• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1297-1308
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• 2011

This research investigates the application of ZnO (zinc oxide) nanoparticles and $TiO_2$ (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles to polypropylene nonwoven fabrics via an electrospinning technique for the development of textile materials that can decompose harmful gases. To fabricate uniform ZnO nanocomposite fibers, two types of ZnO nanoparticles were applied. Colloidal $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were chosen to fabricate $TiO_2$ nano- composite fibers. ZnO/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and $TiO_2$/PVA nanocomposite fibers were electrospun under a variety of conditions that include various feed rates, electric voltages, and capillary diameters. The morphology of electrospun nanocomposite fibers was examined with a field-emission scanning electron micro- scope and a transmission electron microscope. Decomposition efficiency of gaseous materials (formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, benzene, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide) by nanocomposite fiber webs with 3wt% nano-particles (ZnO or $TiO_2$) and 7$g/m^2$ web area density was assessed. This study shows that ZnO nanoparticles in colloid were more suitable for fabricating nanocomposite fibers in which nanoparticles are evenly dispersed than in powder. A heat treatment was applied to water-soluble PVA nanofiber webs in order to stabilize the electrospun nanocomposite fibrous structure against dissolution in water. ZnO/PVA and $TiO_2$/PVA nanofiber webs exhibited a range of degradation efficiency for different types of gases. For nitrogen dioxide, the degradation efficiency was 92.2% for ZnO nanocomposite fiber web and 87% for $TiO_2$ nanocomposite fiber web after 20 hours of UV light irradiation. The results indicate that ZnO/PVA and $TiO_2$/PVA nano- composite fiber webs have possible uses in functional textiles that can decompose harmful gases.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2010

Graphene is one of the most promising materials for many applications. It can be used in a variety of applications not only as a reinforcement material for polymer to obtain a combination of desirable mechanical, electrical, thermal, and barrier properties in the resulting nanocomposite but also as a component in energy storage, fuel cells, solar cells, sensors, and batteries. Recent research at Michigan State University has shown that it is possible to exfoliate natural graphite into graphite nanoplatelets composed entirely of stacks of graphene. The size of the platelets can be controlled from less than 10 nm in thickness and diameters of any size from sub-micron to 15 microns or greater. In this study we have investigated the influence of melt compounding processing on the physical properties of a polyamide 6 (PA6) nanocomposite reinforced with exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP). The morphology, electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties of xGnP-PA6 nanocomposite were characterized with electrical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, AC impedance, and mechanical properties. It was found that counter rotation (CNR) twins crew processed xGnP/PA6 nanocomposite had similar mechanical properties with co-rotation (CoR) twin screw processed or with CoR conducted with a screw design modified for nanoparticles (MCoR). Microscopy showed that the CNR processed nanocomposite had better xGnP dispersion than the (CoR) twin screw processed and modified screw (MCoR) processed ones. It was also found that the CNR processed nanocomposite at a given xGnP content showed the lowest graphite X-ray diffraction peak at $26.5^{\circ}$ indicating better xGnP dispersion in the nanocomposite. In addition, it was also found that the electrical conductivity of the CNR processed 12 wt.% xGnP-PA6 nanocomposite is more than ten times higher than the CoR and MCoR processed ones. These results indicate that better dispersion of an xGnP-PA6 nanocomposite is attainable in CNR twins crew processing than conventional CoR processing.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

Quaternary TiZrAlN nanocomposite thin films were synthesized by Closed-Field Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering (CFUBMS), and their microstructure and mechanical characteristics were examined. The grain refinement of the TiZrAlN nanocomposite thin films was controlled by adjusting the $N_2$ partial pressure. The hardness of the film varied with the $N_2$ partial pressure and the maximum value was obtained approximately 47 GPa. It was also confirmed that there is a critical value of the grain size($d_c$) to need maximum hardness.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.381-391
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• 2018

In this work, photocatalytic $CO_2$ reduction over a CdSe-graphene-$TiO_2$ nanocomposite has been studied. The obtained material was successfully fabricated via ultrasonic technique. The physical properties of the as-synthesized materials were characterized by some physical techniques. The $TiO_2$ and CdSe dispersed graphene nanocomposite showed excellent results of strong reduction rates of $CO_2$ compared to the results of bare $TiO_2$ and binary CdSe-graphene. An outstanding point of the combination of CdSe-$TiO_2$ and graphene appeared in the form of great photocatalytic reduction capability of $CO_2$. The photocatalytic activity of the asfabricated composite was tested by surveying for the photoreduction of $CO_2$ to alcohol under UV and visible light irradiation, and the obtained results imply that the as-prepared CdSe-graphene-$TiO_2$ nanocomposite is promising to become a potential candidate for the photocatalytic $CO_2$ reduction.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.97-101
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• 2003

