Photometric Stereo-Based Defect Detection System for Steel Components Manufacturing Using a Deep Segmentation Network

This paper presents an automatic system for the quality control of metallic components using a photometric stereo-based sensor and a customized semantic segmentation network. This system is designed based on interoperable modules, and allows capturing the knowledge of the operators to apply it later in automatic defect detection. A salient contribution is the compact representation of the surface information achieved by combining photometric stereo images into a RGB image that is fed to a convolutional segmentation network trained for surface defect detection. We demonstrate the advantage of this compact surface imaging representation over the use of each photometric imaging source of information in isolation. An empirical analysis of the performance of the segmentation network on imaging samples of materials with diverse surface reflectance properties is carried out, achieving Dice performance index values above 0.83 in all cases. The results support the potential of photometric stereo in conjunction with our semantic segmentation network

Bacteriostatic ecffect of waterborne polyurethane-ureia films containing bioactive plant extracts incorporated by different routes

The environmental awarenessh as promoted the development of new materiats towards eco-friendty systems based on both,green synthesis processes as well as the renewable origin of the raw compounds. In this way,focusing on synthesis methods, the use of waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersions have gained attention due to their versatility leading to a wide variety of apptications broadening the range of appLications. In addition, it is worth nothing that the dispersibitity in water offers the possibitity of incorporating soluble additives such as plant extracts. Therefore, in this work Melissa officinalis L . ptant was setected in order to obtain bioactive plant extract, in order to be incorporated to a waterborne polyurethane-urea disspersion varying their content as well as using three differernt incorporation routes. These dispersions were characterized and employed in the preparation of films which were analyzed from the viewpoint of physicochemical, thermal and mechanical properties, among others. Finatty, the antibacterial properties of the films were analyzed after 1 and 4 days of incubation. Where it was observed that the content and incorporation route of the extract influenced in the behavior of the films against common pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichio coli ond Pseudomonas aeruginosa.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Jute/polypropylene composites: Effect of enzymatic modification on thermo-mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties

In this study, a high-performance composite was prepared from jute fabrics and polypropylene (PP). In order to improve the compatibility of the polar fibers and the non-polar matrix, alkyl gallates with different hydrophobic groups were enzymatically grafted onto jute fabric by laccase to increase the surface hydrophobicity of the fiber. The grafting products were characterized by FTIR. The results of contact angle and wetting time showed that the hydrophobicity of the jute fabrics was improved after the surface modification. The effect of the enzymatic graft modification on the properties of the jute/PP composites was evaluated. Results showed that after the modification, tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of composites improved, and water absorption and thickness swelling clearly decreased. However, tensile properties drastically decreased after a long period of water immersion. The thermal behavior of the composites was evaluated by TGA/DTG. The fiber-matrix morphology in the modified jute/PP composites was confirmed by SEM analysis of the tensile fractured specimens.This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51173071), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0883), the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT1135) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (JUSRP51312B, JUSRP51505)

Enzymatic hydrophobic modification of jute fibers via grafting to reinforce composites

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/H2O2 system catalyzes the free-radical polymerization of aromatic compounds such as lignins and gallate esters. In this work, dodecyl gallate (DG) was grafted onto the surfaces of lignin-rich jute fabrics by HRP-mediated oxidative polymerization with an aim to enhance the hydrophobicity of the fibers. The DG-grafted jute fibers and reaction products of their model compounds were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results clearly indicated the grafting of DG to the jute fiber by HRP. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of jute fabrics was determined by measuring the wetting time and static contact angle. Compared to the control sample, the wetting time and static contact angle of the grated fabrics changed from ~1 s to 1 h and from ~0° to 123.68°, respectively. This clearly proved that the hydrophobicity of jute fabrics improved considerably. Conditions of the HRP-catalyzed DG-grafting reactions were optimized in terms of the DG content of modified jute fabrics. Moreover, the results of breaking strength and elongation of DG-grafted jute/ polypropylene (PP) composites demonstrated improved reinforcement of the composite due to enzymatic hydrophobic modification of jute fibers.This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51173071), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0883), Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (No. IRT_15R26) the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (JUSRP51312B, JUSRP51505), and the Graduate Student Innovation Plan of Jiangsu Province of China (SJLX_0527)

Review of natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites

Natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites which contain one or more types of natural reinforcement are gaining increasing research interest. This paper presents a review of natural fibre-reinforced hybrid composites. Both thermoplastic and thermoset composites reinforced by hybrid/synthetic fibres or hybrid/hybrid fibres are reviewed. The properties of natural fibres, the properties and processing of composites are summarised

Study of blends based on poly (lactic acid) and vegetable oils

Due to the high brittleness of the poly (lactic acid) (PLA), the main purpose of this work is to obtain a more ductile material than neat PLA, and the subsequent characterization by different techniques. In order to plasticize neat PLA, some plasticizers from renewable resources, such as non-epoxidized and epoxidized and soybean oils, have been used. Neat PLA has been plasticized with 20 wt% of plasticizers and the properties of different blends have been studied. Impact test results have showed that PLA became more ductile with the addition of vegetable oils. Furthermore, PLA/epoxidized vegetable oil blends showed higher tensile and impact strength values than that for blends plasticized with non-epoxidized oils. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique has showed that the band related to the epoxy group did not completely disappear in the spectra of PLA/epoxidized vegetal oil suggesting an incomplete reaction between the epoxy group of epoxidized vegetable oils and the functional groups of PLA. Finally, by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique has observed that after the addition of vegetable oils, both the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the cold crystallization temperature (Tcc) values of the neat poly (lactic acid) were decreased considerably

Characterization of cellulosic samples obtained from sisal fibers

In this work the reaction conditions of different chemical treatments used for the isolation of nanocellulose were evaluated. This study clarified the effect of different reaction conditions (time or concentration) on the structure and composition of the cellulosic fibers, To achieve this objective, different chemical, thermal and morphological characterization techniques were used after each chemical treatment and the most suitable reaction conditions were selected

Bacteriostatic effect of waterborne polyurethane-urea films containing bioactive plant extracts incorporated by different routes

The environmental awareness has promoted the development of new materials towards eco-friendly systems based on both, green synthesis processes as well as the renewable origin of the raw compounds. In this way, focusing on synthesis methods, the use of waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersions have gained attention due to their versatility leading to a wide variety of applications, broadening the range of applications. In addition, it is worth nothing that the dispersibility in water offers the possibility of incorporating soluble additives, such as plant extracts. Therefore, in this work Melissa officinalis L. plant was selected in order to obtain bioactive plant extract, in order to be incorporated to a waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersion, varying their content as well as using three different incorporation routes. These dispersions were characterized and employed in the preparation of films which were analyzed from the viewpoint of physicochemical, thermal and mechanical properties, among others. Finally, the antibacterial properties of the films were analyzed after 1 and 4 days of incubation, where it was observed that the content and incorporation route of the extract influenced in the behavior of the films against common pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa)