• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 2002

Several methods have been used to synthesize polymer-clay nanocomposites. In-situ polymerization with clay belongs to a classical way to develop nano-structured materials, while melt intercalation is being recognized as another useful approach due to its versatility and environmentally benign character. In this research, we prepared polymer-clay nanocomposites based on the poly (methyl methacrylate) and organically modified montmorillonite via two-stage sonication process. According to the unique mode of power ultrasonic wave, the sonication during processing led to enhanced breakup of the clay agglomerates and reduction in size of the dispersed phase. Optimum conditions to form stable exfoliated nanocomposites were studied for various compositions and conditions. It was found that a novel attempt carried out in this study yielded further improvement in the mechanical performance of the nanocomposites compared to those produced by the conventional melt mixing process, as revealed by DMA, XRD and TEM. And rheological properties of nanocomposites were measured by ARES. As a result, sonicated PMMA-clay nanocomposites exhibits enhanced properties such as storage modulus and thermal stability than that of neat PMMA.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.278-286
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• 2007

As a part of enhancing the performance of wood-plastic composites (WPC), polypropylene (PP)/ nanoclay (NC)/ wood flour (WF) nanocomposites were prepared using melt blending and injection molding process to evaluate their thermal stability. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to investigate thermal degradation kinetics of the nanocomposites both dynamic and isothermal conditions. Dynamic scans of the TGA showed an increased thermal stability of the nanocomposites at moderate wood flour concentrations (up to 20 phr, percentage based on hundred percent resin) while it decreased with the addition of 30 phr wood flour. The activation energy $(E_a)$ of thermal degradation of nanocomposites increased when nanoclay was added and the concentration of wood flour increased. Different equations were used to evaluate isothermal degradation kinetics using the rate of thermal degradation of the composites, expressed as weight loss (%) from their isothermal TGA curves. Degradation occurred at faster rate in the initial stages of about 60 min., and then proceeded in a gradual manner. However, nanocomposites with wood flour of 30 phr heated at $300^{\circ}C$ showed a drastic difference in their degradation behavior, and reached almost a complete decomposition after 40 min. of the isothermal heating. The degree of decomposition was greater at higher temperatures, and the residual weight of isothermal degradation of nanocomposites greatly varied from about 10 to 90%, depending on isothermal temperatures. The isothermal degradation of nanocomposites also increased their thermal stability with the addition of 1 phr nanoclay and of wood flour up to 20 phr. But, the degradation of PP100/NC1/MAPP3/WF30 nanocomposites with 30 phr wood flour occurs at a faster rate compared to those of the others, indicating a decrease in their thermal stability.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2008

Polypropylene (PP)-layered silicate nanocomposites were developed using a new processing method involving a supercritical carbon dioxide ($scCO_2$)-assisted co-rotating twin-screw extrusion process. The nanocomposites were prepared through two step extrusion processes. In the first step, the PP/clay mixture was extruded with $CO_2$ injected into the barrel of the extruder and the resulting foamed extrudate was cooled and pelletized. In the second step, the foamed extrudate was extruded with venting to produce the final PP/clay nanocomposites without $CO_2$. In this study, organophilic-clay and polypropylene matrix were used. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer. This study focused on the effect of $scCO_2$ on the dispersion characteristics of the clays into a PP matrix and the rheological properties of the layered silicate based PP nanocomposites. The dispersion properties of clays in the nanocomposites as well as the rheological properties of the nanocomposites were examined as a function of the PP-g-MA concentration. The degree of dispersion of the clays in the nanocomposites was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Various rheological properties of the nanocomposites were measured using a rotational rheometer. In the experimental results, the $scCO_2$ assisted continuous manufacturing extrusion system was used to successfully produce the organophilic-clay filled PP nanocomposites. It was found that $scCO_2$ had a measurable effect on the clay dispersion in the polymer matrix and the melt intercalation of a polymer into clay layers.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.367-371
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• 2006

Thermal properties of copolyetherester/silica nanocomposites were examined by using DSC and TGA. The segmented block copolyetheresters with various hard segment structures and hard segment contents (HSC) were synthesized and their silica nanocomposite films were prepared by solution casting method. The nano-sized fumed silica particles were found to act as a nucleating agent of the copolyetheresters. The nanocomposites always showed reduced degree of supercooling or faster crystallization than the corresponding copolyetheresters. The nanocomposites also showed increased hard segment crystallinity except HSC 35 sample which had short hard segment length. In case of 2GT [poly(ethylene terephthalate)] copolyetheresters, which were not developed commercially because of their low crystallization rate, the hard segment crystallinity increased considerably. The copolyetherester/silica nanocomposites showed better thermal stability than copolyetheresters.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.538-543
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• 2008

