Synthesis and properties of 2-vinylnaphthalene–EPDM–methyl methacrylate graft copolymer

A graft copolymer of 2-vinylnaphthalene (2-VN) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer (EPDM) was synthesized in tetrahydrofuran using benzoyl peroxide. The effects of EPDM content, and ratio of 2-VN to MMA, reaction time, reaction temperature, and initiator concentration in the graft copolymerization were examined. The light resistance, thermal stability, and the tensile properties of the graft copolymer were investigated by using Fade-o-Meter, thermogravimetric analyzer, and tensile tester. It was found that the light resitance and the heat resistance as well as the tensile strength of the graft copolymer are considerably better than those of the acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) copolymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Analysis of the correlation between acoustic noise and vibration generated by a multi-layer ceramic capacitor

Acoustic noise generated by a multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) makes users uncomfortable, so the problem must be analyzed to reduce the noise. There is a correlation between the acoustic noise and the vibration of MLCCs and the circuit board. Therefore, the acoustic noise problem must be investigated from a vibration perspective. In this study, the acoustic noise-generating mechanism was investigated, and the relationship between the characteristics of the noise and the dynamic characteristics of the circuit board with MLCC was analyzed. And a correlation criterion was proposed to predict the acoustic noise using the vibration response of the circuit board.     

An experimental investigation of mixing of carbon nanotube/polymer composite in a batch-type screw mixer

We develop a miniaturized batch-type screw mixer (BSM) for uniform mixing of polymer resin and nanoparticles, based on the stretching of material elements. This stretching is induced by the combination of recirculating cross-sectional flows in deep channels of the screw and high shear stress developed at flight regions. The BSM is used to produce a polymer nano-composite composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane resin. The mixing performance of the BSM is characterized quantitatively by estimating two different types of mixing efficiencies (i.e., dispersive mixing and distributive mixing) via transmitted light microscope images. The developed BSM highly improves the mixing performance rather than that of a conventional ultrasonic mixing device.     

APPLICATION OF THE CONSTANT MOLAR FLOW METHOD IN THE STUDY OF MASS TRANSFER OF GASES AND VAPORS IN BIDISPERSE STRUCTURED SOLIDS

In this paper, we provide exact analytical solutions for a new method of constant molar flow of pure gas into a reservoir containing solid adsorbents having a bidispersed structure, such as zeolite, activated carbon and alumina. Depending on the diffusion mechanism, two models are proposed under the isothermal conditions and linear isotherm. One is applicable to zeolite, and the other for alumina and activated carbon. The solutions of these two models are in the form of an infinite series, and its eigenvalues are determined from a transcendental equation. This transcendental equation is such that the eigenvalues are lumped into infinite but countable groups, and in each group there are infinite but countable eigenvalues. The dominant eigenvalues are generally the first ten to thirty eigenvalues (depending on the value of time at which the series is evaluated) in each group. The pressure response of the reservoir is a function of time as the result of the introduction of adsorbate into the reservoir, and as time is sufficiently large it asymptotes to a straight line, of which the slope is a function of the equilibrium parameters only and the intercept is found to be an explicit function of the equilibrium parameters as well as the diffusivities in the macropore and micropore.     

Development of bond strength model for FRP plates using back‐propagation algorithm

For the flexural reinforcement of bridge and building structure, synthetic materials whose dynamic properties are superior and those containing the merit of corrosion‐proof are widely used as the substitute for a steel plate. Since FRP plate has improved bond strength owing to the fibers externally adhering to the plate, many researches regarding the bond strength improvement have been substantially performed. To search out such bond strength improvement, previous researchers had ever examined the bond strength of FRP plate through their experiment by setting up many variables. However, since the experiment for a research on the bond strength takes much of expenditure for setting up the equipment and is time‐consuming, also is difficult to be carried out, it is limitedly conducted. The purpose of this study was to develop the most suitable artificial neural network model by application of various neural network models and algorithm to the data of the bond strength experiment conducted by previous researchers. Many variables were used as input layers against bond strength: depth, width, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength of FRP plate and the compressive strength, tensile strength, and width of concrete. The developed artificial neural network model has been applied back‐propagation, and its error was learned to be converged within the range of 0.001. Besides, the process for the over‐fitting problem has been dissolved by Bayesian technique. The verification on the developed model was executed by comparison with the test results of bond strength made by other previous researchers, which was never been utilized to the learning as yet. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 5119–5127, 2006     

Morphology,thermal, and mechanical properties of polyamide 66/clay nanocomposites with epoxy‐modified organoclay

