• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2018

Styrene-butadiene Rubber (SBR) Latex composites, incorporated with cellulose/starch-silica hybrids synthesized by gel-adsorption method, were filled into rubber by the latex compounding method. The structure morphology, mechanical properties, and thermodynamic properties of gel-silica hybrids were characterized. The states of hybrids which used as fillers were also characterized by SEM. As the fillers ratio increased, the difference for storage modulus of samples had been morphology by rubber process analyzer (RPA). Then, as more fillers ratio was filled into the matrix, the best tensile strength result, and the largest modulus value were also proved by UTM and RPA. As for thermal stability, increase in the ratio of fillers led to higher initial decomposition temperature, which was also proved by TGA. The swelling ratio of samples has also been characterized. From the results of all the tests, cellulose-silica hybrid showed the best results as a filler, and the best filling ratio of this hybrid is about 10 phr, which has the best storage modulus and great tensile strength.

• Carbon letters
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• v.27
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• pp.72-80
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• 2018

In the present work, a comparative study of the mechanical behavior of two series of elastomeric composites, based on carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber (X-SBR) and reinforced with rice bran carbon (RBC) and graphite, is reported. Hybrid composites of X-SBR filled with RBC-graphite were also investigated in terms of the cure characteristics, hardness, tensile properties, abrasion resistance, and swelling. It was observed that the cure times decreased with the incorporation of a carbon filler whereas the torque difference, tensile strength, tensile modulus, hardness, and swelling resistance increased compared to the neat X-SBR revealing a favorable characteristic of crosslinking. Dynamic rheological analysis showed that the G' values of the composites, upon the addition of RBC-graphite, were changed to some extent. This demonstrates that the presence of a strongly developed network of fillers will ensure a reinforcing characteristic in a polymer matrix.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2018

Maillard reaction products like melanoidins present in industrial fermentation wastewaters are complex compounds with various functional properties. In this work, novel ultrafiltration (UF) mixed matrix membrane (MMM) composed of polysulfone (PSF) and nanocomposites was prepared through a phase inversion process for the recovery of melanoidins. Nanocomposites were prepared with acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the reinforcing filler for chitosan-thermoplastic starch blend. Higher nanocomposites content in the PSF matrix reduced the membrane permeability and melanoidins retention indicating tighter membrane with surface defects. The membrane surface defects could be sealed with dilute polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. The best performing membrane (1% nanocomposites in 18% PSF membrane sealed with 0.25% PVA coating) resulted in uniform melanoidins retention of 98% and permeability of 3.6 L/m2 h bar over a period of 8h. This demonstrates a low fouling PSF membrane for high melanoidins recovery.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2023

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a material whose mechanical properties change according to the phase separation of its unique internal microstructure and is therefore used in various industries. Use of TPU as composites helps in improving the desirable characteristics and properties in accordance with usage. Eco-friendly fillers one of the fillers are on the rise and those are mostly used for reinforcing role. Suberin, which can be extracted from cork, is the main component of cork. It is known to serve high damping property of elastomer composite. The original chemical structure of Suberin is an aliphatic polyester aggregate. In this research, Suberin is obtained after depolymerization into an oligomer having 2 or 3 ester bonds through alkaline hydrolysis. The extracted suberin was added to the matrix which is thermoplastic polyurethane as an eco-friendly filler for improving vibration damping property. As a result, when 10 wt% of suberin was added into thermoplastic polyurethane the existing trade-off relationship was overcome. And it is attained the elastic modulus and damping factor at room temperature improving 92 and 59%, respectively, compared to the original matrix. Those results are from the interaction between the microstructure of TPU and suberin.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.254-258
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• 2013

