• Macromolecular Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.120-124
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• 2000

Clay-dispersed nanocomposites have been prepared by simple melt-mixing of two components, styrenic polymers with different content of functional groups and two different organophilic clays (Cloisite(R) 25A and Cloisite(R)30A) with a twin screw extruder. Dispersibility of 10-$\AA$-thick silicate layers of clay in the hybrid was investigated by using an X-ray diffraction method and a transmission electron microscope. It was found that if the interaction force between intercalant and matrix polymer is attractive, the matrix polymer intercalates more rapidly into the gallery of silicate layers. The faster intercalation of matrix polymer leads to the better dispersibility of silicate layers in the matrix polymer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2004

Polymer-clay nanocomposite containing the low amounts of clay shows improved physical, mechanical properties. In this study, allyl ester prepolymer was synthesised by reactions of the diallyl terephthalate monomers and the 1,3-butanediol monomers. Nanocomposites of allyl ester prepolymer and the two kinds of the organically layered silicate were prepared by using the intercalation method as well as the in-situ polymerization method using. By varying the amount of clay content, curing conditions, and feeding conditions. the nanocomposite was studied using X-ray diffraction. From XRD results, allyl ester-Cloisite 30 B nanocomposite made by the in-situ polymerization method shows better exfoliation behavior compared with the intercalation method. It can be said that the transesterification reaction between functional groups (-OH) of intercalant and monomers results in the increased gallery distance. Also mechanical and thermal properties indicate that the dispersity of clay is an important factor for improving physical properties of the nanocomposite.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.1 s.73
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• pp.79-85
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• 2006

Olefinic compatibilized blend(R-PP/R-PE)/layered silicate composites have been prepared by melt intercalation technique directed from $Na^{+}$ montmorillonite(MMT) or organophilic montmorillonites while using magnesium hydroxide as flame retardant. Morphology and flammability properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), thermogravimetry analysis(TGA), limiting oxygen index(LOI), UL94 test. It is found that the compatibilized blend/layered silicate(Cloisite 20A) nanocomposites have a mixed immiscible-intercalated structure and there is better intercalation when a compatibilizer is combined with the polymer and layered silicate to be melt blended. A very large increase in the LOI value was observed with hybrid filler addition and further enhancement in thermal stability and compatibility of blend was obtained for the compatibilized blend containing small amount of layered silicate.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.691-709
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• 2007

Concerns on environmental waste problems caused by non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic packaging materials as well as consumer's demand for high quality food products has caused an increasing interest in developing biodegradable packaging materials using annually renewable natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides and proteins. However, inherent shortcomings of natural polymer-based packaging materials such as low mechanical properties and low water resistance are causing a major limitation for their industrial use. By the way, recent advent of nanocomposite technology rekindled interests on the use of natural biopolymers in the food packaging application. Polymer nanocomposites, especially natural biopolymer-layered silicate nanocomposites, exhibit markedly improved packaging properties due to their nanometer size dispersion. These improvements include increased mechanical strength, decreased gas permeability, and increased water resistance. Additionally, biologically active ingredients can be added to impart the desired functional properties to the resulting packaging materials. Consequently, natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite packaging materials with bio-functional properties have huge potential for application in the active food packaging industry. In this review, recent advances in the preparation and characterization of natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite films, and their potential use in food packaging applications are addressed.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.12 no.2 s.49
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• pp.122-130
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• 2005

Layered silicate was synthesized at hydrothermal condition from silica adding to various materials. Nano-clay was synthesized by intercaltion of various amine compounds into synthetic layered silicate. The products were analysed by XRD, SEM, and FT-IR in order to examine the condition of synthesis and intercalation. From the results, it was confirmed that kaolinite was synthesized from precipitated silica and gibbsite at $220^{\circ}C$ during 10 days, and hetorite was synthesized from silica sol at $100^{\circ}C$ during 48 h. Na-Magadiite was synthesized from silica gel at $150^{\circ}C$ during 72 h, and Na-kenyaite was synthesized from silica gel at $160^{\circ}C$ during 84 h. Nano-clay was prepared using synthetic layered silicate intercalated with various amine compounds. Kenyaite was easily intercalated by various organic compounds, and has the highest basal-spacing value among other layered silicates. Basal-spacing was changed according to the length of alkyl chain of amine comopounds. Polymer can be easily intercalated by dispersion with large space of interlayer. Finally, epoxy/nano-clay nanocomposite can be easily prepared.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Rheology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.27-31
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• 2000

