• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.2320-2327
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• 2020

The extreme hydrophobicity of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) hinders bone-tissue integration, thus limiting the use of ePTFE in medical implant applications. To improve the potential of ePTFE as a biomaterial, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was grafted onto the ePTFE surface using the gamma irradiation technique. The characteristics of the grafted ePTFE were successfully evaluated using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)/energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Under the tensile test, the modified ePTFE was found to be more brittle and rigid than the untreated sample. In addition, the grafted ePTFE was less hydrophobic with a higher percentage of water uptake compared to the untreated ePTFE. The protein adsorption test showed that grafted ePTFE could adsorb protein, which was denoted by the presence of N peaks in the XPS analysis. Moreover, the formation of the globular mineral on the grafted ePTFE surface was successfully visualized using the FESEM analysis, with a ratio of 1.94 for Ca:P minerals by the EDX. To summarize, the capability of the modified ePTFE to show protein adsorption and mineralization indicates the improvement of the polymer properties, and it can potentially be used as a biomaterial for implant application.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2007

In this study, SBR (Styrene-butadiene rubber: solid content: 25 wt%) nanocomposites reinforced with carbon/organoclay(C18-MMT) were manufactured by a latex method. The SBR nanocomposites was made with the dual phase fillers. The mixing ratios, i.e. carbon black/C18-MMT, were 50/0, 49/1, 48/2, 47/3, 45/5, 44/6, 40/10. Total filler content of compounds was restricted to 50 phr. Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of SBR nanocomposites with carbon black and C18-MMT were evaluated. The SBR nanocomposites containing 49/1 ratio of carbon black/C18-MMT showed good dispersity and excellent values of ODR torque, tensile strength, modulus and tear energy. It was found that the improvement of the mechanical properties was mainly due to the reinforcing effect, i.e., the improvement of dispersion of silicates in the rubber matrix.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 2016

Laser welding is a high-density energy welding method. Hence, deep penetration and high welding speed can be realized with lower heat input as compared with conventional welding. The heat input of a CW laser welding is determined by laser power and welding speed. In this study, bead and lap welding of $0.5mm^t$ pure titanium was performed using a fiber laser. Its weldability with laser power and welding speed was evaluated. Penetration, bead width, joining length, and bead shape were investigated, and the mechanical properties were examined through tensile-shear strength tests. Welds with sound joining length were obtained when the laser power and welding speed were respectively 0.5 kW and 2.5 m/min, and 1.5 kW and 6 m/min, and the weld obtained at low output presented better ductility than that obtained at high output.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.755-771
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• 2014

Environmental changes, especially global climate change, are creating new challenges to the development of the Arctic regions, which have substantial energy resources. And attention to offshore structures has increased with oil and gas development. The structural impact response of an explosion-resistant profiled blast walls normally changes when it operates in low temperatures. The main objectives of this study are to investigate the structural response of blast walls in low temperature and suggest useful guidelines for understanding the characteristics of the structural impact response of blast walls subjected to hydrocarbon explosions in Arctic conditions. The target temperatures were based on the average summer temperature ($-20^{\circ}C$), the average winter temperature ($-40^{\circ}C$) and the coldest temperature recorded (approximately $-68^{\circ}C$) in the Arctic. The nonlinear finite element analysis was performed to design an explosion-resistant profiled blast wall for use in Arctic conditions based on the behaviour of material properties at low temperatures established by performing a tensile test. The conclusions and implications of the findings are discussed.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.30-36
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• 2014

300,000 tons of waste tires are annually being produced with development of the automotive industry in Korea. Landfill and incineration treatment system are causing the economic problem through secondary environmental pollution and waste. Therefore, as one of the ways to take advantage of this, Thermo-Plastic Vulcanized (TPV) composite was prepared by the ground waste tire and plastic powders. The waste tire powder was gained by mechanical fracturing through crushers. The waste tire powder was ground by a shear crushing method and a 2-stage disk mill method instead of cutting crushing one. The waste tire powder of 50 mesh was mixed with Polypropylene(PP) in various proportions. TPVs were prepared by an extrusion, and tensile and impact tests were performed. In addition, the same experiments were repeated in 40, 80, 140 mesh conditions in order to observe size effect of waste tire powders.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.1396-1403
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• 2016

In this study, fast-curing shielding materials were prepared with a two-component polyurethane matrix and a filler material of PbO through a one-step, laboratory-scale method. With an increase in the filler content, viscosity increased. However, the two components showed a small difference. Curing time decreased as the filler content increased. The minimum tack-free time of 27 s was obtained at a filler content of 70 wt%. Tensile strength and compressive strength initially increased and then decreased as the filler content increased. Even when the filler content reached 60 wt%, mechanical properties were still greater than those of the matrix. Cohesional strength decreased as the filler content increased. However, cohesional strength was still greater than 100 kPa at a filler content of 60 wt%. The ${\gamma}$-ray-shielding properties increased with the increase in the filler content, and composite thickness could be increased to improve the shielding performance when the energy of ${\gamma}$-rays was high. When the filler content was 60 wt%, the composite showed excellent comprehensive properties.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2016

