• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2011

The term 'thermal insulating materials' describes a class of materials which can improve the thermal efficiency by reducing the thermal conduction, convention and radiation between the inside and outside of the system. As a thermal insulating material, numerous industrial applications are possible including the automobile, aerospace, aviation, and petrochemical. Especially, the silica aerogel, with their superior thermal insulating behavior, has been widely used as thermal insulating materials. Because the mechanical properties of the silica aerogel cannot meet the industrial demand, use of the silica aerogel is limited. This article aims to review the thermal insulating materials and silica aerogel, and to introduce the silica aerogel/polymer composites.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2007

MWNTs have been widely investigated due to unique properties of such as good electrical conductivity and thermal stability in polymer composites industries. This paper established the procedure to fabricate PMMA/MWNT composites by a modular intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder with L/D ratio of 42. The electrical properties of PMMA/MWNT composites with different content of MWNT have been investigated. A sheet resistance percolation was observed at 4 wt% of MWNT for the melt processed composites. Sheet resistance of PMMA/MWNT composite film containing 4 wt% of MWNT was nearby $10^4{\Omega}/sq$ and this shows the possibility of potential application to EMI (Electronic Magnetic Interference) shielding materials. The characteristics of composites were analyzed by TGA, DSC, and SEM. In addition, MFI (Melt Flow Index) has been measured to analyze the rheological property.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2010

The mechanical properties of PTFE 100%, PTFT 90% + carbon black 10%, PTFE 85% + glass fiber 15%, PTFE 80% + glass fiber 15% + molybdenum disulfide ($MoS_2$) 5%, PTFE 75% + glass fiber 25%, and PTFE 75% + carbon black 18% + graphite 7% composites were investigated in this study. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to examine the heat of fusion(${\Delta}H_f$) and thermal stability of the composites. Also, the wear surface and wear volume of PTFE lip seal were examined using the durability test. Wear surface was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the hardness, wear resistance and durability were enhanced by adding glass fiber and molybdenum disulfide into pure PTFE, but tensile strength and elongation were decreased. According to the experimental results, the composite (PTFE + 15% glass fiber + 5% molybdenum disulfide) showed the best properties for applying to oil-seal among six types of PTFE composites.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.2-6
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• 2010

The sizing treatments of PAN-based carbon fiber surfaces were carried out in order to improve the interfacial adhesion in the carbon fibers/nylon6 composite system. The parameter to characterize the wetting performance and surface free energy of the sized fibers were determined by a contact angle method. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were investigated using critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$). The cross-section morphologies of sized CFs/nylon6composites were observed by SEM. As the experimental results, it was observed that silane-based sizing treated carbon fibers showed higher surface free energies than other sizing treatments. In particular, the KIC of the sizing-treated carbon fibers reinforced composites showed higher values than those of untreated carbon fibers-reinforced composites. This result indicated that the increase in the surface free energy of the fibers leads to the improvement of the mechanical interfacial properties of carbon fibers/nylon6 composites.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.764-769
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• 2013

Starch was grafted by poly(methyl methacrylate) through the emulsion polymerization method. Modified starch/(acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber) (NBR) compounds were prepared by a latex blend method. The morphology, thermal properties and mechanical properties of the modified starch/carbon black/NBR composites were investigated with the change of starch concentration. The mechanical properties of the composites were improved by the addition of modified starch. But, when the concentration of modified starch was higher than 40 phr, the mechanical properties were deteriorated due to the poor dispersion of modified starch. At the same ratio of starch to carbon black, the composite showed a synergistic reinforcing effect by the good dispersion and high cross-linking density. In addition, the tensile strength, storage modulus, hardness, swelling and other properties were the best.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2017

Multi-Axial Testing System (MATS) is a 6-DOF loading system located at National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) in Taiwan for advanced seismic testing of structural components or sub-assemblages. MATS was designed and constructed for a large variety of structural testing, especially for the specimens that require to be subjected to vertical and longitudinal loading simultaneously, such as reinforced concrete columns and lead rubber bearings. Functionally, MATS consists of a high strength self-reacting frame, a rigid platen, and a large number of servo-hydraulic actuators. The high strength self-reacting frame is composed of two post-tensioned A-shape reinforced concrete frames interconnected by a steel-and-concrete composite cross beam and a reinforced concrete reacting base. The specimen can be anchored between the top cross beam and the bottom rigid platen within a 5-meter high and 3.25-meter wide clear space. In addition to the longitudinal horizontal actuators that can be installed for various configurations, a total number of 13 servo-hydraulic actuators are connected to the rigid platen. Degree-of-freedom control of the rigid platen can be achieved by driving these actuators commanded by a digital controller. The specification and information of MATS in detail are described in this paper, providing the users with a technical point of view on the design, application, and limitation of MATS. Finally, future potential application employing advanced experimental technology is also presented in this paper.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.27.1-27.12
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• 2019

