• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.701-712
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• 2000

The continuous fiber reinforced composites of GF/PA were fabricated using a pultrusion resin impregnation apparatus and cut into pellets of 6 mm length. GF/PA pellets were then melt-mixed with PP resin to prepare new types of ternary composites, GF/PA/PP. Mechanical and rheological properties of such composites revealed to be better than conventional ternary composites due to the longer average glass fibers. Measurements also showed that the mechanical properties of the composites prepared by direct injection molding were higher than those of the composites prepared by injection molding followed by extrusion. To improve adhesions of fiber surfaces and polymer matrix, PP-MAH (maleic anhydride) has been introduced in the GF/PA/PP composites as a compatibilizer. It was found that PP-MAH did indeed improve surface adhesion between fibers and polymer matrix and that, as a result, various mechanical properties were markedly enhanced. Visualization of the phase structure in the samples was done by means of SEM. The surfaces of glass fibers in GF/PA/PP composites revealed that the fibers remained to be encapsulated by PA resin. However, pre-encapsulation did not persist in GF/PA/PP/PP-MAH composites due to the improvement of surface adhesion between fibers and polymer matrix, although resin sticking to the fiber was observed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1059-1066
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• 2009

Recently, the amount of thermosetting plastic wastes has increased with the production of reinforced plastic composites and causes serious environmental problems. The epoxy resins, one of the versatile thermosetting plastics with excellent properties, cannot be melted down and remolded as what is done in the thermoplastic industry. In this research, a series of experiments that decompose epoxy resin and recover carbon fibers from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites applied to railway vehicles was performed. We experimentally examined various decomposition processes and compared their decomposition efficiencies and mechanical property of recovered carbon fibers. For the prevention of tangle of recovered carbon fibers, each composites specimen was fixed with a Teflon supporter and no mechanical mixing was applied. Decomposition products were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS), and universal testing machine (UTM). Carbon fibers could be completely recovered from decomposition process using nitric acid aqueous solution, liquid-phase thermal cracking and pyrolysis. The tensile strength losses of the recovered carbon fibers were less than 4%.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.204-210
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• 2011

In this study, Jute fibers reinforced polypropylene (JFRP) composites were manufactured by injection molding technique. In order to improve the affinity and adhesion between fibers and thermoplastic matrices during manufacturing, Maleic anhydride (MA) as a coupling agent have been employed. Untreated and treated surfaces of jute fibers were characterized using SEM and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Physical properties like water absorption rate were studied. Tensile and flexural tests were carried out to evaluate the composite mechanical properties. Tensile test and bending test indicated that JFRP composites show higher strength and modulus than pure PP. In addition, strength and modulus were found to be influenced by the variation of MAPP content (1%, 2%, and 3%). Tensile fracture surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscope. It ensures better interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrix by increasing the percentage of MAPP.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.91-100
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• 2020

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic resin that has outstanding thermal stability, mechanical strength, inherent flame retardancy, chemical resistance, and electrical properties. Due to these outstanding properties, it is preferred as a matrix for composite materials. Many studies have been conducted to produce composites with carbon fibers and glass fibers to improve mechanical properties and provide functionality of PPS. In this review paper, we report a brief introduction to the fabrication and applications of PPS composites with carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon fibers, and glass fibers.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.192-198
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• 2021

Due to enormous market growing of electric vehicles without combustion engine, reducing unwanted BSR (buzz, squeak, and rattle) noise is highly demanded for vehicle quality and performance. Particularly, innerbelt weatherstrips which not only block wind noise, rain, and dust from outside, but also reduce noise and vibration of door glass and vehicle are required to exhibit high damping properties for improved BSR performance of the vehicle. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), which can be recycled and have lighter weight than thermoset elastomers, are receiving much attention for weatherstrip material, but TPEs exhibit low material damping and compression set causing frictional noise and vibration between the door glass and the weatherstrip. In this study, high damping EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer)/PP (polypropylene) thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) were investigated by varying EPDM/PP ratio and ENB (ethylidene norbornene) fraction in EPDM. Viscoelastic properties of TPV materials were characterized by assuming that the material damping is directly related to the viscoelasticity. The optimum material damping factor (tanδ peak 0.611) was achieved with low PP ratio (14 wt%) and high ENB fraction (8.9 wt%), which was increased by 140% compared to the reference (tanδ 0.254). The improved damping is believed due to high fraction of flexible EPDM chains and higher interfacial slippage area of EPDM particles generated by increasing ENB fraction in EPDM. The stick-slip test was conducted to characterize frictional noise and vibration of the TPV weatherstrip. With improved TPV material damping, the acceleration peak of frictional vibration decreased by about 57.9%. This finding can not only improve BSR performance of electric vehicles by designing material damping of weatherstrips but also contribute to various structural applications such as urban air mobility or aircrafts, which require lightweight and high damping properties.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2020

