Dimensional stability of materials is of critical importance in the fabrication of precision components used for applications such as optical systems. One source of dimensional instability is residual stress produced on the surfaces of parts due to machining operations. A creep model is proposed in this research that describes how these stressed layers affect the overall geometry of a component as they creep over time and temperature. Depth corrected XRD stress measurements and a bimetallic strip model were utilized to quantify the residual stress layer of two machining operations. The creep model parameters were determined by monitoring curvature over time and temperature. This model can be used for two purposes, the prediction of long term storage effects on part geometry for purposes of reliability assessment, and the design of short term, moderate temperature stress relief treatments. Two alloys were investigated, aluminum 6061-T6, and aluminum 4032-0. A methodology for applying the observed creep strain to complex parts using a finite element analysis is proposed.

Master of Science (Dentistry) / Dimensional stability was defined by Nicholls (1977) as “the ability (of a material) to maintain accuracy over time”, and the result of loss of accuracy, “distortion”, as “the relative movement of a single point, or group of points, away from some originally specified reference position such that permanent deformation is apparent”. Maintaining dimensional stability of dental impression materials is vital if the impression cannot be cast (in stone) soon after removal from the mouth. Dental irreversible hydrocolloid (alginate) is a major dental impression material used worldwide in many clinical procedures. However, alginate is dimensionally unstable and changes its dimensions (suffers “distortion”) after removal from the mouth. With storage times of more than ten minutes, alginate begins to distort, and after one to three hours (depending on the product and storage conditions) cannot be used for many clinical purposes, especially fixed prosthodontics such as crowns and bridges (Hampson 1955, Skinner & Hoblit 1956, Wilson & Smith 1963, Rudd et al. 1969, Miller 1975, Inohara 1977, Schoen et al. 1978, Coleman et al. 1979, Linke et al. 1985, Habu et al. 1986, Peutfeldt & Asmussen 1989, Mathilde & Peters 1992, Khan & Aziz Sahu 1995, Eriksson et al. 1998, Schleier et al. 2001, and Donovan & Chee 2004). This loss of accuracy, due to dimensional instability, manifests as a time-dependent distortion of the poured stone cast, and thus any prosthesis fabricated will not fit in the mouth. With the introduction of the more stable elastomers in the 1950s (Stackhouse 1970, Glenner 1997, Brown 2003) that could be stored for days if necessary, without loss of accuracy, the alginates fell out of favour for fixed prosthodontics. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in alginate for use in dental procedures where dimensional stability is critical (Peutzfeldt and Asmussen 1989, Eriksson et al. 1998). This in part is due to the favourable properties of alginate not found in the elastomers. Of greatest significance is that alginate hydrocolloid is hydrophilic, whereas elastomers are hydrophobic (Phillips & Ito 1958, Glenner 2004). Thus, alginate materials are able to reproduce wet oral areas with greater precision and to produce a superior "fit" of, say, a gold casting produced by the Lost Wax technique (Skinner and Phillips 1982). A number of reports have been published which investigate newer alginate materials that are claimed to be more dimensionally stable than older formulations. Puetzfeldt and Asmussen (1989) found that a newer alginate , if stored at 100% relative humidity, retained accuracy over 24 hours that was equivalent to that of the elastomers. More recently, the manufacturer of another alginate has claimed equivalent dimensional stability to the elastomers for up to 100 hours, and, whilst this claim has not been reported on in the literature, the present thesis will show that, under favourable conditions of storage, the material maintained clinically useful accuracy for up to 100 hours. Another approach to improving the accuracy of alginate impressions has been to combine reversible hydrocolloid with alginate (the “Bilaminar” technique). Frederick and Caputo (1997) confirmed that the new agar reversible hydrocolloids are just as accurate (at the time of removal from the mouth) as the new elastomers. Mathilde et al. (1992) and Eriksson et