Material Design for 3D Multifunctional Hydrogel Structure Preparation

Hydrogels are recognized as one of the most promising materials for e-skin devices because of their unique applicable functionalities such as flexibility, stretchability, biocompatibility, and conductivity. Beyond the excellent sensing functionalities, the e-skin devices further need to secure a target-oriented 3D structure to be applied onto various body parts having complex 3D shapes. However, most e-skin devices are still fabricated in simple 2D film-type devices, and it is an intriguing issue to fabricate complex 3D e-skin devices resembling target body parts via 3D printing. Here, a material design guideline is provided to prepare multifunctional hydrogels and their target-oriented 3D structures based on extrusion-based 3D printing. The material design parameters to realize target-oriented 3D structures via 3D printing are systematically derived from the correlation between material design of hydrogels and their gelation characteristics, rheological properties, and 3D printing processability for extrusion-based 3D printing. Based on the suggested material design window, ion conductive self-healable hydrogels are designed and successfully applied to extrusion-based 3D printing to realize various 3D shapes.     

Synergistic Flame Retardant Effects of Carbon Nanotube-Based Multilayer Nanocoatings

In an effort to develop highly functionalized flame retardant materials, hybrid nanocoatings are prepared by alternately depositing a positively charged polyaniline (PANi) and negatively charged montmorillonite (MMT) using the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are employed in polymer nanocomposites as effective reinforcement, where nanotubes are stabilized in MMT aqueous solution. The 3D structure and high density of CNTs deposited in the PANi/CNTs-MMT multilayers produce thicker and heavier coatings in comparison to the LbL assemblies without CNTs. Vertical and horizontal flame testing show that the incorporation of CNTs improves fire resistance. Additionally, cone calorimetry reveals that stacking two nanomaterials (MMT and CNTs) in a single coating shows a significant reduction in peak heat release rate (up to 51%), total smoke release (up to 47%), and total heat release (up to 37%) for the polyurethane foam. The enhancement of flame retardancy is attributed to a synergistic effect; MMT serves as a physical barrier that retards the diffusion of heat and gas. The addition of CNTs strengthens the thermal stability and high char yield. These results, coupled with the simplicity with which the LbL deposition is applied, present a viable alternative to halogen-free flame retardant nanocoatings to natural and synthetic fibers.     

A study of the corrosion properties of plasma nitrocarburized and oxidized AISI 1020 steels

Plasma nitrocarburized AISI 1020 steels were oxidized for 15, 30 and 60 min to evaluate their corrosion and microstructural properties. After plasma nitrocarburizing for 3 h at 570°C in a gas mixture comprising 85 vol.% N₂, 12vol.% H₂ and 3 vol.% CH₄, the compound layer composed of ɛ-Fe_2–3(N,C) and γ’-Fe₄(N,C) phases and the diffusion layer above the matrix were observed. The top oxide layer, consisting mainly of magnetite (Fe₂O₄) and hematite (Fe₂O₃) phases, forms after post-oxidation treatment at 500°C. However, the oxide layer was severely degraded by spallation as a result of increases in post-oxidizing time. The difference in corrosion resistance should be attributed to the thickness of the top oxide layer, which was governed by post-oxidizing time.     

Process optimization of sweet potato pulp‐based biodegradable plastics using response surface methodology

Biodegradable plastics were produced from sweet potato pulp (SPP) and cationic starch (CS) or chitosan composite (CC) by compression molding and their mechanical properties were tested. A universal testing machine, Rockwell hardness tester, and Izod impact tester were used for testing the mechanical properties (flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and Izod strength) of the plastics. A central composite second‐order design was used to study the effects of temperature, time, and moisture content on the flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and Izod strength of SPP/CS and SPP/CC blended plastics. The flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and Izod strength of SPP‐based plastics was 101.1–305.9 kg/cm², R29.0–R96.7, and 0.6–3.0 kg cm cm^?2, respectively. Regression analysis predicted the optimal mechanical properties (flexural strength, Rockwell hardness, and Izod strength) to be attained with a 150–160°C temperature, 15–20‐min reaction time, and 20–23% moisture content. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 423–434, 2002     

