Use of a Novel Polymer-Coated Steel as an Alternative to Traditional Can Manufacturing in the Food Industry

[EN] Metal containers (both food and beverage cans) are made from huge steel or aluminum coils that are transformed into two- or three-piece products. During the manufacturing process, the metal is sprayed on both sides and the aerosol acts as insulation, but unfortunately produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The present work presents a different way to manufacture these containers using a novel prelaminated two-layer polymer steel. It was experimentally possible to verify that the material survives all the involved manufacturing processes. Thus tests were carried out in an ironing simulator to measure roughness, friction coefficient and surface quality. In addition, two theoretical ironing models were developed: upper bound model and artificial neural network. These models are useful for packaging designers and manufacturers.Sellés, M.; Schmid, SR.; Sanchez-Caballero, S.; Ramezani, M.; Pérez Bernabeu, E. (2021). Use of a Novel Polymer-Coated Steel as an Alternative to Traditional Can Manufacturing in the Food Industry. Polymers. 13(2):1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13020222S11513

Sal k 5, a member of the widespread Ole e 1-like protein family, is a new allergen of Russian thistle (Salsola kali) pollen.

Salsola kali is an Amaranthaceae weed with important repercussions for pollinosis in temperate areas. Ole e 1-like members are relevant allergens in pollen from different species. We aimed to characterize and produce as recombinant allergen S. kali Ole e 1-like protein. METHODS:The natural allergen was purified at homogeneity after three chromatographic steps. Specific cDNA was sequenced and expressed in Pichia pastoris yeast. Structural relationships of natural and recombinant forms were carried out by 2D electrophoresis and spectroscopic analyses. Its immunological relevance was analyzed by ELISA and immunoblotting using an IgG antiserum and monoclonal antibodies specific to Ole e 1, as well as sera from 57 allergic patients recruited from two Spanish regions where this pollinosis is frequent. RESULTS:The purified allergen, Sal k 5, is an acidic glycoprotein of 151 amino acid residues and 17,628 Da of molecular mass. Its amino acid sequence exhibits 68 and 32% identity with the allergens of Che a 1 and Ole e 1, respectively. The recombinant protein was correctly processed and its structural and immunologic equivalence to the natural form was proven. A sensitization frequency between 30 and 40% was observed in pollinic patients from the center and east coast of Spain. CONCLUSIONS:Sal k 5 is a member of the Ole e 1-like protein family which can be considered an important allergen from S. kali. Its inclusion in diagnosis protocols would allow the accurate defining of patients allergic to this pollen

Research on the Friction Properties of DP600 Stainless Steel as a Function of Bending Angle and Pin Diameter

[EN] The rapid evolution of materials and manufacturing processes, driven by global competition and new safety and environmental regulations has had an impact on automotive structures (Body In White; BIW) manufacturing. The need for lighter vehicles, with more equipment, that are safer and eco-friendly at the same time, relates to the entire life cycle of the car. Car and steelmakers agree that weight reduction is possible, and the solution involves the use of new advanced high-strength steels. Thinner and stronger materials lead to higher demands on stamping, the most used manufacturing in BIW parts. The use of advanced high-strength steels raises new challenges, especially concerning the lubrication between the die and the sheet. To study the lubrication conditions of the stamping process, a sheet metal forming a simulator was developed. The simulator consists of two cylinders that pull the strip of steel and a pin in between. The angle between the cylinders can be adjusted from 0 to 90 degrees, which allows analysis of the effect of the stamping angle. The pull force and velocity can be set and measured, and the peripheric pin velocity, the strain, and the strain velocity can be measured as well. In this work, the tribological properties of Dual-Phase 600 stainless steel using different processing conditions have been analyzed. To this end, a factorial experiments design with twelve parameters that compare the behavior of different angles and diameters was run. The results showed that the friction coefficient increases by increasing the bending angle and decreases with pin diameter.Sanchez-Caballero, S.; Sellés, M.; Pla-Ferrando, R.; Segui Llinares, VJ.; Peydro, MA. (2021). Research on the Friction Properties of DP600 Stainless Steel as a Function of Bending Angle and Pin Diameter. Materials Proceedings. 3(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.3390/IEC2M-09248173