al. (1998) have shown that several of the “bilaminar” impression techniques for fixed prosthodontics, where alginate is used as a tray material supporting a reversible hydrocolloid (agar) wash, are as accurate and dimensionally stable as elastomers for up to three hours. However, these studies are difficult to interpret due to lack of uniformity in the testing methods, and the fact that there is no regulatory standard available to measure dimensional stability for dental alginates. The International Standard (IS) for alginate impression materials (ISO 1563:1990E) contains no specification for dimensional stability, and thus places no requirement for manufacturers to state dimensional stability properties on their labels. In contrast, ISO 4823:1992(E) specifies the IS for elastomeric dental impression materials, and it does specify a requirement for dimensional stability (less than 1.5% distortion after 24 hours). Further, the IS sets a method for determination of dimensional stability. Briefly, this method (the Optical Method) uses a travelling optical microscope to measure the accuracy of the distance between score lines on an impression of a test grid, at various time periods. The American Dental Association Specification No. 19 for dental elastomeric impression materials is identical to the IS. There is currently no specific Australian Standard (AS) for the dimensional stability of any dental impression material. Overview of Experimental Methods A. The Optical Method The aim of Part A of this investigation was to: 1. Adapt the Optical Method of the IS for elastomers to be reproducible for dental alginates. This was achieved by using a perforated test tray (to simulate clinical conditions), and measuring the grid pattern on a dental stone button after casting the test impression, rather than direct measurement of the impression, as for the IS. 2. To measure and rank the dimensional stability of a number of locally available dental alginates. Measurements of the test stone buttons proved reproducible, and the results were different for each sample, allowing them to be ranked according to dimensional stability after 50 and 100 hours of storage. The results show that the traditional optical method for measuring dimensional stability, as specified in the IS for dental elastomers, can be adapted to measure the dimensional stability of dental alginates However, the Optical Method of measuring dimensional stability of dental alginates is cumbersome and time-consuming. It was hypothesised that dimensional stability of dental alginates could be measured more conveniently by finding a thermal property that is directly proportional to dimensional stability. This method could be useful for the rapid determination of relative performance, and allow comparison with a determined benchmark. B. The Thermal Method Recently, modern methods of Thermal Analysis, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) have been used to rapidly age various polymers, including food alginates (Chinachoti 1996), in order to measure thermal stability. This thesis shows that thermal stability is an indicator of dimensional stability. The aim of Part B of this investigation was therefore to adapt thermal analysis techniques to dental alginates, and develop a method to measure their thermal stability. These results were then compared with those for dimensional stability measured by the Optical Method to determine the relationship between thermal and dimensional stability for dental alginates. The results show that current thermal analysis methods of TGA and DSC can be adapted to measure relative dental alginate dimensional stability, and are both rapid and convenient. This study also provides evidence that commercial products differ as regards the property of dimensional stability, and can be ranked accordingly. C. Practical Application of the Methods The aim of part C of this thesis was to validate the methods (both optical and thermal) developed in this study by using them to investigate the effect of varying the water/powder ratio on the dimensional stability of dental alginates. It was shown that dimensional stability is affected by changes to the recommended water/powder ratio, that both the methods detected and measured the changes, and that the results were proportional, in that any percentage change detected by the optical method, was mirrored by the thermal method, confirming that the more convenient thermal methods can be used to measure dimensional stability.