In this paper, we have studied the mechanical properties of thermoplastic carbon fiber fabric composites with spread technology and compression molding temperature were investigated. Carbon fiber reinforcement composites were fabricated using commercial carbon fiber fabrics and spread carbon fiber fabrics. Mechanical properties of the commercial carbon fiber composites (CCFC) and spread carbon fiber composites (SCFC) according to compression molding temperatures were investigated. Thermal properties of the polypropylene film were examined by rheometer, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis. Tensile, flexural and Inter-laminar shear test. Commercial carbon fiber reinforcement composites and spread carbon fiber composites were fabricated at 200~240℃ above the melting temperature of the polypropylene film. Impregnation properties according to compression molding temperature of the polypropylene film were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. As a result, as the compression molding temperature was increased, the viscosity of the polypropylene film was decreased. The mechanical properties of the compression molding temperature of 230℃ spread carbon fiber composite was superior.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2023

Demand for energy consumption reduction is increasing according to the development expectations of future mobility. Lightweight structural materials are known as a method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. In particular, fiber reinforced polymer composite (FRP) is attracting attention as a material that can replace existing metal alloys due to its excellent mechanical properties and light weight. In this paper, industrial applications and research trends of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRP, carbon FRP) and self-reinforced composites (SRC) were reviewed based on the reinforcement, polymer matrix, and manufacturing process. In order to overcome the expensive process cost and long manufacturing time of the epoxy resin-based autoclave method, which is mainly used in the aircraft field, mass production of CFRP-applied electric vehicles has been reported using a high-pressure resin transfer molding process including fast-curing epoxy. In addition, thermoplastic resin-based CFRP and interface enhancement methods to solve the recycling issue of carbon fiber composites were reviewed in terms of materials and processes. To form a perfect matrix-reinforcement interface, which is known as the major factor inducing the excellent mechanical properties of FRP, studies on SRC impregnated with the same matrix in polymer fibers have been reported. The physical and mechanical properties of SRC based on various thermoplastic polymers were reviewed in terms of polymer orientation and composite structure. In addition, a copolymer matrix strategy for extending the processing window of highly drawn polypropylene fiber-based SRC was discussed. The application of CFRP and SRC as lightweight structural materials can provide potential options for improving the energy efficiency of future mobility.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2014

In this study, waste polypropylene and waste ground rubber tire(WGRT) composites were prepared by using a modular intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder. The effect of three main factors such as WGRT contents, particle size, compatibilizers on the properties of waste PP/WGRT composites was extensively investigated. Tensile strength of the composites was decreased with an increase in WGRT contents, whereas elongation at break and impact strength were increased. The tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength of the composites with the smaller size of the WGRT were more enhanced. Addition of PP-g-MA into waste PP/WGRT composites exhibited better tensile strength. However, elongation at break and impact strength were slightly decreased with increasing of PP-g-MA. On the other hand, tensile strength, impact strength and elongation at break of the composites were increased by adding the EPDM-g-MA and SEBS-g-MA. Especially, elongation at break was significantly increased compared to the composite with PP-g-MA.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2023

Growing environmental concerns regarding pollution caused by conventional plastics have increased interest in biodegradable polymers as alternative materials. The purpose of this study is to develop a 100% biodegradable nanocomposite material by introducing organic nucleating agents into the biodegradable and thermoplastic resin, poly(lactic acid), to improve its properties. Accordingly, cellulose nanofibers, an eco-friendly material, were adopted as a substitute for inorganic nucleating agents. To achieve a uniform dispersion of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) within PLA, the aqueous solution of nanofibers was lyophilized to maintain their fibrous shape. Then, they were subjected to primary mixing using a twin-screw extruder. Test specimens with double mixing were then produced by injection molding. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to confirm the reinforced physical properties, and it was found that the addition of 1 wt% CNFs acted as a reinforcing material and nucleating agent, reducing the cold crystallization temperature by approximately 14℃ and increasing the degree of crystallization. This study provides an environmentally friendly alternative for developing plastic materials with enhanced properties, which can contribute to a sustainable future without consuming inorganic nucleating agents. It serves as a basis for developing 100% biodegradable green nanocomposites.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.87-97
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• 2013

In this paper, a novel fibrous material known as axially reinforced braided composite rods (BCRs) have been developed for reinforcement of soils. These innovative materials consist of an axial reinforcement system, comprised of longitudinally oriented core fibres, which is responsible for mechanical performance and, a braided cover, which gives a ribbed surface texture for better interfacial interactions with soils. BCRs were produced using both thermosetting (unsaturated polyester) and thermoplastic (polypropylene) matrices and synthetic (carbon, glass, HT polyethylene), as well as natural (sisal) core fibres. BCRs were characterized for tensile properties and the influence of core fibres was studied. Moreover, BCRs containing carbon fibre in the core composition were characterized for piezoresistivity and strain sensing properties under flexural deformation. According to the experimental results, the developed braided composites showed tailorable and wide range of mechanical properties, depending on the core fibres and exhibited very good strain sensing behavior.