Life Sciences Commons^™

Cellulose Based Separator For High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries, Akshit Vaidya

Masters Theses

During the past two decades, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gained great success in the field of portable devices, and currently, are penetrating to the market of vehicles. Compared to the fast development of LIBs, little efforts have been dedicated to the separator, which is one of the most important components of LIBs. Primarily, the lithium-ion battery separator has two functions, one is to prevent direct contact between the positive and negative electrodes, and the other is to provide a path for effective ionic transportation. Currently, the separator market of LIBs is dominated by polyolefin materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and …

Soy- Based Flexographic Ink For Linerboard Printing, Rahul Ramchandra Pingale

Masters Theses

Many printing inks use volatile solvents in the formulation, which are hazardous to the environment from emission of VOC’s and at the same time, synthetic resins in these inks are not biodegradable. These problems with the fluctuating and rising price of petroleum are main reasons to look for new resources for making more environmentally friendly printing inks. The majority of the commercially available water based inks are formulated based on using acrylic resins, synthetic colorants, solvents/water and additives, which are the common main components for formulating printing inks. In this research, soy proteins were tested for their suitability to partially …

Papermaking Factors Affecting Lateral Web Position During Commercial Heat Set Web Offset Printing, George W. Shields

Masters Theses

The interaction of water with paper plays a role in web handling characteristics during commercial heat set web offset printing. Water absorption leads to lower web tension for a given strain.

This research investigates paper properties and their role in preventing lateral web movement from cross machine air flows in the drying section during normal printing operations. Tensile properties of sheets are measured at various moisture contents and then used to determine the equilibrium stress-strain relationship for papers at moisture contents typical of heat set web offset printing. Permeability, fiber orientation and tensile stiffness are evaluated against lateral web movement …

Using Forest Inventory And Analysis Data To Support Resinous Stump Harvesting In The Coastal Southeast, Christopher Ryan King

Masters Theses

The objective of the research was to investigate the feasibility and potential opportunities for using broad-scale forest inventory data for identifying high-probability sites containing longleaf and slash pine stumps. The purpose was to assist in locating resinous stumps for today’s remaining naval stores industry. USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) Phase 2 plots where longleaf and slash pine were present were observed. Plots were also limited to those which had been re-measured at least once. Variables observed include basal area, diameter, recent cutting, and past cutting. FIA’s Timber Products Output data regarding mill sourcing were assessed as well. …

Lignin Maximization: Analyzing The Impact Of Different Feedstocks And Feedstock Ratios Using Organosolv Fractionation, Marc Banholzer

Masters Theses

Over-exploitation of fossil fuels coupled with increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions are prompting a transition from conventional petrochemical feedstocks to sustainable and renewable sourced carbon. The use of lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for integrated biorefining is of current high interest, as separation into its component parts affords process streams of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, each of which can serve as a starting point for the production of biobased chemicals and fuels. Given the large number of potential sources of lignocellulosic feedstocks, the biorefinery will need to adapt to the supplies available over a normal growing season. Of particular …

Development Of Cross Laminated Timber In The United States Of America, Karl Konstantin Grasser

Masters Theses

This research focuses on the establishment of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) ventures in the United States of America (USA) and provides interested stakeholders knowledge about the product and the existing CLT industry. This research is designed to improve knowledge of CLT and manufacturing technologies for potential investors of CLT capacities in the USA.

The invention of CLT in Austria led to a paradigm change in European wood construction as it allowed the woodworking industry to enter new construction markets such as multi-story residential and non-residential buildings. The CLT industry has experienced tremendous growth in Europe. The United States is a …

Value-Added Lignin Based Carbon Fiber From Organosolv Fractionation Of Poplar And Switchgrass, Andreas Attwenger

Masters Theses

Carbon fibers have unique properties that include high strength, low density and excellent chemical and thermal resistance. However, they have a low level of utilization because of their high price; typically around $30/kg for an entry level polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon fiber. Low-cost carbon fibers derived from lignin are currently being investigated at the University of Tennessee, because using lignin as a precursor could significantly reduce production costs. Lignins obtained from the pulp and paper and the emerging biofuel industries have the potential to be used for carbon fiber production, however, they are typically unsuitable because of the high levels …

Maximizing Lignin Yield Using Experimental Design Analyzing The Impact Of Solvent Composition And Feedstock Particle Size On The Organosolv Process In The Presence Of Feedstock Contamination, Hagen Maraun

Masters Theses

The depletion of fossil feedstock and the unfavorable environmental effects accompanying by its exploitation are the driving forces in the process of transitioning to renewable feedstock as the primary resource. Similar to petrorefineries, a new modern biorefinery would use biomass to produce a variety of different chemical products and transportation fuels. Lignin, a potential low-cost, high volume output process stream derived from lignocellulosic biomass is currently being researched to better support the economics of the future biorefinery. In this study, experimental design was used to determine the optimal level for each process factor in an organosolv fractionation process that targets …