Master of Science (Dentistry) / Dimensional stability was defined by Nicholls (1977) as “the ability (of a material) to maintain accuracy over time”, and the result of loss of accuracy, “distortion”, as “the relative movement of a single point, or group of points, away from some originally specified reference position such that permanent deformation is apparent”. Maintaining dimensional stability of dental impression materials is vital if the impression cannot be cast (in stone) soon after removal from the mouth. Dental irreversible hydrocolloid (alginate) is a major dental impression material used worldwide in many clinical procedures. However, alginate is dimensionally unstable and changes its dimensions (suffers “distortion”) after removal from the mouth. With storage times of more than ten minutes, alginate begins to distort, and after one to three hours (depending on the product and storage conditions) cannot be used for many clinical purposes, especially fixed prosthodontics such as crowns and bridges (Hampson 1955, Skinner & Hoblit 1956, Wilson & Smith 1963, Rudd et al. 1969, Miller 1975, Inohara 1977, Schoen et al. 1978, Coleman et al. 1979, Linke et al. 1985, Habu et al. 1986, Peutfeldt & Asmussen 1989, Mathilde & Peters 1992, Khan & Aziz Sahu 1995, Eriksson et al. 1998, Schleier et al. 2001, and Donovan & Chee 2004). This loss of accuracy, due to dimensional instability, manifests as a time-dependent distortion of the poured stone cast, and thus any prosthesis fabricated will not fit in the mouth. With the introduction of the more stable elastomers in the 1950s (Stackhouse 1970, Glenner 1997, Brown 2003) that could be stored for days if necessary, without loss of accuracy, the alginates fell out of favour for fixed prosthodontics. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in alginate for use in dental procedures where dimensional stability is critical (Peutzfeldt and Asmussen 1989, Eriksson et al. 1998). This in part is due to the favourable properties of alginate not found in the elastomers. Of greatest significance is that alginate hydrocolloid is hydrophilic, whereas elastomers are hydrophobic (Phillips & Ito 1958, Glenner 2004). Thus, alginate materials are able to reproduce wet oral areas with greater precision and to produce a superior "fit" of, say, a gold casting produced by the Lost Wax technique (Skinner and Phillips 1982). A number of reports have been published which investigate newer alginate materials that are claimed to be more dimensionally stable than older formulations. Puetzfeldt and Asmussen (1989) found that a newer alginate , if stored at 100% relative humidity, retained accuracy over 24 hours that was equivalent to that of the elastomers. More recently, the manufacturer of another alginate has claimed equivalent dimensional stability to the elastomers for up to 100 hours, and, whilst this claim has not been reported on in the literature, the present thesis will show that, under favourable conditions of storage, the material maintained clinically useful accuracy for up to 100 hours. Another approach to improving the accuracy of alginate impressions has been to combine reversible hydrocolloid with alginate (the “Bilaminar” technique). Frederick and Caputo (1997) confirmed that the new agar reversible hydrocolloids are just as accurate (at the time of removal from the mouth) as the new elastomers. Mathilde et al. (1992) and Eriksson et al. (1998) have shown that several of the “bilaminar” impression techniques for fixed prosthodontics, where alginate is used as a tray material supporting a reversible hydrocolloid (agar) wash, are as accurate and dimensionally stable as elastomers for up to three hours. However, these studies are difficult to interpret due to lack of uniformity in the testing methods, and the fact that there is no regulatory standard available to measure dimensional stability for dental alginates. The International Standard (IS) for alginate impression materials (ISO 1563:1990E) contains no specification for dimensional stability, and thus places no requirement for manufacturers to state dimensional stability properties on their labels. In contrast, ISO 4823:1992(E) specifies the IS for elastomeric dental impression materials, and it does specify a requirement for dimensional stability (less than 1.5% distortion after 24 hours). Further, the IS sets a method for determination of dimensional stability. Briefly, this method (the Optical Method) uses a travelling optical microscope to measure the accuracy of the distance between score lines on an impression of a test grid, at various time periods. The American Dental Association Specification No. 19 for dental elastomeric impression materials is identical to the IS. There is currently no specific Australian Standard (AS) for the dimensional stability of any dental impression material. Overview of Experimental Methods A. The Optical Method The aim of Part A of this investigation was to: 1. Adapt the Optical Method of the IS for elastomers to be reproducible for dental alginates. This was achieved by using a perforated test tray (to simulate clinical conditions), and measuring the grid pattern on a dental stone button after casting the test impression, rather than direct measurement of the