• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.179-190
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• 2023

The effect of the particle size and silica structure on the wear behavior of Silica/Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) compounds was investigated using a blade-type abrader and the findings were compared with those obtained with an Akron abrader. The compensated characteristic parameter (Ψ_c), which was the contributory factor of the combined effect of the particle size and filler structure, was introduced. This parameter was found to exhibit a linear relationship with the Young's modulus. The Young's modulus correlated more with Ψ_c than the uncompensated characteristic parameter (Ψ) modeled for carbon black. The wear rate and volume loss measured using a blade-type abrader and Akron abrader were respectively observed to be inversely proportional to Ψ_c, that is, the wear resistance of Silica/SBR compound improved as the particle size became smaller and the silica structure became intricate. The coefficient of determination (R²) obtained from the linear relationship between Ψ_c and wear rate was higher than those between Ψ_c and volume loss for the Silica/SBR compound. Thus, the blade-type abrader exhibited high potential to be used for accurately evaluating the effect of particle size and structural properties of silica on the wear behavior of SBR compounds.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.64-72
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• 2024

As air pollution continues to increase owing to increasing traffic centered in urban areas, the tire industry is researching methods to reduce particulate matter. In this study, functionalized lithium butadiene rubber (F-LiBR) was applied to a natural rubber (NR)/butadiene rubber (BR) blend compound often used in truck bus radial (TBR) tire treads. The effect of the functional group that can react with carbon black (CB) in BR was investigated in terms of the dispersion of CB and the compound performance, including the generation of particulate matter. Compounds that were substituted with F-LiBR exhibited enhanced interaction with CB, resulting in excellent filler dispersion. Although F-LiBR exhibited lower crosslinking density and inferior abrasion resistance due to its high vinyl content, the compound with 30 phr of F-LiBR was advantageous in terms of its rolling resistance due to the excellent filler dispersion, which was also effective in reducing the amount of generated particulate matter (up to 56% reduction for PM_2.5, and 67% reduction for PM₁₀). The results confirmed the benefits of the introduction of functional groups into TBR tire tread compounds, which can aid in improving the fuel efficiency and reducing particulate matter generation.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.535-544
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• 2016

This paper aims at examining the effects of sustained load and elevated temperature on the time-dependent deformation of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets bonded to concrete as well as the pull-off strength of single-lap shear specimens after the sustained loading period using digital images. Elevated temperature during the sustained loading period resulted in increased slip of the CFRP composites, whereas increased curing time of the polymer resin prior to the sustained loading period resulted in reduced slip. Pull-off tests conducted after sustained loading period showed that the presence of sustained load resulted in increased pull-off strength and interfacial fracture energy. This beneficial effect decreased with increased creep duration. Based on analysis of digital images, results on strain distributions and fracture surfaces indicated that stress relaxation of the epoxy occurred in the 30 mm closest to the loaded end of the CFRP composites during sustained loading, which increased the pull-off strength provided the failure locus remained mostly in the concrete. For longer sustained loading duration, the failure mode of concrete-CFRP bond region can change from a cohesive failure in the concrete to an interfacial failure along the concrete/epoxy interface, which diminished part of the strength increase due to the stress relaxation of the adhesive.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.125-131
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• 2016

In case of CNT mixing with epoxy, epoxy matrix needs to be diluted. This work studied the effect of the dilution condition of epoxy on CNT dispersion. The optimum solvent condition using acetone and DMF was found via mechanical and solubility methods which affects, the epoxy performance. The dispersion using acetone was better than the DMF and thus higher mechanical properties. Four mixing types of CNT particle were performed. To verify the effects of each step between dilution and dispersion, the dispersion between epoxy and CNT was evaluated via the electrical resistance and optical methods. The optimum dispersion was obtained via mechanical test and thermal analysis by DSC. Among four types, the best was to disperse CNT after epoxy and hardeners were diluted respectively.

• Composites Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.190-195
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• 2014

This paper predicts the complex permittivity of MWNT added epoxy depending on agglomeration by numerical analysis. 1wt% MWNT added epoxy specimen is prepared using 3-roll-mill method and its complex permittivity is measured in X-band (8.2~12.4 GHz) using freespace measurement system. The analytic model is comprised of cube epoxy and perfect sphere agglomeration. The complex permittivity of the agglomeration model is predicted by complex permittivity mixing rule using the measured complex permittivity of epoxy and 1 wt% MWNT added epoxy. Commercial electromagnetic analysis software, CST, is used to obtain S-parameter of the analytic model and MATLAB code is used to calculate complex permittivity from the S-parameter. It is confirmed that the complex permittivity increases when the agglomeration size decreases.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are the state-of-the-art technology among electrochemical energy storage and conversion cells, and are still considered the most attractive class of battery in the future due to their high specific energy density, high efficiency, and long cycle life. Rapid development of power-hungry commercial electronics and large-scale energy storage applications (e.g. off-peak electrical energy storage), however, requires novel anode materials that have higher energy densities to replace conventional graphite electrodes. Germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) are thought to be ideal prospect candidates for next generation LIB anodes due to their extremely high theoretical energy capacities. For instance, Ge offers relatively lower volume change during cycling, better Li insertion/extraction kinetics, and higher electronic conductivity than Si. In this focused review, we briefly describe the basic concepts of LIBs and then look at the characteristics of ideal anode materials that can provide greatly improved electrochemical performance, including high capacity, better cycling behavior, and rate capability. We then discuss how, in the future, Ge anode materials (Ge and Ge oxides, Ge-carbon composites, and other Ge-based composites) could increase the capacity of today's Li batteries. In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to fulfill the requirements of excellent anode materials, especially using these materials at the nanoscale. This article shall serve as a handy reference, as well as starting point, for future research related to high capacity LIB anodes, especially based on semiconductor Ge and Si.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.303-308
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• 2022

