Interfacial adhesion between carbon fiber and epoxy resin mostly determine the mechanical properties of the carbon fiber/ epoxy composites and the chemical structures of epoxy resin and hardener plays an important role. In this regard, stereoisomerism of epoxy hardeners, such as 3,3′ and 4,4′-DDS (diaminodiphenylsulfone), can have significant influence on the fracture toughness of the cured epoxy and related carbon fiber composites. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of stereoisomerism of epoxy hardeners on fracture toughness of the carbon fiber/epoxy composites. Triglycidyl aminophenol (TGAP) are selected as epoxy resin and 3,3′- and 4,4′-DDS are selected as epoxy hardener. Wetting behaviors and fiber matrix adhesion of TGAP/DDS mixtures onto carbon fiber are investigated and fracture toughness (KIC) of TGAP/ DDS mixtures are also investigated. Then, the mode II fracture toughness test of the carbon fiber/TGAP/DDS composites are carried out to investigate the influence of hardener stereoisomerism on fracture toughness of the resulting composites. Wetting and fiber matrix adhesion to carbon fiber of TGAP/3,3′-DDS was better than those of TGAP/4,4’-DDS and KIC of TGAP/3,3′-DDS was also better than that of TGAP/4,4′-DDS. As a result of the synergistic effect of better wetting, fiber matrix adhesion, and fracture toughness of TGAP/3,3′-DDS, the mode II fracture toughness of the carbon fiber/ TGAP/3,3’- DDS composites was almost twice of that of the carbon fiber/ TGAP/4,4′-DDS composites. Based on the results reported in this study, stereoisomerism of the epoxy hardeners can influence the fracture toughness of the resulting composites as well as that of the resin itself. In other words, only small difference, such as the spatial arrangement of the molecular structure of epoxy hardeners can cause huge difference in the mechanical properties of the resulting composites.

Tropical cyclones (TCs) over the western North Pacific (WNP) mainly occur during June-October, and result in significant casualties and damages to property in East Asian countries (e.g., Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China, etc.). Although the total number of TCs that occurred over WNP was similar to normal years, the numer of TCs that affected Korea in August and September 2019 was 3 times higher than with the same number of TCs in July. Therefore, this study examined why more TCs migrated into Korea in 2019 through analyzing four environmental conditions: steering flow, geopotential height at 500 hPa, vertical wind shear (VWS), and sea surface temperature (SST). Results showed that the tracks of TCs were significantly associated with steering flows from July to September. Furthermore, weaker VWS and warmer SST were distributed near the tracks of TCs during August and September, whereas strong VWS and lower SST were dominant in July. The environmental conditions in August and September were favorable for maintaining and developing TCs, explaining why more typhoons have affected Korea during August and September in 2019.