• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2013

The composites composed of conducting polymer (MEH-PPV), CdTe nanoparticles, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were spectroscopically and electrically characterized in their thin films. The composite films were prepared by spray coating. These composites were prepared from the mixture solution of MEH-PPV and CdTe-embedded MWNTs, in which CdTe nanoparticles were electrostatically bound to MWNTs. UV/vis and PL spectra were analyzed to investigate the optical absorbance and emission of the composite films. In addition, their structural, electrochemical, and electrical properties were studied by transmission electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and I-V measurement.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1345-1348
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• 2013

We investigated the tribochemical and wear properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based polymer matrix composites with nanoceramic (NC) ${\beta}$-sialon, and $Al_2O_3$ particles for the mechanical seal applications at low temperature. SEM showed that NC particles were homogeneously distributed in the polymer matrix and initiated the formation of the supramolecular spherulites around NC. From the temperature stimulated depolarization (TSD) current results, it was analyzed that the surface charge on nanoceramic affected the formation of the spherulites structure. 2 wt % $Al_2O_3$ NC did not degrade the mechanical properties of PTFE so that composites showed the similar values of tensile strength, elongation at the rupture and friction coefficient as those of neat PTFE. However, the composite with 2 wt % $Al_2O_3$ NC revealed the improved wear resistance, wear rate of 0.4-1.2 mg/h at room temperature and 0.28 mg/h at $-40^{\circ}C$, respectively, while the neat PTFE the 70-75 mg/h at room temperature and 70.3 mg/h at $-40^{\circ}C$.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.380-384
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• 2006

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) were used as starting materials for the preparation of hybrid materials with polystyrene (PS). Optically transparent hybrids were obtained in a wide range of weight ratios when phenyl groups were introduced to each corner of the silsesquioxane. In contrast, as cyclohexyl groups were introduced, the obtained hybrid materials with PS resulted in turbid films. The aromatic (${\pi}-{\pi}$) interaction was confirmed to be a quite effective tool for the synthesis of organic-Inorganic polymer hybrids with POSS. The obtained homogeneous and transparent hybrid films could be dissolved in solvents and East again without any separation. The homogeneity of polymer hybrids with POSS was supported by the result of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which demonstrated a nanometer-level integration of PS and POSS.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.545-549
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• 2006

Blends of poly(acrylic acid- co-maleic acid) (PAM) with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were pre -pared in distilled water PVA/PAM/saponite (PVA/PAM/SPT) nanocomposite films were prepared with various clay contents by using the solution intercalation method. The variations of the dispersion, morphology, and thermo-mechanical properties of the nanocomposites with clay content in the range 0 to 9 wt% were examined. Up to 3 wt% clay loading, the clay particles were homogeneously dispersed in the PVA/PAM blends. However, some agglomerated structures form in the polymer matrix above a clay content of 7 wt%. The thermal stability of the hybrids was increased linearly with increasing the clay loading up to 9 wt%. The maximum strength and modulus were obtained at a clay content of 7 wt%. Thus, the addition of small amounts of clay to the PVA/PAM blends produced PVA/PAM nano-composites with improved the thermo-mechanical properties.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2008

In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were compounded with the poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix at the solution state using chloroform. For homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs in polymer matrix, oxygen-containing groups were introduced on the surface of MWCNTs. The mechanical properties of the PCL/MWCNTs composites were effectively increased due to the incorporation of MWCNTs. The composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy in order to obtain information on the dispersion of MWCNT in the polymeric matrix. In case of 1.2 wt% of MWCNTs in the matrix, strength and modulus of the composite increased by 12.1% and 164.3%, respectively. In addition, the dispersion of MWCNTs in the PCL matrix resulted in substantial decrease of the electrical resistivity of the composites as the MWCNTs loading was increased from 0 to 2.0 wt%. Furthermore, thermal stability of the PCL and PCL/MWCNTs-COOH composites were investigated using the data acquired from the thermogravimetric analysis. The detailed kinetics of the thermal degradation of the composites was investigated by analyzing their thermal behavior at different heating rates in a nitrogen atmosphere. Activation energy of thermal degradation was determined by using the equations proposed by Kissinger and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa. The apparent activation energy of PCL/MWCNTs-COOH composite was considerably higher than that of neat PCL.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2014

