• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2002

In this paper, silk fibroin (SF)/polyurethane (PU) blend films were fabricated to develop a new biomaterial for biomedical applications. These blend films were prepared using formic acid as a cosolvent, and structural characteristics and properties of blend films were investigated. FTIR results suggested that there was no specific interaction between SF and PU, implying molecular immiscibility in SF/PU blend films. Furthermore, it was revealed by XRD method that the crystalline region of blend components was not perturbed by counterpart polymers. The degree of phase separation of SF/PU blend films was diminished by increasing PU content in blend. Especially, the blend with 70% content of PU showed no evidence of macro-phase separation in SEM observation. However, SF/PU blend (70/30) was revealed to be phase-separated in a lower dimension confirmed by DMTA measurement. TGA result showed that thermal decomposition temperature of blend film was slightly decreased compared to those of SF and PU polymer itself, Though mechanical properties of SF/PU blend films were not good enough due to the solvent, blood compatibility of PU can be enhanced markedly by mixing with SF for SF/PU blend film.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2005

PLA/LPCL/HPCL blend fibers composed of poly (lactic acid) (PLA), low molecular weight poly ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (LPCL), and high molecular weight poly ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (HPCL) were prepared by melt blending and spinning for bioab­sorbable filament sutures. The effects of blending time and blend composition on the X-ray diffraction patterns and tensile properties of PLA/LPCL/HPCL blend fibers were characterized by WAXD and UTM. In addition, the effect of in vitro degra­dation on the weight loss and tensile properties of the blend fibers hydrolyzed during immersion in a phosphate buffer solu­tion at pH 7.4 and 37$^{\circ}C$ for 1-8 weeks was investigated. The peak intensities of PLA/LPCL/HPCL blend fibers in X-ray diffraction patterns decreased with an increase of blending time and LPCL contents in the blend fibers. The weight loss of PLA/LPCL/HPCL blend fibers increased with an increase of blending time, LPCL contents, and hydrolysis time while the tensile strength and modulus of the blend fibers decreased. The tensile strength and modulus of the blend fibers were also found to be increased with an increase of HPCL contents in the blend fibers. The optimum conditions to prepare PLA/LPCL/HPCL blend fibers for bioabsorbable sutures are LPCL contents of $5 wt\%, HPCL contents of $35 wt\%, and blending time of 30 min. The strength retention of the PLA/LPCL/HPCL blend fiber prepared under optimum conditions was about $93.5\% even at hydrolysis time of 2 weeks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.1107-1116
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• 2013

This study examined the use of cutinase and lipase to process cotton/polyester blend fabric. Optimum treatment conditions for cutinase and lipase were investigated for cotton/polyester blend fabric. The properties of enzyme-treated fabrics were evaluated and compared in optimal treatment conditions. In addition, the possibility to provide an enzymatic finishing on blend fabrics using mixed enzymes in a two-step process were studied. The weight loss of cotton/polyester blend fabrics with Triton X-100 was 0.8% and the dyeing property of blend fabrics with calcium chloride increased by a factor of 1.2. The use of two enzymes in combination with cutinase and lipase in the presence of auxiliaries resulted in a cotton/polyester blend fabric weight loss of 0.8%. In addition, the dyeing properties of cotton/polyester blend fabrics improved by a factor of 1.5 and the moisture regain of cotton/polyester blend fabrics improved by a factor of 1.16. However, no marked loss was observed in tensile strength. The surface morphology of cotton/polyester blend fabrics is modified through a two-enzyme treatment. The treatment of cotton/polyester blend fabrics with cutinase and lipase maintains cotton strength and improves the moisture regain of polyester fabrics.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.87-89
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• 2003

Thermoplastic polyurethane(PU)-based blend membranes were prepared by the solvent evaporation process. The gas sorption, diffusion, and permeation properties of PU-based blend membranes have been studied. The morphology of PU-based blend membranes was investigated by SEM. The result showed that phase separation occurred with increasing blend ratio. $CO_2$ permeation behaviors of blend membranes were affect by blend composition. Thermoplastic polyurethane(PU)-based membranes showed high $CO_2$ permeation and $CO_2$/$N_2$ selectivity of the blend membrane was improved with increasing the blend ratio.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 1988

The thermal degradation of polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) blend namely polymethyl methacrylate-polycarbonate(PMMA-PC) blend and polymethyl methacrylate-polystyrene(PMMA-PS) blend were carried out by isothermal method under air at several heating temperature from 220 to $270^{\circ}C$. Molecular weight changes during the thermal decomposition were monitored by means of the viscosity average molecular weight($\bar{M}v$). The viscosity average molecular weight was determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography(GPC). The dominant process in the degradation of PMMA-PC and PMMA-PS blend were main chain scission randomly due to weak links that may be distributed along the polymer backbone and the initial rate which the bonds are broken is not sustained. The infra-red spectra of degraded PMMA-PS blend show that the presence of aromatic ketone band at $1685cm^{-1}$. However, the infra-red spectra of degraded PMMA-PC blend show that the presence of hydroperoxide band at $3450cm^{-1}$. Thus indicating that the weak links are attacked by oxygen from the air and produce hydroperoxide or ketone. The activation energies of PMMA-PC blend and PMMA-PS blend were 18.2 and 17.9 Kcal/mol, respectively.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.5-10
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• 2005