PURPOSES : This study primarily focused on evaluating the performance characteristics of 4.75-mm nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) asphalt mixtures for their more effective implementation to a layered flexible pavement system. METHODS : The full-scale pavements in the FDOT's accelerated pavement testing (APT) program, including 4.75-mm mixtures at the top with different thicknesses and asphalt binder types, were considered for the faster and more realistic evaluation of the rutting performance. The results of superpave indirect tensile (IDT) tests and hot-mix asphalt fracture mechanics (HMA-FM) based model predictions were used for cracking performance assessments. RESULTS : The results indicated that the rutting performance of pavement structures with 4.75-mm mixtures may not be as good as to those with the typical 12.5-mm mixtures, and pavement rutting was primarily confined to the top layer of 4.75-mm mixtures. This was likely due to the relatively higher mixture instability and lower shear resistance compared to 12.5-mm mixtures. The energy ratio (ER) and HMA-FM based model performance prediction results showed a potential benefit of 4.75-mm mixtures in enhanced cracking resistance. CONCLUSIONS : In relation to their implementation, the best use of 4.75-mm mixtures seem to be as a surface course for low-traffic-volume applications. These mixtures can also be properly used as a preservation treatment that does not necessarily last as long as 12.5-mm NMAS structural mixes. It is recommended that adequate thicknesses and binder types be considered for the proper application of a 4.75-mm mixture in asphalt pavements to effectively resist both rutting and cracking.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate types and formation mechanism of cracks in two Al alloy welds, A5083 and A7N01 spot-welded by pulse Nd : YAG laser, using SEM, EPMA and Micro-XRD. In the weld zone, three types of crack were observed : center line crack({TEX}$C_{C}${/TEX}), diagonal crack({TEX}$C_{D}${/TEX}), and U shape crack({TEX}$C_{U}${/TEX}). Also, HAZ crack({TEX}$C_{H}${/TEX}) was observed in the HAZ region, furthermore, mixing crack({TEX}$C_{M}${/TEX}) consisting of diagonal crack and HAZ crack was observed. White film was formed at th hot crack region in the fractured surface after it was immersed to 10% NaOH water. In the case of A5083 alloy, white films in {TEX}$C_{C}${/TEX} crack and {TEX}$C_{D}${/TEX} crack region were composed of low melting phases, {TEX}$Fe_{2}SiAl_{8}${/TEX} and eutectic phases, $Mg_2$Al$_3$ and $Mg_2$Si. Such films observed $CuAl_2$, {TEX}$Mg_{32}(Al,Zn)_{3}${/TEX}, MgZn$_2$, $Al_2$CuMg and $Mg_2$Si were observed in the whitely etched films near {TEX}$C_{C}${/TEX} crack and {TEX}$C_{D}${/TEX} crack regions. The formation of liquid films was due to the segregation of Mg, Si, Fe in the case of A5083 alloy and Zn, Mg, Cu, Sim in the case of A7N01 alloy, respectively. The {TEX}$C_{C}${/TEX} and {TEX}$C_{D}${/TEX} cracks were regarded as a result of the occurrence of tensile strain during the welding process. The formation of {TEX}$C_{M}${/TEX} crack is likely to be due to the presence of liquid film at the grain boundary near the fusion line in the base metal as well as in the weld fusion zone during solidification. The {TEX}$C_{U}${/TEX} crack is considered a result of the collapsed keyhole through incomplete closure during rapid solidification.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.68-73
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• 2009

Recently, as titanium and titanium alloys are being increasingly used in wide areas, there are on-going researches to obtain high quality weld zone. In particular, growing interest is being drawn to laser welding, which involves low heat input and large aspect ratio in various welding processes and can facilitate shield in atmospheric condition compared with electron beam welding. The first report covered the analysis of embrittlement by the bead color of weld zone through quantitative analysis of oxygen and nitrogen and measurement of hardness as basic experiment to apply laser welding to titanium. Results indicated that the element that affect embrittlement the most was nitrogen, and as embrittlement and oxygenation go on, bead color changed to silver, gold, brown, blue and gray. This study performed butt welding of pure titanium and STS304 by using 1kW CW Nd:YAG laser, and to find out basic physical properties, evaluated welding performance by laser output, welding speed, root gap and misalignment etc, and examined mechanical properties through tensile stress and Erichsen test. The reason particles of pure titanium welded metal and HAZ are greater than STS304 is because they are pure metal and do not include many impure elements that work as nuclei in case of resolidification, thus becoming coarse columnar crystals eventually. In addition, the reason STS304 requires more energy during welding than pure titanium is because the particle size of base metal is smaller.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1229-1242
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• 2005

When natural rubber is used for a long period of time, it becomes aged; it usually becomes hardened and loses its damping capability. This aging process affects not only the material property but also the (fatigue) life of natural rubber. In this paper the aging effects on the material property and the fatigue life were experimentally investigated. In addition, several fatigue life prediction equations for natural rubber were proposed. In order to investigate the aging effects on the material property, the load-stretch ratio curves were plotted from the results of the tensile test, the compression test and the simple shear test for virgin and heat-aged rubber specimens. Rubber specimens were heat-aged in an oven at a temperature ranging from $50^{\circ}C$ to $90^{\circ}C$ for a period ranging from 2 days to 16 days. In order to investigate the aging effects on the fatigue life, fatigue tests were conducted for differently heat-aged hourglass-shaped and simple shear specimens. Moreover, finite element simulations were conducted for the specimens to calculate physical quantities occurring in the specimens such as the maximum value of the effective stress, the strain energy density, the first invariant of the Cauchy-Green deformation tensor and the maximum principal nominal strain. Then, four fatigue life prediction equations based on one of the physical quantities could be obtained by fitting the equations to the test data. Finally, the fatigue life of a rubber bush used in an automobile was predicted by using the prediction equations, and it was compared with the test data of the bush to evaluate the reliability of those equations.