• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2019

Main-chain/side-chain liquid crystalline polymers (MCSCLCPs) combined with an azobenzene group and a cholesteryl group were synthesized to impart light and temperature sensitivity to the polymer. The polymers were designed with the azobenzene unit as the mesogenic group of the main-chain and various compositions of the azobenzene and cholesteryl units as the mesogenic group of the side-chain. The chemical structures and physical properties of the synthesized polymers were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarized optical microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. All the MCSCLCPs were amorphous and exhibited enantiotropic liquid crystal phases; these polymers achieved the nematic phase with increasing content of the azobenzene group and exhibited the cholesteric phase with weak liquid crystallinity as the content of the cholesteryl group was increased. Furthermore, the polymers containing the azobenzene group showed photoisomerization when exposed to UV-Vis light, and the CP-A3C7 and CP-A5C5 polymers exhibited thermochromism in the temperature range of the liquid crystal phase.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.451-458
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• 2004

Water-soluble polyacrylamides hydrophobically modified with small amounts of N,N-dialkylacrylamides [N,N-dihexylacrylamide (DHAM) and N,N-dioctylacrylamide (DOAM)] have been prepared through free radical solution polymerizations using two hydrophobic initiators derived from 4,4' -azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) (ACVA) and long linear chains consisting of 12 and 16 carbon atoms (C12 and C16). This procedure resulted in polyacrylamides containing hydrophobic groups along the chain as well as at the chain ends. We compare the properties of this class of polymers, termed "combined associative polymers", with those of the multisticker (with hydrophobic groups along the polymer chain) and telechelic (with hydrophobic groups at the chain ends) associative polymers. These materials were prepared using DHAM or DOAM and a hydrophobic initiator (ACVA) modified with alkyl chains of two different lengths. Polymers having molecular weights (M$\_$w/) of ca. 175,000 and hydrophobic contents [H] of ca. 0.8 mol% were prepared using 0.07 mol% of initiator relative to the total monomer feed. We investigated the effects that the type, localization, and concentration of the hydrophobic groups have on the viscosities of the associative polymer solutions.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.167-177
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• 2023

A probabilistic micromechanical framework is proposed to quantify numerically the self-healing capabilities of polymers containing microcapsules. A two-step self-healing process is designed in this study: A probabilistic micromechanical framework based on the ensemble volume-averaging method is derived for the polymers, and a hitting probability model combined with a crack nucleation model is then utilized for encountering microcapsules and microcracks. Using this framework, a series of parametric investigations are performed to examine the influence of various model parameters (e.g., the volume fraction of microcapsules, microcapsule radius, radius ratio of microcracks to microcapsules, microcrack aspect ratio, and scale parameter) on the self-healing capabilities of the polymers. The proposed framework is also implemented into a finite element code to solve the self-healing behavior of tapered double cantilever beam specimens.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1031-1034
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• 2000

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.3001-3004
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• 2014

A series of hydroxyl-derivatized quaternized polymers were successfully synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azide and alkynes (click chemistry), followed by quaternization reactions. ATRP was employed to synthesize poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), followed by introduction of alkyne groups using pentynoic acid, leading to HEMA-Alkyne. 2-Azido-1-ethanol and 3-azido-1-propanol were combined with the HEMA-Alkyne backbone via click reaction, resulting in triazole-ring containing hydroxyl-derivatized polymers. Quaternization reactions with methyl iodide were conducted on the triazole ring of each polymer. Molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and the degree of quaternization (DQ) were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and $^1H$ NMR spectroscopy. The average molecular weight ($M_n$) of the resulting polymers ranged from $5.9{\times}10^4$ to $1.05{\times}10^5g/mol$ depending on the molecular architecture. The molecular weight distribution was low ($M_w/M_n$ = 1.26-1.38). The transmission spectra of the 0.1 wt % aqueous solutions of the resulting quaternized polymers at 650 nm were measured as a function of temperature. Results showed that the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) could be finely controlled by the level of DQ.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.157-164
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• 2019

Superabsorbent polymers(SAPs) are powdery material that absorb water several tens or hundreds of times its own mass. It has been reported that when SAPs are incorporated into a high strength cementitious material, the autogenous shrinkage of the material is reduced. Cross-linked sodium polyacrylate type SAPs are relatively safe for human body and low in production cost. In order to apply this type of SAPs to the admixture for total(plastic+autogenous+drying) shrinkage reduction of high strength mortar, the shrinkage behavior of mortar when an expansion agent(EA) and SAPs were mixed together was analyzed. As a result, it was found that the shrinkage was reduced when an EA 5% (mass % of cement) and SAPs 0.4% were mixed together than the mortar containing only an EA 10%. The shrinkage was further reduced when EA 10% and SAPs 0.4% were incorporated into mortar.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2002

Most fibers are irregular, and they are often subjected to combined loading conditions during processing and enduse. In this paper polyester and wool fibers under the combined tensile and torsional loads have been studied for the first time using the finite element method (FEM). The dimensional irregularities of these fibers are simulated with sine waves of different magnitude and frequency. The breaking load and breaking extension of the fibers at different twist or torsion levels are then calculated from the finite element model. The results indicate that twist and level of fiber irregularity have a major impact on the mechanical properties of the fiber and the effect of the frequency of irregularity is relatively small.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.9 s.174
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• pp.60-68
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• 2005

To investigate the effects of beam focusing in the etching of polymers with short pulse Excimer lasers, a polymer etching model of SSB's is combined with a beam focusing model. Through the numerical simulation, it was found that in the high laser fluence region, SSB model considering both photochemical and thermal contribution is considered to be suitable to predict the etched hole shape than a simple photochemical etching model. The average temperature distribution into the substance obtained by assuming 1-D heat transfer is found to be fairly similar to the fluence distribution on the ablated surface. The experimental etching data fur polymers are used to give material properties for ablation model. The fitted etch depth curve gives a nice agreement with the experimental data.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.109-109
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• 2006

Flexible polymers with densely grafted side chains adopt the shape of cylindrical brushes, because the steric repulsion of the side chains overcomes the entropic restoring force of the main chain. Combined light-and neutron scattering measurements elucidate the extend of main chain and side chain stretching as function of side chain length. The application of cylindrical brushes as molecular actuators in response to external stimuli which is discussed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2016

Emerging trends for cardiac tissue engineering are focused on increasing the biocompatibility and tissue regeneration ability of artificial heart tissue by incorporating various cell sources and bioactive molecules. Although primary cardiomyocytes can be successfully implanted, clinical applications are restricted due to their low survival rates and poor proliferation. To develop successful cardiovascular tissue regeneration systems, new technologies must be introduced to improve myocardial regeneration. Electrospinning is a simple, versatile technique for fabricating nanofibers. Here, we discuss various biodegradable polymers (natural, synthetic, and combinatorial polymers) that can be used for fiber fabrication. We also describe a series of fiber modification methods that can increase cell survival, proliferation, and migration and provide supporting mechanical properties by mimicking micro-environment structures, such as the extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition, the applications and types of nanofiber-based scaffolds for myocardial regeneration are described. Finally, fusion research methods combined with stem cells and scaffolds to improve biocompatibility are discussed. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 26-36]