• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.31 no.7 s.262
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• pp.732-738
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• 2007

Effects of melt-mixing conditions on fracture properties of hydroxyapatite filled bioabsorbable poly(L-lactic acid)(HA/PLLA) composites was investigated by measuring the firacture toughness value of HA/PLLA composites prepared under different mixing time and rotor speed. The fracture surface morphology was also examined by profile measurement and scanning electron microscopies. It was found that the fracture toughness of HA/PLLA composites decreases due to decrease of ductile deformation of PLLA matrix and debonding of interfaces with increase of the rotor speed and mixing time. Effect of mixing process on neat PLLA was also assessed, and it was found that the fracture toughness of PLLA decreases due to disappearance of multiple craze formation and increase of defects. Such thermal and shear-stress degradation were found to be the primary mechanisms of the degradation of HA/PLLA composites during melt-mixing process.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

The interaction and mixing of high-temperature melt and water is the important technical issue in the safety assessment of water-cooled reactors to achieve ultimate core coolability. For specific advanced light water reactor (ALWR) designs, deliberate mixing of the core-melt and water is being considered as a mitigative measure, to assure ex-vessel core coolability. The paper provides the background of past experiments as well as key fundamentals that are needed for melt-water interfacial transport phenomena, thus enabling the development of innovative safety technologies for advanced LWRs that will assure ex-vessel core coolability.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.616-622
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• 2009

In-depth understanding of the influence of hot pressing and melt processing on the properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is critical for effective mechanical recycling of TPU scraps. Therefore, this study focused on the effects of hot pressing and melt mixing on molecular weight (MW), polydispersity index (PDI), melt index (MI), characteristic IR peaks, hardness, thermal degradation and mechanical properties of TPU. The original TPU pellet (o-TPU) showed two broad peaks at lower and higher MW regions. However, four TPU film samples, TPU-0 prepared only by hot pressing of o-TPU pellet and TPU-1, TPU-2 and TPU-3 obtained by hot pressing of melt mixed TPUs (where the numbers indicate the run number of melt mixing), exhibited only a single peak at higher MW region. The TPU-0 film sample had the highest $M_n$ and the lowest PDI and hardness. The TPU-1 film sample had the highest $M_w$ and tensile modulus. As the run number of melt mixing increased, the peak-intensity of hydrogen bonded C=O stretching increased, however, the free C=O peak intensity, tensile strength/elongation at break and average MW decreased. All the samples showed two stage degradations. The degradation temperatures of TPU-0 sample (359 $^{\circ}C$ and 394 $^{\circ}C$)were higher than those of o-TPU (342 $^{\circ}C$ and 391 $^{\circ}C$). While all the melt mixed samples degraded at almost the same temperature (365 $^{\circ}C$ and 381 $^{\circ}C$). The first round of hot pressing and melt mixing was found to be the critical condition which led to the significant changes of $M_n$/$M_w$/PDI, MI, mechanical property and thermal degradation of TPU.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.382-389
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• 2008

To manufacture Al MMCs, in-situ melt mixing process is used because it is free from contamination, and it makes reinforcements homogeneously dispersed. Large eddy simulation method is used to find the optimum melt mixing condition. At the Re 3000, the most suitable mixing is occurred between Al-Ti and Al- B melts. The in-situ formed $TiB_2$ particles has the size varying from 40 nm to 130 nm, due to the increase of cooling rate, and exhibits a homogeneous dispersion. And the interface between reinforcement and matrix is clean. Both hardness and Young's modulus of this composite are improved with increasing the cooling rate.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.173-178
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• 2016

Graphene oxide (GO) was concurrently reduced and functionalized using long alkyl chain dodecyl amine (DA). The DA functionalized GO (DA-G) was assumed to disperse homogenously in linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Subsequently, DA-G was used to fabricate DA-G/LLDPE composites by melt mixing technique. Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis was performed to ascertain the simultaneous reduction and functionlization of GO. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed to ensure the homogenous distribution and dispersion of DA-G in LLDPE matrix. The enhanced storage modulus value of the composites validates the homogenous dispersion of DA-G and its good interfacial interaction with LLDPE matrix. An increased in tensile strength value by ~ 64% also confirms the generation of good interface between the two constituents, through which efficient load transfer is possible. However, no significant improvement in glass transition temperature was observed. This simple technique of fabricating LLDPE composites following industrially viable melt mixing procedure could be realizable to developed mechanically strong graphene based LLDPE composites for future applications.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.121-128
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• 2002

