (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). A polystyrene-based functional block copolymer is prepared through a controlled "living" radical polymerization technique, affording a surface modifier for the dispersion control of MWCNT in the paste. Physical dispersion through a ball-milling method additionally confirms the importance of the dispersion control, providing DSSC with enhanced processibility and improved solar-to-electricity energy conversion efficiency (${\eta}$) values. The performances of the DSSCs are further improved through the incorporation of minor amount of platinum (Pt) nanoparticles into the MWCNT pastes. The DSSC with the Pt/MWCNT hybrid CE exhibits very high ${\eta}$ values, which is superior to that of DSSC with the standard Pt CE.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.470-477
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• 2018

With a highly functional methyl vinyl silicone rubber (VMQ) matrix and filler materials of $B_4C$, PbO, and benzophenone (BP) and through powder surface modification, silicone rubber mixing, and vulcanized molding, a flexible radiation shielding and resistant composite was prepared in the study. The dispersion property of the powder in the matrix filler was improved by powder surface modification. BP was added into the matrix to enhance the radiation resistance performance of the composites. After irradiation, the tensile strength, elongation, and tear strength of the composites decreased, while the Shore hardness of the composites and the crosslinking density of the VMQ matrix increased. Moreover, the composites with BP showed better mechanical properties and smaller crosslinking density than those without BP after irradiation. The initial degradation temperatures of the composites containing BP before and after irradiation were $323.6^{\circ}C$ and $335.3^{\circ}C$, respectively. The transmission of neutrons for a 2-mm thick sample was only 0.12 for an Am-Be neutron source. The transmission of ${\gamma}$-rays with energies of 0.662, 1.173, and 1.332 MeV for 2-cm thick samples were 0.7, 0.782, and 0.795, respectively.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.3051-3057
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• 2021

The concrete is considered as an important radiation shielding material employed widely in nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, laboratory hot cells and other different radiation sources. The present research is dedicated to the shielding properties study of the ordinary concrete reinforced with different weight fractions of lead oxide micro/nano particles. Lead oxide particles were fabricated by chemical synthesis method and their properties including the average size, morphological structure, functional groups and thermal properties were characterized by XRD, FESEM-EDS, FTIR and TGA analysis. The gamma ray mass attenuation coefficient of concrete composites has been calculated and measured by means of the Monte Carlo simulation and experimental methods. The simulation process was based on the use of MCNP Monte Carlo code where the mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) has been calculated as a function of different particle sizes and filler weight fractions. The simulation results showed that the employment of the lead oxide filler particles enhances the mass attenuation coefficient of the ordinary concrete, drastically. On the other hand, there are approximately no differences between micro and nano sized particles. The mass attenuation coefficient was increased by increasing the weight fraction of nanoparticles. However, a semi-saturation effect was observed at concentrations more than 10 wt%. The experimental process was based on the fabrication of concrete slabs filled by different weight fractions of nano lead oxide particles. The mass attenuation coefficients of these slabs were determined at different gamma ray energies using ²²Na, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co sources and NaI (Tl) scintillation detector. The experimental results showed that the HVL parameter of the ordinary concrete reinforced with 5 wt% of nano PbO particles was reduced by 64% at 511 keV and 48% at 1332 keV. Reasonable agreement was obtained between simulation and experimental results and showed that the employment of nano PbO particles is more efficient at low gamma energies up to 1Mev. The proposed concrete is less toxic and could be prepared in block form instead of toxic lead blocks.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.69-78
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• 2007

The mechanical properties of wood flour, Hwangto (325 and 1,400 mesh per 25,4 mm) and coupling agent-reinforced HDPE composites were investigated in this study. Hwangto and maleated polyethylene (MAPE) were used as an inorganic filler and a coupling agent, respectively. The addition of Hwangto and MAPE to virgin HDPE also increased the Young's modulus in the smaller degree. The addition of wood flour and Hwangto to virgin HDPE increased the tensile strength, due to the high uniform dispersion of HDPE by high surface area of Hwangto in HDPE and wood flour. MAPE also significantly increased the tensile strength. When wood flour was added, there was no notable difference on the tensile properties, in terms of Hwangto particle size. Hwangto also improved the flexural modulus and strength of reinforced HDPE composites. With different particle sizes of Hwangto, there was no considerable difference in flexural modulus and strength of reinforced HDPE composites. The addition of Hwangto showed slightly lower impact strength than that of wood flour. However, the particle size of Hwangto showed no significant effect on the impact strength of reinforced composites. In conclusion, reinforced HDPE composites with organic and inorganic fillers provide highly improved mechanical properties over virgin HDPE.

• 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.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.209-221
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• 2003

The objectiveness of this study was to evaluate whether low-viscosity composite can bond effectively to dentin surface without bonding resin. The low-viscosity composites being 50wt% filler content were made by the inclusion of bonding resin of two self-etching systems(Cleafil SE Bond, Unifil Bond) varied with contents as 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50wt%. Exposed dentin surfaces of extracted 3rd molars are used. Dentin bond strengths were measured. The tests were carried out with a micro-shear device placed testing machine at a CHS of 1mm/min after a low-viscosity composite was filled into an iris cut from micro tygon tubing with internal diameter approximately 0.8mm and height of 1.0mm. 1 Flexural strength and modulus was increased with the addition of bonding resin. 2. Micro-shear bond strength to dentin was improved according to content of bonding resin irrespective of applying or not bonding resin in bonding procedure, and that of Clearfil SE Bond groups was higher than Unifil Bond. 3. There were no significant difference whether use of each bonding resin in bonding procedure for S-40, S-50, U-50(p＞0.05). 4. In SEM examination, resin was well infiltrated into dentin after primed with self-etching primer only for S-50 and U-50 in spite of the formation of thinner hybrid layer. Low viscosity composite including some functional monomer may be used as dentin bonding resin without an intermediary bonding agent. It makes a simplified bonding procedure and foresees the possibility of self-adhesive restorative material.

• 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.38 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2003

In this work, the influence of ozone treatment on surface properties of carbon black is investigated in terms of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angles. And their mechanical interfacial properties of the carbon black/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) compounds are studied by the crosslink density and composite tearing energy ($G_{IIIC}$). As a result, it is found that the increasing of the ozone concentration leads to an increase of the introduction rate of oxygen-containing functional groups onto carbon black surfaces and to an increase of the surface free energy, resulting in improving both crosslink density and tearing energy ($G_{IIIC}$) of the compounds. The results can be explained by the fact that the oxygen-containing functional groups of carbon black surfaces make an increase of the degree of adhesion at interfaces between carbon blacks and rubber matrix.