• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.707-718
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• 2001

Polypropylene (PP) exhibits many beneficial properties such as low density high thermal stability, chemical resistance, good processability and recyclability. However, only limited research has been done on expanded polypropylene (EPP). In this study, we were trying to prepare EPP with chemical blowing agent. Ethylene-octene copolymer (mPE) was melt blended with PP to enhance melt fluidity of PP at processing temperature and to make more flexible foamed material. Prior to foaming, phase morphology of PP/mPE blends were investigated to examine the effect of phase morphology on the foaming ratio and cell structure of foams. Phase morphology of PP/mPE blends were affected by the content of mPE and mixing torque ratio. At the same composition, it was affected by mixing rpm. High blowing ratio and stable cell structure were obtained in the blend which has the continuous PP matrix with dispersed droplets of mPE.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2009

Rigid polyurethane foams (PUF)s were synthesized with environmentally friendly blowing agents such as a cyclopentane/distilled water (10.0/1.0, pphp) mixture and distilled water only for four different silicone surfactants having different silicone/polyether ratios. An attempt was made to reduce the thermal conductivities of the PUF samples by varying the concentration and the silicone/polyether ratio of the various silicone surfactants. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated an optimum concentration of the silicone surfactant of about 1.5 to 2.5 phpp for various surfactants to reduce the cell size and lower the thermal conductivity. The silicone surfactant having a higher silicone/polymer ratio showed a smaller cell size and, therefore, demonstrated the lower thermal conductivity of the PUF samples. From the relation between the thermal conductivity and the cell size of the PUF samples, the smaller cell size improved the thermal insulation property of the rigid PUF for both the PUF samples blown by the cyclopentane/distilled water (10.0/1.0, pphp) mixture and distilled water only. If the blowing agent is fixed, then the cell size is an important factor to decrease the thermal conductivity of the PUF samples. These results indicated that rigid PUF samples having lower thermal conductivity can be obtained by choosing a silicone surfactant containing a higher silicone/polyether ratio, as well as an optimum content of the surfactant.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.856-862
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• 2009

This study examined the effects of liquid and solid additives on the morphological, mechanical and thermal insulating properties of rigid polyurethane foams (PUFs). The PUFs synthesized with tetramethylsilane (TEMS) as a liquid-type additive showed a smaller average cell size and lower thermal conductivity than those with the aerosil 200 and clay 30B as solid-type additives. When TEMS was added, the average cell size of the PUF became more uniform and finer due to the reduced surface tension of the polymer solution, which increased the nucleation rate and number of bubbles produced and reduced cell size. The PUFs with TEMS showed the highest closed cell contents among the PUFs prepared using TEMS, aerosil 200 and clay 30B. This suggests that the insulation properties of PUF can be determined by both the size of the cell structure and the amount of closed cell contents in the system. The compression and flexural strengths of the PUF increased slightly when the aerosil 200, clay 30B and TEMS were added compared those of the neat PUF. The reaction profiles of the PUFs showed a similar gel and tack tree time with the reaction time among the PUFs synthesized with three different additives and neat PUF. This suggests that the nucleating additives used in this study do not affect the bubble growth of the chemical reaction, and the additives may act as nucleating agents during the formation of PUF. From the above results of the cell size, thermal conductivity, closed cell contents and reaction profile of the PUFs, liquid-type nucleating agent, such as TEMS, is more effective in decreasing the thermal conductivity of the PUF than solid-type nucleating agent, such as aerosil 200 and clay 30B.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.1775-1781
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• 2008

