Manufacturing of coir fibre-reinforced polymer composites by hot compression technique

This present chapter describes the manufacturing technique and properties of coir fibre-reinforced polypropylene composites manufactured using a hot press machine. The effects of basic chromium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate treatment on the physical and mechanical properties were also evaluated. Chemical treatment and fibre loading generally improved the mechanical properties. Five-hour basic chromium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate-treated coir-polypropylene had the best set of properties among all manufactured composites. Chemical treatment also improved water absorption characteristics. This proves that chemical treatment reduced the hydrophilicity of the coir fibre. Overall the hot compression technique was proved to be successful in manufacturing good quality coir reinforced polypropylene composites

EBook proceedings of the ESERA 2011 conference : science learning and citizenship

This ebook contains fourteen parts according to the strands of the ESERA 2011 conference. Each part is co-edited by one or two persons, most of them were strand chairs. All papers in this ebook correspond to accepted communications during the ESERA conference that were reviewed by two referees. Moreover the co-editors carried out a global reviewing of the papers.ESERA - European Science Education Research Associatio

Health performance of housing:

Human health is a condition influenced by many aspects: genetic predisposition, food and water, lifestyle, age and the physical and social environment. Outdoor hazards penetrate the house and add to the indoor hazards. The physical housing conditions and also occupant behaviour create health hazards. In maintenance policy and renovation projects, the opportunities to reduce health risks and adapt houses to the health needs of households are not used to their full potential. Health criteria were until recently poorly integrated into sustainable building, and some technical innovations to save energy are associated with health related complaints. Good diagnosis of environmental problems is often a bottleneck for home owners and housing managers. Better insight into health performance qualities and a clear framework and common language can improve health performance. The major question of the project is: What physical parameters and which type of occupancy and behaviour result in exposure to health risk and how can this risk be evaluated and reduced