An Economical and Environmental Alternative to Traditional Can Manufacturing Using a New Pre-Laminated Steel

[EN] Metal containers are the most commonly used packaging worldwide in both the food and beverage industry. Some manufacturing processes in the canning industry include multi-step transformations that take large aluminum or steel coils and make them into two or three-piece cans. During this process, the containers are sprayed to obtain a better surface for the contents; however, this spray produces volatile organic compounds (VOC). This paper presents a new and environmentally friendly can manufacturing method, which uses a novel pre-laminated two-layer polymer steel. As experimentally proven, this innovative polymer-coated steel successfully withstands every manufacturing requirement. The specimens were tested in an ironing simulator, measuring roughness and friction coefficients. The development of an upper bound ironing model, along with a supporting neural network, allows an insight into the design of new materials for can manufacturing.Sellés Cantó, MÁ.; Schmid, SR.; Sanchez-Caballero, S.; Ramezani, M.; Pérez Bernabeu, E. (2020). An Economical and Environmental Alternative to Traditional Can Manufacturing Using a New Pre-Laminated Steel. Materials Proceedings. 2(21):1-10. https://doi.org/10.3390/CIWC2020-06841S11022

Estudio comparativo de los métodos para la obtención del parámetro de solubilidad de la sulfanilamida en mezclas acetato de etilo-etanol

Este trabajo refleja un estudio comparativo de los valores hallados del parámetro de solubilidad, para la sulfanilamida, obtenidos por diferentes métodos: teórico y experimentales. El método teórico, se basa únicamente en el conocimiento de la estructura química del compuesto teniendo en cuenta la contribución aditiva de los distintos grupos químicos a la energía de vaporización del compuesto mientras que los otros métodos requieren la realización de medidas experimentales de solubilidad por lo que ya no resultan tan sencillos e inmediatos. De los resultados obtenidos se observa una notable concordancia entre los obtenidos a partir de los métodos experimentales y una ligera diferencia con el valor obtenido por el método teórico. Esto no significa que no resulte útil dicho método sino que es orientativo y puede variar en los distintos sistemas disolventes por las interacciones que se pueden producir: soluto-soluto, soluto-disolvente y disolvente-disolvente

Reply to G. Betts's letter referring to "Serum potassium dynamics during acute heart failure hospitalization".

This work was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness) and cofunded by the European Regional Development Fund, through the CIBER in cardiovascular diseases (CB16/11/00502).S

First report of Tomato torrado virus on weed hosts in Spain

Alfaro Fernández, AO.; Córdoba-Sellés, C.; Cebrián, M.; Herrera-Vásquez, J.; Sanchez Navarro, JA.; Juárez, M.; Espino, A.... (2088). First report of Tomato torrado virus on weed hosts in Spain. Plant Disease. 92(5):831-831. https://doi.org/10.1094/pdis-92-5-0831b83183192

Analysis of a polymer-coated steel for food can manufacturing

A new polymer coated steel has been developed and is being considered for food-container applications. This material presents an interesting extension to previous research on polymer laminated steel in ironing. A design-of-experiments matrix has been prepared using the commercial software package Stat-Ease, and involved varying the die angle, speed, reduction in thickness and tooling temperature. Formability data has been obtained both through experimentation and theoretical modelling with upper bound methods.Sellés Cantó, MÁ.; Pérez Bernabeu, E.; Pla-Ferrando, R.; Sanchez-Caballero, S. (2014). Analysis of a polymer-coated steel for food can manufacturing. Annals of The University of Oradea. Fascicle of Management and Technological Engineering. 3(3):110-113. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/57738S1101133