The effect of ultrasonic energy for diesel fuel and blend oil has been revealed in this paper. The experimental setup consisted of a high speed diesel engine with 4 cylinder, dynamometer and ultrasonic fuel feeding system. Ultrasonic energy was added to diesel fuel and blend oil, which is a blend of diesel fuel and rape-seed oil. As engine speed was changed, engine torque and power, brake specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency were measured in detail. As the results, by adding ultrasonic energy to diesel fuel and blend oil, the engine performance was improved in range of the experiment. The effect of improvement on brake specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency for blend oil is higher than that for diesel fuel. When ultrasonic energy was added to diesel fuel or blend oil, a rise in engine torque for diesel fuel was higher than that for blend oil, but the effect of ultrasonic energy was small. From these results, it may be desirable to add ultrasonic energy to blend oil for the use of blend oil to diesel engine.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 1985

To determine the change of the mechanical properties of the wool/polyester blend fabrics in proportion to blend ratio, 10 mechanical properties were measured on 6 blend fabrics by KES-F system. Blend ratio on the 6 blend fabrics was increased by $20\%$, and the structure of the fabric were plain, 2/2 twill, respectively. And wearing performances in propoetion to blend ratio on the 6 blend fabrics were investigated. In this experiment. the following conclusions were obtained with the increase of blend ratio of polyester. 1) The values of WT, RT in tensile properties. tensile energy and elongation, and RC in compressional properties were decreased. 2) The values of B, 2HB in bending properties, 2HG. 2HG 5 in shearing properties were increased. 3) Putting on clothes, wearing performance was bad because crumbling of shape and wrinkle were easily made an appearance. Particularly it was remarkably bad as blend ratio of polyester was expressed $60\%$.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2008

In this paper, the regenerated silk fibroin (SF)/nylon 6 blend filaments were fabricated using wet spinning technique and the effect of coagulant on the post drawing and morphology of blend filaments was investigated. In the result of wet spinnability, methanol, acetone, DMF, and THF showed relatively good coagulation strength and fiber formation for the regenerated SF. On the contrary, they did not exhibit strong enough to produce a uniform nylon 6 filament due to the lack of coagulation strength. In the examination of post drawing performance, methanol showed the highest maximum draw ratio of the blend filament over all blend ratios. The maximum draw ratio of SF/nylon 6 blend filaments decreased with the reduction of SF content regardless of type of coagulant. SEM observation showed the consistent result with that of post-drawing performance. As SF content decreased, the uniform and regular structure was changed to irregular one. In particular, the severe macro-phase separation between SF and nylon 6 could be detected in the 50/50 SF/nylon 6 blend filaments coagulated in methanol and THF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.28 no.910
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• pp.1282-1291
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• 2004

Kenaf was cultivated and harvested in large quantity in Cheju Island and Chinju, Kyungsangnamdo. It was chemically rotted with 3% NaOH for 60 minutes at 100$^{\circ}C$, neutralized using 1% acetic acid, washed and dried, and obtained 40kg of dry kenaf fiber. Kenaf 15/rayon 85, flax 15/rayon 85, and rayon 100% yam was spun and the physical characteristics were measured. Plain weave and twill weave fabrics were made using each of the above yarns as the filling yam. Cotton 100% yam was used as the warp yam in all fabrics. Kenaf/rayon blend yarns were higher in tenacity and elongation, lower in yam uniformity, higher in the number of nep than the flax/rayon blended yams. Kenaf/rayon blend fabric had higher tenacity and elongation compared to the flax/rayon blend fabric Kenaf/rayon blend fabric was most stiff in both plain weave and twill weave fabrics whereas drape characteristics was dependent upon the fabric structure of the kenaf/rayon blend and flax/rayon blend. There were little differences between the kenaf/rayon blend fabric and the flax/rayon blend fabric in the Kawabata physical measurements and the PHVs. The only drawback of kenaf fiber was it's surface roughness and it is expected that it can be improved by enzyme retting and mechanical bundle separation.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.181-185
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• 2009

In this paper, the regenerated silk fibroin (SF)/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) blend filaments were prepared by wet spinning and the effect of HPMC concentration on the post drawing and morphology of blend filaments was elucidated. The result of maximum draw ratio indicated that the wet spinnability of wet spun SF / HPMC was improved with increasing HPMC concentration until 8% and remained constant after that concentration. The SEM observation revealed that the enhanced wet spinnability of blend filaments was strongly related to the morphological change by increasing HPMC concentration. Regardless of HPMC concentration, as SF content was reduced, the wet spinnability of blend film decreased resulting in reduced maximum draw ratio. It was also found by SEM observation that the cross section of blend filament deviated from circularity with an increase of HPMC content.