impression, as for the IS. 2. To measure and rank the dimensional stability of a number of locally available dental alginates. Measurements of the test stone buttons proved reproducible, and the results were different for each sample, allowing them to be ranked according to dimensional stability after 50 and 100 hours of storage. The results show that the traditional optical method for measuring dimensional stability, as specified in the IS for dental elastomers, can be adapted to measure the dimensional stability of dental alginates However, the Optical Method of measuring dimensional stability of dental alginates is cumbersome and time-consuming. It was hypothesised that dimensional stability of dental alginates could be measured more conveniently by finding a thermal property that is directly proportional to dimensional stability. This method could be useful for the rapid determination of relative performance, and allow comparison with a determined benchmark. B. The Thermal Method Recently, modern methods of Thermal Analysis, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) have been used to rapidly age various polymers, including food alginates (Chinachoti 1996), in order to measure thermal stability. This thesis shows that thermal stability is an indicator of dimensional stability. The aim of Part B of this investigation was therefore to adapt thermal analysis techniques to dental alginates, and develop a method to measure their thermal stability. These results were then compared with those for dimensional stability measured by the Optical Method to determine the relationship between thermal and dimensional stability for dental alginates. The results show that current thermal analysis methods of TGA and DSC can be adapted to measure relative dental alginate dimensional stability, and are both rapid and convenient. This study also provides evidence that commercial products differ as regards the property of dimensional stability, and can be ranked accordingly. C. Practical Application of the Methods The aim of part C of this thesis was to validate the methods (both optical and thermal) developed in this study by using them to investigate the effect of varying the water/powder ratio on the dimensional stability of dental alginates. It was shown that dimensional stability is affected by changes to the recommended water/powder ratio, that both the methods detected and measured the changes, and that the results were proportional, in that any percentage change detected by the optical method, was mirrored by the thermal method, confirming that the more convenient thermal methods can be used to measure dimensional stability.

A madeira é um material de origem biológica, renovável, com papel importante no ciclo do carbono, que contribui para o desenvolvimento sustentável. As madeiras tropicais brasileiras são apreciadas na indústria da construção civil em peças estruturais, componentes de edificação e mobiliário. A melhor utilização da matéria-prima nos diversos processos depende do conhecimento das suas propriedades, e nesse aspecto, os estudos sobre estabilidade dimensional são escassos, em sua maioria, desenvolvidos para coníferas do hemisfério Norte. Este trabalho tem como objetivo geral aprofundar o estudo da estabilidade dimensional, trabalhando com propriedades físicas de madeiras tropicais brasileiras, com ênfase nas densidades, ponto de saturação das fibras, retratibilidade e inchamento. Utilizando madeira de quinze espécies tropicais brasileiras, foram realizados ensaios, de acordo com a NBR 7190/97 para determinar: densidade aparente 0% e 12% de umidade, densidade básica, ponto de saturação das fibras, retração, inchamento, coeficiente de anisotropia, coeficiente de retratibilidade volumétrica e coeficiente de inchamento volumétrico. Investigaram-se as relações entre as propriedades determinadas de modo a poder inferir sobre: a estabilidade dimensional baseando-se nas densidades; as precisões de relações desenvolvidas em pesquisas correlatas. Além disso, foi desenvolvida (e investigada sua precisão, ao nível de significância 5%) uma relação entre densidade básica e densidade aparente via retratibilidade/inchamento. De acordo com os resultados, o melhor coeficiente de determinação ajustado atingido na tentativa de relacionar densidades com os parâmetros da estabilidade dimensional foi 19,58% indicando que a densidade não é um bom estimador da estabilidade dimensional da madeira. Algumas das relações desenvolvidas em pesquisas correlatas não foram consideradas válidas, de acordo com a análise estatística. Para a relação desenvolvida no presente trabalho, embora a mesma apresente média e coeficiente de variação próximos aos dos resultados experimentais, a análise de representatividade não confirmou sua significância. / Wood is an organic and renewable material, with important role in carbon cycle, which contributes to sustainable development. Brazilian tropical woods are considered in building industry in structural ant other components and in furniture. The better use of raw materials in different processes depends on knowledge of their properties and, in this respect, studies of dimensional stability are scarce, mostly developed for Northern Hemisphere conifers. This work aims to extend the