• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.734-740
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• 2008

A new crosslinked, poly(acrylic acid)-based, dehydrating agent was synthesized through solution polymerization. The Taguchi method, a robust experimental design, was adopted to optimize the synthetic conditions based on the moisture and water absorbing capacities of the dehydrating agent. The method applied for the experiment was a standard L27 ($3^8$) orthogonal array with eight parameters and three levels. By analyzing the variance of the test results, the most effective parameters to control the moisture absorbing capacity (MAC) and its rate were the kind of alkaline base (LiOH, NaOH, or KOH) used as a neutralizing agent of the acrylic acid monomer and the degree of neutralization: The maximum MAC of 40% was achieved at only 2 hat $32^{\circ}C$ and 50% RH when KOH was used as a base and the degree of neutralization was 90%, respectively. However, the water absorbing capacity (WAC) of the resulting dehydrating agent was very low at 158 g/g, indicating that WAC is unaffected by MAC and its rate in this system. The surface morphologies of the agents were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1469-1476
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• 2012

Hydrophilic polymer is suitable as soil conditioners for green roofs that use rainwater, due to promotion of water retention capacity as well as enhancement of the water absorbing capacity. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of different levels of hydrophilic polymer concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8% w/w) on the water holding capacity and growth response of 6 species in soils amended with hydrophilic polymer in 5 cm of soil thickness on green roofs. The results showed that the water holding capacity of the amended soil improved with increasing amount of applied polymer. The application of 0.8% w/w of the polymer increased the soil moisture by 87% compared to the control, and decreased slowly in green roofs during an arid period. The growth of Sedum spurium 'Dragon's blood' and Lampranthus spectabilis increased significantly and had greater than 60% relative coverage with higher hydrophilic polymer concentrations. However, Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii and Euonymus fortunei var. radicans had no significant differences upon change of hydrophilic polymer concentrations. In Carex kujuzana and Carex morrowii 'Aurea variegata', growth decreased with increase of hydrophilic polymer concentrations. 30 days after planting, Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii, Euonymus fortunei var. radicans, Carex kujuzana, and Carex morrowii 'Aurea variegata' died back due to lowest soil thickness (5 cm), but Sedum spurium 'Dragon's blood' and Lampranthus spectabilis had greater than 90% survival.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2012

Silicone resin has no water-absorbing function because it is a strong hydrophobic polymer. However, addition of super absorbent polymer gives much better absorbency than that of conventional silicone resin. In this study, we developed novel silicone materials with water-absorbing function by choosing three types of amorphous acrylic super absorbent polymers with different particle sizes, determining the mixing ratio of the three polymers and applying the mixtures into two-component type silicone material for medical purpose. The change in the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear strength, compressive strength and hardness was investigated by varying the particle size and content ratio of the added super absorbent polymers while preparing the silicone resins. The absorbency of the silicone resins was measured over time. Additionally, the particle shape of the super absorbent polymers as well as the distribution within the silicone resin was observed using an optical microscope.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.98-99
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• 2001

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2011

Research was initiated to investigate the effect of high water-absorbing polymer on turf grass quality of three major turfgrasses. A total of 12 treatment combinations were used in the study. Treatments were made with different rates of sand, soil organic amendment (SOA), and water-swelling polymer (WSP). Visual turf grass quality was evaluated in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds., CB), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L., KB), and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud., Zoy) grown under greenhouse conditions. Significant differences were observed among the treatments in CB, KB, and Zoy. Visual quality ratings varied with mixing rates of SOA and WSP, being maximum 5.6 in differences among them. At the end of study it ranged from 0.3 to 9.6 in CB, 0.3 to 4.0 in KB, and 0.9 to 5.8 in Zoy. Turfgrass quality pattern changed with time after seeding among treatments influenced by WSP rates. From this study, a proper rate of WSP is considered to be 5%, 5~10%, and 5% for CB, KB and Zoy, respectively. In general, overall treatment effect of WSP on turfgrass quality was highly associated with SOA 20% in three turtgrass species. When mixing sand with SOA and WSP for rootzone soil, a proper rate of SOA is considered to be 15 to 20% for CB and KB, while 20% for Zoy of warm-season grass. A further study would be required to investigate the effect of varied, gradual mixing rates of WSP on growth characteristics of turfgrasses grown on mixtures of sand, SOA, and WSP before a field application.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.530-537
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• 2014

Moisture is a major factor causing the deteriorative physical change, microbial growth, and chemical reaction of the products. In this study, the moisture absorbing composite films have been prepared with moisture absorbing material of polyacrylic acid partial sodium salt (PAPSS) impregnated on LLDPE polymer for the functional packaging applications. The results showed that PAPSS impregnated film illustrated uniformly dispersed PAPSS particles in the LLDPE polymer matrix. The transparency of the PAPSS impregnated film decreased slightly at higher PAPSS concentrations. An increase in the PAPSS content for moisture-absorbing films showed a similar decrease in tensile strength, percent elongation at break, and tear strength. Their values of films impregnated with PAPSS of 0.5, 1, and 2% showed no significant difference. Meanwhile, 4% PAPSS films significantly decreased the values of mechanical properties compared to the films impregnated with different PAPSS levels. Values of the oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability for PAPSS impregnated films decreased significantly with greater PAPSS. The results indicate that 4% PAPSS impregnated in LLDPE films had high affinity of moisture absorbencies compared to the other films. The mathematical equation that best described the moisture sorption isotherm of each film sample was the GAB equation at $25^{\circ}C$. The crystallization and melting temperatures of PAPSS films were influenced by the addition of PAPSS material, but showed good thermal stability.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 1990