A series of thermoplastic polymers and their blends were melt-processed with high intensity ultrasonic wave in an intensive mixer. For the effective transfer of ultrasonic energy, an experimental apparatus was specially designed so that polymer melt can directly contact with ultrasonic horn. It was observed that significant variations in the rheological properties of polymers occur due to the unique action of ultrasonic wave without any aid of chemical additives. It was also found that the direct sonication on immiscible polymer blends in melt state reduces the domain sizes considerably and stabilizes the phase morphology of the blends. The degree of compatibilization was strongly affected by viscosity ratio of the components and the morphology was stable after annealing in properly compatibilized blends. It is suggested that ultrasound assisted melt mixing can lead to in-situ copolymer formation between the components and consequently provide an effective route to compatibilize immiscible polymer blends.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2009

We numerically analyzed flow characteristics of the polymer melt in the screw equipment using a proper modeling and investigated design parameters which have influence on the mixing performance as the capability of the screw equipment. We considered the non-Newtonian and non-isothermal flow in a single rotor equipment to investigate the mixing performance with respect to screw dimensions as shape parameter of the single rotor equipment and screw speed as process parameter. We used Bird-Carreau-Yasuda model as a viscous model of the polymer melt and the particle tracking method to investigate the mixing performance in the screw equipment and considered four mixing performance indexes: residence time distribution, deformation rate, total strain and particle standard deviation as a new mixing performance index. We compared these indexes to determine design parameters and object function. On basis of the analysis results, we carried out the optimal design by using the response surface method and design of experiments. In conclusion, the differences of results between the optimal value and numerical analysis are about 5.0%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.125-128
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• 2005

The dispersion of carbon nanofiber (CNF) was carried out by solution blending, mechanical mixing, and sonication. CNFs at levels of 5-50% fiber weight content were mixed with polypropylene (PP) powder, and then were melt-mixed using a twin-screw extruder. For the further alignment of fibers, extruded rods were stacked uni-directionally in the mold cavity for the compression molding. For the evaluation of mechanical properties of nanocomposites, tension, in-plane shear, and flexural tests were conducted. CNF/PP composites clearly showed reinforcing effect in the longitudinal direction. The tensile modulus and strength have improved by 100% and 40%, respectively for 50 % fiber weight content, and the flexural modulus and strength have increased by 120% and 25%, respectively for the same fiber weight content. The shear modulus showed 65% increase, but the strength dropped sharply by 40%. However, the property enhancement was not significant due to the poor adhesion between fiber and matrix. In the transverse direction, the tensile, flexural, and shear strength decreased as more fibers were added.

• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2014

Conductive polymer composites (CPCs) consist of a polymeric matrix and a conductive filler, for example, carbon black, carbon fibers, graphite or carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The critical amount of the electrically conductive filler necessary to build up a continuous conductive network, and accordingly, to make the material conductive; is referred to as the percolation threshold. From technical and economical viewpoints, it is desirable to decrease the conductive-filler percolation-threshold as much as possible. In this study, we investigated the effect of polymer/conductive-filler interactions, as well as the processing and morphological development of low-percolation-threshold (${\Phi}c$) conductive-polymer composites. The aim of the study was to produce conductive composites containing less multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) than required for pure polypropylene (PP) through two approaches: one using various mixing methods and the other using immiscible polymer blends. Variants of the conductive PP composite filled with MWCNT was prepared by dry mixing, melt mixing, mechanofusion, and compression molding. The percolation threshold (${\Phi}c$) of the MWCNT-PP composites was most successfully lowered using the mechanofusion process than with any other mixing method (2-5 wt%). The mechanofusion process was found to enhance formation of a percolation network structure, and to ensure a more uniform state of dispersion in the CPCs. The immiscible-polymer blends were prepared by melt mixing (internal mixer) poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF, PP/PVDF, volume ratio 1:1) filled with MWCNT.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.707-718
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• 2001

Polypropylene (PP) exhibits many beneficial properties such as low density high thermal stability, chemical resistance, good processability and recyclability. However, only limited research has been done on expanded polypropylene (EPP). In this study, we were trying to prepare EPP with chemical blowing agent. Ethylene-octene copolymer (mPE) was melt blended with PP to enhance melt fluidity of PP at processing temperature and to make more flexible foamed material. Prior to foaming, phase morphology of PP/mPE blends were investigated to examine the effect of phase morphology on the foaming ratio and cell structure of foams. Phase morphology of PP/mPE blends were affected by the content of mPE and mixing torque ratio. At the same composition, it was affected by mixing rpm. High blowing ratio and stable cell structure were obtained in the blend which has the continuous PP matrix with dispersed droplets of mPE.