Polymer/silicate nanocomposites were prepared via two-step manufacturing process: a master batch preparation and then mixing with matrix polymer. A hybrid of PMMA and Na-MMT with exfoliated structure was first prepared by emulsion polymerization of MMA in the presence of Na-MMT. For the case that SAN24, miscible with PMMA, is used as matrix, we could prepare a nanocomposite with exfoliated structure. However, SAN31 nanocomposite shows the aggregation and/or reordering of the silicate layers due to the immiscibility between SAN31 and PMMA.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.26.1-26.1
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.26.1-26.1
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• 2009

A simple route of external mechanical force is presented for enhancing the electrical properties of polymer nanocomposite consisted of nanowires. By dispersing ZnO nanowires in polymer solution and drop casting on substrates, nanocomposite transistors containing ZnO nanowires are successfully fabricated. Even though the ZnO nanowires density is properly controlled for device fabrication, as-cast device doesn't show any detectable currents, because nanowires are separated far from each other with the insulating polymer matrix intervening between them. Compared to the device pressed at 300 kPa, the device pressed at 600 kPa currents increased by 50times showing the linear behavior against drain voltage and exhibits promising electrical properties, which operates in the depletion mode with higher mobility and on-current. Such an improved device performance would be realized by the contacts improvement and the increase of the number of electrical path induced by external force. This approach provides a viable solution for serious contact resistance problem of nanocomposite materials and promises for future manufacturing of high-performance devices.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.169-182
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• 2012

In this paper the intrinsic influence of micron-sized nickel particle reinforcements on microstructure, micro-hardness tensile properties and tensile fracture behavior of nano-alumina particle reinforced magnesium alloy AZ31 composite is presented and discussed. The unreinforced magnesium alloy (AZ31) and the reinforced nanocomposite counterpart (AZ31/1.5 vol.% $Al_2O_3$/1.5 vol.% Ni] were manufactured by solidification processing followed by hot extrusion. The elastic modulus and yield strength of the nickel particle-reinforced magnesium alloy nano-composite was higher than both the unreinforced magnesium alloy and the unreinforced magnesium alloy nanocomposite (AZ31/1.5 vol.% $Al_2O_3$). The ultimate tensile strength of the nickel particle reinforced composite was noticeably lower than both the unreinforced nano-composite and the monolithic alloy (AZ31). The ductility, quantified by elongation-to-failure, of the reinforced nanocomposite was noticeably higher than both the unreinforced nano-composite and the monolithic alloy. Tensile fracture behavior of this novel material was essentially normal to the far-field stress axis and revealed microscopic features reminiscent of the occurrence of locally ductile failure mechanisms at the fine microscopic level.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2019

Piezoelectric energy harvesting technology is attracting attention, as it can be used to convert more accessible mechanical energy resources to periodic electricity. Recent developments in the field of piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) are associated with nanocomposites made from inorganic piezoelectric nanomaterials and organic elastomers. Here, we used the $BaTiO_3$ nanoparticles and piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymeric matrix to fabricate the nanocomposites-based PEH to improve the output performance of PEHs. The piezoelectric nanocomposite is produced by dispersing the inorganic piezo-ceramic nanoparticles inside an organic piezo-polymer and subsequently spin-coat it onto a metal plate. The fabricated organic-inorganic piezoelectric nanocomposite-based PEH harvested the output voltage of ~1.5 V and current signals of ~90 nA under repeated mechanical pushings: these values are compared to those of energy devices made from non-piezoelectric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers and supported by a multiphysics simulation software.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2007

Nanocomposite has been considered as an emerging technology in developing a novel food packaging materials. Polymer nanocomposites exhibit markedly improved packaging properties due to their nanometer size dispersion. These improvements include increased barrier properties pertaining to gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, as well as to UV rays, and increased mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, dimensional stability, and heat resistance. Additionally, biologically active ingredients can be added to impart the desired functional properties to the resulting packaging materials. New packaging materials created with this technology demonstrate an increased shelf life with maintaining high quality of the product. Nanotechnology offers big benefits for packaging. Nanocomposite technology paves the way for packaging innovation in the flexible and rigid packaging applications, offering enhanced properties such as greater barrier protection, increased shelf life and lighter-weight materials.