Study of the Properties of a Biodegradable Polymer Filled with DierentWood Flour Particles

[EN] Lignocellulosic wood flour particles with three different sizes were used to reinforce Solanyl® type bioplastic in three compositions (10, 20, and 30 wt.%) and further processed by melt-extrusion and injection molding to simulate industrial conditions. The wood flour particles were morphologically and granulometric analyzed to evaluate their use as reinforcing filler. The Fuller method on wood flour particles was successfully applied and the obtained results were subsequently corroborated by the mechanical characterization. The rheological studies allowed observing how the viscosity was affected by the addition of wood flour and to recover information about the processing conditions of the biocomposites. Results suggest that all particles can be employed in extrusion processes (shear rate less than 1000 s¿1 ). However, under injection molding conditions, biocomposites with high percentages of wood flour or excessively large particles may cause an increase in defective injected-parts due to obstruction of the gate in the mold. From a processing point of view and based on the biocomposites performance, the best combination resulted in Solanyl® type biopolymer reinforced with wood flour particles loaded up to 20 wt.% of small and medium particles size. The obtained biocomposites are of interest for injected molding parts for several industrial applications.Parres, F.; Peydro, MA.; Juárez Varón, D.; Arrieta, MP.; Aldas, M. (2020). Study of the Properties of a Biodegradable Polymer Filled with DierentWood Flour Particles. Polymers. 12(12):1-24. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12122974124121

Effect of pine resin derivatives on the structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of Mater-Bi type bioplastic

"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Aldas, M., J. M. Ferri, J. Lopez-Martinez, M. D. Samper, and M. P. Arrieta. 2019. Effect of Pine Resin Derivatives on the Structural, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Mater-Bi Type Bioplastic. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 137 (4). Wiley: 48236. doi:10.1002/app.48236, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/app.48236. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."[EN] The effect of three additives derived from pine resin, namely, gum rosin (GR) and two pentaerythritol ester of GR, Lurefor (LF) and Unik Tack (UT), in 5, 10, and 15 wt %, on the properties of Mater-Bi, based on plasticized starch, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), obtained by injection molding processes, was studied. The mechanical, microstructural, and thermal properties were evaluated. LF had a cohesive behavior with the components of Mater-Bi, increasing the toughness of the material up to 250% accompanied by an increase of tensile modulus and tensile strength. UT had an intermediate behavior, conferring cohesive and plasticizing effects, allowing an increase of 105% in impact resistance. GR had a more marked plasticizing effect. This allows processing temperatures of about 50 degrees C lower than those used for neat Mater-Bi. In addition, an increase of the elongation at break, toughness, and impact resistance in 370, 480, and 250%, respectively, was achieved.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, PROMADEPCOL (MAT2017-84909-C2-2-R). M. P. Arrieta thanks Complutense University of Madrid for "Ayudas para la contratacion de personal postdoctoral en formacion en docencia e investigacion en departamentos de la UCM."Aldas-Carrasco, MF.; Ferri, JM.; López-Martínez, J.; Samper, M.; Arrieta, MP. (2020). 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New and improved demonstrations, each illustrating a single scientific paper

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Clash of Titans: A MUSE dynamical study of the extreme cluster merger SPT-CL J0307-6225

We present MUSE spectroscopy, Megacam imaging, and Chandra X-ray emission for SPT-CL J0307-6225, a z = 0.58 major merging galaxy cluster with a large BCG-SZ centroid separation and a highly disturbed X-ray morphology. The galaxy density distribution shows two main overdensities with separations of 0.144 and 0.017 arcmin to their respective BCGs. We characterize the central regions of the two colliding structures, namely 0307-6225N and 0307-6225S, finding velocity derived masses of M200, N = 2.44 ± 1.41 × 1014M⊙ and M200, S = 3.16 ± 1.88 × 1014M⊙, with a line-of-sight velocity difference of |Δv| = 342 km s-1. The total dynamically derived mass is consistent with the SZ derived mass of 7.63 h70-1 ± 1.36 × 1014M⊙. We model the merger using the Monte Carlo Merger Analysis Code, estimating a merging angle of 36+14-12 ° with respect to the plane of the sky. Comparing with simulations of a merging system with a mass ratio of 1:3, we find that the best scenario is that of an ongoing merger that began 0.96+0.31-0.18 Gyr ago. We also characterize the galaxy population using Hδand [O ii] λ3727 Å lines. We find that most of the emission-line galaxies belong to 0307-6225S, close to the X-ray peak position with a third of them corresponding to red-cluster sequence galaxies, and the rest to blue galaxies with velocities consistent with recent periods of accretion. Moreover, we suggest that 0307-6225S suffered a previous merger, evidenced through the two equally bright BCGs at the centre with a velocity difference of ∼674 km s-1

