Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a non-food natural polyphenol that is a renewable resource. In the present work, we prepared cardanol- and CNSL-based epoxy polymers by photopolymerization using various cationic photoinitiators and photosensitizers. Epoxy prepolymers were used as a precursor and prepared by thermal treatment of epoxy cardanol and epoxy CNSL according to previous work. Photopolymerization of these prepolymers with bis (4-tert-butylphenyl) iodonium hexafluorophosphate (BIP) proceeded more quickly than that of other photoinitiators. We obtained UV-cured epoxy prepolymers with high gel content by 20 seconds of UV irradiation. These UV-cured CNSL prepolymers were thermally stable up to 250-300 ̊C,indicating that these can be used as heat-resistant materials. The photopolymerization of epoxy prepolymers was analysed by NMR and FT-IR and characterized by drying properties, hardness, thermal and mechanical properties.

In this study, the activated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) -based carbon fibers were evaluated as phosphate ion adsorbents in water. The activated PAN-based carbon fibers were prepared from commercially available oxidized black colored PAN fiber by ammonia gas activation at 950 ̊C, and KOH activation and/or steam activation at 800 ̊C under helium gas flow. The adsorption amount of phosphate ion was improved from 0.1 mmol/g for ammonia gas activated PAN-based carbon fiber to 0.24 mmol/g for ammonia gas and steam activated PAN-based carbon fiber. Characterizations of activated PAN-based carbon fibers were carried out using the nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis at –196 ̊C and elemental analysis. The BET surface area and pore volumes were increased by any activation method employed, but the pore diameter and nitrogen content tended to be decreased during the high temperature treatment. Using the fiber showing the highest adsorption capacity, the adsorption isotherm, the effect of pH, and the reusability of the adsorbent were investigated. The steam activated PAN-based carbon fibers with pre- and post-ammonia treatment had higher adsorption capacity and Langmuir adsorption affinity than other prepared adsorbents, and the adsorption amount of phosphate ion achieved the highest at the equilibrium pH range of 6–7.

The efficient and effective decontamination of radioactive ions from soil and water has been required after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident. In this study, we prepared an A-type zeolitecontaining sheet and clinoptilorite-containing sheet for decontamination of radioactive strontium ion (Sr²⁺), and evaluated their adsorption behavior of Sr²⁺ under various conditions. In the case of the A-type zeolite containingsheet,thepartitioncoefficientofSr²⁺dissolvedinsimulatedseawaterwas8.8×10²,andthe maximumSr²⁺-adsorbedamountundersaturationconditionswas249mg/g.Inthecaseoftheclinoptilorite- containingsheet,thepartitioncoefficientofSr²⁺dissolvedinsimulatedseawaterwas2.7,andthemaximum Sr²⁺-adsorbedamountwasonly50mg/g.Inafiltrationexperimentusingcontinuouspassingwater,theinitial adsorptionratioofSr²⁺reached86%inpurewaterand38%insimulatedseawater.TheA-typezeolite- containingsheethadmoreeffectiveadsorptionbehaviorofSr²⁺dissolvedinbothpurewaterandsimulated seawaterthantheclinoptilorite-containingsheetundertheconditionsusedintheexperiments.

In this study, we simulate the heat transfer and temperature distributiononthesurfaceoffabric over time to understand the heat transfer behavior when a finger touches a fabric. A three-dimensional finite element method model was developed, in which the heat transfer along the warp and weft yarns was treated independently. The model was based on the cross section, thickness, and weave density of fabrics. The material constants used in the model were mass density, specific heat, and thermal conductivity. The simulation results indicated that the longitudinal thermal conductivity of yarn has a large effect on the heat transfer in mixed yarn fabric. The same effect was observed in the experimental surface temperature results.