• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 2002

Several methods have been used to synthesize polymer-clay nanocomposites. In-situ polymerization with clay belongs to a classical way to develop nano-structured materials, while melt intercalation is being recognized as another useful approach due to its versatility and environmentally benign character. In this research, we prepared polymer-clay nanocomposites based on the poly (methyl methacrylate) and organically modified montmorillonite via two-stage sonication process. According to the unique mode of power ultrasonic wave, the sonication during processing led to enhanced breakup of the clay agglomerates and reduction in size of the dispersed phase. Optimum conditions to form stable exfoliated nanocomposites were studied for various compositions and conditions. It was found that a novel attempt carried out in this study yielded further improvement in the mechanical performance of the nanocomposites compared to those produced by the conventional melt mixing process, as revealed by DMA, XRD and TEM. And rheological properties of nanocomposites were measured by ARES. As a result, sonicated PMMA-clay nanocomposites exhibits enhanced properties such as storage modulus and thermal stability than that of neat PMMA.

• The Korean Journal of Rheology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 1999

Melt blends of polyamide 6 (PA 6) with polyester elastomer (PEL) were prepared in a corotating twin screw extruder using two types of coupling agent(CA), viz. diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 1,4-phenylene bis(2-oxazoline) (PBO). Notched impact strength of PA 6 as well as PA 6/PEL blends increased with the addition of coupling agent, especially with DGEBA and the maximum impact toughening of the blend was obtained with 0.6%(by mol) DGEBA, where a minimum domain size was observed from SEM. Melt viscosities of the untreated blends were higher than those of base resins at low frequencies. Viscosities of base resins as well as blends increased with the addition of CA, and the effect was much more pronounced with DGEBA, especially for PA 6 and PA 6-rich blends.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.502-507
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• 2003

The thermal and physical properties of low density polyethylene melt-blended with Metallocene linear low density polyethylenes were investigated. Since the Metallocene polyethylenes have similar MW and MWD except m-LLDPE4, it can be said that the thermal behavior and mechanical properties of the blends depend upon the l-octene comonomer content. The melting behavior of LDPE/m-LLDPE1 blends shows two melting peaks with LDPE contents higher than 50%, while the other blends show only one melting peak. It was observed that the blends show higher crystallization temperature and higher crystallinity with lower comonomer content. Initial modulus of a blend exhibited the behavior proportional to the crystallinity and the elongation at break of the blends was increased with increasing the m-LLDPE composition. Melt indices of the blends decreased with increasing the comonomer content of Metallocene LLDPE. Melt Index values of the blends show negative deviation.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2004

High intensity ultrasound was irradiated to induce mechano-chemical degradation during melt processing of polycarbonate (PC) and styrene-co-acrylonitrile (SAN) in an intensive mixer. It was found that macroradicals of PC and SAM can be generated during ultrasound assisted melt processing; which, in turn, provides a useful route to achieve in-situ compatibilization for the blends of PC and SAM by their mutual coupling. Effectiveness of compatibilization was assessed by investigating phase morphology and mechanical properties of the blends. It was observed that domain size was reduced and the stability of morphology was well maintained even after annealing treatment of the blends. In audition, the enhancement of mechanical properties such as elongation at break and tensile strength was evident, which added further confirmation on the desirable feature that sonication of melt-blends is able to enhance intermolecular interaction by promoting chemical bonds between dissimilar polymers without use of any compatibilizers.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.333-341
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• 2000

Blends consisting of linear shape polylactic acid and star shape polylactic acid (L-PLLA/S-PLLA) have been prepared by melt and solution blending. The effect of blending method on the thermal properties and crystallization behavior of L-PLLA/S-PLLA blends has been investigated. The molecular weight decrease was revealed both in melt and solution blending. S-PLLA was found to be more stable than L-PLLA in the reduction of molecular weight during the course of blending due to its star shape structure. As a result, broad molecular weight distribution was obtained in solution blending. It was found that melting temperature and glass transition temperature decrease with increasing S-PLLA content. Blending method had large influence on the glass transition temperature of PLLA blends, while less effect on melting temperature. From DSC results, it can be noticed that solution blending is more effective blending method to obtain higher crystallinity than melt blending for S-PLLA and blend with higher S-PLLA content.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.207-217
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• 2009