study of dimensional stability, now working with physical properties of Brazilian tropical woods, emphasizing densities, fiber saturation point; shrinkage and swelling. Using wood of fifteen Brazilian tropical species, tests were carried out, according to NBR 7190/97 to determine: density (0% and 12% moisture content); basic density; fiber saturation point; shrinkage; swelling; anisotropy coefficient; volumetric shrinkage coefficient; and volumetric swelling coefficient. Correlations between certain properties were investigated in order to be able to infer: dimensional stability based on densities; precision of relationships developed in related research. Furthermore, it was developed (and investigated their accuracy, 5% significance level) a relationship between specific gravity and bulk density via shrinkage/ swelling. According to results, the best determination coefficient, obtained in attempt to correlate density with parameters of dimensional stability, was 19.58%. This indicates that density is not a good estimator of dimensional stability for tropical wood. Based on statistical analysis, some of the relationships developed in related researches were not considered valid. For the relationship developed in this research, although it presents average and coefficient of variation close to experimental results, analysis of accuracy did not confirm its significance.

Radiata pine is a major plantation grown wood in the Southern hemisphere, but has inferior dimensional stability and low durability compared to other commercial species and the improvement of these features is the focus of this thesis. Specifically this thesis examines the dimensional stability, durability and mechanical properties of radiata pine after heat-treatment (160-210°C) in linseed oil. Changes in colour, micro-structure and chemistry with heat-treatment were studied. To optimise the treatment results, oil heat-treatment of wood was also carried out after thermo-mechanical compression of wood and the effect of the prior thermo-mechanical compression on stability, durability and mechanical properties were examined. The oil heat-treated wood turned uniformly darker in colour. The hydrophobicity (Water Repellence Efficiency-WRE up to 30%), dimensional stability (Ant-Swelling Efficiency-ASE up to 60%) and fungal resistance (up to 36%) were improved with the extent of the changes mainly depending on treatment temperature. However, the mechanical properties of oil heat-treated wood were reduced compared to the untreated control group. Accelerated UV weathering tests have shown that the oil heat-treated wood retained its colour and dimensional stability better than the untreated wood (the control group). The cell wall of treated wood was intact and no distinct structural changes were observed even at the most severe treatment (210°C for 6 hrs).The treatment resulted in changes to the wood chemical constituents, mainly the degradation of hemicelluloses which is believed to be principal reason for alterations in wood properties. A study of the effect of prolong heating on the linseed oil showed an increase in viscosity with heating time which in turn reduced the oil uptake and water repellency of treated wood. However, no significant difference in the colour and dimensional stability of the treated wood was noticed with oil of different heating ages. Oil absorbed by the wood during heat treatment was removed by organic solvent extraction and its contribution to the weight percentage change and moisture related properties were evaluated. The oil uptake percentage, determined by organic solvent extraction, was greater than the weight percentage loss that was deduced to occur during the heat treatment phase, which was attributed to mass losses or thermal degradation of wood constituents. Moisture excluding efficiency decreased after removal of the oil from treated wood, which suggested that the hydrophobicity of treated wood is affected by oil absorbtion. The influence of the post-treatment cooling period on properties of treated wood was studied separately. Oil uptake increased substantially with the post-treatment cooling time which in turn affected the hydrophobicity of treated wood although this effect was less important to dimensional stability. The loss of mechanical properties due to heat-treatment was successfully countered by thermo-mechanical compression of wood prior to the oil heat-treatment. The wood was compressed to 39% of its original thickness without any visible surface checks and cracks. Spring back and compression set recovery in densified wood decreased after oil heat-treatment. This combination treatment also resulted in improved fungal resistance compared to untreated wood. From this research, it is concluded that oil heat-treatment of radiata pine wood can improve its dimensional stability and durability obviating the need to introduce any persistent toxic chemicals. Thermo-mechanical densification of wood prior to oil heat-treatment can countered the loss of mechanical properties due to heat-treatment. The heating oil can be re-used in subsequent treatments and oil uptake can be minimised by limiting the post-treatment cooling time without any significant effect on the dimensional stability of treated wood.

