• Composites Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.15-22
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• 2006

In this study, we prepared glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites using Brabender twin-screw extruder. Compatibilizer, polypropylene-based maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH), was used to increase the molecular interaction between polypropylene matrix and glass fiber and to enhance melt processability. We also measured the shear and uniaxial elongational behaviors of glass-fiber reinforced composites in the absence or presence of compatibilizer. The effects of compatibilizer and fiber loading on the viscoelastic behaviors were examined. It was fuund that the PP-g-MAH compatibilizer improved the fluidity and increased the molecular bonding of composite melts in shear flow. Transient elongational viscosity was increased with fiber loadings in uniaxial elongational flow However, it was decreased with increasing elongational rates because of microscale shear flow between fibers.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.745-748
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• 2006

This study investigates the fundamental properties and examines spalling appearances and residual compressive strength of high strength concrete containing hybrid organic fibers subjected to fire. Test showed that overall, an increase of fiber content decreased the fluidity of concrete, but specimens containing polyvinyl alcoho(PVA)+polypropylene(PP) fiber and nylon(NY)+PP fiber had improved flow. In addition, the air content of all specimens was properly ranged in target value, regardless of fiber content. As for the spalling properties when completed the fire test, control concrete exhibited spalling occurrence due to sudden elevated temperature. However, specimens containing more than 0.1 vol% of PP fiber prevented the spalling, while specimens containing PP+CL and PVA+PP fiber can protected from fire in more than 0.15vol% of the fiber content. Importantly, a specimen containing only 0.05vol% of NY+PP showed the favorable spalling resistance performance.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.467-472
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• 2011

This study investigated illite/polypropylene (PP) composite filament formation via melt-spinning and evaluated their physical properties to prepare functional fibers using natural materials. When composite filaments were formed, the composite filaments exhibited smaller fiber diameters compared to that of neat PP filament because of the lubricant effect of illite induced by its layered structure. Moreover, fluorination effect increased interfacial affinity and dispersion in the polymer, resulting in smaller diameter of fluorinated illite/PP composite filament, which was 2/3 of the neat PP filament diameter. Addition of raw and fluorinated illite improved thermal stability of illite/PP composite filament. Raw illite/PP composite filament cannot be used for a practical application, because it broke during drawing process, whereas the fluorinated illite/PP composite filament can be used for a practical application, because it exhibited similar tensile strength of the neat PP filament and 50% increased modulus. Even with improved illite/PP interfacial affinity and illite dispersion in the polymer, illite/PP composite filament formed microcomposite, because non-expandable illite had strongly bound layers, resulting in only a little illite exfoliation and PP intercalation into illite.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.337-350
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• 2022

This paper focuses on predicting the post-heating mechanical properties of cementitious composites reinforced with multi-scale additives using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach. A total of four different feed-forward ANN models are developed using 261 data sets collected from 18 published sources. The models are optimized using 12 input parameters selected based on a comprehensive literature review to predict the residual compressive strength, the residual flexural strengths, elastic modulus, and fracture energy of heat-damaged cementitious specimens. Furthermore, the ANN is employed to predict the impact of several variables including; the content of polypropylene (PP) microfibers and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) used in the concrete, mortar, or paste mix design, length of PP fibers, the average diameter of CNTs, and the average length of CNTs. The influence of the studied parameters is investigated at different heating levels ranged from 25℃ to 800℃. The results demonstrate that the developed ANN models have a strong potential for predicting the mechanical properties of the heated cementitious composites based on the mixing ingredients in addition to the heating conditions.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2006

A spalling is defined as the damages of concrete exposed to high temperature during the fire by causing cracks and localized bursting of small pieces of concrete. It is reported that spalling is caused by the vapor pressure and polypropylene(PP) fiber has an important role in protecting from spalling. The characteristics of fire resistance of high-strength reinforced concrete columns with various concrete strength and various contents of PP fiber were investigated in this study. In results, the ratio of unstressed residual strength of columns increases as the concrete strength increases and the ratio of unstressed residual strength of columns exposed to fire decreases as the content of PP fiber increases from 0% to 0.2%.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.55-62
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• 2007

