Kyong-Yop Rhee

Studies on mechanical interfacial properties of oxy-fluorinated carbon fibers-reinforced composites

Abstract In this work, the effect of oxy-fluorination on physicochemical properties of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers has been investigated. The chemical composition of the oxy-fluorinated carbon fibers is determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement. Mechanical interfacial properties, such as interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), fracture toughness ( K IC ), work of fracture ( W f ) and fracture energy ( G IC ) of the composites are also studied in terms of oxy-fluorination conditions. From the surface analysis, it is found that oxy-fluorination led to an introducing of the fluorine and oxygen functional groups on carbon fiber surfaces, which are more efficient and reactive to undergo an interfacial reaction to matrix materials. Moreover, the formation of CF x physical bonding of the carbon fibers with fluorine increases the surface polarity of the fibers, resulting in increased ILSS, K IC , W f and G IC of the composites, due to the improvement of interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrix resins.

Colors of graphene and graphene-oxide multilayers on various substrates

We investigated the colors of graphene and graphene-oxide multilayers that were deposited on various dielectric layers. In particular, the effects of the material thickness, the types of dielectric layers, and the existence of a back silicon substrate were analyzed. The colors of graphene-oxide layers on a SiO2/Si substrate were found to periodically change as the material thickness increased. However, the colors of graphene layers on the same substrate became saturated without a similar periodic change. The calculated colors corresponding to the material thicknesses were verified by optical microscopy and profilometry. We believe that these results demonstrate the possibility of utilizing color as a simple tool for detecting and estimating the thicknesses of graphene and graphene-oxide multilayers.

The facile and low temperature synthesis of nanophase hydroxyapatite crystals using wet chemistry.

A simple and facile wet chemistry route was used to synthesize nanophase hydroxyapatite (HaP) crystals at low temperature. The synthesis was carried out at a pH of 11.0 and at a temperature of 37°C. The resulting samples were washed several times and subjected to further analysis. XRD studies revealed that the HaP crystals were polycrystalline in nature with a crystallite size of ~15-60 ± 5 nm. SEM-EDXA images confirmed the presence of calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), and oxygen (O) peaks. Likewise, FTIR confirmed the presence of characteristic phosphate and hydroxyl peaks in samples. Lastly, HRTEM images clearly showed distinctive lattice fringes positioned in the 100 and 002 planes. TGA analysis shows that HaP crystals can withstand higher calcination temperatures and are thermally stable.

3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A nanocomposites with unmodified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (u-MWCNTs) and silanized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (si-MWCNTs) were prepared by cast molding method. The effects of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane functionalization of MWCNTs on the thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were examined. The nanocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and flexural testing. The results showed that epoxy composites based on si-MWCNTs showed better thermal stability, glass transition temperature, and flexural properties than the composites based on u-MWCNTs. These results prove the effect of silane functionalization on the interfacial adhesion between epoxy and MWCNTs. This was further confirmed by morphology study of fractured surfaces of nanocomposites by scanning electron microscopy.

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy/Carbon Fiber Composites Reinforced with Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes

Multi-scale hybrid composite laminates of epoxy/carbon fiber (CF) reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated in an autoclave. For laminate fabrication, 0.5 wt% of pristine MWCNTs or silane-functionalized MWNCTs (f-MWCNTs) were dispersed into a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A epoxy system and applied on the woven carbon fabric. The neat epoxy/CF composite and the MWCNTs-reinforced epoxy/CF hybrid composites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), tensile testing, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). A significant improvement in initial decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature of epoxy/CF composite was observed when reinforced with 0.5 wt% of f-MWCNTs. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), measured by TMA, diminished by 22% compared to the epoxy/CF composite, indicating an improvement in dimensional stability of the hybrid composite. No significant improvement in tensile properties of either MWCNTs/epoxy/CF composites was observed compared to those of the neat epoxy/CF composite.