PIC (Piecewise Integrated Composite) is a new concept for designing a composite structure with mosaically assigning various types of stacking sequences in order to improve mechanical properties of laminated composites. Also, machine learning is a sub-category of artificial intelligence, that refers to the process by which computers develop the ability to continuously learn from and make predictions based on data, then make adjustments without further programming. In the present study, the tapered box beam type PIC robot arm for carrying and transferring wide and thin LCD display was designed based on the machine learning in order to increase structural stiffness. Essential training data were collected from the reference elements, which were intentionally designated elements among finite element models, during preliminary FE analysis. Additionally, triaxiality values for each finite element were obtained for judging the dominant external loading type, such as tensile, compressive or shear. Training and evaluating machine learning model were conducted using the training data and loading types of elements were predicted in case the level accuracy was fulfilled. Three types of stacking sequences, which were to be known as robust toward specific loading types, were mosaically assigned to the PIC robot arm. Henceforth, the bending type FE analysis was carried out and its result claimed that the PIC robot arm showed increased stiffness compared to conventional uni-stacking sequence type composite robot arm.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.357-372
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• 2021

The energy harvesting device is known to be promising as an alternative to solve the resource shortage caused by the depletion of petroleum resources. In order to overcome the limitations (environmental pollution and low mechanical properties) of piezoelectric elements capable of converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, many studies have been conducted on a polymer matrix-based composite piezoelectric energy harvesting device. In this paper, the output performance and related applications of the reported piezoelectric composites are reviewed based on the applied materials and processes. As for the piezoelectric fillers, zinc oxide, which is advantageous in terms of eco-friendliness, biocompatibility, and flexibility, as well as ceramic fillers based on lead zirconate titanate and barium titanate, were reviewed. The polymer matrix was classified into piezoelectric polymers composed of polyvinylidene fluoride and copolymers, and flexible polymers based on epoxy and polydimethylsiloxane, to discuss piezoelectric synergy of composite materials and improvement of piezoelectric output by high external force application, respectively. In addition, the effect of improving the conductivity or the mechanical properties of composite material by the application of a metal or carbon-based secondary filler on the output performance of the piezoelectric harvesting device was explained in terms of the structure of the composite material. Composite material-based piezoelectric harvesting devices, which can be applied to small electronic devices, smart sensors, and medicine with improved performance, can provide potential insights as a power source for wireless electronic devices expected to be encountered in future daily life.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2023

The stacking configuration of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, achieved via the filament winding process, exhibits distinct variations compared to conventional FRP composite stacking arrangements. Consequently, it becomes challenging to ascertain the influence of mechanical properties based on the typical stacking structures. Thus, it becomes imperative to enhance the mechanical behavior and optimize the interleaved structures to improve overall performance. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of incorporating amorphous halloysite nanotubes (A-HNTs) within different layers of five unique layer arrangements on the low-velocity impact properties of interleaved carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures. The low-velocity impact characteristics of the laminate were validated using a drop weight impact test, wherein the resulting impact damage modes and extent of damage were compared and evaluated under microscopic analysis. Each interleaved structure laminate according to whether nanoparticles are added was compared at impact energies of 10 J and 15 J. In the case of 10 J, the absorption energy showed a similar tendency in each structure. However, at 15 J, the absorption energy varies from structure to structure. Among them, a structure in which nanoparticles are not added exhibits the highest absorption energy. Additionally, various impact fracture modes were observed in each structure through optical microscopy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1013-1019
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• 2007

Electronic wastes have increased tremendously. However, any reliable treatment methodologies have rarely been established. Electronic wastes have posed serious disposal problem due to their physico-chemical stability. This paper investigated the application possibility of pyrolysis for the purpose of recycling the p-CCL(phenol based Copper Clad Laminate). Thermogravimetric analysis(TGA) was used to investigate the thermal decomposition pattern of p-CCL. We elucidated the characteristics of pyrolysis by-products at operating temperatures of 280, 350 and $600^{\circ}C$. GC/MS and FT-IR were used to characterize the liquid by-products along with general characterization methods such as Ultimate Analysis, Proximate Analysis and Heating Value, whereas general characterization methods were only introduced for the solid by-products. At a heating rate of $5^{\circ}C$/min, TGA curves exhibited three decomposition stages: (1) low-temperature decomposition region$(<280^{\circ}C)$, (2) medium temperature region$(280\sim350^{\circ}C)$ and (3) high-temperature region$(>350^{\circ}C)$. The major compounds of liquid by-products at low- and medium-temperatures were accounted for by water and phenol, whereas branched phenols and furans were major compounds at high-temperatures. As the temperature increases, volatile quantities decreased but the fixed carbon increased. High heating values of solid by-products($7,400\sim7,600$ kcal/kg) would suggest that the solid by-products could be applicable as fuel. In addition, high fixed carbon but low ash content of the solid by-products offered an implication that they are capable of being upgradable for adsorbent after applying appropriate activating process.