• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.365-379
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• 2009

Epoxy/S2-glass reinforced composites (SGRPs) infused with Cloisite 30B nanoclays were manufactured using the vacuum assisted resin infusion molding (VARIM) process. Prior to infusion, the matrix and clays were thoroughly mixed using a direct mixing technique (DMT) and a high shear mixing technique (HSMT) to ensure uniform dispersion of the nanoclays. Structures with varying clay contents (1-3 wt%) were manufactured. Both pristine and SGRP nanocomposites were then subjected to mechanical testing. For the specimens manufactured by DMT, the tensile, flexural, and compressive modulus increased with increasing the clay content. Similarly, the tensile, flexural, compressive, interlaminate shear and impact strength increased with the addition of 1 wt% clay: however the trend reversed with further increase in the clay content. Specimens manufactured by HSMT showed superior properties compared to those of nanocomposites containing 1 wt% clay produced by DMT. In order to understand these phenomena a morphological study was conducted. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs revealed that HSMT led to better dispersion and changed the nanoclay structure from orderly intercalation to disorderly intercalation giving multi-directional strength.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.644-650
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• 2008

This study examined the effect of nanoclays on the shape memory behavior of polyurethane (PU) in fibrous form. A cation was introduced into the PU molecules to disperse the organo-nanoclay (MMT) into poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL)-based PU (PCL-PU). The MMT/PCL-PU nanocomposites were then spun into fibers through melt-processing. The shape memory performance of the spun fibers was examined using a variety of thermo-mechanical tests including a new method to determine the transition temperature of shape memory polymers. The MMTs showed an improved the fixity strain rate of the MMT /PCL- PU fibers but a slight decrease in their recovery strain rate. This was explained by the limited movement of PU molecules due to the presence of nanoclays. The shape memory performance of the MMT/PCL-PU fibers was not enhanced significantly by the nanoclays. However, their recovery power was improved significantly up to a strain of approximately 50%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.1357-1358
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• 2013

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.99-104
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• 2009

Soy protein isolate (SPI)-based nanocomposite films with three different types of nanoclays, such as Cloisite $Na^+$, Cloisite 20A, and Cloisite 30B, were prepared using a solution casting method, and their optical, tensile, and water vapor barrier properties were determined to investigate the effect of nano-clay type on film properties. Among the tested nanoclays, Cloisite $Na^+$, a hydrophilic montmorillonite (MMT), exhibited the highest transparency with least opaqueness, the highest tensile strength, and the highest water vapor barrier properties, indicating Cloisite $Na^+$ is the most compatible with SPI polymer matrix to form nanocomposite films. The film properties of SPI/Cloisite $Na^+$ nanocomposite films were strongly dependent on the concentration of the clay. Film properties such as optical, tensile, and water vapor barrier properties improved significantly (p<0.05) as the concentration of clay increased. However, the effectiveness of addition of the clay reduced above a certain level (i.e., 5wt%), indicating that there is an optimum amount of clay addition to exploit the full advantage of nanocmposite films.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.297-301
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• 2007

In this work, polymer/(layered silicate) nanocomposites (PLSN) based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO), ethylene carbonate (EC) as a plasticizer, lithium salt ($LiClO_4$), and sodium montmorillonite ($Na^+-MMT$) or organic montmorillonite (organic MMT) clay were fabricated. And the effects of organic MMT on the polymer matrix were investigated as a function of ionic conductivity. For the application to electrolytes an Li batteries, polymer electrolytes containing the organic nanoclays were used in this work. As a result, the spacing between layers and hydrophobicity of the organic nanoclays were increased, affecting on the exfoliation behaviors of the MMT layers in clay/PEO nanocomposites. From ion-conductivity results, the organic-MMT showed higher values than those of $Na^+-MMT$, and the MMT-20A sample that was treated by methyl dihydrogenated tallow ammonium, showed the highest conductivity in this system.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.382-387
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• 2013

Biodegradable polyurethane (PU)/clay nanocomposite films were prepared via extrusion compounding process followed by casting film process. Organically modified montmorillonite (denoted as C30B) with a large amount of hydroxyl groups on its surface was used for the formation of strong bonding with PU resin. From both XRD analysis and TEM observations, the intercalated and exfoliated structure, and dispersion state of silicate platelets in the compounded nanocomposite films were confirmed. In addition, the rheological and tensile properties, optical transparency, oxygen permeability of the prepared nanocomposites were investigated as a function of added nanoclay content, and moreover based on these results, the corelation between the morphology and the resulting properties of the nanocomposites could be presented. The inclusion of nanoclays at appropriate content resulted in remarkable improvement in the nanocomposite performance including tensile modulus, elongation, transparency, and oxygen barrier property, however at excess amount of nanoclays, reduction or very slight increase was observed due to poor dispersion. The biodegradability of the prepared nanocomposite film was evaluated by examining the deterioration in the barrier and tensile properties during degradation period under compost.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2023

Because polymer-based composites are lightweight and have excellent properties, their demand is growing rapidly as a way to fulfill properties that are difficult to achieve with a single material. As a result, there has been a lot of research on polymer nanocomposites, which are made by dispersing particles with a size of 1-100 nm in a polymer matrix. In addition, many nanocomposites using thermoplastic resins as matrix materials are being studied. In this study, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-based nanocomposites containing organic nanoclays modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as interlayer materials were prepared. Among various nanoclays, vermiculite (VMT) has been studied to increase the mechanical and thermal properties of polymeric materials due to its low cost, abundant reserves and unique properties. However, the strong interlayer bonding of VMT has limited its utilization due to its poor exfoliation and dispersion performance within polymer matrices. In this study, the mechanical properties of the VMT content were confirmed by tensile tests, the dispersion of VMT particles in the PET matrix was evaluated by TEM cross-sectional images, and the nitrogen gas barrier properties were evaluated.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.280-280
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• 2006

Na-bentonite (local clay mineral) and Na-montmorillonite were treated with quaternary alkylammonium cations. The effect of the molecular structure and functional groups of the surfactants on the organoclays was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). For the preparation of nanocomposites, organoclays were melt-blended with polypropylene in a twin screw extruder and $Surlyn^{(R)$. ionomer was used as a reactive compatibilizer. The clay dispersions in the composites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD spectra showed no peak at low angle indicated that the silicate clay layer has a nearly exfoliated dispersion in the polymer matrix. Thermal and mechanical properties of nanocomposites were higher than those of PP.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.160-169
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• 2004

Polystyrene/layered silicate nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation. To examine the distribution of the clay in polymer matrix, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used. Intercalated nanocomposites were obtained and their rheological properties were investigated. Microcellular nanocomposite foams were produced by using a supercritical fluid. As clay contents increased, the cell size decreased and the cell density increased. It was found that layered silicates could operate as heterogeneous nucleation sites. As the saturation pressure increased and the saturation temperature decreased, the cell size decreased and the cell density increased. Microcellular foams have different morphology depending upon the dispersion state of nanoclays.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2005

Biodegradable nanocomposites were prepared by mixing a polymer resin and layered silicates by the melt intercalation method. Internal structure of the nanocomposite was characterized by using the small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Nanocomposites having exfoliated and intercalated structures were obtained by employing two different organically modified nanoclays. Rheological properties in shear and extensional flows and biodegradability of nanocomposites were measured. In shear flow, shear thinning behavior and increased storage modulus were observed as the clay loading increased. In extensional flow, strain hardening behavior was observed in well dispersed system. Nanocomposites with the exfoliated structure had better biodegradability than nanocomposites with the intercalated structure or pure polymer.