• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.188-194
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• 2003

Phase behavior and spinodal phase separation kinetics in binary blends of a random copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene (75/25) [P(VDF/TrFE)] and poly(l,4-butylene adipate) (PBA) have been investigated by means of optical microscopic observation and time-resolved light scattering. The blends exhibited a typical lower critical solution temperature (LCST)∼${34}^{\circ}C$ above the melting temperature of the P(VDF/TrFE) crystals over the entire blend composition range. P(VDF/TrFE) and PBA were totally miscible in the temperature gap between the melting point of P(VDF/TrFE) and the LCST. Temperature jump experiments of the 3/7 P(VDF/TrFE)/PBA blend were carried out on a light-scattering apparatus from a single-phase melt state (${180}^{\circ}C$) to a two-phase region (205∼${215}^{\circ}C$). Since the late stage of spinodal decomposition (SD) is prevalent in the 3/7 blend, SD was analyzed using a power law scheme. Self-similarity was preserved well in the late stage of SD in the 3/7 blend.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2017

For structural health monitoring of a complex shaped structure a new sensor that can compensate for the drawbacks of the current sensors such as brittleness is needed and the sensor should be highly flexible and durable. In this study a textile sensor made of polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) which is a type of electroactive polymer was fabricated. And the textile sensors were applied to a complex shaped structure (an egg-box panel made of carbon/epoxy composite) for checking their feasibility of structural health monitoring. To correlate the collapse response with failure mechanisms of the structure the multiply-interrupted compressive test was carried out. During the test, the textile sensors succeeded to prove their applicability for damage detection (crack initiation) by generating electric voltages (0.05 V-0.25 V) in the real time.