• Composites Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.40-50
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• 2000

In an effort to construct a structure under the design principle of minimal use of materials for maximum performances, a discrete gradient structure has been introduced in laminate composite systems. Using a sequential linear programming method, the gradient structure of composites to maximize the buckling load was optimized in terms of fiber volume fraction and thickness of each layer. The buckling load showed maximum value with the outmost [$0^{\circ}$] layer concentrated by almost all the fibers when the ratio of length to width(aspect ratio) was less than 1.0. But when the aspect ratio was 2.0, the optimum was determined in a structure where the thickness and fiber volume fraction were well-balanced in each layer. From the optimization of gradient structure, the optimal fiber volume fraction and thickness of each layer were proposed. Gradient structures have also shown an advantage in the weight reduction of composites compared with the conventional homogeneous structures.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2008

ZnS-$SiO_2$ composite is normally used for sputtering target. In recent years, high sputtering power for higher deposition rate often causes crack formation of the target. Therefore the target material is required that the sintered target material should have high crack resistance, excellent strength and a homogeneous microstructure with high sintered density. In this study, raw ZnS and ZnS-$SiO_2$ powders prepared by a 3-D mixer or high energy ball-milling were successfully densified by spark plasma sintering, the effective densification method of hard-to-sinter materials in a short time. After sintering, the fracture toughness was measured by the indentation fracture (IF) method. Due to the effect of crack deflection by the residual stress occurred by the second phase of fine $SiO_2$, the hardness and fracture toughness reached to 3.031 GPa and $1.014MPa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$, respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.525-539
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• 2010

Polymer matrix composites are widely used in many engineering applications as they can be customized to meet a desired performance while not only maintaining low cost but also reducing weight. Polymers can experience viscoelastic-viscoplastic response when subjected to external loadings. Various reinforcements and fillers are added to polymers which bring out more complexity in analyzing the timedependent response. This study formulates an integrated micromechanical model and finite element (FE) analysis for predicting effective viscoelastic-viscoplastic response of polymer based hybrid composites. The studied hybrid system consists of unidirectional short-fiber reinforcements and a matrix system which is composed of solid spherical particle fillers dispersed in a homogeneous polymer constituent. The goal is to predict effective performance of hybrid systems having different compositions and properties of the fiber, particle, and matrix constituents. A combined Schapery's viscoelastic integral model and Valanis's endochronic viscoplastic model is used for the polymer constituent. The particle and fiber constituents are assumed linear elastic. A previously developed micromechanical model of particle reinforced composite is first used to obtain effective mechanical properties of the matrix systems. The effective properties of the matrix are then integrated to a unit-cell model of short-fiber reinforced composites, which is generated using the FE. The effective properties of the matrix are implemented using a user material subroutine in the FE framework. Limited experimental data and analytical solutions available in the literatures are used for comparisons.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2015

Fe-TiC composite powders were fabricated by planetary ball mill processing. Two kinds of powder mixtures were prepared from the starting materials of (a) (Fe, TiC) powders and (b) (Fe, $TiH_2$, Carbon) powders, respectively. Milling speed (300, 500 and 700 rpm) and time (1, 2, and 3 h) were varied. For (Fe, $TiH_2$, Carbon) powders, an in situ reaction synthesis of TiC after the planetary ball mill processing was added to obtain a homogeneous distribution of ultrafine TiC particulates in Fe matrix. Powder characteristics such as particle size, size distribution, shape, and mixing homogeneity were investigated.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.139-140
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• 2006

Some of novel halogen-free, elastomeric flame retardants for nylon-6 have been developed. It is found that the S-ENP and clay have a synergistic flame retardant effect on nylon-6 resulted from the formation of two barriers on the nanocomposite residue surface at the end of combustion. A novel flame retardant ternary nanocomposite of nylon-6/ENP/nano-Magnesium hydroxide was also fabricated. The new ternary composite has better flame retardancy and thermal stability than the conventional one because nano-MH can disperse much more homogeneous in the new ternary composite than in the conventional one.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.25-28
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• 2003