A new kind of organophilic clay, cotreated by methyl tallow bis‐2‐hydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium and epoxy resin into sodium montmorillonite (to form a strong interaction with polyamide 66 matrix), was prepared and used in preparing PA66/clay nanocomposites (PA66CN) via melt‐compounding method. Three different types of organic clays, CL30B–E00, CL30B–E12, and CL30B–E23, were used to study the effect of epoxy resin in PA66CN. The morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties have been studied using X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), mechanical, and thermal analysis, respectively. TEM analysis of the nanocomposites shows that most of the silicate layers were exfoliated to individual layers and to some thin stacks containing a few layers. PA66CX–E00 and PA66CX–E12 had nearly exfoliated structures in agreement with the SAXS results, while PA66CX–E23 shows a coexistence of intercalated and exfoliated structures. The storage modulus of PA66 nanocomposites was higher than that of the neat PA66 in the whole range of tested temperature. On the other hand, the magnitude of the loss tangent peak in α‐ or β‐transition region decreased gradually with the increase in the clay loading. Multiple melting behavior in PA66 was also observed. Thermal stability more or less decreased with an increasing inorganic content. Young's modulus and tensile strength were enhanced by introducing organoclay. Among the three types of nanocomposites prepared, PA66CX–E12 showed the highest improvement in properties, while PA66CX–E23 showed properties inferior to that of PA66CX–E00 without epoxy resin. In conclusion, an optimum amount of epoxy resin is required to form the strong interaction with the amide group of PA66. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1711–1722, 2006     

Preparation and properties of polyelectrolyte complex sponges composed of hyaluronic acid and chitosan and their biological behaviors

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) composed of chitosan and hyaluronic acid (HA) were prepared in various pH regions and at different weight ratios. At low pHs, there was a strong ionic interaction between NH groups in chitosan and both COO^? and COOH groups in HA due to the deprotonation of HA, whereas weak linkages were formed at high pHs because only the carboxyl groups of HA could interact with NH groups in chitosan. The formation of PECs resulted in a decrease in the crystallinity and thermal stability caused by the interactions between polyions. With variations in the degree of ionization of polyions at various pH conditions, novel PEC sponges were prepared by the freeze drying of PEC solutions. Furthermore, for the evaluation of the wound‐healing effect of PEC sponges with or without an antimicrobial agent (silver sulfadiazine), they were applied to a full‐skin defect of a Wistar rat in vivo. The histology and computerized morphometric analysis of the epidermal healing confirmed the proliferation of fibroblasts in the wound bed and a distinct reduction in infectious agents. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 925–932, 2003     

Development of refinery scheduling system using mixed integer programming and expert system

This paper presents a hybrid refinery scheduling system combining mathematical programming model and expert system. Mixed-integer linear programming models for crude oil movement between units are merged into the expert system that is for qualitative issues concerning crude vessel unloading operations. The target problem ranging from the crude unloading to the crude charging to distillation towers is decomposed into several module problems for efficiency. Compared with existing scheduling approaches for oil movement, the proposed hybrid refinery scheduling system is very effective in dealing with timing decisions involving vessel unloading operations due to the advantages of an expert system. Since the proposed scheduling system can generate solutions so fast, it is expected to play a key role in the real processes. This paper is dedicated to Professor Wha Young Lee on the occasion of his retirement from Seoul National University.     

Characteristics of electrical responsive chitosan/polyallylamine interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel composed of chitosan and polyallylamine exhibited electric‐sensitive behavior. The chitosan/polyallylamine IPN hydrogel was synthesized by radical polymerization using 2,2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone (DMPAP) and methylene bisacrylicamide (MBAAm) as initiator and crosslinker, respectively. The swelling behavior of the IPN was studied by immersion of the gel samples in aqueous NaCl solutions at various concentrations and pHs. The swelling ratio decreased with increasing concentration and pH of electrolyte solution. The stimuli response of the IPN hydrogel in electric fields was also investigated. When a swollen the IPN was placed between a pair of electrodes, the IPN exhibited bending behavior in response to the applied electric field. The IPN also showed stepwise bending behavior depending on the electric stimulus. In addition, thermal properties of the IPN were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric analysis (DEA). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2290–2295, 2002     

Liquid-liquid equilibrium for the quaternary system of o-xylene(1)+water(2) +propionic acid(3)+1-butanol(4) at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure

The liquid-liquid equilibrium for the quaternary system of o-xylene(1)+water(2)+propionic acid(3)+1-butanol(4) was measured at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. Binodal curves, tie-lines, a distribution curve, and a selectivity curve for the quaternary system have been determined in order to investigate the effect of binary solvents, oxylene and 1-butanol, on extracting propionic acid from aqueous solution. In addition, these experimental tie line data were also compared with the values predicted by the UNIFAC model. In this study, the UNIFAC model was capable of predicting the compositions of this quaternary system within an average RMSD of 1.13 mol%. This paper was prepared at the 2004 Korea/Japan/Taiwan Chemical Engineering Conference held at Busan, Korea between November 3 and 4, 2004.