• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2020

The recent trend is increasing towards the usage of polymer matrix composites since they have a wide variety of applications. They have applications in the field of aircraft and space industry, sporting goods, medical devices, marine and automotive applications and also in commercial usage. The most commonly used fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite is Glass fibre reinforced epoxy (GFRE) composite which is used in aviation, sports and automotive industries. However, the strength of GFRE composites is not adequate for structural applications. Therefore, the current research focuses on increasing the strength of GFRE composites by reinforcing with micro Graphite (Gr) particulates. The Gr used is an ultra-fine powder with particle size 250 ㎛. Gr is known to have good wear resistance, thermal conductivity and can operate at high temperatures. Gr particulates are mixed with the epoxy matrix in various weight ratios. Hand-lay technique is used for fabricating the composites. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, compressive strength and flexural strength are obtained experimentally to study the effect of change in Gr content (0-5 wt. %). The tests were done as per ASTM standards.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 1993

Composites of styrene polymers with woody fibers were prepared, and the effect of compatibilizers on their mechanical properties was evaluated. To improve the compatibility of wood fibers and the matrix polymers, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer(SMA) and maleic anhydride-modified polymers were used as compatibilizers. As results, maleic anhydride-modified polystyrene and SMA were proved to improve the tensile strength of the molded composites, and also were evaluated as good compatibilizers for the wood fiber polystyrene composite. Cellulosic fiber (dissolving pulp) provided better reinforcement than lignocellulosic fiber(thermomechanical pulp). On the contrary in the case of the composite of wood fiber and acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene copolymer(ABS), SMA and maleic anhydride-modified acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer(MABS) did not act as compatibilizers. However, MABS was evaluated as a good polymer matrix to make wood fiber reinforced composite. The tensile properties of the composites of wood fiber and MABS were superior than those of wood fiber-ABS composites.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.121-133
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• 2014

Polymer nanocomposites are advanced nanomaterials which exhibit dramatic improvements in various mechanical, thermal and barrier properties as compared with the neat polymer. Polystyrene/ alumina nanocomposites were prepared by an ultrasound-assisted solution casting method at filler loadings ranging from 0.2 to 2% and also at different ultrasonic frequencies, viz. 58 kHz, 192/58 kHz, 430 kHz, 470 kHz and 1 MHz. The composites were subjected to mechanical property tests (tensile and impact tests) and cavitation erosion tests to study the enhancement in functional properties. Filler dispersion in the polymer matrix was observed by SEM analysis. The effect of frequency on filler dispersion in the matrix was studied by SEM analysis and functional property enhancement of the composite material. The composites prepared at dual (high/ low) frequency (192/58 kHz) were found to show better property enhancement at low filler loadings as compared with neat polymer and also with composites prepared without ultrasound, thus reinforcing the finding that ultrasound-assisted synthesis is a promising method for the synthesis of nanocomposites.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.726-734
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• 2014

Three different types of additives, thiokol, epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO), were dispersed in an epoxy matrix before being used in glass fiber (GF) composites, and their effects on the mechanical and dielectric properties of epoxy resin and glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites (GF/EP) were examined. The addition of each of 7 phr ENR, 9 phr ELO and 5 phr thiokol into the epoxy resin increased the fracture toughness significantly by 56.9, 43.1, and 80.0%, respectively, compared to the unmodified resin. The mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of the GF/EP at propagation was also improved by 26.9, 18.3 and 32.7% when each of 7 phr ENR, 9 phr ELO, and 5 phr thiokol, respectively, was dispersed in the epoxy matrix. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the additives reduced crack growth in the GF/EP, whereas their dielectric measurements showed that all these additives had no additional effect on the real permittivity and loss factor of the GF/EP.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.474-480
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• 2014

Process conditions for the impregnation of polycarbosilane preceramic polymer into SiC-based composites were investigated. Two kinds of preceramic polymer (PCP) was impregnated into SiC-fiber fabrics with different solvents of n-hexane and divinylbenzene (DVB). Both microstructural observations and mechanical tests were conducted to evaluate the impregnation. The matrix phases were particulated in the case of hexane solvents. Apparent relative density of the matrix was about 78.8%. The density of matrix was increased to about 96.1-98.8% when the DVB was used; however, brittle fracture was observed during a bending test. The modulus of toughness was less than $0.74J/m^3$. The fabric impregnated with a mixed PCP-dissolved solution showed intermediate characteristics with relative high density of filling (apparent density of ~96.1%) as well as proper bending behavior. The modulus of toughness was increased to about $5.31J/m^3$. The composites developed by changing the precursor and solvent suggested the possibility of fabricating SiCf/SiC composites without a fiber to matrix interphase coating.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.374-381
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• 2000

Composites of polypropylene (PP) and organically modified montmorillonite (org-MMT) were prepared by melt mixing in an intensive mixer. Three grades of PP's having different melt viscosities were employed to investigate the dispersion characteristics of the composites with various org-MMT's. Depending on the matrix viscosity and nature of the interlayer in org-MMT significant variations of the phase structure were found. Under the constant mixing condition and matrix viscosity, intercalation of PP chains into the interlayer of org-MMT was possible when initial interlayer distance and packing density were maintained in the optimum range; by which the loss in entropy associated with the confinement of polymer chains was compensated. The state of org-MMT particle dispersion was improved by increasing the matrix viscosity only in the case that dispersed phase is suitable for intercalation process thermodynamically, otherwise little variation was occurred regardless of the matrix viscosity. Due to the lack of specific interaction between PP and erg-MMT considered here, although the intercalation was possible for an appropriate org-MMT, the composites revealed unstable phase structure upon increasing the mixing time, which was characterized by agglomeration of the org-MMT domains.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.192-201
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• 2018

The use of 3D printing for rapid tooling and manufacturing has promised to produce components with complex geometries according to computer designs and it is emerging as the next generation key of manufacturing. Due to the intrinsically limited mechanical/electrical properties and functionalities of printed pure polymer parts, there is a critical need to develop 3D printable polymer composites with high performance. This article gives a review on 3D printing techniques of polymer composite materials and the properties and performance of 3D printed composite parts as well as their potential applications in the various fields.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.564-570
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• 2000

The waste FRP occured in the fabrication of SMC (sheet molding compound) bathtubs and the waste polyurethane foam occured in electronic manufacture and waste insulator were applied as a soundproof and light weight pannel in the waste FRP unsaturated polyester matrix resin composites to recycle. The effect of filler contents on the mechanical properties and interfacial phenomena of the filler and matrix on the composites was evaluated. The tensile strength of composites reached its maximum value of 82.34 MPa when the filler content was 70 wt%, and the more content of reinforcement is increased, the more tensile modulus was decreased. The flexural strength and modulus of composites, reinforced 70 wt% with filler content, were dominant compared to the other samples to 72.5 MPa, 958.4 MPa respectively. When composite of reinforced 70 wt% with filler content, it was confirmed that pull out phenomena and cracks did not occur in the interface of reinforcement and matrix resin through the SEM observation. Also, waste FRP and urethane foam were dispersed well into matrix resin as filler.

• Polymer Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.284-293
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• 1991

• Polymer Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1999