• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.4.1-4.1
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• 2010

In the first part, after discussing works on nacre, a soft-hard composite found in nature, including a simulation on network mimicking nacre [1-4], we talk on a simple model of spider webs, another example of natural soft-hard structure [5]. We demonstrate that the web network is free of stress concentrations because the radial threads are stronger than the spiral threads. In the second part, after reviewing our works on wetting on textured surfaces [6-8], we discuss penetration into textured surface and instability of a liquid film on textured substrates during spin coating [9,10].

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.401-415
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• 2021

Soft robots are promising devices for applications in drug delivery, sensing, and manufacturing. Traditional hard robotics are manufactured with rigid materials and their degrees of motion are constrained by the orientation of the joints. In contrast to rigid counterpart, soft robotics, employing soft and stretchable materials that easily deforms in shape, can realize complex motions (i.e., locomotion, swimming, and grappling) with a simple structure, and easily adapt to dynamic environment. Among them, the magnetic actuators exhibit unique characteristics such as rapid and accurate motion control, biocompatibility, and facile remote controllability, which make them promising candidates for the next-generation soft robots. Especially, the magnetic actuators instantly response to the stimuli, and show no-hysteresis during the recovery process, essential for continuous motion control. Here, we present the state-of-the-art fabrication process of magnetically controllable nano-/micro-composites, magnetically aligning process of the composites, and 1-dimensional/multi-dimensional multimodal motion control for the nextgeneration soft actuators.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.21-24
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• 2002

Hydroxyapatite(HAp, Ca$\sub$10/(PO$_4$)$\sub$6/(OH)$_2$, is a compound with structural and chemical resemblance bone mineral and of particular importance in the field of biomaterials. In addition to the non-toxicity and high compatibility with hard and soft tissue, HAp exhibits strong affinity to host hard tissues and protein molecules. However, HAP is difficult to shape in the specific forms due to its hardness and brittleness. (omitted)

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.161-173
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• 1992

A series of polyurethane block copolymers based on hydroxyterminated poly(dimethyl siloxane), poly(propylene glycol) and poly(tetramethylene glycol) soft segments of molecular weights 1,809, 2,000 and 2,000, respectively, were synthesized. The hard segments consisted of 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender. Samples with different molar ratios were prepared. We tried to synthesize poly(dimethyl siloxane)-based polyurethane(PDMS-PU) containing a hard block as major fraction and a soft block as minor fraction for preparing toughened rigid systems. After a study of the pure PDMS-PU, poly(propylene glycol)-based polyurethane(PPG-PU) and poly(tetramethylene glycol)-based polyurethane(PTMG-PU), (mixed polyol)-based block copolymers and blends between PDMS-PU, PPG-PU and PTMG-PU were prepared, and characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy. In (mixed polyol)-based PU and in lower hard segment content blends, macro-phase separation was shown, but blends with higher hard segment contents showed significant reduction in amounts of phase separation.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.396-401
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• 2001

The concept of the mixtures can be used not only in the composites but also in the materials with precipitates and matrix. In this investigation, the finite element method of axisymmetric unit cell models and the rule of mixtures of the Voigt and the Reuss models are used to analyze the overall mechanical response of composites with homogeneously distributed particles. The calculations have been cameo out by taking the materials as i) hardening and ii) perfect plastic materials. The Plastic properties are predicted for various volume fractions of the soft and hard particles. The computational results are compared with the results of the rule of mixtures. It is found that the plastic flow curves agree well with the Voigt model when the volume fraction of the particles is high. On the other hand, the calculated flow curves exist between the Voigt model and the Reuss model when the volume fraction of the particles is low.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.205-206
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• 2017

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2019

Polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) were synthesized using trans-1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl) cyclohexane (1,4-H₆XDI), poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol, 1,4-butanediol (BD), and 1,1,1-trimethylol propane (TMP). To control the molecular aggregation state and mechanical properties of these PUEs, hard segment contents of 20 and 30 wt% and BD/TMP ratios of 10/0 and 8/2 were chosen. Differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements revealed that the degree of microphase separation increased with an increase in both hard segment content and BD ratio. The Young's modulus and strain at break of the 1,4-H₆XDI-based PUE were 6-20 MPa and 5-15, respectively. Incorporation of 20% TMP as a cross-linking agent into BD increased the melting temperature of the hard segment chains, that is, heat resistance, and decreased the Young's modulus. This could be due to the low density of the physical cross-linking network and the dispersion of hard segment chains in the soft segment matrix in the PUE in the presence of 20% TMP.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.286-293
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• 2004

Ester- and ether-based thermoplastic polyurethanes of different hardness were injection molded at different mold temperatures and effects of mold temperature on the physical properties of TPUs were investigated. Glass transition temperatures of soft segments of TPUs were hardly changed by mold temperatures. The phase separation of soft and hard segments of injection molded TPUs were affected little by mold temperatures. However, crystallinity of hard segments, temperature range of rubbery plateau, and tensile strength of injection molded TPUs decreased with increasing mold temperatures for TPUs of high hardness. However, injection molded TPUs of low hardness showed increases of crystallinity of hard segments, temperature range of rubbery plateau, and tensile strength with increasing mold temperatures. Different physical properties of injection molded TPUs depending on mold temperatures were attributed to different crystallization and physical crosslinking effects of hard segments.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2022

Polycarbonate diol-based waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was prepared by prepolymer mixing process. The prepolymer mixture contained the polycarbonate diol, isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), dimethylol propionic acid, triethylamine, and ethylenediamine (EDA). The NCO/OH ratio in the prepolymer was adjusted by controlling the molar ratio of IPDI, and its effects on the properties of WPU were studied. The structure of WPU was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The average particle size increased and viscosity decreased with increasing NCO/OH ratio and EDA content in WPU. The reduced phase separation between soft and hard segments increased glass transition temperature. The reduction in the thermal decomposition temperature could be attributed to the low bond energy of urethane and urea groups, which constituted the hard segment. Additionally, the polyurethane chain mobility was restricted, elongation decreased, and tensile strength increased. The hydrogen bond between the hard segments formed a dense structure that hindered water absorption.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 1996

The polyurethane was synthesized by the reaction of polycaprolactone diol(Mw 2000), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender. Also, the modified polyurethane polymers based on liquid polybutadiene as a part of soft segment and dimethylolpropionic acid as a chain extender, giving polyurethane with various polarity, were synthesized. The thermal, mechanical, adhesion properties and water contact angles of the polyurethanes were examined. From the result of the water contact angle, the polarity of the acid modified PU containing 6% acid content was unchanged but mechanical and adhesion properties were improved. The water contact angles on polybutadiene modified PU films were increased with increasing polybutadiene content. The mechanical properties of the polybutadiene modified PU were higher than that of acid modified PU. However, the mechanical properties were reduced as polybutadiene content increased. The result is presumably due to phase separation between hard segment and soft segment. The peel strength of the polyurethane introduced with 5wt% polybutadiene was improved about 150% than that of unmodified PU. The same as the mechanical properties, the more polybutadiene was introduced, the lower peel strength was obtained.