Nanostructured materials are attracting increased interest and application. Exciting perspectives may be offered by electrical insulation. Epoxy/Organoclay nanocomposites may find new and upgraded applications in the electrical industry, replacing conventional insulation to provide improved performances in electric power apparatus, e.g, high voltage motor/generator stator winding insulation, dry mold transformer, etc. In the paper work, the electrical and thermal properties of epoxy/organoclay nanocomposites materials were studied. The electrical insulation characteristics were analyzed through the permittivity characteristics. by analyzing the permittivity spectra, it was found that dielectric constant becomes smaller with increase frequency and becomes larger with increase temperature. This indicates restriction of molecular motion and strong bonds at the epoxy/organoclay nanocomposites. The morphology of nanocomposites obtained was examined using TEM and X-ray diffraction. It has been shown that the presence of polar groups leads to an increased gallery distance and partial exfoliation. Nevertheless, full exfoliation of clay platelets has not been achieved.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.2279-2282
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• 2010

In this work, the electrical and thermal properties of polyimide/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) nanocomposites were investigated. The polyimide/MWNT nanocomposites contained from 0 to 2.0 wt % of MWNT. The electrical properties of the polyimide films were characterized by a specific resistance measurement. The thermal properties were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It was found that the thermal properties of the polyimide nanocomposites increased with increasing MWNT content and specific resistance as well. This result indicated that the crosslinking of polyimide/MWNT nanocomposites was enhanced by good distribution of the MWNT in the polyimide resins, resulting in the increase of the electrical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.68-75
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• 2010

The effect of dispersion agent, the content and size of nanoparticle on the mechanical and thermal properties has been investigated in $TiO_2$ nanoparticle/epoxy resin composites(nanocomposites). The weight fraction of fabricated nanocomposites were 0, 1, 3, 5%, respectively. The glass transition temperature was lower than pure epoxy resin and decreased with the increasing of nanopaticle content. This is considered that the cross link of epoxy resin during solidification was hindered by the presence of nanoparticles. Nanocomposites of 3wt% content with dispersion agent showed the best tensile strength. The tensile strength of 20㎚ $TiO_2$ nanocomposites were higher than one of 200nm $TiO_2$ nanocomposites.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2005

Biodegradable nanocomposites were prepared by mixing a polymer resin and layered silicates by the melt intercalation method. Internal structure of the nanocomposite was characterized by using the small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Nanocomposites having exfoliated and intercalated structures were obtained by employing two different organically modified nanoclays. Rheological properties in shear and extensional flows and biodegradability of nanocomposites were measured. In shear flow, shear thinning behavior and increased storage modulus were observed as the clay loading increased. In extensional flow, strain hardening behavior was observed in well dispersed system. Nanocomposites with the exfoliated structure had better biodegradability than nanocomposites with the intercalated structure or pure polymer.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.1572-1578
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• 2008

The effect of the organoclay_10A nanoparticles on the DSC and Structural and Dielectrics Properties(1Hz-1MHz) for epoxy/Organoclay_10A Nanocomposites has been studied. Dielectric properties of epoxy-Organoclay nanocomposites were investigated at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 filler concentration by weight. Epoxy nanocomposites samples were prepared with good dispersion of layered silicate using power ultrasonic method in the particles. As structural analysis, the interlayer spacing have decreased with filled nanoparticles contents increase using power ultrasonic dispersion. The maximum increase interlayered spacing was observed to decease for above 5wt% clay loading. The other hand, as decrease with concentration filler of the layered silicate were increased dispersion degree of nanoparticles in the matrix. The interesting dielectric properties for epoxy based nanocomposites systems are attributed to the large volume fraction of interfacesin the bulk of the material and the ensuring interactions between the charged nanoparticle surface and the epoxy chains.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.186-191
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• 2001

Several fabrication processes, corresponding nanostructural features and multifunctionality as well has been investigated for oxide ceramic based nanocomposites with metal nanodispersion (i.e., ceramic/metal nanocomposites). Transition metal (Ni, Co, etc) dispersed alumina and zirconia based nanocomposites have been synthesized by reducing and hot-press sintering of ceramic and metal oxide mixtures prepared by several method. Improved fracture strength (1.1 and 1.9 GPa for $Al_2O_3/Ni$ and $ZrO_2/Ni$ nanocomposites, respectively) of these composites have been achieved according to their nanostructures. In addition, ferromagnetic characteristic has been kept. The variation of magnetization with an applied stress has found to be more sensitive as smaller as the magnetic metal dispersion is. This result thus suggests the possibility of fracture and/or stress sensing of the composites by simple magnetic measurement.