title: Chicken Feather Fibre Mat/PLA Composites for Thermal Insulation

authors: Qin, Xin

subjects: Chicken Feather Fibre Mat

abstract: In order to add more economic value to chicken feather, a waste material of the poultry industry, it has been researched to incorporate chicken feather fibre (CFF) into resin to produce value-added composites. In the present research, chicken feather fibre was separated from the rachises and used to produce fibre mats. Then fibre mats were incorporated into polylactic acid (PLA) to make composites with low thermal conductivity. The procedure for making chicken feather fibre mat using an automatic dynamic sheet former was explored. Two different composite fabrication methods were investigated. One involved fabricate composite samples by hot pressing chicken feather fibre mats with PLA sheet. The other involved making composite specimens by hot pressing PLA powder and chicken feather fibre mats. A decrease in tensile strength compared to PLA had been expected before composite specimen fabricating according to previous research and so alkali treated fibre mats were used to improve tensile strength of composites. 

It was concluded that chicken feather fibre mats with uniform quality could be made by controlling the jet-to-spin ratio and water wall thickness of the dynamic sheet former cylinder. Stable mat/PLA composites could be fabricated by hot pressing chicken feather fibre mats with PLA powder. Results from tensile testing indicated that alkali treatment could improve tensile strength to a small degree. SEM image analysis revealed that poor interfacial bonding between fibre barbs and PLA matrix had occurred. Thermal conductivity testing demonstrated improved thermal insulation with addition of CFF to PLA.

text: Chicken Feather Fibre Mat/PLA Composites for Thermal Insulation In order to add more economic value to chicken feather, a waste material of the poultry industry, it has been researched to incorporate chicken feather fibre (CFF) into resin to produce value-added composites. In the present research, chicken feather fibre was separated from the rachises and used to produce fibre mats. Then fibre mats were incorporated into polylactic acid (PLA) to make composites with low thermal conductivity. The procedure for making chicken feather fibre mat using an automatic dynamic sheet former was explored. Two different composite fabrication methods were investigated. One involved fabricate composite samples by hot pressing chicken feather fibre mats with PLA sheet. The other involved making composite specimens by hot pressing PLA powder and chicken feather fibre mats. A decrease in tensile strength compared to PLA had been expected before composite specimen fabricating according to previous research and so alkali treated fibre mats were used to improve tensile strength of composites. 

It was concluded that chicken feather fibre mats with uniform quality could be made by controlling the jet-to-spin ratio and water wall thickness of the dynamic sheet former cylinder. Stable mat/PLA composites could be fabricated by hot pressing chicken feather fibre mats with PLA powder. Results from tensile testing indicated that alkali treatment could improve tensile strength to a small degree. SEM image analysis revealed that poor interfacial bonding between fibre barbs and PLA matrix had occurred. Thermal conductivity testing demonstrated improved thermal insulation with addition of CFF to PLA.

year: 2015

title: A study of polyvinyl butyryl based binder system in titanium based metal injection moulding

authors: Thavanayagam, Gnanavinthan

subjects: Binders

abstract: Metal injection moulding (MIM) is an innovative injection moulding technique widely used to produce complex shaped components from feedstock composed of metal powders and thermosetting or thermoplastic binders. In MIM, binder selection and formulation are considered as critical processes since binder characteristics dictate the success of MIM. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of polyvinyl butyryl (PVB) based binder system in Ti-6Al-4V(wt.%)/binder feedstock, as well as to understand the effects of key parameters, such as powder loading and mixing conditions on the rheological properties of a feedstock. In this study, PVB, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and stearic acid (SA) were chosen to formulate a multi-component binder system to prepare Ti-6Al-4V based feedstock with the aid of three types of mixers: a compounder, a modified mechanical mixer and a twin screw extruder. Further, morphological analysis was performed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Thermal analysis was performed using simultaneous differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Results showed that binder formulation was reasonably successful with the aid of both mechanical mixer and a twin screw extruder under certain mixing conditions, and the critical powder loading was 68 vol.%, resulting in an optimum powder loading of 63 vol.%.

text: A study of polyvinyl butyryl based binder system in titanium based metal injection moulding Metal injection moulding (MIM) is an innovative injection moulding technique widely used to produce complex shaped components from feedstock composed of metal powders and thermosetting or thermoplastic binders. In MIM, binder selection and formulation are considered as critical processes since binder characteristics dictate the success of MIM. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of polyvinyl butyryl (PVB) based binder system in Ti-6Al-4V(wt.%)/binder feedstock, as well as to understand the effects of key parameters, such as powder loading and mixing conditions on the rheological properties of a feedstock. In this study, PVB, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and stearic acid (SA) were chosen to formulate a multi-component binder system to prepare Ti-6Al-4V based feedstock with the aid of three types of mixers: a compounder, a modified mechanical mixer and a twin screw extruder. Further, morphological analysis was performed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Thermal analysis was performed using simultaneous differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Results showed that binder formulation was reasonably successful with the aid of both mechanical mixer and a twin screw extruder under certain mixing conditions, and the critical powder loading was 68 vol.%, resulting in an optimum powder loading of 63 vol.%.

year: 2012

title: An evaluation of the Raukawa Health Services Kaumatua Mirimiri Programme

authors: Gregg, Lisa

subjects: Maori

abstract: The Kaumatua Mirimiri Programme was funded as a Service to Improve Access project under a contract which ran from 1st September 2004 to 30th June 2005. Its aim was to provide a “culturally based treatment and recovery programme to restore the health and independence” of people aged 40 years and over (Pinnacle Group Ltd, 2004a, p.1). However, as the service specification in the contract made clear, the programme was not designed be exclusive: it has attracted younger as well as older people, non-Māori as well as Māori, and people seeking help for a wide range of ailments and pain.

text: An evaluation of the Raukawa Health Services Kaumatua Mirimiri Programme The Kaumatua Mirimiri Programme was funded as a Service to Improve Access project under a contract which ran from 1st September 2004 to 30th June 2005. Its aim was to provide a “culturally based treatment and recovery programme to restore the health and independence” of people aged 40 years and over (Pinnacle Group Ltd, 2004a, p.1). However, as the service specification in the contract made clear, the programme was not designed be exclusive: it has attracted younger as well as older people, non-Māori as well as Māori, and people seeking help for a wide range of ailments and pain.

year: 2006-03