Carbon nanotubes(CNTs), since their first discovery, have been considered as new promising materials in various fields of applications including field emission displays, memory devices, electrodes, NEMS constituents, hydrogen storages and reinforcements in composites due to their extra-ordinary properties. The carbon nanotube reinforced nanocomposites have attracted attention owing to their outstanding mechanical and electrical properties and are expected to overcome the limit of conventional materials. Various application areas are possible for carbon nanotube reinforced nanocomposites through the functionalization of carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotube reinforced polymer matrix nanocomposites have been fabricated by liquid phase process including surface functionalization and dispersion of CNTs within organic solvent. In case of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer matrix nanocomposites, the mechanical strength and electrical conducting can be improved by more than an order of magnitude. The carbon nanotube reinforced polymer matrix nanocomposites can be applied to high strength polymers, conductive polymers, optical limiters and EMI materials. In spite of successful development of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer matrix nanocomposites, the researches on carbon nanotube reinforced inorganic matrix nanocomposites show limitations due to a difficulty in homogeneous distribution of carbon nanotubes within inorganic matrix. Therefore, the enhancement of carbon nanotube reinforced inorganic nanocomposites is under investigation to maximize the excellent properties of carbon nanotubes. To overcome the current limitations, novel processes, including intensive milling process, sol-gel process, in-situ process and spark plasma sintering of nanocomposite powders are being investigated. In this presentation, current research status on carbon nanotube reinforced nanocomposites with various matrices are reviewed.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.238-247
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• 1993

Microstructure, hardness and wear characteristics of $SiC_p/Al-6.5wt%Si-1.7wt%Mg$ alloy composites fabricated by the method of rheo-compocasting and hot pressing are investigated in this study. The dispersion of SiC particles in the composites is homogeneous and the hardness improves as additional amount increases. The wear amount of the matrix metal increases highly as wear rates increase, for the wear mechanism changes from adhesive wear to melt wear, and the matrix metal was coated on the surface of revolving disc and its weight increases. In the 5vol% composites, Fe is adhered on the surface of specimen by the projection of the dispersed hard SiC particles which have net-work structure and the coating layer is about $300{\mu}m$. But in the composite more than 20vol%, the wear amount of composite decreases because the SiC particles which have superior hardness, wear resistance and heat resistance properties resist wear, the abrasive wear turn out predominant wear mechanism and so the wear amount of revolving disc increases.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.469-482
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• 2010

This paper investigates the concrete permeability through a numerical and statistical approach. Concrete is considered as a random heterogeneous composite of three phases: aggregates, interfacial transition zones (ITZ) and matrix. The paper begins with some classical bound and estimate theories applied to concrete permeability and the influence of ITZ on these bound and estimate values is discussed. Numerical samples for permeability analysis are established through random aggregate structure (RAS) scheme, each numerical sample containing randomly distributed aggregates coated with ITZ and dispersed in a homogeneous matrix. The volumetric fraction of aggregates is fixed and the size distribution of aggregates observes Fuller's curve. Then finite element method is used to solve the steady permeation problem on 2D numerical samples and the overall permeability is deduced from flux-pressure relation. The impact of ITZ on overall permeability is analyzed in terms of ITZ width and contrast ratio between ITZ and matrix permeabilities. Hereafter, 3680 samples are generated for 23 sample sizes and 4 contrast ratios, and statistical analysis is performed on the permeability dispersion in terms of sample size and ITZ characteristics. By sample theory, the size of representative volume element (RVE) for permeability is then quantified considering sample realization number and expected error. Concluding remarks are provided for the impact of ITZ on concrete permeability and its statistical characteristics.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

Cu-Salen complex was prepared and attached into chitosan (Cs) polymer backbone. Nanocomposite of the synthesized polymer was prepared with functionalized carbon nano-particles (Cs-Cu-sal/C) to modify the electrode surface. The surface morphology of (Cs-Cu-sal/C) nanocomposite film showed a homogeneous distribution of carbon nanoparticles within the polymeric matrix. The cyclic voltammogram of the modified electrode exhibited a redox behavior at -0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl) in 0.1 M PB (pH 7) and showed an excellent hydrogen peroxide reduction activity. The Cs-Cu-sal/C electrode displays a linear response from $5{\times}10^{-6}$ to $5{\times}10^{-4}M$, with a correlation coefficient of 0.993 and detection limit of $0.9{\mu}M$ (at S/N = 3). The sensitivity of the electrode was found to be $0.356{\mu}A\;{\mu}M^{-1}\;cm^{-2}$.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2010

Carbon-nanotube-embedded bismuth telluride (CNT/$Bi_2Te_3$) matrix composites were fabricated by a powder metallurgy process. Composite powders, whereby 5 vol.% of functionalized CNTs were homogeneously mixed with $Bi_2Te_3$ alloying powders, were successfully synthesized by using high-energy ball milling process. The powders were consolidated into bulk CNT/$Bi_2Te_3$ composites by spark plasma sintering process at $350^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. The fabricated composites showed the uniform mixing and homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in the $Bi_2Te_3$ matrix. Seebeck coefficient of CNT/$Bi_2Te_3$ composites reveals that the composite has n-type semiconducting characteristics with values ranging $-55\;{\mu}V/K$ to $-95\;{\mu}V/K$ with increasing temperature. Furthermore, the significant reduction in thermal conductivity has been clearly observed in the composites. The results showed that CNT addition to thermoelectric materials could be useful method to obtain high thermoelectric performance.