• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.729-744
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• 2017

This investigation highlights rationale of electrically conductive nano adhesives for its essential application for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding in satellites and Lightning Strike Protection in aircrafts. Carbon Nano Fibres (CNF) were functionalized by electroless process using Tollen's reagent and by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD) process by depositing silver on CNF. Different weight percentage of CNF and silver coated CNF were reinforced into the epoxy resin hardener system. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs clearly show the presence of CNF in the epoxy matrix, thus giving enough evidence to show that dispersion is uniform. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) studies reveal that there is uniform deposition of silver on CNF resulting in significant improvement in interfacial adhesion with epoxy matrix. There is a considerable increase in thermal stability of the conductive nano adhesive demonstrated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Four probe conductivity meters clearly shows a substantial increase in the electrical conductivity of silver coated CNF-epoxy composite compared to non-coated CNF-epoxy composite. Tensile test results clearly show that there is a significant increase in the tensile strength of silver coated CNF-composites compared to non-coated CNF-epoxy composites. Consequently, this technology is highly desirable for satellites and EMI Shielding and will open a new dimension in space research.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.97-111
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• 2022

In the present article, silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were exploited to improve the tribological and mechanical properties of vinyl ester/glass fiber composites. To the best of our knowledge, there hasn't been any prior study on the wear properties of glass fiber reinforced vinyl ester SiO₂ nanocomposites. The wear resistance is a critical concern in many industries which needs to be managed effectively to reduce high costs. To examine the influence of SNPs on the mechanical properties, seven different weight percentages of vinyl ester/nano-silica composites were initially fabricated. Afterward, based on the tensile testing results of the silica nanocomposites, four wt% of SNPs were selected to fabricate a ternary composite composed of vinyl ester/glass fiber/nano-silica using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. At the next stage, the tensile, three-point flexural, Charpy impact, and pin-on-disk wear tests were performed on the ternary composites. The fractured surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images after conducting previous tests. The most important and interesting result of this study was the development of a nanocomposite that exhibited a 52.2% decrease in the mean coefficient of friction (COF) by augmenting the SNPs, which is beneficial for the fabrication/repair of composite/steel energy pipelines as well as hydraulic and pneumatic pipe systems conveying abrasive materials. Moreover, the weight loss due to wearing the ternary composite containing one wt% of SNPs was significantly reduced by 70%. Such enhanced property of the fabricated nanocomposite may also be an important design factor for marine structures, bridges, and transportation of wind turbine blades.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.72-77
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• 2003

Nano-diamonds were added to Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) to improve the tribological properties of UHMWPE. Nano-diamonds which have a diameter of about 5-10nm were produced by detonation. UHMWPE/nano-diamonds composites were fabricated by hot pressing method. It is shown that friction coefficient was increased and wear resistance was improved as nano-diamonds were added to UHMWPE because of excellent mechanical properties of nano-diamonds located on UHMWPE surface.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.321-332
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• 2009

Recent development in composites containing phase-transforming particles, such as vanadium dioxide or barium titanate, reveals the overall stiffness and viscoelastic damping of the composites may be unbounded (Lakes et al. 2001, Jaglinski et al. 2007). Negative stiffness is induced from phase transformation predicted by the Landau phase transformation theory. Although this unbounded phenomenon is theoretically supported with the composite homogenization theory, detailed stress analyses of the composites are still lacking. In this work, we analyze the stress distribution of the Hashin-Shtrikman (HS) composite and its two-dimensional variant, namely a circular inclusion in a square plate, under the assumption that the Young's modulus of the inclusion is negative. Assumption of negative stiffness is a priori in the present analysis. For stress analysis, a closed form solution for the HS model and finite element solutions for the 2D composite are presented. A static loading condition is adopted to estimate the effective modulus of the composites by the ratio of stress to average strain on the loading edges. It is found that the interfacial stresses between the circular inclusion and matrix increase dramatically when the negative stiffness is so tuned that overall stiffness is unbounded. Furthermore, it is found that stress distributions in the inclusion are not uniform, contrary to Eshelby's theorem, which states, for two-phase, infinite composites, the inclusion's stress distribution is uniform when the shape of the inclusion has higher symmetry than an ellipse. The stability of the composites is discussed from the viewpoint of deterioration of perfect interface conditions due to excessive interfacial stresses.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2019

Application of nanotechnology can be used to tailor made cementitious composites owing to small dimension and physical behaviour of resulting hydration products. Because of high aspect ratio and extremely high strength, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are perfect reinforcing materials. Hence, there is a great prospect to use CNTs in developing new generation cementitious materials. In the present paper, a parametric study has been conducted on cementitious composites reinforced by two types of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) designated as Type I CNT (10-20 nm outer dia.) and Type II CNT (30-50 nm outer dia.) with various concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 0.5% by weight of cement. To evaluate important properties such as flexural strength, strain to failure, elastic modulus and modulus of toughness of the CNT admixed specimens at different curing periods, flexural bending tests were performed. Results show that composites with Type II CNTs gave more strength as compared to Type I CNTs. The highest increase in strength (flexural and compressive) is of the order of 22% and 33%, respectively, compared to control samples. Modulus of toughness at 28 days showed highest improvement of 265% for Type II 0.3% CNT composites. It is obvious that an optimum percentage of CNT could exists for composites to achieve suitable reinforcement behaviour and desired strength properties. Based on the parametric study, a tentative optimum CNT concentration (0.3% by weight of cement) has been proposed. Scanning electron microscope image shows perfect crack bridging mechanism; several of the CNTs were shown to act as crack arrestors across fine cracks along with some CNTs breakage.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.798-804
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• 2012

