• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.452-461
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• 2002

In this study, the effect of various concentrations of antioxidants on thermo-oxidative degradation of polyamide 6 was investigated. Unstabilized and stabilized polyamides 6 were subjected to long-term oven aging in ambient atmosphere at 70~$160^{\circ}C$. All of specimens were discolored within 100 hr at temperature range of 70~$160^{\circ}C$. Optimum antioxidant concentration was determined from the data of mechanical properties, yellowness index and relative viscosity. The synergistic effect of each primary and secondary antioxidant concentrations was not observed. Yellowing phenomenon was explained by using NMR, IR and EA. Different carbonyl groups were detected by $^{13}C$/NMR. During thermooxidative degradation, oxygen consumptions were determined by EA. The lifetime after long-term aging was predicted using Arrhenius equation.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2014

Among many types of flame retardants, the most available halogen-containing flame retardants were put under environmental restrictions in their use, so non-halogen type phosphorus-based flame retardants have come into the spotlight. When added to resins, flame retardants commonly bring about thermal degradation and decrease in mechanical properties of resins. Studies of new flame retardants were carried out in an attempt to minimize degradation of physical properties and require enough flame retardancy. In this study, three types of non-halogen phosphorus-based flame retardants were synthesized with diaryl alkyl phosphate esters, aromatic phosphate esters and phosphonium nitron flame retardants, which were then identified for the synthesis and thermal properties by gas chromatography (GC), IR and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.121-128
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• 2002

A series of thermoplastic polymers and their blends were melt-processed with high intensity ultrasonic wave in an intensive mixer. For the effective transfer of ultrasonic energy, an experimental apparatus was specially designed so that polymer melt can directly contact with ultrasonic horn. It was observed that significant variations in the rheological properties of polymers occur due to the unique action of ultrasonic wave without any aid of chemical additives. It was also found that the direct sonication on immiscible polymer blends in melt state reduces the domain sizes considerably and stabilizes the phase morphology of the blends. The degree of compatibilization was strongly affected by viscosity ratio of the components and the morphology was stable after annealing in properly compatibilized blends. It is suggested that ultrasound assisted melt mixing can lead to in-situ copolymer formation between the components and consequently provide an effective route to compatibilize immiscible polymer blends.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.245-268
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• 2012

Results of isothermal torsional oscillation tests are reported on melts of linear low density polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene. Prior to rheological tests, specimens were annealed at various temperatures ranging from $T_a$ = 180 to $310^{\circ}C$ for various amounts of time (from 30 to 120 min). Thermal treatment induced degradation of the melts and caused pronounced decreases in their molecular weights. With reference to the concept of transient networks, constitutive equations are developed for the viscoelastic response of polymer melts. A melt is treated as an equivalent network of strands bridged by junctions (entanglements and physical cross-links). The time-dependent response of the network is modelled as separation of active strands from and merging of dangling strands with temporary nodes. The stress-strain relations involve three adjustable parameters (the instantaneous shear modulus, the average activation energy for detachment of active strands, and the standard deviation of activation energies) that are determined by matching the dependencies of storage and loss moduli on frequency of oscillations. Good agreement is demonstrated between the experimental data and the results of numerical simulation. The study focuses on the effect of molecular weight of polymer melts on the material constants in the constitutive equations.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 1973

The mechanical degradation of poly (-vinylacetate) in several mixed solvents (dioxane-n-butanol, dioxane-sec-butanol, dioxane-ethyleneglycol, dioxane-kerosene.) was studied using the capillary flow method. The velocity constant of scission reaction (k) and the limited degree of polymerization (g) were compared at the same value of [${\eta}$], which is considered as the parameter of molecular dimension of polymers in solution. As result, (k) did not change much, even if the species and the volume fraction of poor (non-) solvents changed, while the value of (g) changed according to the species of poor solvents and the value of [${\eta}$]. From the facts described above, It follows that the limited degree of polymerization (g) were affected by the composition and distribution of mixed solvent molecules around the polymer chain, and the value of $\alpha$ (at [${\eta}$] = $KM^a$) in the polymer solution.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.683-689
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• 2018

To evaluate equipment survivability of the polymer Viton, used in sealing materials, the effects of its thermal degradation were investigated in severe accident (SA) environment in a nuclear power plant. Viton specimens were prepared and thermally degraded at different SA temperature profiles. Changes in mechanical properties at different temperature profiles in different SA states were investigated. The thermal lag analysis was performed at calculated convective heat transfer conditions to predict the exposure temperature of the polymer inside the safety-related equipment. The polymer that was thermally degraded at postaccident states exhibited the highest change in its mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elongation.