Polypropylene films reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets were fabricated by extrusion, and the effects of filler type and take-up speed on the mechanical properties and microstructure of composite films were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the addition of carbon nanomaterials resulted in increased degree of crystallinity. However, increasing the take-up speed reduced the degree of crystallinity, which indicates that tension-induced orientations of polymer chains and carbon nanomaterials and the loss of degree of crystallinity due to rapid cooling at high take-up speeds act as competing mechanisms. These observations were in good agreement with tensile properties, which are governed by the degree of crystallinity, where the C-grade exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet with a surface area of $750m^2/g$ showed the greatest reinforcing effect among all types of carbon nanomaterials used. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to observe the carbon nanomaterial dispersion and orientation, respectively.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.147-156
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• 2008

In this work, epoxy/carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitirile (EP/CTBN) composites were prepared by employing a reinforcing filler, silica treated with silane coupling agent in different ratio by dry and wet method. Their curing characteristics, surface free energy, interface morphologies and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and impact resistance were carefully investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) results showed that curing temperature was lowered with the increase of silane coupling agent because of the increase of relative curing agent cotent by filling the pores of silica. Wet method was proved to be more effective for lowering curing temperature of EP/CTBN composite. In general, surface free energy and impact resistance were increased with the increase of silane coupling agent in this work. Tensile strength, however, was observed to be decreased at 4 wt% of silane coupling agent. It was found that the dry method was proved to be preferable for pretreatment of silica with coupling agent.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.8-11
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• 2018

Sheet molding compound (SMC) is one of the most economical fiber reinforced composite fabrication processing for automotive applications. In this study, we studied the optimum formulation for the production of SMC which shows low specific gravity without lowering the mechanical properties by using glass bubble (GB) which is a low specific gravity filler and glass fiber (GF) as a reinforcing material. The tensile strength increased with the increase of the GF in the SMC, and the specific gravity decreased with the increase of the GB. The synergistic effect of improving the mechanical properties as the specific gravity is lowered is found in the optimum formulation. The synergy effect was confirmed by the internal structure analysis that the dispersion effect of the crack propagation of the GB and the improvement of the binding force between the fiber and the matrix due to the incorporation of the GB.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.204-210
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• 2013

Effects of additives (lubricant and antioxidant) and melt-blending condition (temperature, time and rotor speed) on the mechanical properties of polypropylene-based wood polymer composites (WPCs) were investigated. WPCs were prepared by melt-blending followed by compression molding. To understand melt-blending procedure, torque change of the WPC melt-blend was monitored. Maleic anhydride modified PP and nanoclay were used as a compatibilizer and a reinforcing filler, respectively. UTM and izod impact tester were used to measure the mechanical properties of the WPCs and a color-difference meter was used to measure the discoloration of the WPCs according to melt-blending condition. The mechanical properties showed that the optimized melt-blending condition was $170^{\circ}C$, 15 min, and 60 rpm. The mechanical properties of the WPCs decreased with increasing lubricant and antioxidant content. The two step method, adding wood flour later separately during melt-blending, was more effective than the typical one step method for improving the mechanical properties of the WPCs.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.335-344
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• 1998

In this study, the tearing energy and the rate of crack propagation of natural rubber (NR) compounds were evaluated to improve the crack resistance of tank-track pads. Although the factors affecting the crack resistance properties of NR compounds are various in this experiment, the effects of filler(carbon black) and the crosslinking system were evaluated. When the amount of accelerator is equal to that of sulfur( eg. efficient vulcanization), the compound shows the most excellent in the aged mechanical properties and the crack resistance properties. The ISAF carbon black(CB) having a good reinforcing characteristics was better than any other CB grades in physical properties and processablity. The optimum content was 50phr.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2009

The effects of reinforcing materials on durability and mechanical properties of V-rib belt were investigated. Cotton fiber and ZnO were used as a filler for CR, and cotton and aramid fiber were used for EPDM rubber compounds. These materials were prepared as a specimen and V-rib belt for heat resistant and mechanical test. High contents of ZnO give improved wear resistance, and higher contents of cotton fiber showed higher durability in high rotation speed but lower wear resistance for CR rubber compounds. Using the aramid and cotton fiber together in EPDM rubber compounds, thermal and wear resistance were improved simultaneously. The material containing EPDM matrix showed better durability and wear resistance than those of containing CR matrix comparing in the same cotton fiber contents.