Chemical Responses Of Two Deciduous Trees After 10-Years Of Exposure To Free Air Co2 Enrichment, Keonhee Kim

Masters Theses

Globally, the mean atmospheric carbon dioxide level has risen steadily since pre-industrial times, which is largely attributable to human activities such as increased emissions from fossil fuel burning, and clearing of forests. Numerous research efforts have been made to understand responses of trees in higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in short term, small-scale experiments. To overcome the limitations of these experiments and understand the response of trees in a natural environment, the Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) project was proposed. FACE is a global project that involves experimentally enriching carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of terrestrial ecosystems. The FACE …

Study Of Metamerism And Inconstancy Of Basic Color System Used In Wood Grain Laminates, Awadhoot Vijaykant Shendye

Masters Theses

In product gravure printing, many spot color inks are used. Because the use of spot colors tends to be customer specific, they are typically mixed in house by the gravure printer to satisfy the requirements of a specific customer order. Printers are often concerned about the best utilization of inks, and their recyclability, if possible, to make the production more sustainable. Spot colors may exhibit metameric behavior. This tendency causes problems in color matching, as these products are viewed in a standardized environment, using light source D₅₀ or D₆₅ , but are viewed under fluorescent lighting at the …

The Study Of Plant Cell Walls Deconstruction Using Electron Beams Irradiation, Jetana Kittisenee

Masters Theses

Plant cell walls compose the largest source of sugars on earth and are a potential source after conversion for liquid transportation fuels. However, the crystalline region of cellulose and the lignin that incases it present significant obstacles for enzymes to digest. This lowers the sugar yield, which ultimately decreases the production efficiency of bioethanol. A pretreatment that could help lowering the amount of crystallinity; meanwhile, breakdown the matrix of lignin and polysaccharides that cover cellulose fibers would be ideal. Here we propose a physical pretreatment strategy of electron beam irradiation that could potentially decrease cellulose crystallinity as well as unzip …

Effect Of Calendering Of Flexographically Printed Silver Flake Ink, Sujay Pandkar

Masters Theses

Interest in the printed electronics is increasing on a day-to-day basis. To utilize the concept of printed electronics on a wider range, printed circuit needs to perform more and more efficiently. The simplest printed circuit components include conductive traces, which can function as interconnects or contact electrodes. There are still some limitations to the conductivity of printed traces. Previous results showed an improvement in the conductivity of printed traces with a post cure treatment of 4 hours at 105°C. The present research explores a different approach towards improving conductivity using a post calendering treatment on-line.

The effects of calendering temperature, …

The Possibility Of Producing Biodiesel Fuel From Wood Pulping By Products, Yan Pu

Masters Theses

Biodiesel fuel produced from biomass material is a renewable and promising substitute fuel for petroleum diesel fuel, and it is relatively environmentally friendly. The Pulping process involves a huge amount of lignocellulosic materials. There may be a great potential of combining this fact with the biodiesel production, as well as the present biodiesel technologies.

This thesis focuses on the esterification reaction behavior of three main components of tall oil fatty acids, which are byproducts of paper manufacture. They are stearic acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid. Three levels of both catalyst and methanol were employed in the esterification for each …

Effect Of High Temperature Drying Of Paper On Heat Transfer Rates And Sheet Properties, Dania Awni Al-Said

Masters Theses

The objective of this research is to study the effect of high temperature on paper drying rates and properties of both virgin pulp and recycled paper. Process variables as shell temperature, moisture content, refining, basis weight and fiber recycling can affect the drying rate and paper properties. In addition, high surface temperature can affect the heat transfer rates from the dryer shell to the paper. The Gas Heated Paper Dryer (GHPD) is a high temperature dryer where internal shell temperature can reach 300° C, which significantly increases the drying rate. However, there are many concerns about the effect of this …

Cross Platforms Display Calibration And Profiling Mac Os And Windows, Reem El Asaleh

Masters Theses

The monitor is an important part in many digital applications including graphic design, digital photography and prepress proofing. In fact, designers and prepress personnel rely on their monitor for good color decision for a printed job.

