Phase separation and phase preferences in pigmented, impact-modified PC/PBT blends

Polycarbonate/poly(butylene terephthalate)/impact modifier (PC/PBT/IM) blends are a commercially important type of polymer blend. In recent years, pigmented PC/PBT/IM blends have been produced for specific applications, with particular attention being given to the method of mass coloration. The useful properties of these pigmented blends are determined, to a large extent, by the phase separation and phase preference phenomena that occur in these multi-component polymeric systems. In this study, the thermodynamic origins of the phase separation and phase preferences that exist in pigmented PC/PBT/IM blends have been assessed by means of inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Subsequently, in order to characterise these blends both physically and chemically, and to assess the influence of the pigment (C. I. Pigment Blue 28) on the physical properties, on the mechanical properties, and on the morphology of the blends, several analytical techniques and mechanical tests were used. These analytical techniques and mechanical tests, along with the controlled surface modifications of the pigment (which were achieved by means of a photo-sensitised grafting procedure), allowed for a rationalisation of the interactions that exist between the components of the pigmented blends as encountered in the phase separation, the phase preferences, the physical properties and the mechanical properties of these polymeric systems. The Lewis acid/base interaction between the major components of these blends has been proven to influence decisively the physical properties and the mechanical properties of the pigmented PC/PBT/IM blends. Phase separation exists in PC/PBT/IM blends as the PBT molecules are preferentially involved in specific intermolecular, and intramolecular, interactions with themselves and other PBT molecules. Partial miscibility between the PC and the PBT has been interpreted on the basis of the Lewis acid/base attraction between these polymers, with contributions from the repulsion effect that exists between the Lewis basic centres in PBT. The impact modifier is shown to interact preferentially with the PC phase rather than with the PBT phase. This is due to the preference of the PBT molecules to interact with PBT molecules and to the strong Lewis base/base repulsion between the impact modifier PMMA shell and the PBT molecules. The fast crystallisation of PBT, favoured by the strong Lewis amphoteric character of this polymer, also contributes to the expulsion of the IM particles, and of the PC, from the PBT domains. The pigment interacts favourably with both the PBT and the PC, but preferentially with the PBT phase. This is because of the Lewis amphoteric properties of C. I. Pigment Blue 28. The pigment under study, C. I. Pigment Blue 28, influences significantly the physical properties and the mechanical properties of the PC/PBT/IM blends. These effects differ for blends that have been processed in equipment and/or under conditions that lead to a lesser or greater degradation of the molecular weight of PC and of PBT. Also, the importance of the PBT-rich phase and of the PC-rich phase, in relation to the viscoelastic properties of the PC/PBT/IM blends, depends on the magnitude of the molecular weights of PC and of PBT. The influence of the pigment on the physical and mechanical properties of the pigmented blends has both direct and indirect consequences. The direct consequences arise from the physical properties of the pigment (particle size and particle size distribution, surface area) and from the chemical properties of the pigment (inorganic nature, surface chemical composition). In particular, the surface chemical composition and the surface area determine the interaction potential of the pigment with the other components of the PC/PBT/IM blends. The indirect consequences stem from the influence the pigment has on the occurrence of transesterification, on the crystalline properties of PBT, and on the molecular weights of PC and of PBT. The influence of these factors on the physical properties and on the mechanical properties of the pigmented blends has been rationalised. C. I. Pigment Blue 28 enhances the impact resistance of the blends by means of altering the mechanisms of absorption of the impact energy. The pigment decreases the crystallisation activation energy and increases the rate of crystallisation of PBT. The crystallinity degree is not directly affected by the presence of the pigment. At low loadings, the pigment enhances the transesterification reactions that occur between PC and PBT and the thermal degradation of the molecular weight of PBT. At greater pigment loadings, the pigment particles act as an inhibitor of the transesterification reactions and of the polymer chains thermal scission. The effect that C. I. Pigment Blue 28 has on the transesterification reactions is thought to be due mainly to the thermal conductivity differences between the inorganic pigment particles and the polymers. Microscopic evaluations have established that the pigment is preferentially located at the PC/PBT interphase. This finding is in line with the predictions made from the IGC study and is substantiated by thermal analytical techniques and by mechanical testing of the pigmented blends. Control of the Lewis surface acid/base properties of C. I. Pigment Blue 28, by means of a photosensitised surface modification procedure, allows one to modify the preferential location of the pigment particles in the PC/PBT/IM blend. Accordingly, the physical properties and the mechanical properties of these pigmented blends are influenced. When the Lewis acidity of the pigment is significantly enhanced, the interaction of the inorganic particles with the PBT is improved. This results in a more significant nucleating effect of the pigment, an increased rate of crystallisation and an increased crystallinity degree of PBT. On subsequent reduction of the surface Lewis acidity of the modified pigment by neutralisation of the surface carboxylic acid groups, the interaction of the pigment particles with the PC phase is enhanced. The surface modifications lead to improved adhesion between C. I. Pigment Blue 28 and the polymeric matrix. This improvement in the adhesion, along with the changes to the phase preferences of the pigment, result in: 1) lower viscosity of the pigmented blends, due to improved dispersion of the modified pigments in the polymeric matrix; 2) very significant reduction of the transesterification reactions and of the thermal scission of the polymers, namely at the lower pigment loadings; 3) more consistent viscoelastic behaviour of the blends with varying pigment loading, and 4) less pronounced dependence of the impact resistance on temperature

