• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.219-229
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• 2008

A pH sensitive ternary copolymer gel was synthesized in the presence of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinking agent through radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VA), acrylic acid (AA) and methyl acrylate(MA) with a weight ratio of 1 : 1.3 : 1. A number of experiments were carried out to determine the swelling behavior of the gel under a variety of pH conditions of the swelling medium. As the pH of the swelling medium was changed from 1.0 to 8.0 at $37^{\circ}C$, the gel showed a shift in the pH-dependent swelling behavior from Fickian (n=0.3447) to non-Fickian (n=0.9125). The resulting swelling parameters were analyzed using graphical and statistical methods. The results showed that the swelling of the gel was controlled by the pH of the medium, i.e. $n=n_o{\exp}(S_{C}pH)$, where n is the diffusion exponent, $n_o(=28.9645{\times}10^{-2})$ is the pre-exponential factor and $S_C$(=0.1417) is pH sensitivity coefficient. The swelling behavior of the gel was also examined in aliphatic alcohols. The results showed that the rate of swelling increased with increasing number of carbon atoms in the alcoholic molecular chain.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2000

An alternative strategy to .educe the percolation threshold of carbon black (CB) in polymer blends was investigated using random copolymer ternary blends of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA), and a styrene-methyl methacrylate random copolymer (SMMA). The target morphology was to selectively locate CB particles in the encapsulating layer of SMMA during melt mixing. The CB used in this study is BP-2000 from Cabot and has a strong selective affinity to PS. Even when the CB was premixed with SMMA, it moves to the PS phase during the melt mixing. However, we also observed the CB particles located at the interface between SMMA and PS phases. Through this study it is found that the interaction between polymers and CB particles is critical for selectively localizing CB particles in multi-component polymer blends. Although appropriate processing condition may retard the movement of CB particles to the polymer phase with affinity, it cannot prevent it completely and locate them to the SMMA phase, which is not thermodynamically favored. To locate CB particles in an encapsulating layer of ternary polymer blends, first of all, polymers forming it should have selective affinity to CB.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.262-272
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• 2003

Maleic anhydride-grafted-polypropylene(PP-g-MA) were used as a blend component and a compatibilizer, respectively, for two reactive blends of polyamide 66(PA 66)PP-g-MA binary blends and PA 66/polypropylene(PP)/PP-g-MA ternary blends. The goal of this work was to investigate the property differences between binary and ternary blends. Tensile strength, flexural modulus, heat deflection temperature, impact strength, melt flow index, and the dependence of melt viscosity on the shear rate were examined. The impact strengths of binary blends were higher than those of ternary blends at all compositions, since the in situ synthesis of PP-g-PA 66 copolymer through the imide formation between the amine end group of PA 66 and the anhydride group of PP-g-MA gave the increase of molecular weight and was more popular in binary blends than in ternary blends. In case of ternary blends, most of the properties were superior to those of binary blends, owing to the better properties of PP compared with PP-g-MA. The toughened binary blends with 70/30(PA 66/PP-g-MA) and 80/20 ratios were not commercially applicable due to their poor processibility. So, the ternary blends which showed lower melt viscosities were recommended for the commercial applications.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2022

Polypropylene (PP) has been received great attention as a next-generation high-voltage power cable insulation material that can replace cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). However, the PP cannot be used alone as an insulation material because of its high elastic modulus and vulnerability to impact, and thus is mainly utilized as a form of a copolymer with rubber phases included in the polymerization step. In this paper, a soft PP-based blend was prepared through melt-mixing of impact PP, polyolefin elastomer, and propylene-ethylene random copolymer. The elastic modulus and impact strength of the blend could properly be decreased or increased, respectively, by introducing elastomeric phases. Furthermore, the blends showed a high storage modulus even at a temperature of 100℃ or higher at which the XLPE loses its mechanical properties. In addition, the blend was found to be effective in suppressing the space charge compared to the pristine PP as well as XLPE.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.233-241
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• 2005

Ursolic acid (UA), a bioactive triterpene acid, has been known to increase collagen content in human skin in addition to other actions such as anti-inflammatory, skin-tumor prevention and anti-invasion. However, it is poorly soluble in water. Therefore, we firstly prepared microemulsion system with benzyl alcohol, ethanol and Cremophor EL, RH 40 and Brij 35 as surfactant in order to increase solubility of UA and then prepared microemulsion was dispersed in o/w cream base for the topical delivery of UA in an effort to improve anti-wrinkle effect. The pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were developed and various microemulsion formulations were prepared using benzyl alcohol as an oil, Cremophor EL, RH 40 and Brij 35 as a surfactant. The droplet size of microemulsions was characterized by dynamic light scattering. The accumulation of VA in the skin from topical cream was evaluated in vitro using hairless mouse skins. The mean droplet size was $26.8{\pm}6.6$ nm for microemulsions II with Cremophor EL. All UA creams showed pseudoplastic flow and hysterisis loop in their rheogram, depending on the type of materials added in topical creams. The in vitro accumulation data demonstrated the UA topical cream prepared with the combination of Poloxamer 407 and Xanthan gum as a copolymer showed higher accumulation percentage than those prepared with either Poloxamer 407 or Xanthan gum. These results suggest that UA topical cream using microemulsion systems may be promising for the topical delivery of UA.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.441-449
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• 2001

Compatibilization of blends based on poly(phenylene ether) (PPE) and polyamide (PA) has been practiced with the incorporation of a copolymer formed by grafting polystyrene onto polybutadiene latex (g-BS) which is further functionalized with maleic anhydride (MAH) (g-BS*) to impart reactivity with amine groups of PA. The major focus has been placed on the effect of the various structural factors in g-BS8 on the phase morphology and mechanical performance of the blends. For the balance of impact strength and heat resistance, it was important to locate g-BS n particles inside of the PPE phase, which was accomplished by the proper control of the molecular weight and amount of PS in g-BS*. For g-BS*'s having constant molecular weight and amount of PS, the reduction of MAH content or increase of rubber particle size in g-BS* resulted in the increase of domain size and consequently loss in mechanical properties. Based on the comparison made with the conventional PPE/PA blend comprising MAH grafted PPE as a compatibilizer, it was confirmed that the comparable level of mechanical performance can be achieved by an appropriate g-BS* type material with improved whiteness index.