The aim of this research is to achieve a consistent color across platform using the same hardware (CPU, monitor video controller, etc.). Also to describe the main issue that affects the accuracy of monitor profiles. ICC profiles were generated for monitor in Windows and Mac OS platform using GretagMacbeth ProfileMaker Pro version 5.0 and X-Rite MonacoPROFILER ICC profiling softwares. In the laboratory environment, we …

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Deinking And Dew Waxing, Suraboon Hoontrakool

Masters Theses

The main purpose of this project is to study how the supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO₂) fluid can be used to extract sticky compounds and commercial printing inks. This study will focus on the upscale unit operation that Western Michigan University had recently installed supercritical fluid extraction system. This also includes determination of extraction efficiency, optimizing operating condition, the effect of ScCO₂ on the fiber tensile strength for recycling paper after the sticky compounds are removed and the effect of ScCO₂ to the fiber physical strength property at different temperatures.

The investigation of supercritical fluid extraction equipment …

Borate Autocasting: Kinetics Model And Effect Of Carbon Dioxide On Reaction Rate, Ali Zuhair Fadhel

Masters Theses

Borate autocausticizing is a promising approach to the operational and environmental improvement of Kraft pulping and its chemical recovery. Its advantages include partial or total elimination of the lime cycle, pulp strength improvement, and energy savings. Borate autocausticizing involves the use of an amphoteric salt, sodium metaborate, to de-carbonize sodium carbonate and produces trisodium borate, the reaction occurs at high temperatures. Tran and Cameron (1999) suggest that the reaction follows the path below.

NaBO₂ + Na₂CO₃ → Na₃BO₃ + CO₂

This thesis systematically analyzes the reaction kinetics of borate autocausticizing. The uniqueness …

Enhanced Print Performance Of Water-Based Rotogravure Inks Through Rheological Balance, Rurou Mai

Masters Theses

Water-based inks have been of more and more interest to the printing and ink industry. Compared with solvent-based inks, water-based inks have more complex formulations because of their higher surface tensions, lower drying speed, foaming problems, pH balance, and different rheological properties. This work explores the significant effects of various rheology modifiers, including non-associative and associative thickeners, on the rheological properties of a water-based rotogravure ink system. Particular emphasis is given to thickening efficiency, pH stability, particle size, system compatibility, temperature stability, and printability on vinyl substrates. Wire-wound lab rods and a Moser Sheet-fed Gravure Proofing Press were employed to …

Surface Topography Contribution To Rfid’S Tags Efficiency Related To Resistivity, Mario A. Cruz

Masters Theses

The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is one of the new technologies with more vision and acceptance oriented to the distribution and storage industries. The RFID is a technology that can be used to identify, track and store information about groups of products, individual items, or product components, using radio waves. The RFID device needs an antenna in order to receive a signal and transmit information. The stamping process applied today to produce the RFID antenna works with foil or copper. These etched metal RFID tags offer good benefits, but the production cost is too high to achieve a widespread implementation. …

Caustic Treatment Of The Pulp: Caustic Recovery By Reverse Osmosis, Miroslav Suchy

Masters Theses

The benefit of caustic treatment on changing cellulose properties has long been known. When the treated pulp is later intended for use in personal or in health care product industries, it is important that all residual chemicals are removed and that the pure cellulose or carbohydrate portion of the pulp remains. The removal is usually facilitated by washing. Due to the low caustic concentration in the washing filtrates the removal of the excess water by standard techniques such as evaporation would not be economical.

The main objective of this investigation was to evaluate the concept of using reverse osmosis for …

Paper Substrates For Electronic Printing, Laura K. Wood

Masters Theses

Printed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) labels utilize conductive inks to provide the means for wireless flow of electronic signals. An RFID label is an identification label with an integrated circuit and antenna that transmits data via radio waves to a reader, which sends the data to a computer for processing. RFID labels allow manufacturers and retailers to accurately track their inventory more efficiently than previously possible with bar codes. However, etched metal RFID labels are too expensive for widespread implementation. The key to reducing the cost of RFID technology is replacing etched metal tags with tags printed with conducting ink. …

Use Of Borate In Semi-Chemical Pulping, Promodh K. Veguru

Masters Theses

The original Neutral Sulfite Semi-Chemical (NSSC) pulping process used sodium sulfite as the principle cooking chemical and had the disadvantage of sulfur emission problems. Considerable research was conducted to investigate the use of other chemicals including sodium hydroxide, but was not completely satisfactory. Several mills adapted a sodium carbonate based process but experienced slower pulping and reduced physical properties. The objective of this research is to study the use of borate as a pulping chemical in sodium carbonate semi-chemical pulping. The experimental plan included digester cooks; controls with pure sodium carbonate, and the other with partially borate autocausticized sodium carbonate. …

Computer Integrated Print Production And Jdf, Deepak-Kumar Mohan-Kumar

Masters Theses

In the graphic arts industry, the need for the unification of mechanized and automated systems has seen a great increase in the last few years. This very need has led to various specification formats like, Adobe's PJTF and CIP3's PPF and the latest one of them all, CIP4's JDF. Earlier specification formats that had inherent limitations with proprietary architecture have paved the way to JDF. JDF is an open, extensible, XML based job ticket format that has been a proposed standard to achieve end-to-end job ticket specifications along with message interchange protocol and message description standard.

