• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.128-132
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• 2000

The miscibility between poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyamide block copolymer whose content of PCL block is 62.7 wt%, was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The PCL segment in the block copolymer and PVC has the miscibility showing single glass transition temperature (T$_{g}$). The miscible PVC molecule inhibited the crystallization of PCL segment, making an amorphous homogeneous phase of PCL and PVC segments at high PVC content. The blends had rubber elasticity at the temperature range between the T$_{g}$ of amorphous homogeneous phase of PCL and PVC segments and the melting temperature of polyamide segment, when both phases coexist.ist.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.400-404
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• 2004

Polycaprolactone (PCL), a synthetic aliphatic polyester, was buried in activated sludge soil for 66 days at $27^\circ{C}$ and $37^\circ{C}$. The morphology of the surface of PCL film degraded by soil microorganisms was observed. Soil microorganisms degrading PCL were isolated and identified. Soil fungi and soil bacteria utilizing PCL as carbon or energy source were identified as Paecilomyces fumosoroseus KH27, Penicillium digitatum KH28, Fusarium solani KH29, Aspergillus sp. KH30 and Ochrobactrum anthropi KH31, respectively. Biodegradation test of PCL by the isolated strains showed that, P. digitatum KH28 exhibited the most PCL degrading activity at $27^\circ{C}$. However, at $37^\circ{C}$ O. anthropi KH31 showed higher degrading activity than the other soil microorganisms tested.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2011

Electron beam-induced crosslinking of polycaprolactone (PCL) films containing various crosslinking agents (CAs) was investigated in this study. PCL films containing various CAs prepared by a solution casting method were irradiated by electron beams at various absorption doses and the irradiated PCL films were investigated in terms of their crosslinking degree, thermal and mechanical properties, and biodegradability. Based on the results of the crosslinking degree measurement, triallyl isocyanurate was found to be most effective for the electron-beam induced crosslinking of PCL films. The results of the UTM, DMA, and TMA revealed that the thermal and mechanical properties of the crosslinked PCL films were greatly improved in comparison to those of the pure PCL. The results of the enzymatic degradation test revealed that the biodegradability of the crosslinked PCL films was reduced in comparison to that of the pure PCL.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2000

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends were prepared. Mechanical properties, thermal property, water absorption, biodegradability by composting and surface morphology of PCL/TPS blends were investigated. The compositions of PCL/TPS blends were 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, 20/80, and 10/90. Strength and elongation at break decreased as the content of TPS increased, while modulus increased. DSC thermogram of TPS showed two glass transition temperatures (T$_{g}$ ) at 23$^{\circ}C$ and 126$^{\circ}C$. And TPS proved to be an amorphous polymer because there was no endothermic peak due to the melting of starch crystal. The unchanged melting temperatures and T$_{g}$ 's of PCL/TPS blends revealed that PCL and TPS were not miscible. All of the blends were found to be mechanically compatible but phase separated in each other. After 45 days composting, the biodegradability of PCL was 44% and that of PCL/TPS blends increased as the contents of TPS increased.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.278-285
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• 2021

This study produces electroconductive polycaprolactone (PCL)-based film with different amounts of graphene (G) through electrospinning, and the characteristics of the produced G/PCL composites are investigated. The G/PCL results are analyzed by comparing them with those obtained using pure PCL electrospun film as a control. The morphology of electrospun material is analyzed through scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Mechanical and electrical properties are also evaluated. Composites containing 1 % graphene have the highest elongation rate, and 5 % samples have the highest strength and elasticity. Graphene contents > 25 % show electro-conductivity, which level improves with increase of graphene content. Biological characteristics of G/PCL composites are assessed through behavioral analysis of neural cell attachment and proliferation. Cell experiments reveal that compositions < 50 % show slightly reduced cell viability. Moreover, graphene combinations facilitated cell proliferation compared to pure PCL. These results confirm that a 25 % G/PCL composition is best for application to systems that introduce external stimuli such as electric fields and electrodes to lead to synergistic efficiency of tissue regeneration.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2007

