• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.357-363
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• 2015

The development of the environment-friendly tire that meets the standard requirements according to tire labeling system can be improved through using highly homogeneous silica immobilized zinc oxide nanoparticles. In this study, a considerable amount of nanoporous silica was essentially added into nano zinc oxide to improve the physiochemical properties of the formed composite. The introduction of nanoporous silica materials in the composite facilitates the improvement of the wear-resistance and increases the elasticity of the tread. Therefore, the introduction of nanoporous silica can replace carbon black as filler in the formation of composites with desirable properties for conventional green tire. Herein, mesoporous silica immobilized zinc oxide nanoparticle with desirable properties for rubber compounds was investigated. Composites with homogeneous dispersion were obtained in the absence of dispersants. The dispersion stability was controlled through varying the molar ratio, ageing time and mixing order of the reactants. A superior dispersion was achieved in the sample obtained using 0.03 mol of zinc precursor as it had the smallest grain size (50.5 nm) and then immobilized in silica aged for 10 days. Moreover, the specific surface area of this sample was the highest ($649m^2/g$).

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.94-98
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• 2018

Well-defined, monodispersed hollow ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a facile one-pot solution method at room temperature. Hollow ZnO nanoparticles were fabricated using polystyrene nanoparticles as seed particles. The removal of core particles via solvent extraction yields hollow nanoparticles. The structures and morphologies of the obtained products were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formation mechanism of the hollow structure of the ZnO nanoparticles was also investigated. The technique developed here is expected to be useful in the preparation other metal oxides and hollow architectures.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.399-400
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• 2010

This paper presents results of an experimental program for evaluating the mechanical properties of green strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) using recycled material. Recycled poly ethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber, fly ash, and recycled sand from waste concrete are used as materials for green SHCC. Test results indicated that average tensile strength of five dumbbell-shaped specimen is 4.76MPa and average compressive and flexural strength of three specimens are 38MPa and 7.40MPa, respectively.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2018

ZnS:Mn-glycine (ZnS:Mn-Gly) nanocomposites were synthesized by capping ZnS:Mn nanocomposites with glycine. Zinc sulfate heptahydrate ($ZnSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$), glycine ($C_2H_5NO_2$), manganese sulfate monohydrate ($MnSO_4{\cdot}H_2O$), and sodium sulfide ($Na_2S$) were used as the source reagents. $ZnS:Mn-Gly-C_{60}$ nanocomposites were obtained by heating the ZnS:Mn-Gly nanocomposites and fullerene ($C_{60}$) at a 2:1 mass ratio in an electric furnace at $700^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the crystal structure of the synthesized nanocomposites. The photocatalytic activity of the $ZnS:Mn-Gly-C_{60}$ nanocomposites was evaluated, via the degradation of brilliant green (BG) dye under 254 nm irradiation, with a UV-vis spectrophotometer.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.305-310
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• 2021

Mechanical properties of fiber reinforced composites were affected to fiber volume fractions (FVF) and interfacial property by sizing agent conditions. An optimum interface can relieve stress concentration by transferring the mechanical stress from the matrix resin to the reinforcements effectively, and thus can result in the performance of the composites. The interfacial properties and wettability between the epoxy resin and glass fiber (GF) were evaluated for different sizing agent conditions and FVFs. The surface energies of epoxy resin and different sizing agent treated GFs were calculated using dynamic and static contact angle measurements. The work of adhesion, W_a was calculated by using surface energies of epoxy matrix and GFs. The wettability was evaluated via the GF tow capillary test. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was evaluated by microdroplet pull-out test. Finally, the optimized GFRP manufacturing conditions could be obtained by using wettability and interfacial property.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.577-594
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• 2023

Engineered cementitious composites with calcined clay limestone cement (LC³-ECC) as a kind of green, low-carbon and high toughness concrete, has recently received significant investigation. However, the complicated relationship between potential influential factors and LC³-ECC compressive strength makes the prediction of LC³-ECC compressive strength difficult. Regarding this, the machine learning-based prediction models for the compressive strength of LC³-ECC concrete is firstly proposed and developed. Models combine three novel meta-heuristic algorithms (golden jackal optimization algorithm, butterfly optimization algorithm and whale optimization algorithm) with support vector regression (SVR) to improve the accuracy of prediction. A new dataset about LC³-ECC compressive strength was integrated based on 156 data from previous studies and used to develop the SVR-based models. Thirteen potential factors affecting the compressive strength of LC³-ECC were comprehensively considered in the model. The results show all hybrid SVR prediction models can reach the Coefficient of determination (R²) above 0.95 for the testing set and 0.97 for the training set. Radar and Taylor plots also show better overall prediction performance of the hybrid SVR models than several traditional machine learning techniques, which confirms the superiority of the three proposed methods. The successful development of this predictive model can provide scientific guidance for LC³-ECC materials and further apply to such low-carbon, sustainable cement-based materials.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.388-394
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• 2023

