• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.545-549
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• 2006

Blends of poly(acrylic acid- co-maleic acid) (PAM) with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were pre -pared in distilled water PVA/PAM/saponite (PVA/PAM/SPT) nanocomposite films were prepared with various clay contents by using the solution intercalation method. The variations of the dispersion, morphology, and thermo-mechanical properties of the nanocomposites with clay content in the range 0 to 9 wt% were examined. Up to 3 wt% clay loading, the clay particles were homogeneously dispersed in the PVA/PAM blends. However, some agglomerated structures form in the polymer matrix above a clay content of 7 wt%. The thermal stability of the hybrids was increased linearly with increasing the clay loading up to 9 wt%. The maximum strength and modulus were obtained at a clay content of 7 wt%. Thus, the addition of small amounts of clay to the PVA/PAM blends produced PVA/PAM nano-composites with improved the thermo-mechanical properties.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2008

Polypropylene (PP)-layered silicate nanocomposites were developed using a new processing method involving a supercritical carbon dioxide ($scCO_2$)-assisted co-rotating twin-screw extrusion process. The nanocomposites were prepared through two step extrusion processes. In the first step, the PP/clay mixture was extruded with $CO_2$ injected into the barrel of the extruder and the resulting foamed extrudate was cooled and pelletized. In the second step, the foamed extrudate was extruded with venting to produce the final PP/clay nanocomposites without $CO_2$. In this study, organophilic-clay and polypropylene matrix were used. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer. This study focused on the effect of $scCO_2$ on the dispersion characteristics of the clays into a PP matrix and the rheological properties of the layered silicate based PP nanocomposites. The dispersion properties of clays in the nanocomposites as well as the rheological properties of the nanocomposites were examined as a function of the PP-g-MA concentration. The degree of dispersion of the clays in the nanocomposites was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Various rheological properties of the nanocomposites were measured using a rotational rheometer. In the experimental results, the $scCO_2$ assisted continuous manufacturing extrusion system was used to successfully produce the organophilic-clay filled PP nanocomposites. It was found that $scCO_2$ had a measurable effect on the clay dispersion in the polymer matrix and the melt intercalation of a polymer into clay layers.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.455-465
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• 2009

In this study, Organo-montmorillonite(MMT) was synthesized by intercalation of various amine(Octylamine, Dodecylamine, Dimethyldodecylamine, Octadecylamine) compounds into layered silicate. Natural Rubber(NR)/MMT nanocomposites were prepared by reinforcement of Organo-MMT. X-ray diffraction(XRD) and Scanning electron microscope(SEM) were employed to characterize the layer distance of Organo-MMT and the morphology of the NR/MMT nanocomposites. The structures of the synthesized Organo-MMTs were analyzed by the measurement of FT-IR. Cure characteristics, surface free energy and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, modulus and hardness of NR/MMT nanocomposites were carefully studied by contact angle meter, ODR, UTM, and hardness tester. FT-IR analysis showed a insertion of the alkyl and amine chains into the interlayers of the MMT. It was shown that the cure time of the organo-MMT was more decreased than that of $Na^+$-MMT. Surface free energy and tensile strength of the NR/DDA-MMT nanocomposite were the highest. NR/ODA-MMT nanocomposite was the highest in hardness.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.309-317
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• 2012

In this study, PTMSP/LDH composite membranes were prepared by the solution intercalation method with 1, 3, and 5 wt% LDH contents to PTMSP. To investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of composite membranes, the analytical methods such as FT-IR, TGA, XRD, UTM, and SEM have been utilized, and the gas permeability and selectivity properties of $H_2$, $N_2$, and $CO_2$ were evaluated. The permeability of the PTMSP/LDH composite membranes decreased as LDH content increased and the selectivity $H_2$ and $CO_2$ showed the maximum value at 5 wt% of LDH content. Permeability of PTMSP/LDH composite membrane increased as the gas permeation pressure increased. The difference of the increase in gas permeation pressure of the permeability of PTMSP/LDH composite membrane was slightly smaller than of PTMSP membrane.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2018