This case report describes a technique in which endodontic treatment and permanent indirect restoration were completed in the same clinical appointment with the aid of a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system. Two patients were diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis of the mandibular first molar. After access preparation, root canals were located, irrigation was performed until bleeding ceased, and the coronal tooth structure was prepared for indirect restoration. Then, utilizing an interim 3-mm build-up of the endodontic access cavity, a hemi-arch digital scan was performed with an intraoral scanner. Subsequent to digital scanning, restoration design was performed simultaneously with the endodontic procedure. The root canals were shaped using the Race system under irrigation with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite followed by root canal filling. The pulp chamber was subsequently filled with a 3-mm-thick composite resin restoration mimicking the interim build-up previously utilized to facilitate block milling in the CAD/CAM system. Clinical try-in of the permanent onlay restoration was followed by acid etching, application of a 5th generation adhesive, and cementation of the indirect restoration. Once the restoration was cemented, rubber dam isolation was removed, followed by occlusal adjustment and polishing. After 2 years of follow-up, the restorations were esthetically and functionally satisfactory, without complications.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.165-183
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• 2022

Most transportation departments have recognized and developed procedures to address the ever-increasing weights of trucks traveling on bridges in a service today. Transportation agencies also recognize the issues with overheight vehicles' collisions with bridges, but few stakeholders have definitive countermeasures. Bridges are becoming more vulnerable to collisions from overheight vehicles. The exact response under lateral impact force is difficult to predict. In this paper, nonlinear impact analysis shows that the degree of deformation recorded through the modeling of the unprotected vehicle-girder model provides realistic results compared to the observation from the US-61 bridge overheight vehicle impact. The predicted displacements are 0.229 m, 0.161 m, and 0.271 m in the girder bottom flange (lateral), bottom flange (vertical), and web (lateral) deformations, respectively, due to a truck traveling at 112.65 km/h. With such large deformations, the integrity of an impacted bridge becomes jeopardized, which in most cases requires closing the bridge for safety reasons and a need for rehabilitation. We proposed different sacrificial cushion systems to dissipate the energy of an overheight vehicle impact. The goal was to design and tune a suitable energy absorbing system that can protect the bridge and possibly reduce stresses in the overheight vehicle, minimizing the consequences of an impact. A material representing a Sorbothane high impact rubber was chosen and modeled in ANSYS. Out of three sacrificial schemes, a sandwich system is the best in protecting both the bridge and the overheight vehicle. The mitigation system reduced the lateral deflection in the bottom flange by 89%. The system decreased the stresses in the bridge girder and the top portion of the vehicle by 82% and 25%, respectively. The results reveal the capability of the proposed sacrificial system as an effective mitigation system.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2022

Lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted considerable attention as a promising candidate for next-generation power sources due to their high theoretical energy density, low cost, and eco-friendliness. However, the poor electrical conductivity of sulfur and its insoluble discharging products (Li₂S₂/Li₂S), large volume changes, severe self-discharge, and dissolution of lithium polysulfide intermediates result in rapid capacity fading, low Coulombic efficiency, and safety risks, hindering Li-S battery commercial development. In this study, a three-dimensionally (3D) connected hierarchical porous carbon framework (HPCF) derived from waste sunflower seed shells was synthesized as a sulfur host for Li-S batteries via a chemical activation method. The natural 3D connected structure of the HPCF, originating from the raw material, can effectively enhance the conductivity and accessibility of the electrolyte, accelerating the Li⁺/electron transfer. Additionally, the generated micropores of the HPCF, originated from the chemical activation process, can prevent polysulfide dissolution due to the limited space, thereby improving the electrochemical performance and cycling stability. The HPCF/S cell shows a superior capacity retention of 540 mA h g^-1 after 70 cycles at 0.1 C, and an excellent cycling stability at 2 C for 700 cycles. This study provides a potential biomass-derived material for low-cost long-life Li-S batteries.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.258-264
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• 2002

In this work, the influence of thermal treatment on surface properties of silicas and mechanical interfacial properties of silicas/polyurethane composites was investigated. The surface properties of thermally treated silicas were studied in the context of Fourier Transform-IR (FT-IR), solid-state 29Si NMR spectroscopy, and contact angle. And the mechanical interfacial properties of the silica/polyurethane composites were evaluated by composite tearing energy (GIIIC). As a result, it was found that the thermally treated silica surfaces became hydrophobic in nature, due to the condensation of surface hydroxyls and the formation of siloxane bonds, resulting in increasing the London dispersive component of surface free energy. From which, the increase of the London dispersive component of the silicas led to an improvement of the dispersion of silicas in a polyurethane matrix, finally resulting in improving the tearing energy (GIIIC) of the silicas/polyurethane composites.