• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.7-8
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• 2006

Interest in "nanotechnology" has triggered the question whether new materials can be obtained blending nanosized particles with polymers. This contribution considers modification of polymer properties by nanoscale particles, stabilization of polymer properties by nanoscale particles, stabilization of nanoscale particles against Ostwald-ripening and agglomeration, synthesis of nanoscale particles assisted by polymers and effects of such particles on polymerization mechanisms.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.51-65
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• 2001

Two-stage emulsion polymerizations of hydrophobic monomers on hydrophilic seed polymer particles were carried out to make core-shell composite particles. It was found that the loci of polymerization in the second stage were the surface layer of the hydrophilic seed latex particles, and that it has resulted in the formation of either eccentric core-shell particles with the core exposed to the aqueous phase or aggregated nonspherical composite particles with the shell attached on the seed surface as many small separated particles. The driving force of these phenomena is related to the gain in free energy of the system in going from the hydrophobic polymer-water interface to hydrophilic polymer-water interface. Thermodynamic analysis of the present polymerization system, which was based on spreading coefficients, supported the likely occurrence of such nonspherical particles due to the combined effects of interfacial free energies and phase separation between the two polymer phases. A hypothetical pathway was proposed to prepare hydrophilic core-hydrophobic shell composite latex particles, which is based on the concept of opposing driving and resistance forces for the phase migration. It was found that the viscosity of the monomer-swollen polymer phase played important role in the formation of particle morphology.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2006

When the monodisperse polystyrene(PS)/HDDA polymer particles were synthesized via one-step polymerization using polystyrene seed particles by dispersion polymerization, the effects of 1) the molecular weight of seed polymer particles, 2) the ratio of the absorbed HDDA to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio) and 3) seeded polymerization rate on the surface morphology of PS/HDDA polymer particles were investigated. It was observed that the creation of the crater shaped defect on the surface of PS/HDDA polymer particles was irrespective of the molecular weight of seed polymer ant swelling ratio. But its surface morphology could be controlled by the change of the seeded polymerization rate.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2010

In this paper, we describe a new method to form polymer thin films, in which carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are homogeneously distributed so that they can strengthen the mechanical property of resulting polymer film. To do so, we first homogeneously mixed CNTs with polymer in a DMF solvent. With the assistance of ultrasonic nebulizer, the polymer/CNT solution was then aerosolized into micro-sized droplets and finally turned into solidified polymer/CNT composite particles by gas-phase drying process. As the results of SEM and TEM analysis, CNTs were found to be homogeneously immobilized in the polymer matrix particles due to rapid drying process in the gas phase. For comparison purpose, (i) the polymer/CNTs composite particles prepared by aerosol processing method and (ii) polymer/CNTs sheets prepared by simple solution-evaporation method were employed to form polymer/CNTs composite thin films using a hot press. As the result, the aerosol processing of composite particles was found to be a much more effective method to form homogeneously distributed-CNTs in the polymer matrix thin film.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.410-416
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• 2007

Monodisperse polymer particles were prepared via one- step seeded polymerization using PMMA as seed particles, and HDDA, triEGDMA or EGDMA as crosslinking monomer. For the study, the effects of 1) the ratio of the absorbed monomer to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio), 2) the characteristics of crosslinking monomer, 3) electroless Ni plating, and 4) electroless Au Plating on the variation of mechanical properties of polymer particles, such as recovery rate, K-values, breaking strength and breaking displacement were investigated by using MCT (micro compression test). It was observed that swelling ratio of polymer particles influenced only on breaking strength of polymer Particles, while electroless plating did on recovery rate, K-values ($K_{10}\;and\;K_{20}$) and breaking strength of electroless plated polymer particles. However, breaking displacement and K-values ($K_{30}{\sim}K_{50}$) were more or less insensitive to electroless plating.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1988

The variation of electrical resistivity of silver particle-filled polymers with the volume percent of silver particles was investigated. Also, the relationships between the surface tension of polymer and dispersion effect of silver particles were studied to find the steep drop of electrical resisivity, in view of agglomerate morphology. The critical volume precent of silver particles varied depending on the polymer species and increased with the increasing surface tension of polymer. The steep variation of resistivity with the increasing temperature was explained with the expansion of polymer at the melting temperature of polymer. The conductive break down current increased with the increasing volume percent of silver particles in the Ag/LDPE system and that was attributed to heat of Joule taken througn the contact area between the silver particle.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.637-643
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• 2008

A combination of magnetic and temperature-responsive properties in the same polymer composites is expected to increase their potential applications in the biomedical field. Accordingly, micron-sized magnetite/polystyrene/poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate), which are abbreviated as $Fe_3O_4$/PS/P (DM-EGDM) composite polymer particles, were prepared by the seeded copolymerization of DM and EGDM in the presence of magnetite/polystyrene ($Fe_3O_4$/PS) particles. $Fe_3O_4$/PS/P(DM-EGDM) composite particles with magnetic properties showed a temperature-sensitive phase transition at approximately $31^{\circ}C$. The adsorption behavior of the low molecular weight emulsifiers and trypsin (TR) as biomolecules were examined on $Fe_3O_4$/PS/P(DM-EGDM) composite polymer particles at different temperatures. The native conformation of TR was followed by measuring the specific activity under various adsorption conditions. The activity of the adsorbed TR on composite polymer particles was higher than those of the tree TR and TR adsorbed on $Fe_3O_4$/PS particles.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.825-827
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• 2002

The polymer encapsulation of white inorganic $TiO_2$ pigment particles was prepared by a two stage dispersion polymerization technique for applications in electrophoretic displays (EPDs). In order to give functionality for inorganic pigment particles in the EPD, we have investigated the density of the polymer encapsulated $TiO_2$ particles. The average density of the polymer encapsulated $TiO_2$ particles was 2.2 at 25$^{\circ}C$. The average density of the polymer encapsulated $TiO_2$ particles is suitable to 1.7, due to density matching with suspending media. Therefore, we will attempt density compatibility of dispersion polymerization technique for encapsulation of $TiO_2$ particles in suspending media.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.995-997
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• 2003

In this study, we have investigated the positively charged polymer particles using emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization for applications in electrophoretic displays. The FT-IR, Zeta potential and SEM characteristics showed that by emulsifier-free polymerization, the positively charged polymer particles were manufactured. Using these particles, we can obtain well-dispersed white latex particles in dielectric suspending media.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2007

The most recent developments in two areas: (a) synthesis of inorganic particles with control over size and shape by polymer additives, and (b) synthesis of inorganic-polymer hybrid materials by bulk polymerization of blends of monomers with nanosized crystals are reviewed. The precipitations of inorganics, such as zinc oxide or calcium carbonate, in presence and under the control of bishydrophilic block or comb copolymers, are relevant to the field of Biomineralization. The application of surface modified latex particles, used as controlling agents, and the formation of hybrid crystals in which the latex is embedded in otherwise perfect crystals, are discussed. The formation of nano sized spheres of amorphous calcium carbonate, stabilized by surfactant-like polymers, is also discussed. Another method for the preparation of nanosized inorganic functional particles is the controlled pyrolysis of metal salt complexes of poly(acrylic acid), as demonstrated by the syntheses of lithium cobalt oxide and zinc/magnesium oxide. Bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate blends, with for example, nanosized zinc oxide, revealed that the mechanisms of tree radical polymerization respond to the presence of these particles. The termination by radical-radical interaction and the gel effect are suppressed in favor of degenerative transfer, resulting in a polymer with enhanced thermal stability. The optical properties of the resulting polymer-particle blends are addressed based on the basic discussion of the miscibility of polymers and nanosized particles.