The effect of a highly water absorbing polyacrylate polymer, commonly called K-sorb, at rates of 0.0, 0.05, 0.2, and 0.5% by weight on the water retention properties of three soils, and the longevities of these treatment effects were evaluated. Water retentions were measured for all the treatments by use of a pressure-plate extractor in the laboratory. Available water and three-phase distributions at moisture tensions of 0.01, 0.3, and 15b were calculated from water retentivity data. A randomized block experiment of Chinese cabbages was conducted to examine the effects and the longevities of the treatments(0.0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2%) on water retention of Jungdong sandy loam soil in the field. Water retentions for a loamy sand, sandy loam, and loam soil, treated with 0.2 and 0.5% K-sorb, were increased. K-sorb treatments were more effective in sandy soil than in loamy soils. Water contents for the 0.5% treatment were markedly greater than those for the 0.2% treatment at earth moisture tension. K-sorb only at a rate of 0.5% remained effective in water retention of each soil through repeated drying and wetting for 12 months. Duncan's multiple range showed 0.2% treatment was effective(at the level of 0.05) after 2 months but not after 10 months under field condition.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.483-490
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• 2005

A novel, polysaccharide-based, superabsorbent hydrogel was synthesized through crosslinking graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) onto kappa-carrageenan ($_{k}C$), using ammonium persulfate (APS) as a free radical initiator in the presence of methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. A proposed mechanism for $_{k}C$­g-polymethacrylic acid ($_{k}C$-g-PMAA) formation was suggested and the hydrogel structure was confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy. The effect of grafting variables, including MBA, MAA, and APS concentration, was systematically optimized to achieve a hydrogel with the maximum possible swelling capacity. The swelling kinetics in distilled water and various salt solutions were preliminarily investigated. Absorbency in aqueous salt solutions of lithium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and aluminum chloride indicated that the swelling capacity decreased with increased ionic strength of the swelling medium. This behavior can be attributed to the charge screening effect for monovalent cations, as well as ionic crosslinking for multivalent cations. The swelling of super absorbing hydrogels was measured in solutions with pH ranging from 1 to 13. In addition, the pH reversibility and on-off switching behavior, at pH levels of 3.0 and 8.0, give the synthesized hydrogels great potential as an excellent candidate for the controlled delivery of bioactive agents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.21-32
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• 2011

The effects of high polymer on the seedling survival were investigated in three major turfgrasses. Twelve treatments were used in the study with different rates of sand, soil organic amendment (SOA), and water-swelling polymer (WSP). Turfgrass seedling survival rate was evaluated in creeping bentgrass (CB), Kentucky bluegrass (KB), and zoysiagrass (Zoy) grown under greenhouse conditions. Significant differences were observed among the treatments. Seedling survival rates were variable in CB, KB, and Zoy according to mixing rates of SOA and WSP, being maximum 20.2% in differences. At 6 weeks after seeding, the survival rates ranged from 0.6 to 61.9% in CB, 4.2 to 75.3% in KB and 1.7 to 82.1% in Zoy. A pattern of seedling emergence varied with time among treatments influenced by WSP rates. A proper mixing rate of WSP is considered to be 5% for CB and 5 to 10% for KB and Zoy. In general, overall effect of WSP on seedling survival was clearly observed in the mixtures of sand 80% and SOA 20% in CB. The best result, however, was found from the mixture of sand 85% and SOA 15% in both KB and Zoy. When mixing sand with WSP, a proper rate of SOA is considered to be 20% for CB and 15 to 20% for KB, while 10 to 15% for Zoy. A further research is needed to investigate the effects of WSP on the turf quality in mixtures of sand, SOA, and WSP before a field application.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2007

Laser Transmission Joining (LTJ) of plastics is a process in which light of suitable wavelength is transmitted through a transparent substrate that is in contact with an absorbing one. In this paper, LTJ is investigated by preliminary experiments from the viewpoint of mechanical engineering. To understand transmitting characteristics of each polymer substrate, transmission rate, reflection rate and absorption coefficient of polymer are measured by using a laser power-meter. Characteristics of joining in the spot welding and seam welding are investigated by measuring the fracture load. Fracture load increases in accordance to the laser power and irradiation time. However, when the laser power is over 60W and irradiation time over 4seconds, fracture load decreases. This phenomenon is probably due to heat-softening of materials. Besides, cavities are generated at a joint by evaporation of water molecules, which can be suppressed by introduction of a gap between two substrates.