On the role and assessment of research at European Universities of Applied Sciences

The relevance of the Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs) is growing in a world where practice-based learning and research are essential to meet societal development goals. Public policies for science, technology, and innovation must, therefore, account for an increasingly complex context where higher education institutions of varied shapes co-evolve. On the other hand, the increasing influence of international ranking systems and of bibliometric indicators calls for a critical revision of their adequacy to account for UASs’ key characteristics such as the importance of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches when tackling context-based challenges. This paper examines the roles of UASs in contemporary knowledge-intensive societies and critically addresses dominant research evaluation approaches. It is argued that i) qualitative approaches based on the visualization of bibliometric data can provide useful perspectives on interdisciplinarity, ii) the assessment of stakeholder engagement should be incorporated in rankings such as U-Multirank, and iii) knowledge dissemination at large could be assessed using Altmetrics indicators.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of interactions in multicomponent polymeric systems: the key role of inverse gas chromatography

The properties of a polymeric system are a consequence of the interactions that occur between the various components of these complex systems. These components may vary significantly in terms of chemical nature (e.g. organic/inorganic), physical properties (e.g. particle size, surface area, molecular weight), structural characteristics and proportion in the formulations composition. This review paper addresses the major approaches in use regarding the analysis of the interactions that occur between the polymeric system components and the use of such approaches in the interpretation of the chemical, physical and thermodynamic properties of these systems. Special attention is given to the technique of inverse gas chromatography. A case study is presented, where use was made of inverse gas chromatography to characterize thermodynamically the surface of the major components of pigmented PC/PBT blends. The concept of Lewis acidity/basicity was used in the interpretation of the intermolecular interactions nature and potential in these blends, as encountered in phase separation and phase preferences phenomena and as expressed in the morphology, the physical and the mechanical properties of these commercially important composites

Polymer blends: the PC-PBT case

An example of commercially important binary polymer blends is that of PC–PBT composites. The current knowledge of the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of these blends is reviewed and updated in the light of interpretations based on Lewis acid–base intermolecular interactions, as quantified by inverse gas chromatography, carried out under infinite dilution conditions