Uniform microcapsules containing ionic model drugs were prepared by controlling various conditions of emulsification procedure using a lab-scale membrane emulsification system with a SPG (Shirasu porous glass) tubular membrane. We observed the effects of various emulsification parameters [concentration and molecular weight of polycaprolatone (PCL) polymer, transmembrane pressure and emulsifier concentration in disperse phase and continuous phase, stirring speed] on the mean size and size ditribution of microcapsules containing lidocaine hydrochloride (cationic drug), sodium salicylate (nonionic drug) and 4-acetaminophen (anionic drug) used as a model drugs. Also, release characteristics of a model drugs from PCL microcapsules were investigated. Controlling membrane emulsification parameters, uniform PCL microcapsules with about $5\;{\mu}m$ of the mean size were finally prepared. The release rate and the burst effect of microcapsules were decreased in condition of the acidic solution, but it was increased in condition of the base solution.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.306-313
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• 2000

Polycaprolactone (PCL) macromer containing terminal methacrylate group was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The number average molecular weight of PCL macromer was 11600 g/mole and polydispersity index was 1.09. The synthesized PCL macromer was copolymerized with styrene by stable free radical polymerization using 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO), benzoyl peroxide, and well-defined poly(styrene-g-caprolactone)s were synthesized. The synthesized copolymers was characterized by $^1$H-NMR and gel permeation chromatography equipped with multiangle laser light scattering detector. Thermal properties of graft copolymers were investigated by DSC.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.628-634
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• 2014

In this study, a new paint which is able to resist the cavitation erosion is tried to be developed by using urethane added with polyol such as poly propylene glycol(PPG), poly carbonate diol(PCD), polycaprolactone polyol (PCL-1), and poly caprolactone-tetramethylene gylcolether polyol(PCL-2). The new paint synthesized by adding polyol was characterized with physical properties and resistivity to cavitation erosion. Among polyol, the prepolymer added with PCD showed high hardness and wear resistance. However, due to too high in viscosity, the prepolymer added with PCL-1 was selected as a paint. The paint added with PCL-1 showed high resistivity to cavitation erosion and its surface was monitored by using Scanning Electron Microscope.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.157-161
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• 2011

For the fabrication of multifunctional biopolymer nanocomposites in the combination of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), recently increasing attention has been paid to an effective homogenization of CNTs within polymer matrices and a fine tuning of the concentration. We developed an efficient method to produce homogeneous CNT-polycaprolactone nanocomposites with various and controllable CNT concentrations using an ionically-modified multi-walled CNT, MWCNT-Cl. The modified MWCNTs could be homogeneously dispersed in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Polycaprolactone (PCL) as a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer was smoothly dissolved in the homogeneous MWCNT-Cl/THF solution without agglomeration of MWCNT-Cl. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the resultant nanocomposites were examined and the biological usefulness was briefly assessed.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.418-425
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• 2015

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) have been considered as useful materials for orthopedic devices and osseous implants because of their biocompatibility and bone-forming activity. However, PCL-based scaffolds have hydrophobic surfaces reducing initial cell adhesion or proliferation. To overcome the limitation, we fabricated surface-modified PCL/BCP nanofibers using gamma-irradiation for bone tissue engineering. PCL/BCP nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and then we supplemented hydrophilicity by introducing acrylic acid (AAc) through gamma-irradiation. We confirmed the surface of nanofibers by SEM, and then the initial viability of MG63 was significantly increased on the AAc grafted nanofibers, and alkaline phosphatase activity($1.239{\pm}0.226nmole/{\mu}g/min$) improved on the modified nanofibers than that on the non-modified nanofibers($0.590{\pm}0.286nmole/{\mu}g/min$). Therefore, AAc-grafted nanofibers may be a good tool for bone tissue engineering applications.