Acceptance and Use of E-Learning Based on Cloud Computing: The Role of Consumer Innovativeness

Cloud computing and E-learning are the inevitable trend of computational science in general, and information systems and technologies in specific.However, there are not many studies on the adoption of cloud-based E-learning systems. Moreover, while there are many papers on information system adoption as well as customer innovativeness, the innovativeness and adoption in the same model seems to be rare in the literature. The study combines the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) and consumer innovativeness on the adoption of E-learning systems based on cloud computing. A survey was conducted among 282 cloud-based E-learning participants and analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings indicate that the adoption of cloud-based E-learning is influenced by performance expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, and habit. Interestingly, although innovativeness is not significant to use intention, it has a positive effect on E-learning usage which is relatively new in Vietnam

An Assessment of Biomass Power Generation in California: Status and Survey Results

This report details efforts to obtain performance information from existing biomass-toenergy facilities in California and to assess industry status and to help quantify benefits to the state. Four general categories of facilities currently predominate in the industry, namely, direct combustion or steam cycle facilities, landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) plants, sewage digester gasto-energy plants or wastewater treatment facilities, and animal and food waste digester gas-toenergy plants. Information regarding technical performance, environmental, socio-economic and other key indicators was gathered and compiled from cooperating facilities through survey and from indirect sources such as literatures and available databases. Attempts were also made to analyze the state programs and incentives concerning these biomass-to-energy facilities. This assessment has identified a total of 229 facilities covering 29 biomass direct combustion facilities, 3 municipal solid wastes-to-energy combustion facilities, 59 LFGTE facilities, 115 wastewater treatment plants, and 23 animal and food waste digester facilities. These facilities have a gross generating capacity of at least 1087 MWe, about 69% of which are from direct combustion plants. The net to grid capacity is at least 869 MWe. The estimated annual gross and net energy production is 8100 GWh and 6475 GWh, respectively. Power and energy production will increase substantially once data from all 229 facilities have been obtained. So far, these facilities have a low response rate to the survey; retuned surveys were around 22% of the total industry. Thus there is a need to continue the efforts in gathering reliable data directly from each facility. The information can be used to appraise the current operating condition of the industry as well as issues and concerns associated with continued operation and growth of the bioenergy sector

Gum rosin as a size control agent of poly(Butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (pbat) domains to increase the toughness of packaging formulations based on polylactic acid (pla)

Gum rosin (GR) was used as a natural additive to improve the compatibility between polylactic acid, PLA, and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate, PBAT, blended with 20 wt.% of PBAT (PLA/PBAT). The PBAT was used as a soft component to increase the ductility of PLA and its fracture toughness. The coalescence of the PBAT domains was possible due to the plasticization effect of the GR component. These domains contributed to increasing the toughness of the final material due to the variation and control of the PBAT domains’ size and consequently, reducing the stress concentration points. The GR was used in contents of 5, 10, 15, and 20 phr. Consequently, the flexural properties were improved and the impact resistance increased up to 80% in PLA/PBAT_15GR with respect to the PLA/PBAT formulation. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images allowed observing that the size of PBAT domains of 2–3 µm was optimal to reduce the impact stress. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed a reduction of up to 8C on the PLA melting temperature and up to 5.3C of the PLA glass transition temperature in the PLA/PBAT_20GR formulation, which indicates an improvement in the processability of PLA. Finally, transparent films with improved oxygen barrier performance and increased hydrophobicity were obtained suggesting the potential interest of these blends for the food packaging industry.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), project: PROMADEPCOL (MAT2017-84909-C2-2-R

Combined effect of linseed oil and gum rosin as natural additives for PVC

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was plasticized with epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) an further added with triethylene glycol ester of gum rosin (TEGR) as natural viscosity increasing agent. Although, the addition of both additives resulted in some colour changes, since TEGR induced red tone and ELO produced an amber tonality, all formulations showed high brightness and transparency. FTIR was used to study the changes in the plastisol chemical structures due to the addition of both natural additives. The microstructure of plastisols, studied by SEM observations, further confirmed that ELO and TEGR presented good compatibility with PVC resin, particularly when a mixture of ELO and TEGR was used. Therefore, changing the proportion of both natural additives allows designing tunable plastisols employing renewable materials. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Authors thank United Resins, Producao de Resinas S.A(Portugal) who kindle provided TEGR. M.P. Arrieta is recipient of a Juan de la Cierva contract (FJCI-2014-20630) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.Arrieta, MP.; Samper Madrigal, MD.; Jiménez-López M.; Aldas-Carrasco, MF.; López-Martínez, J. (2017). Combined effect of linseed oil and gum rosin as natural additives for PVC. Industrial Crops and Products. 99:196-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.02.009S1962049