• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2015

In this study, natural rubber latex foam was prepared in order to replace commercialized polyurethane foams as a car seat material. Physical properties of the latex foam were investigated and the light stability was improved. The latex foam was mixed in an aqueous solution state, and the degree of foaming and the accelerator ratios were appropriately controlled. Tensile properties, hysteresis and dynamic mechanical properties of the latex foam were measured to compare with those of polyurethane foams. UV light absorbers and radical scavengers were added for improving light stability of the latex foam. Xenon lamp test was conducted to investigate the effects of the reagents on light stability. Our results revealed that the prepared latex foam including a light absorber with an antioxidant showed excellent light stable performances.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.246-255
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• 2023

In this study, we investigated for natural rubber foam to replace petrochemical-based neoprene foam. Experiments were conducted on vulcanization system and 2-step foaming process of natural rubber. The vulcanization system were EV(Efficient Vulcanization Cure), Semi-EV(Semi-Efficient Vulcanization Cure) and CV(Conventional Vulcanization Cure). In the 2-step foaming process, first molding temperature was 140℃, times were 15, 20, 25, and 30minutes, and the second molding temperature was 160℃, the times 5, 10, 15, and 20minutes. The cure and viscosity characterization were evaluated by oscillating disc rheometer (ODR) and mooney viscosmeter. Various mechanical characteristics, including hardness, tensile strength, elongation at the point of rupture, and tear strength, were quantified. Subsequently, an assessment of alterations in these mechanical attributes was conducted post-immersion in a NaCl solution. In addition degree of volume change was measured after immersing the NR foam in NaCl solution and the low-temperature permanent compression set was evaluated at 4℃. And expansion ratio and shrinkage ratio of NR foam were evaluated for 28 days. As a result the EV vulcanization system showed the least change in physical properties before and after salt water immersion, and the lowest shrinkage ratio for 28 days. In addition it was confirmed that the 2-step foaming optimum condition differed depending on the appropriate vulcanization condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.110-122
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• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic increased people's time at home and caused an 80% increase in noise disputes between floors. The purpose of this study is to propose suitable materials for making indoor shoes (insoles) to minimize noise between floors. Subjects without back pain and leg-related disease (e.g. arthritis, etc.) from three different age groups (childhood, adolescence, and adulthood) were recruited for the study. Five polymer insole materials were considered: Chloroprene Rubber (CR foam), Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM foam), Natural Latex foam, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA foam), and Polyurethane (PU foam). From these materials, 20 combinations were prepared and randomly tested for noise and vibration. The results revealed a significant difference in noise and vibration levels based on the type of material used and the age of the subject. Nevertheless, all materials under consideration successfully reduced noise and vibration; in particular, type A-C greatly decreased. The CR foam material was especially effective at noise and vibration reduction (p<.01). This study suggests that adding insoles into socks that children wear at home could reduce noise vibration and disputes between floors.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.1775-1781
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• 2008

The effects of the type of curing agent on the swelling of the natural rubber(NR) sponge applicable to the self-sealing layer of a helicopter fuel tank were investigated. The curing systems employed were peroxide and mixed ones of sulfur and peroxide. The NR compounds were prepared in a kneader and a roll-mill. The compounds were partially cured in a press at high pressure and subsequently cured fully with expansion in another press at atmospheric pressure. The apparent density of the NR sponge was measured and the cell structure was observed with scanning electron microscopy. The swelling experiments were performed at room temperature using toluene, iso-octane, and an aircraft fuel as a solvent. More rapid volume swelling of the NR sponge cured by peroxide was achieved than cured by sulfur and peroxide with similar amount of curing agent added in rubber compounds. The apparent density and cell structure of the sponge were extremely sensitive to the amount of peroxide, which influences again the swelling behavior of the NR sponge. It is important to control properly two reactions of decomposition of foaming agent and crosslinking of NR in the mold to obtain rapid swelling of the NR sponge on contact of the fuel.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.297-309
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• 2012

Different amounts of foaming agents were employed in natural rubber(NR)/butadiene rubber(BR) blends to understand the foaming behavior in presence of nano-reinforcing agent, zinc methacrylate (ZMA). The ZMA greatly improved most of the mechanical properties of the rubber foams, however it did not show considerable effect on the cell morphology, such as cell size, density and porosity. It was also observed that the foaming agent concentration affected all the mechanical parameters. When the content of foaming agent was increased, the number of foams was increased leading to a decrease in density of the compounds. But the size and distribution of foams remained unchanged with increased foaming agent. The effect of high styrene-butadiene rubber (HSBR) was also studied. The size of cells became smaller and the cell uniformity was improved with increasing HSBR. The foam rubber compounds showed much efficient energy absorbing capability at higher strains.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.123-133
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• 1996

Recently, the construction of infrastructures has been booming and accelerating to keep up with rapid economic growth. Construction activities and operation of transportation facilities cause unfavorable effects such as civil petitions associated with vibration-induced damages or nuisances. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to develop vibration-controlled concrete using various vibration-controlled mixtures, and also to recycle obsolete materials in part. As the first step to achieve this research, preliminary mix designs have been carried out to obtain an appropriate mix proportion above 200kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ in uniaxial compressive strength. Test specimen based on the mix proportion selected have been actuated by the impact hammer to investigate their dynamic characteristics. Vibration-controlled mixtures are foam, latex, rubber powder and plastic resin, which have been determined to reduce a vibration by and large. KS F2437 and travel time method have been used to figure out 1st natural frequency and dynamic elastic moduli. Damping ratios have been computed by adopting the polynomial curvefitting method and the geometric analysis method on the frequency response spectrum curve. of which results have been compared and analyzed hereon.