• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 1998

It is well known that EPDM(ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber has inherently excellent resistance to the weathering, ozone, heat, cold and moisture, whereas crosslinked IIR (isobutylene isoprene divlnyl benzene terpolymer) shows proper resistance to the water and gas permeation. Various characteristics of EPDM blend with crosslinked IIR such as curing characteristics, mechanical properties, dispersion of minor component and gas impermeability were explored. The optimum curing time $(t_{90})$ examined with peroxide was decreased by adding small amount of crosslinked IIR to the EPDM rubber. Mechanical properties of blends such as tensile strength, hardness and elongation at break were enhanced by increasing EPDM content. These results might be explained with the affinity of carbon black to the EPDM rubber. On the other hand, the physical properties were not changed significantly after aging, and the increase of crosslinked IIR fraction caused the decrease of compression set to small rate. EPDM rubber shows different behavior with crosslinked IIR in oxygen permeability. By adding 30wt.% crosslinked IIR to the EPDM rubber, the resistance to the oxygen permeation was improved up to three times than that of pure EPDM rubber. Conclusively, EPDM blend containing 30wt.% crosslinked IIR might be commercially applied to the o-ring and electric parts because of its proper resistance to the weathering, ozone and oxygen permeability.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.253-258
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• 2008

In this study polyamide 6,6 based thermoplastic composite with graphite and carbon black had been examined feasibility for separators of fuel cell which requires good mechanical and electrical properties with gas impermeability. The effects of molding pressure and filler content on the properties of the composite were investigated. Maximum flexural modulus was obtained about 80 wt% graphite, while electrical conductivity increased with graphite content. Flexural strength increased with molding pressure and tended to level-off from $400\;kgf/cm^2$. Molding pressure did not affect the electrical conductivity. The addition of carbon black enhanced the electrical conductivity of the composite. Mechanical properties were decreased under acidic condition.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.102-111
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• 2011

The innerliner for a tire has excellent impermeability, air retention and good flex properties. The innerliner offers a role to improve performance parameter, such as air retention and tire durability that is of praricular importance for commercial tires. In order to improve the gas barrier properties of a innerliner, most of the innerliner rubbers, such as a halogenated butyl rubber(HIIR), brominated poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene)(BIIR), brominated polyisobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene(BIMS) are used as nanocomposites with nano fillers such as silicates, graphite etc. Innerliners based on nanocomposites may allow gauge adjustments and permeability reductions with potential improvement in tire durability. This article discusses potential innerliner permeablity reduction and compounding parameters on the properties of nanocomposite based innerliners.

• Carbon letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.326-334
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• 2007

In this study, graphite composites were fabricated by warm press molding method to realize commercialization of PEM fuel cells. Graphite composites have been considered as alternative economic materials for bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells. Graphite powder that enables to provide electrical conductivity was selected as the main substance. The graphite powder was mixed with phenolic resin and the mixture was pressed using a warm press method. First of all, the graphite powder was pulverized with a ball mill for the dense packing of composite. As the ball milling time increases, the average size of particles decreases and the size distribution becomes narrow. This allows for improvement of the uniformity of graphite composite. However, the surface electrical resistivity of graphite composite increases as the ball milling time increases. It is due to that graphite particles with amorphous phase are generated on the surface due to the friction and collision of particles during pulverizing. We found that the contact electrical resistivity of graphite particles increases as the particle size decreases. The contact electrical resistivity of graphite powders was reduced due to high molding pressure by warm press molding. This leads to improvement of the mechanical properties of graphite composite. Hydrogen gas impermeability was measured with the graphite composite, showing a possibility of the application for bipolar plate in fuel cell. And, I-V curves of the graphite composite bipolar plate exhibit a similar performance to the graphite bipolar plate.