The high Young's modulus and tensile strength of carbon nanotubes has attracted great attention from the research community given the potential for developing super-strong, super-stiff composites with carbon nanotube reinforcements. Over the decades, the strength and stiffness of carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer nanocomposites have been researched extensively. However, unfortunately, such strong composite materials have not been developed yet. It has been reported that the efficiency of load transfer in such systems is critically dependent on the quality of adhesion between the nanotubes and the polymer chains. In addition, the waviness and orientation of the nanotubes embedded in a matrix reduce the reinforcement effectiveness. In this study, we carried out performed micromechanics-based numerical modeling and analysis by varying the geometry of carbon nanotubes including their aspect ratio, orientation, and waviness. The results of this analysis allow for a better understanding of the load transfer capabilities of carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer composites.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.428-435
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• 2007

The thermomechanical property, morphology, and gas permeability of nanocomposites of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with two different organoclays are compared. Hexamethylene benzimidazole-mica ($C_{16}BIMD-Mica$) and Cloisite 25A were used as reinforcing fillers in the formation of UHMWPE hybrid films. Dispersions of organoclays with UHMWPE were carried out by using the solution intercalation method at different organoclay contents to produce nano-scale composites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs show that some of the clay layers are dispersed homogeneously within the polymer matrix on the nano-scale, although some clay particles are agglomerated. We also found that the addition of only a small amount of organoclay is enough to improve the thermomechanical property and gas barrier of the UHMWPE hybrid films. In general, Cloisite 25A is more effective than $C_{16}BIMD-Mica$ in increasing both the thermomechanical property and the gas barrier in a UHMWPE matrix.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.522-528
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• 2024

In this study, a composite material suitable for flexible transparent electrodes was fabricated using Norland Optical Adhesive 68 (NOA 68), an ultraviolet (UV) curable polymer, and silver nanowires (Ag nanowire, AgNW). The mechanical behavior of this composite was then analyzed. A AgNW network structure was embedded in the NOA 68 polymer and cured using UV energy. The composite was prepared with an AgNW network structure formed approximately 4 ㎛ from the top of the NOA 68 matrix. Tensile test specimens were prepared according to ASTM standards, and tensile tests were conducted at room temperature in air. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile tests were used to analyze the changes in mechanical behavior according to UV exposure time and the presence of AgNW. The results showed that as UV curing time increased, the yield strength of the composite increased while the elongation decreased. Regardless of the presence of the AgNW filler, the stress-strain curves of the ductile polymer exhibited the typical mechanical behavior of semi-crystalline polymers as UV curing time increased, characterized by strain softening. It was also confirmed that the composite impregnated with AgNW exhibited higher strength in response to changes in mechanical properties due to UV curing.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.379-383
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• 2017

A study on the low Earth orbit (LEO) space environment have been conducted as a use of composites have increased. Among the LEO environmental factors, atomic oxygen is one of the most critical factors because atomic oxygen can react and erode a surface of polymer-based composite materials. POSS (Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane) materials have been widely studied as an atomic oxygen-resistant nanomaterial. In this study, nanocomposites, which are composed of OG (Octaglycidyldimethylsilyl) POSS nanomaterials and DGEBA/DDM epoxy, were fabricated to find out its thermal and mechanical properties. FT-IR results showed that the nanocomposites were fully cured and contained OG POSS enough. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were performed to measure the thermal properties of the nanocomposites. The initial mass loss temperature and char yield were increased through the filling of OG POSS. As the content of OG POSS increased, glass transition temperature tended to increase to 5 wt.% of OG POSS, but the temperature decreased significantly at 10 wt.% of OG POSS. The tensile test results showed that the content of OG POSS did not affect tensile strength and tensile stiffness.