• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.382-387
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• 2013

Biodegradable polyurethane (PU)/clay nanocomposite films were prepared via extrusion compounding process followed by casting film process. Organically modified montmorillonite (denoted as C30B) with a large amount of hydroxyl groups on its surface was used for the formation of strong bonding with PU resin. From both XRD analysis and TEM observations, the intercalated and exfoliated structure, and dispersion state of silicate platelets in the compounded nanocomposite films were confirmed. In addition, the rheological and tensile properties, optical transparency, oxygen permeability of the prepared nanocomposites were investigated as a function of added nanoclay content, and moreover based on these results, the corelation between the morphology and the resulting properties of the nanocomposites could be presented. The inclusion of nanoclays at appropriate content resulted in remarkable improvement in the nanocomposite performance including tensile modulus, elongation, transparency, and oxygen barrier property, however at excess amount of nanoclays, reduction or very slight increase was observed due to poor dispersion. The biodegradability of the prepared nanocomposite film was evaluated by examining the deterioration in the barrier and tensile properties during degradation period under compost.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.332-336
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• 2011

Hydrogels have been investigated due to their potential in a myriad of applications. The introduction of functional moiety such as sulfide has expanded their applicability. In this study, an investigation was carried out on the introduction of fucoidan into the hydrogels of clay/acrylamide. In the resulting semi-IPN nanocomposite hydrogels, the linear polysaccharide, fucoidan, has strong ionic interactions with clay. It was also confirmed from simple mixing tests that fucoidan can physically crosslink with clay without chemical crosslinks. In the semi-IPN hydrogels, equilibrium swelling ratio increased with the content of fucoidan. Elastic modulus increased with an initial increase in the content of fucoidan, and decreased with a further increase. The work of fracture results of these hydrogels showed their tough properties. These hydrogels could provide functional properties such as mucoadhesiveness with tunable hydrogel characteristics.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2015

Epoxy resin is widely used as aerospace, automobile, construction and electronics due to their good mechanical and electrical properties and environmental advantages. However, the inherent flammability of epoxy resin has limited its application in some field where good flame retardancy is required. Nano clay can enhance the properties of polymers such as flames retardancy and thermal stability. In this study, we have investigated the nanoclay filled epoxy composite, which has good flame retardancy while maintaining high mechanical properties. The cured epoxy resins were obtained using an electron beam curing process. The nano clays were dispersed in epoxy acrylate solution and mechanically stirred. The prepared mixtures were irradiated using an electron beam accelerator. The composites were characterized by gel content and thermal/mechanical properties. Moreover, the flammability of the composite was evaluated by limited oxygen index (LOI). The flame retardancy of nano clay filled epoxy composite was evidently improved.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2011

We prepared polyurethane foam/cloisite30B/phosphates composites and characterized their rise time, density, cell morphology, and thermal properties. The composites were synthesized with polyadipatediol-cloisite30B composite (f=2.0), polyether-polyol (f=4.6), polymeric 4,4-diphenyl methane diisocyanate (f=2.5), and D-580 (phenyl polyoxyalkenyl phosphate). As a blowing agent, cyclopentane and distilled water were used at various concentrations of D-580 from 0 to 2.81 wt%. The rise times of PUF/Closite30B/Phosphate composites blown with distilled water were faster than those blown with cyclopentane by 30%. The composites blown with cyclopentane had spherical-shape cells and the cell diameter was decreased with increasing D-580 wt%. While $T_g$ of the composites blown with cyclopentane linearly decreased with increasing the D-580 content, the $T_g$ of the composites blown with distilled water increased with the D-580 content. All PUF/Closite30B/Phosphate composites began to decompose from $250^{\circ}C$. The composites blown with cyclopentane showed the second thermal decomposition at temperatures higher than $500^{\circ}C$. The thermal stability of all composites increased with the D-580 content. The effect of D-580 on the thermal stability of the composites was measured higher at the composites blown with distilled water.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.493-499
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• 2009

The properties of polystyrene and styrenic copolymer nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nanoclays were studied. Polystyrene and styrenic copolymer containing styrene and vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride (SVTAC) were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. Polystyrene/CNT/clay and SVTAC/CNT/clay nanocomposites with various concentrations of CNT and different types of clay were prepared via mixing of polystyrene emulsion and clay. SVTAC/CNT nanocomposites showed a better electrical conductivity than PS/CNT nanocomposites. Nanocomposites with more surfactant during polymerization showed a better electrical conductivity than the ones with less surfactant. These indicated the positive effect of comonomer and surfactant on the electrical conductivity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to analyze the state of CNT dispersion. TEM results showed that CNT loading, comonomer composition and amount of surfactant affected the final dispersion of CNT in nanocomposites. In order to confirm the effects of CNT loading, comonomer composition and the amount of surfactant on the thermal and dynamic mechanical properties, DSC and DMA analyses were conducted.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2009

We synthesized polyester-diol containing Cloisite 30B which is exfoliated during the synthesis. First, esterification was conducted with excess adipic acids and two 2-hydroxyethyl groups of the tertiary ammonium tethered to Cloisite 30B silicate layer. Due to the small molecular size of adipic acid ($d{\approx}3.0\;{\AA}$, $L{\approx}9.3\;{\AA}$), it penetrated into the interlayer of Cloisite 30B, reacted with the 2-hydroxyethyl groups, and produced the tertiary ammonium that has the two ethyl-ester adipic acid groups, one methyl group, and one hydrogenated alkyl group. Through the esterification, the molecular size of the tertiary ammonium increased and as the result, the basal space of Cloisite 30B increased from $18.4\;{\AA}$ to more than $58.3\;{\AA}$. The produced ethyl-ester adipic acid and unreacted adipic acid reacted with excess diethylene glycol ([COOH]/[OH]${\approx}0.6$) to be polyester-diol. The COOH conversion calculated from the acid value of the reactant mixture was 94%. The number average molecular weight and PDI of the produced polyester-diol were 830 g/mol and 1.2, respectively.