A novel silicon-containing epoxy resin, the diglycidylether of bisphenol A-silicon (DGEBA-Si), was synthesized and characterized. The properties of the DGEBA-Si epoxy resin cured with 4,4-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM), including its cure behavior, glass transition temperature, thermal stability, and mechanical strength were investigated. The char yield of the DGEBA-Si/DDM system was higher than that of a commercial DGEBA/DDM system, indicating that the DGEBA-Si epoxy resin showed good flame-retardance. The cured DGEBA-Si/DDM specimens possessed lower glass transition temperatures and higher mechanical properties than DGEBA/DDM specimens. These features were attributed to the introduction of siloxane groups into the main chain of the epoxy resin, which resulted in the improved flexibility of the cured DGEBA-Si/DDM system.

In this study, the effects of the various parameters of spinning and drawing processes on the properties of polyester full drawn yarn (FDY) prepared by steam processing during high-speed spinning were investigated using several techniques. The wet shrinkage ratio of the FDY was able to be manipulated by controlling the temperature and draw ratio. The FDY made using the steam high speed spinning technique exhibited identical properties (such as tenacity, elongation, and wet shrinkage ratio) to that of regular FDY, made using the spin-draw process. FDY prepared using the steam process during high-speed spinning showed excellent dyeability. The dye pick-up of the polyester yarn spun at high-speed spinning was found to be improved when dyed under an atmospheric pressure of 100 o C. This result was the same as regular FDY dyed under a high pressure of 130 o C.

The environmental-compatible epoxy resins/clay nanocomposites were prepared by using epoxidized castor oil (ECO) and two ion-exchanged clays. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and mechanical interfacial properties of ECO/clay nanocomposites were investigated. As a result, the nanocomposites showed higher Tg than that of neat ECO. The mechanical interfacial properties of both the nanocomposites were significantly increased on increasing the clay content.

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