With the introduction of fragment protective fabrics into combat clothing, there was a need to understand the effect of laundering on the performance of these fabrics. This thesis investigated the effect of typical laundering regimes on selected ballistic protective fabrics representative of those suitable for clothing applications. This study presents evidence that knitted silk and felted ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene retained their ballistic protective performance after laundering. The para-aramid fabrics showed significant improvement from laundering. The dimensional stability of the selected fabrics was affected by laundering and the effect was cumulative. The damage imparted to the fibres was determined to be due to mechanical wear. This mechanical wear was significantly increased when the fabrics were wet. This was due to the water increasing the friction between fibres during the laundering process. The fabrics investigated were shown to be suitable for use in fragment protective clothing, and were more robust than was generally considered.

A madeira é um material de origem biológica, renovável, com papel importante no ciclo do carbono, que contribui para o desenvolvimento sustentável. As madeiras tropicais brasileiras são apreciadas na indústria da construção civil em peças estruturais, componentes de edificação e mobiliário. A melhor utilização da matéria-prima nos diversos processos depende do conhecimento das suas propriedades, e nesse aspecto, os estudos sobre estabilidade dimensional são escassos, em sua maioria, desenvolvidos para coníferas do hemisfério Norte. Este trabalho tem como objetivo geral aprofundar o estudo da estabilidade dimensional, trabalhando com propriedades físicas de madeiras tropicais brasileiras, com ênfase nas densidades, ponto de saturação das fibras, retratibilidade e inchamento. Utilizando madeira de quinze espécies tropicais brasileiras, foram realizados ensaios, de acordo com a NBR 7190/97 para determinar: densidade aparente 0% e 12% de umidade, densidade básica, ponto de saturação das fibras, retração, inchamento, coeficiente de anisotropia, coeficiente de retratibilidade volumétrica e coeficiente de inchamento volumétrico. Investigaram-se as relações entre as propriedades determinadas de modo a poder inferir sobre: a estabilidade dimensional baseando-se nas densidades; as precisões de relações desenvolvidas em pesquisas correlatas. Além disso, foi desenvolvida (e investigada sua precisão, ao nível de significância 5%) uma relação entre densidade básica e densidade aparente via retratibilidade/inchamento. De acordo com os resultados, o melhor coeficiente de determinação ajustado atingido na tentativa de relacionar densidades com os parâmetros da estabilidade dimensional foi 19,58% indicando que a densidade não é um bom estimador da estabilidade dimensional da madeira. Algumas das relações desenvolvidas em pesquisas correlatas não foram consideradas válidas, de acordo com a análise estatística. Para a relação desenvolvida no presente trabalho, embora a mesma apresente média e coeficiente de variação próximos aos dos resultados experimentais, a análise de representatividade não confirmou sua significância. / Wood is an organic and renewable material, with important role in carbon cycle, which contributes to sustainable development. Brazilian tropical woods are considered in building industry in structural ant other components and in furniture. The better use of raw materials in different processes depends on knowledge of their properties and, in this respect, studies of dimensional stability are scarce, mostly developed for Northern Hemisphere conifers. This work aims to extend the study of dimensional stability, now working with physical properties of Brazilian tropical woods, emphasizing densities, fiber saturation point; shrinkage and swelling. Using wood of fifteen Brazilian tropical species, tests were carried out, according to NBR 7190/97 to determine: density (0% and 12% moisture content); basic density; fiber saturation point; shrinkage; swelling; anisotropy coefficient; volumetric shrinkage coefficient; and volumetric swelling coefficient. Correlations between certain properties were investigated in order to be able to infer: dimensional stability based on densities; precision of relationships developed in related research. Furthermore, it was developed (and investigated their accuracy, 5% significance level) a relationship between specific gravity and bulk density via shrinkage/ swelling. According to results, the best determination coefficient, obtained in attempt to correlate density with parameters of dimensional stability, was 19.58%. This indicates that density is not a good estimator of dimensional stability for tropical wood. Based on statistical analysis, some of the relationships developed in related researches were not considered valid. For the relationship developed in this research, although it presents average and coefficient of variation close to experimental results, analysis of accuracy did not confirm its significance.