This paper focuses on thermal properties of a newly prepared composite material by nano-silica and micro-silica mixture. Nano-silica and micro-silica mixture composites were made by dispersing surface treated nano-silica(average radius: 10 nm) and micro-size silica in epoxy resin. To investigate the effects of nano-silica and micro-size silica mixture(ENMC), the glass transition temperature (Tg), coefficients of thermal expansion(CTE) and elastic modulus of DMA properties by DSC, TMA and DMA devices were measured for the ENMC according to increase nano-silica addition contents and EMC. All properties of the neat epoxy were improved by the addition of micro-silica, which was improved much further by the addition of surface treated nano-silica to the EMC system.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2013

In this work, the anodic oxidation of carbon fibers was carried out to enhance the mechanical interfacial properties of carbon fibers-reinforced epoxy matrix composites. The surface characteristics of the carbon fibers were studied by FTIR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, the mechanical interfacial properties of the composites were studied with interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), critical stress intensity factor ($K_{IC}$), and critical strain energy release rate ($G_{IC}$). The anodic oxidation led to a significant change in the surface characteristics of the carbon fibers. The anodic oxidation of carbon fiber improved the mechanical interfacial properties, such as ILSS, $K_{IC}$, and $G_{IC}$ of the composites. The mechanical interfacial properties of the composites anodized at 20% sulfuric/nitric (3/1) were the highest values among the anodized carbon fibers. These results were attributed to the increase of the degree of adhesion at interfaces between the carbon fibers and the matrix resins in the composite systems.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.834-838
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• 2011

This research shows the electrical characteristic using excellent epoxy nano-composite of MgO 5.0 wt% and $SiO_2$ 0.4 wt% in mechanical strength test depending on nano-additive. First of all, volume resistance depending on nano-additive and temperature using high resistance meter (HP. 4329A) by increasing 10, 100, 1,000 V of applying voltage was measured. Moreover, temperature range of $25{\sim}120^{\circ}C$ with virgin sample was tested using TO-9B oven by Ando Company. The result showed that virgin and the samples added with MgO and $SiO_2$ had similar value of volume resistance in low temperature and low electric field region and reduced with slow slope. The nano-composite's volume resistance of sample added with MgO and $SiO_2$ had higher value than virgin sample's volume resistance in high temperature region more than $80^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the slope has steeply reduced. The volume resistance of sample added with MgO 5.0 wt% was $8.38{\times}10^{13}\;{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ and it was 6.8 times more than virgin sample in high temperature at $120^{\circ}C$. The insulation characteristics were constant although filler has changed in low temperature region. But, in high temperature region, the value of volume resistance of sample with MgO 5.0 wt% was 7.6 times more than the virgin sample's volume resistance.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.377-387
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• 2023

Ni-W/Al₂O₃ nano-composites were electrodeposited on mild steel substrate for mechanical and corrosion resistance applications. This study focused on the preparation of Ni-W/Al₂O₃ nano-composite coating with various quantity of Al₂O₃ incorporations. The addition of Al₂O₃ in the electrolytes were varied from 1-10 g/L in electrolytes and the Al₂O₃ incorporation in Ni-W/Al₂O₃ nano-composite coatings were obtained from 1.82 to 13.86 wt.%. The incorporation of Al₂O₃ in Ni-W alloy matrix influenced the grain size, surface morphology and structural properties were observed. The distributions of Al₂O₃ particle in alloy matrix were confirmed using electron microscopy (FESEM and TEM) and EDAX mapping analysis. The crystal structure informations were studied using X-ray diffraction method and it confirms that the deposits having cubic crystal structure. The better corrosion rate (0.87 mpy) and microhardness (965 HV) properties were obtained for the Ni-W/Al₂O₃ nano-composite coating with 13.86 wt.% of Al₂O₃ incorporations.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.361-368
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• 2023

In lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, encapsulation of sulfur in activated carbon (AC) materials is a promising strategy for preventing the dissolution of lithium polysulfide into electrolytes and enhancing cycle life, because instead of solid-liquid-solid reactions, quasi-solid-state (QSS) reactions occur in the AC micropores. While a high weight fraction of sulfur in S/AC composites is essential for achieving a high energy density of Li-S cells, the deterioration mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear. In this study, we report the deterioration mechanisms during charge-discharge cycling when the discharge products overflow from the AC. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry confirms that the sulfur in the S/AC composites migrates outside the AC as cycling progresses, and it is barely present in the AC after 20 cycles, which corresponds to the capacity decay of the cell. Impedance analysis clearly shows that the electrical resistance of the S/AC composite and the charge-transfer resistance of QSS reactions significantly increase as a result of sulfur migration. On the other hand, the charge-discharge cycling performance under limited-capacity conditions, where the discharge products are encapsulated inside the AC, is extremely stable. These results reveal the degradation mechanism of a Li-S cell with micro-porous carbon and provide crucial insights into the design of a S/AC composite cathode and its operating conditions needed to achieve stable cycling performance.