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.691-698
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• 2001

Nanocomposites based on epoxy acid nanoclay were prepared employing organically modified mica type silicate (OMTS), diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) type epoxy. curing agent (dicyandiamide; DICY), and catalyst (benzyl dimethyl amine; BDMA). Both melt mixing and solution mixing were und for the sample preparation and structural developments with curing reaction were analyzed using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Because of the different curing rate between extra-gallery and intra-gallery reactions of epoxy mixtures, only intercalated structure was observed for the sample prepared by melt mixing while fully exfoliated structure was observed for the sample prepared by solution mixing. Mechanical properties of exfoliated epoxy nanocomposite were investigated using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). The dynamic storage modulus of the nanocomposite in both glass and rubbery plateau regions were increased with increasing OMTS contents, but glass transition temperatures ($T_g$) remained unchanged. Thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposite were investigated using thermogravimetric (TGA) and limit oxygen index (LOI) methods. Thermal decomposition onset points and LOI values were increased with increasing OMTS contents due to barrier effects of OMTS sheets.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2009

The cure kinetics of the epoxy-layered, silicate nanocomposites were studied by differential scanning calorimetry under isothermal and dynamic conditions. The materials used in this study were o-cresol novolac epoxy resin and phenol novolac hardener, with organically modified layered silicates. Various kinetic parameters, including the reaction order, activation energy, and kinetic rate constants, were investigated, and the storage stability of the epoxy-layered silicate nanocomposites was measured. To synthesize the epoxy-layered silicate nanocomposites, the phenolic hardener underwent pre-intercalation by layered silicate. From the cure kinetics analyses, the organically modified layered silicate decreased the activation energy during cure reaction in the epoxy/phenolic hardener system. In addition, the storage stability of the nanocomposite with the pre-intercalated phenolic hardener was significantly increased compared to that of the nanocomposite with direct mixing of epoxy, phenolic hardener, and layered silicate. This was due to the protective effect of the reaction between onium ions and epoxide groups.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.418-424
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• 2003

Exfoliated poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene) [P(MMA-co-ST)]/silicate nanocomposites were synthesized through a multistep emulsion polymerization. The methyl methacrylate monomers were polymerized first and then the styrene monomers were polymerized. The nanocomposites had core-shell structures consisting of PMMA (core) and PS (shell); these structures were confirmed by $^1$H NMR spectroscopy and TEM, respectively. P(MMA-co-ST) copolymers showed two molecular weight profiles and two glass transition temperatures (T$_{g}$) in GPC and DMA measurements. At 30 $^{\circ}C$, the nanocomposites exhibited 83 and 91 % increases in their storage moduli relative to the neat copolymer because the silicate layers were dispersed uniformly in the polymer matrix.x.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.425-430
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• 2003

Two types of poly(n-butyl acrylate) copolymer/silicate nanocomposites have been produced: poly(n-butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) [P(BA-co-MMA)]/silicate nanocomposites and poly(n-butyl acrylate-co-styrene) [P(BA-co-ST)]/silicate nanocomposites. The P(BA-co-MMA)/silicate nanocomposites shows the exfoliated structures but a P(BA-co-ST)/silicate nanocomposites have intercalated structures, because the BA/MMA comonomer has a higher polarity (e-value in Q-e scheme) than the BA/ST comonomer. The BA/MMA comonomer expanded the interlayer space of the silicate wider than did the BA/ST comonomer. The thermal degradation onset point of the P(BA-co-MMA)/silicate nanocomposites was 43$^{\circ}C$ higher than that of pure P(BA-co-MMA). P(BA-co-MMA)T5%, P(BA-co-MMA)T10%, and P(BA-co-MMA)T20% exhibit 134,302, and 195% increases, respectively, in their storage moduli at -20$^{\circ}C$ relative to the pure copolymer.