As pentoses são subprodutos de vários rejeitos agrícolas tais como palha de arroz, palha e sabugo de milho, casca de aveia, bagaço da cana-de-açúcar, caroço de algodão, resíduos de madeira e outros, de onde se pode obter, por digestão com ácido forte, o furfural, e dele, por hidrogenação, o álcool furfurílico (FFA). A polimerização do FFA conduzindo a um produto inerte, resistente a corrosão, que tem sido utilizado principalmente como revestimento de mesas e bancadas de laboratório e de tanques industriais, é um produto negro que apresenta estrutura fortemente intercruzada. Porém, seu relativo alto custo tem constituído uma barreira para que suas aplicações se popularizem. Com o aproveitamento de resíduos industriais da produção de etanol, óleo de arroz, algodão, milho, e da indústria madeireira, espera-se a redução de seu custo de produção e, consequentemente, a ampliação de seu campo de aplicações principalmente por tratar-se de um polímero natural não derivado do petróleo. Por outro lado, o país enfrenta sérias dificuldades no campo habitacional, uma delas sendo o elevado custo dos materiais de construção. Viabilizando-se o emprego de madeiras de reflorestamento para emprego em construção civil e industrial, por exemplo, aumentando sua resistência ao ataque de fungos e de insetos, a propagação da chama e a variação dimensional, proporciona-se um número maior de moradias sem, contudo, promover o desmatamento de reservas de madeiras nobres. Neste trabalho tem-se como objetivos a obtenção de compósitos de madeira e polímero que apresentem vantagens sobre a madeira de reflorestamento sem tratamento, e o estudo de um meio de fixar o bom usando o álcool furfurílico para que as propriedades de ambos sejam combinadas e melhoradas. Impregnou-se duas espécies de coníferas muito populares, uma no Brasil e outra no Japão, com álcool furfurílico em combinação com compostos de boro e testou-se algumas de suas propriedades. Espécies de Coníferas \"Japanese cedar\' (Cryptomena japonica D. Don.) - o sugi, e (Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis) - pinus - foram impregnadas com álcool furfurílico (FFA) pelo processo vácuo-encharcamento seguido da cura do FFA sob aquecimento. Compostos de boro: ácido bórico, borato de amônia e biborato de amônia foram adicionados a solução de impregnação. Espécies impregnadas foram submetidas aos testes de eficiência anti-inchamento, resistência aos térmitas, resistência aos microrganismos, resistência a inflamabilidade e resistência as intempéries. Ao lado destes testes, os resíduos das soluções submetidas aos ciclos de lixiviação de acordo com as normas padrões JIS 9201 (1992) foram analisados através de cromatografia iônica com o objetivo de estudar métodos de fixação do boro na madeira. Os resultados mostraram que a resina de FFA confere a madeira alta estabilidade dimensional. Resultados semelhantes são obtidos quando FFA é combinada com compostos de boro. A mobilidade do bom mostrou diferentes comportamentos em comparação com o tratamento com o ácido bórico, embora o boro ainda seja Iixiviável. A madeira tratada com FFA combinada com compostos de boro apresentou grande resistência a ataques de térmitas e à deterioração biológica quando não submetida a lixiviação. Quando lixiviadas a resistência biológica diminui consideravelmente mas ainda assim é maior que a da madeira sem tratamento ou da tratada somente com ácido bórico. O tratamento mostrou que a combinação aumentou a resistência da madeira contra a queima sem chama. A queima produz pouca fumaça e cinzas. As combinações de tratamento não se mostraram eficazes para fixar a cor durante a exposição as condições climáticas / Pentosans are by-products of many agricultural crops such as rice, com and oat husks, comcobs, sugar cane bagasse, cotton seeds, wood wastes, etc. By digesting these by-products with strong acid furfural can be produced, which, in its turn, can be transformed into furfuryl alcohol through hydrogenation. Polymerization of furfuryl alcohol transforms it into an inert corrosion-resistant