This thesis research has …

3d Simulation Of Layer Mixing In A Three-Layer Stratified Headbox, Jatetana Kunsriluksakul

Masters Theses

In this research, the commercially available software called FLUENT is used to simulate and visualize behaviors of flow in a three-layer stratified headbox of a paper machine. A two-phase model, "volume of fluid", is employed to simulate turbulences in a free jet. The information obtained from the simulations, in terms of velocity profiles, Reynolds stress, turbulent kinetic energy, and macro scale of turbulence, are used to assess and characterize the effect of free jet length, vane length, vane thickness, nozzle angle, and slice opening on fiber layer mixing. Importantly, the simulation results demonstrated that the macro scale of turbulence in …

The Effects Of Various Types And Percentages Of Fillers With The Mechanical Properties Of Latex Saturated Paper, Jeffrey Alan Kuehn

Masters Theses

This study examined how the percentage of mineral fillers and their various types, when added to the base paper, affects the mechanical characteristics of latex impregnated paper.

A series of model handsheets were produced and subjected to physical property tests. The basis weight of these handsheets was held constant, as various types and percentages of filler were added. This base paper was then impregnated with a known acrylic emulsion. All variables with the impregnation process were held constant during the impregnation process. Physical properties were tested on the handsheets before and after impregnation. All physical tests on the handsheet samples …

Strengthening Of Corrugated Boards By Chemical Impregnation, Rajesh Premnarayansingh

Masters Theses

Linerboards are used for making corrugated boards. The paperboards can be strengthened by adding strength additives at the wet-end of the paper machine and also by sizing them. Impregnation is another effective approach of strengthening the paperboards, mostly offline. The aim of the thesis is to evaluate the performance of the modified Dixon coater and check the operating conditions with various chemicals used for impregnating 42 lb/1000 sq.ft grammage linerboard.

The major conclusions of the research were that the edge compression strength increases markedly validating the usage of impregnation for linerboards. Also, the stiffness of linerboard increases and the voids …

Study Of Trisodium Borate Formation And Its Reaction With Green Liquor In Partial Autocausticizing, Pasupathy Rajan Subbaiyan

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates a new development of autocausticizing the green liquor with trisodium borate. Sodium metaborate (NaBO₂) reacts with the sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) in the char bed at 850°C in the recovery furnace to form trisodium borate (Na₃BO₃) which in tum, when dissolved in water produces sodium hydroxide (NaOH) regenerating sodium metaborate (NaBO₂). The main objective of this research is to study the formation of trisodium borate from the reaction of sodium metaborate with sodium carbonate at different molar ratios of carbonate to borate and to determine the …

Effect Of Partial Borate Autocausticizing On Causticizing Rate And Equilibrium, Murugavel Anbalagan

Masters Theses

Borate autocausticizing can replace - total autocausticizing, or supplement the kraft lime cycle- partial autocausticizing. Partial autocausticizing is undergoing trials in several mills and has been recently commercialized in one mill. One common observation in the on-going trials is that the causticizing efficiency increases. The primary objectives of this research are to study the effect of metaborate on the causticizing rate, equilibrium and rate controlling parameters such as the temperature, concentration and sulfidity. The aim is to define the conditions that resulted in the increase of the causticizing efficiency.

The major findings of the research are that when the causticizing …

Generating Icc Output Profiles For Different Printing Devices: Application To A Shinohara Offset Press, Tektronix And Hp Designjet, Srinivasa Raju Alluri

Masters Theses

The most important issue in the current printing industry is managing the perfect color reproduction. Hence, the importance of color management in the printing industry is increasing day by day. Color management saves time and money for color users. With the help of color management, benefits such as accurate onscreen color, output device simulation, gamut checking, and color consistency between devices will reduce the amount of time and materials required to complete color production tasks.

The main purpose of this thesis is to develop ICC profiles and to compare the print quality of ICC profiles generated for different printing devices, …

Generating Icc Output Profiles For Different Substrates: Application Too A Shinohara Offset Press & Several Printers, Kailashnath Jaganathrao Pohnerkar

Masters Theses

The International Color Consortium (ICC) was formed to undertake problems in achieving reliable and reproducible color throughout the reproduction process; the ICC Profile Specification offers solutions to color matching and quality. Problems with the ICC Profile relate to tools in the field, output devices, various substrates, profile calculation processes and color accuracy.

A color management system (CMS), developed by International Color Consortium, allows color transformation to be carried out by the operating system in conformity. ICC profiles describe the color range of a device and the way it distorts the color of an image. The profiling software is required to …