On the societal impact of publicly funded Circular Bioeconomy research in Europe

Europe has taken a world leadership position in setting policy priorities for Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) as a key determinant of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Consequently, European R&D investment in this area keeps growing along with the societal pressure to demonstrate the return of investment of publicly funded projects. Thus, this work presents a pioneering exploratory analysis of the extent to which projects funded at the European level incorporate the policy priorities for which they are being designed in the context of CBE, and how can the impact they are having on society be assessed. Thence, project impact evaluation is carried out in the short- and medium-term, and categorized under Industrial Competitiveness, Sustainable Development, and Community and Public Policies. For this purpose, secondary information was gathered from the European projects database Cordis, as well as primary information through a questionnaire survey of project coordinators. The empirical data collected suggest that European Framework Programmes have been fulfilling their purpose, as they are increasingly societal challenges-driven and market-oriented. This is evidenced by market-related topics addressed in the projects analysed and by the active participation of companies that outnumber academic institutions. As far as impact is concerned, scientific publications continue to be the main result of this type of project in the short-term, whereas in the medium-term social and economic benefits were also identified. Notably, the creation of scientific jobs in the industry, of industrial joint ventures, and the generation of documents to support the improvement of public and EU policies on biobased productsThis work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund [0627_INBEC_6_E to J. M. R. C. A. S.] and the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation [UIDB/00690/2020]. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rural regions as key locations for the circular bioeconomy: insights from the northern interior of Portugal

Rural areas have often been singled out as strategic locations for the implementation of the Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) concept. This study aims to carry out a detailed analysis of the northern interior of Portugal, focusing on its business dynamics within the CBE. Two representative case studies were selected and critically compared with successful cases from European Nordic countries. The results showed that, generally, waste is managed inefficiently and with little benefit. The cross-comparison with the Nordic CBE model revealed that there is a lack of synergies and collaboration between different stakeholders, from the most basic to the most advanced level. Also, investment in more applied education, as well as a culture based on trust and dialogue, would greatly contribute to the successful implementation of regional CBE policies. In short, innovation, not only in products and services, but mainly in partnerships is key to a sustainable economic growth in rural regions.This work has been developed in the context of the INTERREG POCTEP project "INBEC - Circular bio-economy. Promotion and development of a sustainable economy through innovation and business cooperation" (ref. 0627_INBEC_6_E); The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prioritizing stakeholders to boost collaborative R&I projects benefits: an analytic network process approach

A methodology was developed to prioritize stakeholders of a collaborative research and innovation (R&I) project in the circular bioeconomy area, towards enhancing its benefits from a multi-perspective point of view. The concept of R&I project benefits was broken down into criteria, evaluating different attributes related to the project outputs and outcomes, to the project management processes, and to the social, environmental and economic dimensions. The devised methodology was based on a combination of the analytic network process multicriteria decision making method and the key benefit categories from the P5 standard for sustainability in project management. The P5 standard has been shown to adequately frame the benefits to stakeholders of R&I projects in the topic of circular bioeconomy. Key benefits identified by the experts relate to the categories “society and costumers” and “consumption”. The following stakeholders should have priority in the development of the project stakeholder management plan: research team members, leaders at the consortium organizations, project management team members and environmental NGOs. Future research will include a longitudinal study of the perceived stakeholder and benefit categories priority over time.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020), SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021) and CEMMPRE (UIDB/00285/2020). This article is a result of the project “BacchusTech - Integrated Approach for the Valorisation of Winemaking Residues” (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-069583), supported by the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Programme (COMPETE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A framework for the management of research and innovation projects in academic settings

The contemporary complex settings under which research and innovation (R&I) activities are executed in academic institutions calls for the definition of suitable management and administration approaches. To this end, (1) the existing literature on the management of R&I projects in the academia is reviewed; (2) major specificities of R&I projects are discussed; (3) recent trends in project management are addressed; and (4) a specific framework for the management of R&I projects in higher education is proposed. The proposed management framework is defined in eight pillars, namely: (i) clarification of scope and goals; (ii) use of standards; (iii) scalability and flexibility; (iv) workflow modelling; (v) use of tools, techniques and templates; (vi) existence of a “project board” or similar; (vii) adequate risk management; and (viii) organizational learning. The authors argue that it should be seen as a practical tool for university managers and administrators to apply a structured and comprehensive overview of key action areas that will increase the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of R&I project management and administration in academic contexts.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021). This article is a result of the project “ValorNatural – Valorização de Recursos Naturais através da Extração de Ingredientes de Elevado Valor Acrescentado para Aplicações na Indústria Alimentar” (NORTE-01-0247- FEDER-024479), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A framework for the management of research and innovation projects: mission impossible?