Determination of non-methane hydrocarbon emission factors from vehicles in a Tunnel in Seoul in May 2000

Measurements of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) were performed at the entrance and exit of the Sangdo tunnel to estimate emission factors (EF) of NMHC from vehicles in May 2000. About 50 species were analyzed by a combined GC/FID and GC/MS system. Ethylene was the most abundant compound, followed by n-butane and acetylene, respectively. Based on the measurement data, the real world vehicular EF in Seoul was estimated. The highest EF value was 89.8 mg (veh-mile)^-1 for n-butane, followed by ethylene and toluene.     

Catalytic Combustion of Methane over Rare Earth Stannate Pyrochlore

Well-defined Ln₂Sn₂O₇ powders (Ln = La, Sm and Gd) with a phase-pure pyrochlore structure were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction. The catalytic activities of Ln₂Sn₂O₇ powders for methane combustion were measured. Methane oxidation started at 500 °C and increased with oxidation temperature. Catalytic methane combustion is strongly influenced by the presence of oxygen vacancies that form by breaking Sn–O lattice bonds as the temperature increases. Addition of manganese to the rare earth pyrochlores improved methane oxidation activity. Manganese-doped samarium stannate pyrochlore (Sm₂Sn_1.8Mn_0.2O₇) shows highest the catalytic activity. Light-off and complete oxidation temperatures were measured at about 400 and 650 °C, respectively.     

Crystallization and dissolution behavior of l(+) calcium and zinc lactate in ethanol-water solvent

Crystallization and dissolution behavior of L(+) calcium and zinc lactate in 50% ethanol-water solution was studied. The effects of stirring, standing, ultrasonic wave, and temperature on the crystallization of L(+) calcium and zinc lactate were evaluated. It was found that standing had a positive effect on crystallization of L(+) calcium and zinc lactate, while stirring promoted dissolution of crystallized particles and resulted in high residual concentration in mother liquor. The application of ultrasonic wave did not influence much on crystallization process. L(+) calcium and zinc lactate crystallized easily at 5 ‡C; however, complete crystallization took more than 72 hours. These two salts dissolved rapidly and reached equilibrium within 1 hour.     

Preparation of ketoprofen‐loaded high‐molecular‐weight poly(vinyl alcohol) gels

High‐molecular‐weight atactic poly(vinyl alcohol) (a‐PVA) gels loaded with (R,S)‐2‐(3‐benzoylphenyl)propionic acid (ketoprofen) were prepared from 5, 6, 7, and 8 g/dL solutions of a‐PVA with a number‐average degree of polymerization of 4000 in an ethylene glycol/water mixture with an aging method to identify the effect of the initial polymer concentration on the swelling behavior, morphology, and thermal properties of a‐PVA gels. Then, the release behavior of ketoprofen from a‐PVA gels was investigated. As the polymer concentration decreased, the ability for network formation decreased, and the degree of swelling of the a‐PVA gels increased. In addition, the enthalpy increased with an increase in the a‐PVA concentration, but the melting temperatures of the gels prepared at different initial polymer concentrations were the same; this indicated that tighter gel networks would be formed by a higher polymer chain density. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Shear creep resistance of styrene–isoprene–styrene (SIS)‐based hot‐melt pressure‐sensitive adhesives

The effects of the properties of substrates and tackifier on the shear creep of SIS‐based HMPSAs were investigated. The holding power (t_b) and shear adhesion failure temperature (SAFT) were measured. The relationship between the complex viscosity and the holding power was examined. The holding power and SAFT values of the triblock SIS blends were higher than those of the diblock‐containing SIS blends, perhaps because blends using triblock SIS have higher crossover temperature and complex viscosity than those using diblock‐containing SIS. Higher levels of aromatic resin‐modified aliphatic tackifier and rosin ester were found to decrease the holding power of the HMPSAs. This maybe due to the fact that rosin ester and aromatic‐modified aliphatic resin are compatible with both the ends and midblocks of SIS. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 825–831, 2006