In this study, we synthesize tungsten oxide thin films by electrodeposition and characterize their electrochromic properties. Depending on the deposition modes, compact and porous tungsten oxide films are fabricated on a transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. The morphology and crystal structure of the electrodeposited tungsten oxide thin films are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is employed to verify the chemical composition and the oxidation state of the films. Compared to the compact tungsten oxides, the porous films show superior electrochemical activities with higher reversibility during electrochemical reactions. Furthermore, they exhibit very high color contrast (97.0%) and switching speed (3.1 and 3.2 s). The outstanding electrochromic performances of the porous tungsten oxide thin films are mainly attributed to the porous structure, which facilitates ion intercalation/deintercalation during electrochemical reactions.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.238-245
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• 2012

Graphene oxide was synthesized from natural graphite, and its surface was modified using diisocyanatodicyclohexylmethane( $H_{12}MDI$). Isocyanate-graphene sheet(i-RGO) was obtained by reduction of surface modified GO. To select nanofiller having good dispersion with polyurethane, GO, i-RGO, natural graphite and thermal reduced graphite were analyzed, and then i-RGO was selected as a suitable nanofiller. PU/i-RGO nanocomposite was synthesized with various i-RGO contents to estimate effect of reinforcement on nanocomposite. Thermal stability, hardness, contact angle were increased with i-RGO contents due to i-RGO characteristic and crosslink bridge effect. But, tensile strength and elongation were decreased at i-RGO contents more than the 4 wt%. This phenomenon was interpreted by the excess formation of crosslink bridge.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.579-586
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• 2013

Poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) nanocomposite films containing various saponite (SPT) clay contents were synthesized using a solution intercalation method. The thermal property, morphology, optical transparency, and gas permeability of the PVA nanocomposite films with various SPT contents in the range of 0 to 10 wt% were examined. PVA nanocomposite film containing 5 wt% SPT showed excellent thermal and gas barrier property. The hybrid films containing 5 wt% SPT were equibiaxially stretched with stretching ratios ranging from 150 to 250%. The clay dispersion, optical transparency, and gas permeability were also examined as a function of equibiaxial stretching ratio. The PVA nanocomposite films with various equibiaxial stretching ratios showed excellent optical transparency and barrier to oxygen permeability.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 1998

Mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers(MPCF) have been investigated as an anode active material for lithium ion secondary battery. Graphitized MPCF gives high discharge capacity and good Ah efficiency. MPCF/Li cell shows an initial discharge capacity of 300 mAh/g and Ah efficiency above $90\%$ at a current density of 25 mA/g at $0\~1$ V. Cylindrical lithium ion secondary battery was fabricated using mixed carbon anode and $LiCoO_2$, cathode. In order to improve the cyclability of lithiun ion secondary battery, other carbons were added to the MPCF up to $10wt\%$. The cycle performance of lithium ion secondary battery using mixed carbons was superior to those using graphitized MPCF.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.128-131
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• 2010

Graphite sheet electro-deposited with lead was evaluated as a possible candidate for current collectors of lead acid batteries. Cyclic voltammetry was performed on the materials to evaluate the electrochemical properties. The graphite sheet electro-deposited with lead is electrochemically stable in the cathodic potential sweep. However, in the anodic potential sweep, the graphite sheet electro-deposited with lead is electrochemically unstable due to the oxygen evolution and the intercalation of sulfuric acid. Lead acid batteries were prepared by using a graphite sheet and a cast grid as current collectors for anode and performance test using those batteries was carried out. A lead acid battery with graphite sheets showed higher capacity and energy density than a conventional lead acid battery with cast grid.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2007

Polyamic acid(PAA)/organoclay nanocomposites containing phosphorous were prepared by solution blending of phosphorylated PAA(PPAA) and organically modified montmorillonite(O-MMT) as a type of layered clays. The nanocomposites were characterized by FT-IR, DSC, TGA, PCFC, SEM, and XRD. The preparation of nanocomposites was confirmed by FT-IR and XRD. SEM pictures showed that the organoclay was dispersed well in the PAA matrix relatively. XRD results indicated that the O-MMT layers were intercalated. The thermal stability and flame retardancy of O-MMT/PPAA nanocomposites were higher than those of pure PAA. PCFC results also showed that the heat release capacity and total heat release values of O-MMT 4 wt%/PPAA-0.2, 0.4, 0.6 composites were decreased with increasing the mole ratio of phosphorous. It was found that the nanocomposite films had the potential to be used as a fire safe material.