The effects of the type of curing agent on the swelling of the natural rubber(NR) sponge applicable to the self-sealing layer of a helicopter fuel tank were investigated. The curing systems employed were peroxide and mixed ones of sulfur and peroxide. The NR compounds were prepared in a kneader and a roll-mill. The compounds were partially cured in a press at high pressure and subsequently cured fully with expansion in another press at atmospheric pressure. The apparent density of the NR sponge was measured and the cell structure was observed with scanning electron microscopy. The swelling experiments were performed at room temperature using toluene, iso-octane, and an aircraft fuel as a solvent. More rapid volume swelling of the NR sponge cured by peroxide was achieved than cured by sulfur and peroxide with similar amount of curing agent added in rubber compounds. The apparent density and cell structure of the sponge were extremely sensitive to the amount of peroxide, which influences again the swelling behavior of the NR sponge. It is important to control properly two reactions of decomposition of foaming agent and crosslinking of NR in the mold to obtain rapid swelling of the NR sponge on contact of the fuel.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2008

The hydrosilylation is an addition reaction of Si-H bond to unsaturated double bonds, which provides a convenient mechanism to synthesize poly(dimethylsiloxane-co-methylsiloxane)copolymer having siloxy units in polymer backbone. In this study, Poly(dimethylsiloxane-co-methylsiloxane) copolymer was synthesized through the polymerization reaction of cyclopentasiloxane with poly(methyl-hydrogen) siloxane. Silicone-hydrogen functional group of the poly(dimethylsiloxane-co-methylsiloxane) copolymer was substituted to the alkyl groups by hydrosilylation. And their structure was analyzed with FT-IR, H-NMR and GPC instruments, respectively. Surface tension of the synthetic compounds is increased from 22dyne/cm to 25dyne/cm according to increase additional EO moles. The cmc which was evaluated by surface tension was ranged $10^{-5}$ to $10^{-4}mol/L$ and it was decreased according to increase of dimethyl siloxyl content. HLB number of these surfactants was evaluated 9.5 to 11.5 range. These silicone surfactants is applied to self-emulsifier defoamer and personal care products as surface tension depressant, emulsifier, foam control agent.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.159-169
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• 2002

The improvement of flame retardancy of the foams based on NBR/GTR compounds was conducted by formulating various materials i.e. NBR, GTR, inorganic and phosphorus containing flame retardants, foaming agent, cross-linking agent and activator. The foaming properties, morphology, smoke density and flame retardancy of the specimens were investigated using SEM, LOI tester, smoke density control system and cone calorimeter. The phosphorus containing flame retardant reduces heat release rate, increases the limiting oxygen index and a char formation. The inorganic flame retardant increases the limiting oxygen index and reduces heat release rate with an increased CO yield by char formation, and smoke suppressing effect. The formed char seemed to intercept the oxygen transport and heat transfer into the core area. When the composition ratios of the compounds of NBR/GTR were $100{\sim}80/0{\sim}20 wt.%$, and the ratios of the rubbers/flame retardants were $1/1.55{\sim}3.60 wt.%$, we could developed foams with low heat release rate, high limiting oxygen index($28.0{\sim}39.3$), closed or semi-closed cell of uniformity and reasonable expandability($225{\sim}250 %$).

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.457-462
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• 2005

Polyurethane foams (PUFs) were prepared from polymeric 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (PMDI), mixed polyol with OH value of 480, silicone surfactant, three catalysts, and hydrofluorocarbon(HFC) as blowing agent. Balance (PC-8), gelling (33LV), and trimerization (TMR-2) catalysts were used. The effect of the catalysts on the physical properties of PUF with increase of isocyanate (NCO) index and aging time was investigated. The cell size of the PUF with PC-8 and 33LV slightly increased with an increase in NCO index from 100 to 170 but compressive strength did not change significantly. In case of trimerization catalyst, the compressive strength of PUF increased from 8.75 to 1$10.5 kg_f/cm^2$ and the cell size decreased with an increase in NCO index. The compressive strength of the PUF with 33LV increased from 9.21 to $10.15 kg_f/cm^2$ with an increase in aging time. However, there was no detectable change in the compressive strength of PUF with TMR-2. A possible interpretation of the results includes an additional cross-link reaction of non-reacted MDI and FTIR spectrum illustrated the change of NCO peak.