In composites manufacturing, increasing resin impregnation is a key way to speed up the manufacturing process and improve product quality. While resin improvement is important, simple fiber surface treatments can also improve resin flowability. In this study, different plasma treatment times were applied to carbon fiber fabrics to improve the impregnation between resin and fiber. Electrical resistivity measurements were used to evaluate the dispersion of resin in the fibers, which changed with plasma treatment. The effect of fiber surface treatment on resin spreadability could be observed in real time. When inserting a carbon fiber tow into the resin, the amount of resin that soaked into the tow was measured to objectively compare resin impregnation. Five minutes of plasma treatment improved the tensile and compressive strength of the composite by more than 50%, while reducing the void content and increasing the fire point impregnation flow rate. Finally, a dynamic flexural fatigue test was conducted using a portion of the composite used as an architectural composite part, and the composite part did not fail after one million cycles of a 3 kN load.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1850130.1-1850130.12
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• 2018

A novel strontium titanate/binary metal sulfide ($SrTiO_3/SnCoS_4$) heterostructure was synthesized by a simple two-step hydrothermal method. The visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance of $SrTiO_3/SnCoS_4$ composites was evaluated in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic performance of $SrTiO_3/SnCoS_4-5%$ is much higher than that of pure $SrTiO_3$, $SnCoS_4$, $SrTiO_3/SnS_2$ and $SrTiO_3/CoS_2$. The $SrTiO_3/SnCoS_4$ composite material with 5 wt.% of $SnCoS_4$ showed the highest photocatalytic efficiency for MO degradation, and the degradation rate could reach 95% after 140 min irradiation time. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was ascribed to not only the improvement of visible light absorption efficiency, but also the construction of a heterostructure which make it possible to effectively separate photoexcited electrons and holes in the two-phase interface.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.671-680
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• 2012

Three kinds of dietary composites-R+T, R+F, and R+TF-were combined in green tea (T), dietary fiber (F), and green tea dietary fiber mixture (TF) to red garlic extract (RG), respectively. The effects of their diets on anti-obesity were investigated $in$ $vitro$ and $in$ $vitro$ in obese rats induced high fat-cholesterol. In $in$ $vivo$ rats, the total phenolic content of the R+T and R+TF was 1.9~2.0 times higher, and their total cholesterol adsorption was 9.5~11.5 times higher than that of RG. $In$ $vivo$, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups (Normal, HFC, HRG, HR+T, HR+F and HR+TF). Afterwards, the diets of the HRG, HR+T, HR+F, and HR+TF groups were supplemented with 1% of RG and its dietary composites (R+T, R+F, and R+TF) for 4 weeks, respectively. The final body weight of the HRG, HR+T, HR+F, and HR+TF groups decreased significantly compared to the group fed high fat-cholesterol (HFC), but the food efficiency ratio was not significantly different from the HFC group. The liver weight of the HFC group doubled compared to the normal group, whereas that of HR+T and HR+TF groups decreased significantly. The weight of visceral and epididymal fat decreased significantly in the groups fed the composites compared to the HFC group. The obesity index of HR+TF group decreased significantly only when compared to the HFC group. The serum lipid profile such as total lipids, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL- and VLDL-cholesterol, as well as the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factors decreased drastically in all experimental groups compared to the HFC group, and the levels of HR+T, HR+F and HR+TF groups were a similar trend. GPT activity was not significantly different among the groups fed the composites, and it decreased significantly in the HRG group. The content of the lipid peroxide level decreased significantly in the HRG group and in the groups fed the composites, compared to the HFC group. Serum antioxidant activity was the highest in the HR+T group. We suggest that the hypolipidemic and anti-obesity effect of the RG composites, achieved by mixing green tea extract and/or dietary fiber, was due to their total phenolic content and total cholesterol adsorption effect.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.467-484
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• 2023

Despite the significant features of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCCs), including better mechanical, fractural, and durability performance, their high content of cement has restricted their use in the construction industry. Although ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) is considered the main supplementary cementitious material, its slow pozzolanic reaction stands against its application. The addition of nano-sized mineral modifiers, including nano-silica (NS), is an alternative to address the drawbacks of using GGBFS. The main object of this empirical and numerical research is to examine the effect of NS on the strain-hardening behavior of cementitious composites; ten mixes were designed, and five levels of NS were considered. This study proposes a new method, using a four-point bending test to assess the use of nano-silica (NS) on the flexural behavior, first cracking strength, fracture energy, and micromechanical parameters including interfacial friction bond strength and maximum bridging stress. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used for monitoring the initiation and propagation of the cracks. In addition, to attain a deep comprehension of fiber/matrix interaction, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was used. It was discovered that using nano-silica (NS) in cementitious materials results in an enhancement in the matrix toughness, which prevents multiple cracking and, therefore, strain-hardening. In addition, adding NS enhanced the interfacial transition zone between matrix and fiber, leading to a higher interfacial friction bond strength, which helps multiple cracking in the composite due to the hydrophobic nature of polypropylene (PP) fibers. The findings of this research provide insight into finding the optimum percent of NS in which both ductility and high tensile strength of the composites would be satisfied. As a concluding remark, a new criterion is proposed, showing that the optimum value of nano-silica is 2%. The findings and proposed method of this study can facilitate the design and utilization of green cementitious composites in structures.