Fire retardancy effects in single and double layered sol-gel derived TiO2 and SiO2-wood composites
(2012)
Sol–gel derived TiO2 and SiO2-wood inorganic composites are prepared by direct vacuum infiltration of silicon and titanium alkoxide based precursors in pine sapwood in one or two cycles followed by a controlled thermal curing process. The resulting flame retardancy effect is investigated under two different fire scenarios using cone calorimetry and oxygen index (LOI). Heat release rates (HRR) especially the values for the second peak, are reduced moderately for all single layered composites. This effect is more pronounced for double layered composites where HRR was reduced up to 40 % showing flame retardancy potential in developing fires. Beside this, smoke release was lowered up to 72 % indicating that these systems had less fire hazards compared to untreated wood, whereas no meaningful improvement is realized in terms of fire load (total heat evolved) and initial HRR increase. However impressively, the LOI of the composites were increased up to 41 vol% in comparison to 23 vol% for untreated wood displaying a remarkable flame retardancy against reaction to a small flame. An approximate linear interdependence among the fire properties and the material loading as well as fire residue was observed. A residual protection layer mechanism is proposed improving the residue properties for the investigated composites.
Ripeness and senescence of climacteric fruits are strongly related to the emission of ethylene gas. The ethylene emission of apples can be detected by a new developed ripeness indicator. This indicator is based on the reduction effect of ethylene causing colour changes in selected metal ions. The used molybdenum (Mo) chromophores change under the impact of ethylene in a colour spectrum from white/light yellow to blue because of a partial reduction of Mo(VI) to Mo(V). The sensitivity of molybdenum colour change reactions can be varied by composition and pH values (pH 1.4–pH 1.5) of used ammonium molybdate solution and thus adopted to different fruits and storage conditions. The indicator can be combined with a colour recognition sensor for quantitative measurements of colour change in the frame of the L*a*b* model. The b*-coordinate, reflecting changes from yellow to blue, and the luminance L* continuously vary with increasing ethylene emission. Results obtained with the indicator system were compared with direct determination of ethylene concentrations by gas chromatography (GC-FID). Furthermore, a descriptive sensory test was used to estimate the degree of ripeness. The indicator can be applied for ripeness gauge on single fruit or in paperboard crates.
A new planar sensor element for continuous coulometric trace humidity measurements in industrial gases has been developed. In order to ensure precise measurements a calibration facility including a precision dew point hygrometer as a reference device was developed. The sensor can measure the humidity in the frost point temperature range of -20 °C to -80 °C and has an expanded uncertainty of 2 K, a fast reaction time and a settling time of the entire system from 15 to 30 min.
Sol–gel technology was applied in tailoring
novel wood-made-inorganic composites with improved
thermal and fire properties. In practice, composites materials
were prepared by impregnating pine sapwood wood with
nano-scaled precursor solutions derived from titanium(IV)
isopropoxide followed by a thermal curing process. Thermal
and fire properties were evaluated by thermal analysis and
cone calorimetry, whereas flammability was specified by
oxygen index (LOI) and UL 94 test. Peak heat release rates
were moderately reduced indicating fire retardance potential
in terms of flame spread attributed to the appropriate protection
layer action of the titania-based depositions. LOI
(oxygen index) values of these composites were increased up
to 38 vol.% in comparison to 23 vol.% for untreated wood.
The flame retardancy performance depends on the fire scenario
and is strongly influenced by wood loading and crackfree
deposition of the titania layers inside the composite.
An online monitoring of environmental and inherent product parameters is required during transportation and storage of fruit and vegetables to avoid quality degradation and spoilage. The control of transpiration losses is suggested as an indicator for fruit freshness by humidity measurements. For that purpose, an electronic sensor is surrounded by a wet porous fiber material which is in contact with the outer atmosphere. Transpiration reduces the water content of the porous material and thus also the internal water activity. The sensor system, known as 'artificial fruit,' measures the relative humidity and temperature inside the wet material. Humidity and temperature data are collected and transmitted on demand by a miniaturized radio communication unit. The decrease in the measured relative humidity has been calibrated against the mass loss of tomatoes under different external influencing parameters such as temperature, humidity, and air flow. Current battery life allows the sensor system, embedded in a fruit crate, to transmit data on transpiration losses via radio transmission for up to two weeks.
Spices have an important impact on daily aliment. Changes of their quality resulting in far reaching consequences in different foodstuffs and imply financial losing and even health hazard. In this study it is demonstrated that application of two different portable multi gas sensors (electronic nose and ion mobility spectrometer) supported by multivariate data analysis can contribute to ensure quality control of spice mixtures and to find out product adulteration. Headspace above spice mixtures for sausages and saveloy and product counterfeitings was investigated by a metal oxide based electronic nose (e-nose of KAMINA-type). Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of sensor resistivity data was performed for differentiation. Simultaneously an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) was coupled to the emission chamber for detection of gaseous components above spice mixtures. The measured spectra show differences between the two spice mixtures and were discussed using a principal component analysis (PCA). The two multigas sensors permit discrimination between the types of spice mixtures and can indicate product adulteration. Additionally, a headspace gas analysis by gas chromatography was performed to identify the main volatile components and to prove the chemical basis for the observed differences of the multi gas sensors.
A silicon MIS-structure prepared with thin layers of the super-ionic conductor LaF3 and Pd is used to detect hydrogen. The sensor is able to detect hydrogen in a concentration range from below one ppm to the lower flammable limit in air which is 4 vol.-%. The chip operates at room temperature which results in an extremely low energy consumption compared to other hydrogen sensors. Only once per day a short heating pulse is necessary to reactivate the sensor chip. In cooperation with the BAM, a long-term experiment was carried out. The duration of the measurement was about three months, with a hydrogen exposure every two weeks. The sensor signal remained stable over the measured period.
Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were functionalized with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and dispersed into epoxy resin. The chemical modification of CNFs was confirmed by FTIR, SEM, EDX and TGA measurements. After silanization, FTIR showed the existance of epoxy ring; EDX detected Si element; while TGA indicated 1.1 wt.% Si on CNFs. Mechanical properties were analyzed by DMA. Silanized CNFs/epoxy composites demonstrated improved dispersion of CNFs in the matrix, and an enhancement of storage modulus for about 20% compared to the neat matrix, which indicated that the modification of CNFs improved the adhesion between fillers and matrices. DC electrical conductivity of CNFs was reduced about 7-fold compared to the original CNFs due to the silane coating. Accordingly, the composites containing silanized CNFs also had lower electrical conductivity than those containing original CNFs. In spite of decreased electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity of silanized CNFs/epoxy composites was increased due to the surface modification of CNFs.