• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.122-132
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• 2001

Thermoplastic film infusion process was investigated by using a rubber tool, which intrinsically contains a thermally-expandable characteristic and effectively compensates for the pressure loss caused by thermoplastic polymer infusion. Increasing temperature up to the melting temperature of matrix, the polymer melt subsequently infused into the dry fabric, but the pressure was successfully sustained by the rubber tool. Even with the decreased resin volume, the rubber tool produced sufficiently high elastic force for continuous resin infusion. Combining D'Arcy's law with the compressibility of rubber tool and elastic fiber bed, a film infusion model was developed to predict the resin infusion rate and pressure change as a function of time. In addition, the film infusion process without the rubber tool was viewed and analyzed by a compression process of the elastic fiber bed and viscous resin melt. The compressibility of fiber bed was experimentally measured and the multiple-step resin infusion was well described by the developed model equations.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2019

Fiber reinforced composites fabricated by the resin film infusion (RFI) process, which is one of the outof-autoclave process, have the advantage of significantly reducing the processing cost in large structures while having excellent mechanical properties and uniform impregnation of the resin. In this study, we applied RFI carbon fiber composites to unmanned aerial vehicle structures to improve structural safety and achieve weight reduction. The tensile test results showed that the strength was 46% higher than that of generic T300 grade plain weave carbon fiber composites. As a result of the layup design and finite element analysis of the composite wing structure using the above material properties, the wing tip deflection is decreased by 31%, the structural safety factor is increased by 28% and the weight of the entire structure can be reduced by more than 10% compared to the reference model using glass fiber composite material.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

The RFI process can be applied to very thick structures without limiting the resin viscosity. When the proper thickness of the resin film cannot be set, the resin film creates either the non-impregnated section or the excessive resin contents and this leads to the deterioration of mechanical properties. Therefore, this study proposed a method for setting the resin film thickness in the RFI process. The fiber compaction behavior test was proposed by setting the proper resin film thickness and the properties of composites were evaluated through short beam shear strength test, compression test and porosity measurement to verify the proposed method. The evaluation of physical properties of composites was conducted and an appropriate level of resin film thickness was found based on the results of fiber compaction behavior test.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.194-203
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• 2002

In resin infusion process(RIP), the fiber and the resin are in contact with each other for an impregnation step and often results in flow-induced defects such as poor fiber wetting and void formation. Resin flow characteristics in transverse direction and process modeling for woven fabric were studied, and the process modeling was applied to the manufacturing of hybrid composite materials. This study also considered the compressibility of woven fabrics in a series of compression force, and it was fitted well to an elastic model equation. Void formation was varied with the processing conditions in the stage of manufacturing composites using RIP. It was concluded from this study that proper combination of pressure build-up and dynamic heating condition makes important factor for flow-induced composite processing.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.395-402
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• 2019

The RFI process is an OoA process that fiber mats and resin films are laminated and cured in a vacuum bag. In case that resin film is insufficient to fill empty space in fibers, it makes void defect in composites and this void decrease mechanical properties of the composites. For this reason, non-destructive testing is usually used to evaluate void of manufactured composites. So, in this study, a manufacturing method of standard void specimens, which are able to be used as references in non-destructive testing, was proposed by controlling resin film thickness in the RFI process. Also, a fiber compaction test was proposed as a method to set the resin film thicknesses depending on target voids of manufacturing panels. The target void panels of 0%, 2%, and 4% were made by the proposed methods, and signal attenuation depending on void was measured by non-destructive testing and image analysis. In addition, voids of specimens for tensile, in-plane, short beam and compressive tests were estimated by signal attenuation, and mechanical properties were evaluated depending on the voids.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.284-294
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• 2006

Statement of problem. Proliferation of Candida albicans is primarily within the plaque on the fitting surface of the denture rather than on the inflamed mucosa. Consequently, the treatment of the denture is equally important as treatment of the tissue. Cleansing and disinfection should be efficiently carried-out as the organisms can penetrate into the voids of the acrylic resin and grow in them, from which they can continue to infect and reinfect bearing tissues. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of photocatalytic reaction to eliminate Candida albicans from acrylic resin denture base, and to investigate the anti-fungal effect with various UVA illumination time. Materials and Methods. The specimens were cured by the conventional method following the manufacturer's instruction using thermal polymerized denture base resin (Vertex RS: Dentimex, Netherlands). $TiO_2$ photocatalyst sol(LT), which is able to be coated at normal temperature, was made from the Ti-alkoxide progenitor. The XRD patterns, TEM images and nitrogen absorption ability of the $TiO_2$ photocatalyst sol(LT) were compared with the commercial $TiO_2$ photocatalyst P-25. The experimental specimens were coated with the mixture of the $TiO_2$ photocatalyst sol(LT) and binder material (silane) using dip-coater, and uncoated resin plates were used as the control group. Crystallinity of $TiO_2$ of the specimen was tested by the XRD. Size, shape and chemical compositions were also analyzed using the FE-SEM/ EDS. The angle and methylene blue degradation efsciency were measured for evaluating the photocatalytic activity of the $TiO_2$ film. Finally, the antifungal activity of the specimen was tested. Candida albicans KCTC 7629(1 ml, initial concentration $10^5$ cells/ ml) were applied to the experiment and control group specimens and subsequently two UVA light source with 10W, 353 nm peak emission were illuminated to the specimens from 15cm above. The extracted $2{\mu}l$ of sample was plated on nutrient agar plate ($Bacto^{TM}$ Brain Heart Infusion; BD, USA) with 10 minute intervals for 120 minute, respectively. It was incubated for 24 hours at $37^{\circ}C$ and the colony forming units (CFUs) were then counted. Results. Compared the characteristics of LT photocatalyst with commercial P-25 photocatalyst, LT were shown higher activity than P-25. The LT coated experimental specimen surface had anatase crystal form, less than 20 nm of particle size and wide specific surface area. To evaluate the photocatalytic activity of specimens, methylene blue degradation reaction were used and about 5% of degradation rate were measured after 2 hours. The average contact angle was less than $20^{\circ}$ indicating that the LT photocatalyst had hydrophilicity. In the antifungal activity test for Candida albicans, 0% survival rate were measured within 30 minute after irradiation of UVA light. Conclusion. From the results reported above, it is concluded that the UVA-LT photocatalytic reaction have an antifungal effect on the denture surface Candida albicans, and so that could be applicable to the clinical use as a cleaning method.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.13-18
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• 2010

One of the biggest challenges in the nano-field is how to effectively disperse nano-scale particles, especially CNTs, which are strongly agglomerated by intermolecular van der Waals forces. This study suggests a new method, discharge flocking, in order to disperse nano-scale particles effectively, which combines corona discharge phenomenon and a traditional electrostatic flocking process. In order to evaluate the discharge flocking process, composite specimens were fabricated by the process and RFI(resin film infusion) process, and then the mechanical and electrical properties of the specimens were measured and compared. Moreover, the evaluation of gas discharge effect on the CNTs and epoxy was performed to compare the mechanical and electrical properties of the composite specimens including the plasma treated CNTs. The experimental results showed that the electrical and mechanical properties of the specimens fabricated by the discharge flocking process were similar to those of the RFI process. In addition, plasma treated CNTs were not affected by gas discharge during the discharge flocking process.