The discovery of carbon nanotubes(CNTs) has opened up exciting opportunities for the development of novel materials with desirable properties. The superior mechanical properties and excellent electrical conductivity make CNTs a good filler material for composite reinforcement. However, the dispersal of CNTs in a polymer solution or melt is difficult due to their tendency to agglomerate. Many attempts have been made to fully utilize CNTs for the reinforcement of polymeric media. Therefore, different types of polymer/CNTs nanocomposites have been synthesized and investigated. This paper reviews the current progress in the preparation, properties and application of polyamide/CNTs(nylon/CNTs) nanocomposites. The effectiveness of different processing methods has increased the dispersive properties of CNTs and the amelioration of their poor interfacial bonding. Moreover, the mechanical properties are significantly enhanced even with a small amount of CNTs. This paper also discusses how reinforcement with CNTs improves the electrical thermal and optical properties of nylon/CNTs nanocomposites.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.219-219
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• 2006

This study focuses on the effects of dispersion method of a nanoparticle in a polymer matrix such as melt mixing, solution blending, and in-situ polymerization on the physical properties of the nanocomposites. Introduction of a nanoparticle to a polymer resulted in some unusual physical properties. In some cases the nanoparticle played a role of a nucleating agent, leading to decreasing induction time to crystallization. In addition, the dispersion state of the nanoparticle in the polymer matrix also had a significant influence on the physical properties of the nanocomposites. Hence the method of introducing the nanoparticle to the polymer made contribution to the rheological properties of the nanocomposite systems.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.132-132
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• 2006

Filler loading (fiber or particulate) usually increases the melt viscosity of polymers. In contrast, the addition of these fillers and fibrillation of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) jointly decreased the viscosity of polymer melts to lower than those of pure component polymers, filler-loaded or LCP-blended ones; and even decreased the viscosity with increasing filler loading. Termed as rheological hybrid effect, this phenomenon correlated well with the LCP fibrillation in these ternary systems. Research taking fillers of various shapes and sizes showed that the filler addition promoted the LCP fibrillation, depending upon thermodynamic and dynamic factors involved.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.996-999
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• 2008

Aspheric polymer lens fabrication using isothermal compression molding is presented in this paper. Due to increasing definition of an image sensor, higher precision is required by a lens which can be used as a part of an imageforming optical module. Injection molding is a factory standard method for a polymer optical lens. But achievable precision using injection molding has a formidable limitation due to the machining of complex mold structure and melting and cooling down a polymer melt under high pressure condition during forming process. To overcome the precision requirement and limitation using injection molding method, isothermal compression molding is applied to fabrication of a polymer optical lens. The fabrication condition is determined by numerical simulations of temperature distribution and given material properties. Under the found condition, the lens having a high precision can successfully be reproduced and does not show birefringence which results often in optical degradation.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2003

The blends of polypropylene (PP) with glass filled thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP-g) have been prepared by melt mixing techniques at different blend ratios. The thermal, dynamic mechanical, crystalline and morphological characteristics of these blends were investigated. Higher percent crystallinity was observed for 10% level of LCP-g in the blend in comparison to that of other blend ratios. The thermal stability increased with LCP-g concentration in the blend with PP. The variation of storage modulus, stiffness and loss modulus as a function of blend ratios suggested the phase inversion at the 50% level of LCP-g in the blend. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs showed the creation of voids and destruction of the fiber structures during the dynamic mechanical measurements. Processing behavior of the blends depended on the fiber forming characteristics of LCP-g, which again varied with the molding temperatures.