Treatment of CFRP by IAR method and its effect on the fracture behavior of adhesive bonded CFRP/aluminum composites

Abstract It was shown in the previous studies that adhesive shear strength of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) to aluminum composites could be improved by the surface treatment of CFRP using Ar + ion irradiation. In the present work, the effect of CFRP treatment by Ar + ion irradiation on the fracture behavior of CFRP/aluminum joint was studied. The aluminum used was 7075-T6 and the CFRP used was multi-directional graphite/epoxy composites whose stacking sequence was [0°/±45°/0°] 3s . The surface of CFRP was treated using Ar + ion irradiation in an oxygen environment. The Ar + ion dose used was 1×10 16 ions cm −2 . Fracture toughness of CFRP/aluminum joint was determined from cracked lap shear specimens using work factor approach. Then, the fracture toughness of ion beam-treated CFRP/aluminum joint was compared with that of untreated CFRP/aluminum joint. The results showed that the fracture toughness of ion beam-treated CFRP/aluminum case was about 72% higher than that of untreated CFRP/aluminum case. X-ray photoelectron spectrometer analysis showed that intensity of hydrophilic bonds, CO (carbonyl group) and OCO (carboxyl group) was increased by the Ar + ion-irradiation in an oxygen environment. Scanning electron microscope examination showed that cohesive failure occurred for ion beam-treated CFRP/aluminum joint while adhesive failure occurred for untreated CFRP/aluminum joint.

Interactive effects of pore size control and carbonization temperatures on supercapacitive behaviors of porous carbon/carbon nanotube composites

Porous carbon-based electrodes were prepared by carbonization with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites to further increase the specific capacitance for supercapacitors. The specific capacitance, pore size distribution, and surface area of the PVDF/CNT composites were measured, and the effect of the carbonization temperatures was examined. The electrochemical properties were examined by cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic charge-discharge performance using a two-electrode system in TEABF(4) (tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate)/acetonitrile as a non-aqueous electrolyte. The highest specific capacitance of ∼101 Fg(-1) was obtained for the samples carbonized at 600 °C. The pore size of the samples could be controlled to below 7 nm through the carbonization process. This suggests that micropores make a significant contribution to the specific capacitance due to improved charge transfer between the pores of the electrode materials and the electrolyte.

Thermal and Tensile Properties of Epoxy Nanocomposites Reinforced by Silane-functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Epoxy nanocomposites with unmodified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (u-MWCNTs) and silanized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (si-MWCNTs) were prepared by a cast molding method. The effects of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane functionalization of MWCNTs on thermal, tensile, and morphological properties of the nanocomposites were examined. The nanocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and tensile testing. The results showed that epoxy composites based on si-MWCNTs showed better thermal stability, glass transition temperature, and tensile properties than the composites based on u-MWCNTs. These results prove the effect of silane functionalization on the interfacial adhesion between epoxy and MWCNTs. This was further confirmed by morphology study of fractured surfaces of nanocomposites by field emission scanning electron microscopy.

Effect of Moisture Absorption on the Flexural Properties of Basalt/CNT/Epoxy Composites

This study investigates the flexural properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced basalt/epoxy composites under conditions with and without moisture absorption. The basalt/CNT/epoxy composites were fabricated using 1 wt% silanized MWCNTs and kept in seawater for over 4 months. The flexural properties of the moisture absorbed specimens were evaluated and compared with those of dry specimens. The flexural properties of basalt/CNT/epoxy composites were found to decrease with moisture absorption. The flexural strength and modulus of moisture absorbed specimens were 22% and 16% lower, respectively, than those of the dry specimen. Scanning electron microscope examination of the fracture surfaces revealed that the decreases of flexural properties in the moisture absorbed specimen were due to the weakening of interfacial bonding from swelling of the epoxy matrix.

Phase Separation in Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)-Epoxy Blend

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin was modified with high molecular weight poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Morphological variations of a 2 wt% PMMA-modified epoxy mixture were studied by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A PMMA-epoxy blend cured at 100°C revealed that a secondary phase morphology was observed in both epoxy and PMMA phases from the early stages of the phase separation process. A morphology consisting of a rough striated continuous phase along with large smooth regions was observed by SEM, confirming the secondary phase separation. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed that the PMMA modification of epoxy at such a low PMMA concentration of 2 wt% has no major influence on the glass transition temperature of the epoxy-rich phase. The PMMA-epoxy blend showed a slight increase in the flexural properties and the fracture toughness.