• Composites Research
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.33-40
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• 2003

The initial thermal degradation of polymer matrix composite is not observed easily. At the beginning of thermal degradation of polymer matrix composites, phase transformation such as chain scission, oxidation occur, and then micro delamination is produced in matrix and interface between matrix and fiber before blistering. Initial heat damage deteriorate mechanical properties of composites. We presented the detection method of the initial heat damage of composites conveniently using ultrasonic technique. Absorption coefficient and material velocity was measured with thermal degradation and degree of cure. The more thermal degradation was progressed, the more absorption coefficient was increased. When the cure temperature is more high, the absorption coefficient of cured composite is increased and material velocity is decreased. We concluded that cure temperature is more high, the defects such as void is increased and molecular structure cured at high temperature has cross-linking structure which is more absorb the ultrasonic waves.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2004

Water-soluble chitosan micro spheres were prepared by emulsification of chitosan solution in mineral oil followed by cross linking reaction with different amount of the cross linking agent (glutraraldehyde), different chitosan concentration. Then, the physicochemical properties such as morphological change by degradation, drug loading efficiency, and drug release profiles were investigated with the drug loaded water-soluble chitosan microspheres. Norfloxacin loaded water-soluble chitosan micro spheres showed excellent drug entrapping capacities without burst release caused by surface bound drug. The absence of the surface bound drug also confirmed by X-ray diffraction study. Degradation and drug release studies showed that the amount of the crosslinking agent played a crucial role for drug loading, release and degradation. The water-soluble chitosan micro spheres showed more sustained drug release profiles with slower degradation and larger particle size by increasing crosslinking agent.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2005

The hydrolytic behavior of microbial poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]](P(3HB)) has been studied by using two model systems, Langmuir monolayer and solution-grown single crystals (SCs), for elucidating the mechanism for both alkaline and enzymatic degradations. An initial degradation of SCs of P(3HB) leads to breakup lamellae parallel to their short axis (b-axis). Similarly, ridge formation on the lamellar surface appears along the b-axis at lower quenching temperature than melting temperature. Both results support that the lamellar crystals contain less-ordered and more thermally sensitive regions along the b-axis. Although the enzymatic hydrolysis of P(3HB) monolayers was similar to its alkaline one, the enzymatic degradation of P(3HB) monolayers occurred at higher constant surface pressure than the alkaline degradation. This behavior might be attributed to the size of enzymes which is much larger than that of alkaline ions; that is, the enzymes need larger contact area with monolayers to be activated.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2018

The degradation mechanism and physical properties of an FKM O-ring were observed with thermal aging in this experiment. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, we could observe carbon (285 eV), fluoro (688 eV), and oxygen (531 eV) peaks. Before thermal aging, the concentration of fluoro atoms was 51.23%, which decreased to 8.29% after thermal aging. The concentration of oxygen atoms increased from 3.16% to 20.39%. Under thermal aging, the FKM O-ring exhibited debonding of the fluoro-bond by oxidation. Analysis of the C1s, O1s, and F1s peaks revealed that the degradation reaction usually occurred at the C-F, C-F2, and C-F3 bonds, and generated a carboxyl group (-COOH) by oxidation. Due to the debonding reaction and decreasing mobility, the glass transition temperature of the FKM O-ring increased from $-15.91^{\circ}C$ to $-13.79^{\circ}C$. From the intermittent CSR test, the initial sealing force was 2,149.6 N, which decreased to 1,156.2 N after thermal aging. Thus, under thermal aging, the sealing force decreased to 46.2%, compared with its initial state. This phenomenon was caused by the debonding reaction and decreasing mobility of the FKM O-ring. The S-S curve exhibited a 50% increase in modulus, with break at a low strain and stress state. This was also attributed to the decreasing mobility due to thermal aging degradation.