The shift from discipline-based research (“mode 1”) to interdisciplinary knowledge production involving industry or service partnerships and increased social accountability (“mode 2”) have led to deep changes in the organizational structure of research and innovation (R&I) ecosystems. In particular, public researchperforming organizations have been re-shaping their management and organizational structures towards a more market-oriented direction, with a strong executive control approach also known as ‘New managerialism’. Also, since the 1990s, R&I organizations have increasingly adopted collaborative research projects, seeking access to complementary knowledge and competencies, additional drive to innovate, and increasing funding opportunities (regional, national and supranational). In this type of environment, consortia of public, academic, and private agents that share a common research interest work across disciplinary, organizational, and national boundaries to achieve innovative results. Under “mode 2” R&I projects, managers must integrate individual and small-team research activities that demand high levels of creativity and innovation. However, funding bodies and institutions require clear work plans, perfectly defined and assigned responsibilities, and strict schedules, deliverables and milestones. This apparent contradiction calls for flexible and adaptable project management principles. In fact, “traditional” management strategies, such as pure “waterfall” methods tend to fail. Success or failure of contemporary R&I endeavours is, therefore, strongly linked to the project management practices adopted by institutions and teams along a collaborative and “open” context under which new knowledge and technologies are nowadays developed. The contextual complexity, uncertainty and creative nature of R&I does definitely not mean that no structure, no planning and no management is neither necessary nor possible. But it does mean that the way we organize and manage research projects should reflect and aim to accommodate this ambiguity and complexity. By presenting, assessing and discussing the case study of ValorNatural, a project funded by the Portuguese government under the country framework programme 2014-2020 of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), the authors propose a framework for the successful management of R&I projects. To this aim, the research methodology is based on action research, participatory observation and on the own experience of the authors. This framework should be seen as a practical tool for scientific projects managers. It seeks to provide a structured, comprehensive overview of key pillars that should underpin the development and implementation of project management to R&I endeavours. We conclude that (i) R&I projects substantially differ from “traditional” projects, (ii) R&I projects are characterized by high uncertainty, high contextual complexity, and high stakeholder heterogeneity, (iii) R&I projects are conditioned by the observed strong mismatch between the flexibility requested to researchers in the pre-award phase and the rigidity demanded by the funding agencies during the post-award phase, and (iv) adequate R&I project management helps avoid common pitfalls and improve project success. Learning Outcomes (max 50 words) - R&I projects substantially differ from “traditional” projects. - Key features: high uncertainty, high contextual complexity and high stakeholder heterogeneity. - R&I projects are conditioned by a mismatch between flexibility in the pre-award phase and rigidity during the post-award phase. - Adequate R&I project management helps avoid common pitfalls and improve success.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sustainability in project management practice: a literature review

The intersection between sustainability and project management has received significant attention in literature. Organizations have come to acknowledge the importance of incorporating sustainable practices in their business operations, particularly through their projects. However, integrating sustainability concerns poses challenges, that require the development of methods, tools, and techniques to assess sustainability at the project level. To assist project managers in this endeavor, a comprehensive literature review was conducted. The review aims to answer two main questions: (1) What motivates project managers and their teams to incorporate sustainability in project management practice? (2) Which key project management practices and frameworks/models can be used to ensure sustainability in projects? The findings of this review provide valuable insights for project managers seeking to integrate sustainability practices throughout the entire project management life cycle.This research is sponsored by national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CEMMPRE (UIDB/00285/2020), ARISE (LA/P/0112/2020), CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020), and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio