• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.621-627
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• 2013

In order to apply eco-friendly poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) into barrier packaging materials, six different PPC/exfoliated graphite (EFG) nanocomposite films with different EFG were successfully prepared by a solution blending method. Their water sorption behavior was gravimetrically investigated as a function of the EFG content and interpreted with respect to their chemical structure and morphology. The water sorption isotherms were reasonably well fitted by Fickian diffusion model, regardless of morphological heterogeneities. With increasing the EFG content, the diffusion coefficient and water uptake decreased from $12.5{\times}10^{-10}cm^2sec^{-1}$ to $7.2{\times}10^{-10}cm^2sec^{-1}$ and from 8.9 wt% to 4.2 wt%, respectively, which indicates that the moisture resistance capacity of PPC was greatly enhanced by incorporating EFG into PPC. The enhanced water barrier property of the PPC/EFG nanocomposite films with the high aspect ratio EFG makes them potential candidates for versatile packaging applications. However, to maximize the performance of the nanocomposite films, further researches are required to increase the compatibility of EFG in the PPC matrix.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.251-255
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• 2009

Nanocomposites based on coupling $TiO_2$ matrix with nanosized noble metals (Pt,Au) particles exhibited promising photoelectrode properties. The $M/TiO_2$ (M=Pt,Au) nanocomposite thin films were deposited on quartz and ITO glass substrates using a co-sputtering method. $TiO_2$ in rutile form is the dominant crystalline phase for as-deposited nanocomposite films. Along with heat treatment up to $600^{\circ}C$, XRD peaks of the rutile phase as well as those of noble metal increased in intensity and decreased in width, indicating the growth of crystallites. The anodic photocurrents of $M/TiO_2$ (M=Au,Pt) thin films were observed not only in the UV range but also in the visible light range. The photocurrent of the nanocomnosite films extended to the visible light region by dispersion of nano-sized noble metal in the $TiO_2$ matrix.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.551-555
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• 2004

Cellulose diacetate (CDA) nanocomposite films were prepared by using various plasticizer and montmorillonite nanofiller in methylene chloride/ethanol (9:1 w/w) mixed solution. The thermal property (T$_{g}$) of prepared CDA films was observed by DSC and T$_{g}$ of the films was decreased with the increase in the plasticizer content. The degree of dispersion of MMT in the CDA film was observed by XRD and mechanical property of CDA film was measured by tensile strength and Young's modulus. When the plasticizer was added into the CDA film upto 30 wt%, the Young's modulus of film was decreased from 1930 MPa to 1131 MPa but was increased from 1731 MPa to 2272 MPa when the MMT was added into the film upto 7 wt%. The mechanical properties of CDA films were decreased by addition of plasticizer but strengthened by the incorporation of MMT.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.94-99
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• 2022

Ternary phased graphene/silica/EVOH nanocomposite coating materials were prepared via sol-gel process and solution blending process. From both SEM observations and XRD analysis, the exfoliated structure and dispersion state of graphene nanosheets and silica particles in the nanocomposites as well as the intercalated and exfoliated structure of the prepared graphene oxide were confirmed. The incorporation of GrO and silica at appropriate content resulted in remarkable improvement in oxygen barrier property of the ternary phased nanocompoiste-coated BOPP films, compared with that of binary(silica/EVOH) phased nanocomposite coating films, however, at excess amount of GrO and silica, very slight variation was observed due to incomplete exfoliation, dispersion of graphene tactoids, and formation of micro cracks in the silica clusters. In addition, the transparency of nanocomposite-coated film was investigated by measuring the light transmittance as a function of GrO contents, suggesting the possibility for the application of food packaging films.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2014.11a
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• pp.304-304
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• 2014

Quaternary Ti-Al-Si-N films were deposited on WC-Co substrates by a hybrid deposition system of arc ion plating (AIP) method for Ti-Al source and DC magnetron sputtering technique for Si incorporation. The synthesized Ti-Al-Si-N films were revealed to be composites of solid-solution (Ti,Al)N crystallites and amorphous $Si_3N_4$ by instrumental analyses. The Si addition in Ti-Al-N films affected the refinement and uniform distribution of crystallites by percolation phenomenon of amorphous silicon nitride, similarly to Si effect in TiN film. As the Si content increased up to about 9 at.%, the hardness of Ti-Al-N film steeply increased from 30 GPa to about 50 GPa. The highest microhardness value (~50 GPa) was obtained from the Ti-Al-Si-N film having the Si content of 9 at.%, the microstructure of which was characterized by a nanocomposite of $nc-(Ti,Al)N/a-Si_3N_4$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.371-378
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• 2012

Hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were treated by using 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane (GPTMS) and then they were blended with polyurethane-urea (PUU) emulsions to obtain SNPs/PUU nanocomposite films. Thermo-mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films were investigated by varying the grafted amount of GPTMS onto SNPs and the contents of SNPs in the PUU matrix. The thermo-mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films were also compared in terms of the dispersibility of SNPs in the PUU matrix and thermal curing of the GPTMS-grafted SNPs. The maximum amount of grafted GPTMS was $1.99{\times}10^{-6}\;mol/m^2$, and which covered ca. 53% of the total SNP surface area. $^{29}Si$ CP/MAS NMR analyses with the deconvolution of peaks revealed the details of polycondensation degree and patterns of GPTMS in the surface modification of SNPs. The surface modification did not significantly affect colloidal stability of the SNPs in aqueous medium; however, the hydrophobic modification of SNPs offered a favorable effect on the dispersibility of SNPs in the PUU matrix as well as better thermal stability. XRD patterns revealed that GPTMS-grafted SNPs broadened the reduced the characteristic peak of polyol in PUU matrix. The composite films became rigid and less flexible as the SNP content increased from 5 wt.% to 20 wt.%. Particularly, Young's modulus and tensile modulus significantly increased after the thermal curing reaction of the epoxy groups in the SNPs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.371-377
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• 2019

A flexible piezoelectric energy harvester(f-PEH) that converts tiny mechanical and vibrational energy resources into electric signals without any restraints is drawing attention as a self-powered source to operate flexible electronic systems. In particular, the nanocomposites-based f-PEHs fabricated by a simple and low-cost spin-coating method show a mechanically stable and high output performance compared to only piezoelectric polymers or perovskite thin films. Here, the non-piezoelectric polymer matrix of the nanocomposite-based f-PEH is replaced by a P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric polymer to improve the output performance generated from the f-PEH. The piezoelectric hybrid nanocomposite is produced by distributing the perovskite PZT nanoparticles inside the piezoelectric elastomer; subsequently, the piezoelectric hybrid material is spin-coated onto a thin metal substrate to achieve a nanocomposite-based f-PEH. A fabricated energy device after a two-step poling process shows a maximum output voltage of 9.4 V and a current of 160 nA under repeated mechanical bending. Finite element analysis(FEA) simulation results support the experimental results.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.107-113
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• 2015

This work focused on the study of thermal properties and kinetic behavior of LDPE-nanoclay composite films. The effect of nanoclay content (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt%) on thermal stability and crystallization characteristics of the nanocomposites were investigated by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The results from endothermic curve showed that the nanoclay played an important role in the crystallization of nanocomposites by acting as nucleating agent. From exothermic curve, there was a crystallization temperature shift which was attributed to crystallization process induced by nanoclay. The TGA results showed that the addition of nanoclay significantly increased the thermal stability of LDPE matrix, which was likely due to the characteristic of layered silicates/clays dispersed in LDPE matrix as well as the formation of multilayered carbonaceous-silicate char. A well-known Coats-Redfern method was used to evaluate the decomposition activation energy of nanocomposite. It was demonstrated that introducing of nanoclay to LDPE matrix escalated the activation energy of nanocomposite decomposition resulting in thermal stability improvement.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.531-548
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• 2008

Recently, dense sensor instrumentation for structural health monitoring has motivated the need for novel passive wireless sensors that do not require a portable power source, such as batteries. Using a layer-by-layer self-assembly process, nano-structured multifunctional carbon nanotube-based thin film sensors of controlled morphology are fabricated. Through judicious selection of polyelectrolytic constituents, specific sensing transduction mechanisms can be encoded within these homogenous thin films. In this study, the thin films are specifically designed to change electrical properties to strain and pH stimulus. Validation of wireless communications is performed using traditional magnetic coil antennas of various turns for passive RFID (radio frequency identification) applications. Preliminary experimental results shown in this study have identified characteristic frequency and bandwidth changes in tandem with varying strain and pH, respectively. Finally, ongoing research is presented on the use of gold nanocolloids and carbon nanotubes during layer-by-layer assembly to fabricate highly conductive coil antennas for wireless communications.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 2005

Nanocomposite films were prepared by casting the solution of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and single wall nanotube (SWNT) in nitric acid subsequent to sonication. Even though SWNT shows good dispersion visually, the reinforcing effect was not satisfactory. The G-band Raman spectra of the drawn film clearly demonstrated that SWNTs in the film are well-oriented along the drawing axis of the film. The electrical resistivity of the film prepared using nitric acid was lower than that of the film using DMF. Thus, nitric acid is presumably more effective in dispersing nanotubes than DMF.