- 100% Self-Reinforced Composite is applicable to Urban Air Mobility (UAM), etc.

- Adhesion strength, tensile strength, and impact resistance are significantly improved

For future means of transportation, such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM), to become a reality, carbon emissions must be reduced while increasing fuel efficiency, and this requires the development of new recyclable materials with excellent mechanical properties. Self-Reinforced Composite (SRC) is not only inexpensive and lightweight but also consists of the same ingredients as reinforced and base materials, which are beneficial to disposal and recycling. For this reason, SRC is attracting attention as a next-generation composite to replace carbon fiber-reinforced composites used in aircrafts.

Hanyang University announced on May 2 that Professor Kim Seong-hun of Hanyang University and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Yoon Seok-jin), Dr. Kim Jae-woo of Solutions to Electromagnetic Interference in Future-Mobility (SEIF, KIST), along with Professor Kim Seong-yun of Jeonbuk National University (President Yang O-bong) succeeded in developing a 100% Self-Reinforced Composite using only one type of polypropylene polymer (PP).

Until now, in the process of manufacturing Self-Reinforced Composite, chemically different components have been mixed to function as reinforcing or base materials to improve fluidity and impregnation, so both mechanical properties and recyclability were problems. The joint research team succeeded in controlling the melting point, fluidity, and impregnation by adjusting the chain structure of the polypropylene matrix through a Quad Screw Extrusion (QSE).

The developed Self-Reinforced Composite achieved the highest level of mechanical properties, improving adhesion strength, tensile strength, and impact resistance by 333%, 228%, and 2,700%, respectively, compared to the results of previous studies. When the material was used as a frame material for small drones, it was 52% lighter than the existing carbon fiber-reinforced composite, and the flight time increased by 27%, confirming the applicability of next-generation mobility.

Jang Ji-un, a postdoctoral course researcher (co-lead author) at Hanyang University, said, “Thank you to everyone who helped with the research. I hope to continue to carry out research that can contribute to Korea’s next-generation mobility.” Academic advisor Kim Seong-hun (co-corresponding author) said, “I am happy to communicate with Jeonbuk National University, KIST, Namjun Industrial, Co., and Hyundai Motor Co., to create these valuable experiment results,” adding, “Self-Reinforced Composite materials can lead the next future mobility industry while securing carbon neutral leadership.”

“The 100% Self-Reinforced Composite engineering process developed this time can be applied immediately to the industry, and we will continue to cooperate with the joint research team and industries such as Namjun Industrial Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. to secure the global competitiveness of Self-reinforced Composite,” said Dr. Kim Jae-woo (co-lead author) of KIST about his plans.

Lee Hye-seong (co-lead author) of Jeonbuk National University’s Department of Organic Materials and Textile Engineering said, “I am glad that the results of Self-Reinforcing Composite research as a doctoral program have paid off, and I hope these studies will be applied in various academic and industrial ways. Also, I am grateful to my advisor, who guided my research, and to the other authors who helped me greatly.” Academic advisor Kim Seong-yun (co-corresponding author) said, “I would like to applaud Dr. Lee Hye-seong, who has proven his value as a doctor while silently focusing on study and research for a long time,” adding, “Academically, it is very encouraging that he created global research results based on a new academic research platform that enables real-time exchanges of manpower with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology and Hanyang University, and industrially, along with Namjun Industrial Co. and Hyundai Motors Co., securing global leadership in Self-Reinforced Composite.”

This study was carried out as the three-stage industrial–academic cooperation project (LINC 3.0) by the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST)’s “Development of High-Frequency/High-Power Electromagnetic Solution Materials and Parts Technology” project (CRC22031-000), the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Basic Research Project (2016R1A1A1A03013422), and the Senior Researcher Support Project (2021R1A2C11093839). The results of the study were published in the latest issue of the “Chemical Engineering Journal” (IF:16.744; top 2.448 percent in the JCR field).

Joint research team. (from top left to right) Kim Seong-hun, professor of Hanyang University, Professor Kim Seong-yun of Jeonbuk National University, Senior Researcher Kim Min-kook of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, (from bottom left to right) Dr. Jang Ji-un of Hanyang University, Ph.D Lee Hye-seong of Jeonbuk National University, and Senior Researcher Kim Jae-woo of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Manufacturing Process and Application of 100% Self-Reinforced Composite