Interfacial evaluation and durability of Jute and Hemp fibers/polypropylene (PP) composites were investigated. Moisture content of various treated conditions were measured by thermogravimetic analyzer (TGA). After boiling water test, mechanical properties and IFSS between Jute, Hemp fibers and PP matrix decreased. On the other hand, work of adhesion increased due to swelled fibril by water. Surface energies of Jute and Hemp fibers before and after boiling water test were obtained using dynamic contact angle measurement. IFSS was not always consistent with thermodynamic work of adhesion. In boiling water case, since Jute and Hemp fibers could be swelled by water, surface area and moisture infiltration space increased. Environmental effect on microfailure modes of Jute or Hemp fibers and Jute or Hemp fibers/PP composites were obtained by observing via optical microscope and by monitoring acoustic emission (AE) events and their AE parameters. After boiling water test, unlike Hemp fiber, microfailure process of Jute fiber could occur due to low tensile strength by swelled fibril. In addition, AE events occurred more and AE amplitude and energy became lower than those of before boiling water test.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.734-737
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• 2004

The synthetic fibers such as polypropylene(PP) and polyvilyl-alcohol(PVA) fiber are poised as a low cost alternative for reinforcement in structural applications. It has been reported that synthetic fiber in cement composites can control restrained tensile stresses and cracks and increase toughness, resistance to impact, corrosion, fatigue and durability. High performance fiber reinforced cementitious composite(HPFRCCs) shows ultra high ductile behavior in the hardened state, because of the fiber bridging properties. Therefore, a variety of experiments have being performed to access the performance of HPFRCCs recently. The research emphasis is on the flexural behavior of HPFRCCs made in synthetic fibers, and how this affects the composite property, and ultimately its strain-hardening performance. Three-point bending tests on HPFECCs are carried out. As the result of the bending tests, HPFRCCs showed high flexural strength and ductility. HPFRCCs made in PVA or Hybrid fiber were, also, superior to PP of singleness. On the other hand, effect of sand volume fraction on HPFRCCs made in PP was insignificant.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2007

High Strength Concrete (HSC) has weakness that in a fire, it is spalled and brittles. The phenomenon of spalling is made by water vapor's (resulting from evaporation in the material at over $100{^{\circ}C}$)' being confined in watertight concrete. As the concrete strength increases, the degree of damage caused by the spalling becomes more serious because of the permeability. It is reported that the polypropylene(PP) fiber has an important role in protecting concrete from spalling and the optimum dosage of PP fiber is 0.2%. This study was conducted on the nonreinforced concrete specimens. The high-temperature behavior of high-strength reinforced concrete columns with various concrete strength and various dosage of PP fibers was investigated in this study. The results show that the ratio of unstressed residual strength of columns increases as the concrete strength increases and the ratio of unstressed residual strength of columns increases as the dosage of PP fiber increases from 0% to 0.2%, however, the effect of fiber dosage on residual strength of column barely changes above 0.2%.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.307-318
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• 2021

Utilizing fibers is an effective way to avoid the brittle behavior of the conventional concrete and can enhance its ductility. In particular, propylene fibers can improve concrete properties, including energy absorption, physical and mechanical properties, controlling shrinkage cracks. The increase of fiber density leads to an increase of the overlapping surface of the fiber of concrete and, in turn, a decrease of cracks developed in the concrete. However, the workability of fiber reinforced concrete tends to be lower than the conventional concrete owing mainly to the hairline thickness and excessive concentration of fibers. The low slump of concrete impedes the construction of reinforced concrete members. In this research, we study if the utilization of magnetic water can alleviate the workability issue of young fiber reinforced concrete. To this end, the compressive and flexural strength of four types of concrete (conventional concrete, fiber reinforced concrete, magnetic concrete, magnetic fiber-reinforced concrete) is studied and compared at three different ages of 7, 14, and 28 days. In order to study the influence of the fiber density and length, a study on specimens with three different fiber density (1, 2, 5 kg of fiber in each cubic meter of concrete) and fiber length (6, 12, 18 mm) is undertaken. The result shows the magnetic fiber concrete can result in an increase of the flexural and compressive strength of concrete at higher ages.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

High Strength Concrete has a disadvantage of the brittle failure under fire due to the spalling. It is reported that spalling is caused by the vapor pressure under fire and polypropylene (PP) fiber has an important role in protecting from spalling. The silica fume which is essentially mixed in high strength concrete decrease the permeability of concrete, and this will increase the degree of spalling. The fire resistance characteristics of high-strength reinforced concrete columns with various contents of PP fiber and silica fume were investigated in this study. In results, the ratio of unstressed residual strength of columns increases as the content of PP fiber increases from 0% to 0.2% and the ratio decreases as the content of silica fume increases from 7% to 21%.