product that is used as a coating material for laboratory tables, workbenches and industrial tanks. Its relatively high cost, however, has so far been an obstacle to its widespread application. By taking advantage of industrial waste from ethanol distilleries and from the rice, cotton, com oil and wood industries, it is expected to reduce the cost of furfuryl alcohol production and, thus, to increase its applications. This becomes an increasingly relevant objective when one considers the future scarcity of petroleum. Brazil is also beset by a variety of housing-related problems, one of which is the high cost of construction materials. Increasing the resistance of reforested wood against termite and fungi attacks and enhancing its fireproof and anti-swelling characteristics will enable the country to increase housing and preclude further deforestation of hardwood forests. Present work discusses the work involved in developing a wood-polymer composite with particular characteristics for improving the dimensional stability of wood, increasing its resistance against termite and fungi attacks, decreasing its flammability and enhancing its weathering resistance, for proposing the utilization of furfuryl alcohol as boron fixation agent. Two species of very popular softwoods, one of them in Brazil, pine and the other in Japan, sugi were impregnated with poli-FFA. Sapwood blocks of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don.) and Caribbean pitch pine (Pinus caribaea varohondurensis) were impregnated with furfuryl alcohol (FFA) by a vacuum-impregnation process followed by curing of FFA under heating. Boron compounds: boric acid, ammonium borate and ammonium biborate were mixed in the impregnation solution. Impregnated specimens were submitted to an anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) test, exposed to attack by termites and microorganisms, and subjected to a flame resistance and natural weathering test. Boron leachability was determined, along with ten cycles of weathering, according to JIS 9201 (1992), by ion chromatography (IC). Results indicated that FFA imparted high dimensional stability to wood when mixed with boron compounds. Boron mobility showed differentiated behavior in comparison to treatment with boric acid alone, although boron was still leachable. Wood specimens treated with a FFA-boron compound combination were quite resistant to termite attacks and to biological deterioration when they were not submitted to leaching cycles. When were submitted to leaching cycles, their biological resistance decreased significantly; however, it was still higher than in untreated wood or in wood treated only with boric acid. The treatment proved to be effective as a glowing retardan1.The combustion yields small amount of smoke and ash. Treatments did not prove efficiency to avoid the color changes in outdoor exposure

A estabilidade dimensional representa uma das mais importantes propriedades do papel, dentre aquelas que governam seu desempenho no uso final. Esta propriedade determina a funcionalidade do papel em processos de impressão, de conversão e, particularmente, na aplicação em máquina copiadoras e impressoras comerciais. O monitoramento da estabilidade dimensional oferece possibilidades de interferência em parâmetros do processo de fabricação, com a finalidade de estabelecer condições de produção de papel mais eficientes e econômicas, promovendo ainda, melhor suporte para atividades de assistência técnica ao usuário final. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma metodologia factível para avaliação da estabilidade dimensional de papel reprográfico, por meio da medição do perfil do encolhimento transversal (CD) diferencial, utilizando técnicas de processamento e análise de imagem, a fim de detectar marcas periódicas (da tela formadora) existentes na estrutura do papel. O método apresentado baseia-se em protocolos simplificados de amostragem e medição, que permitem simples implantação nos ambientes industriais das fábricas de papel. A partir da captação de imagens de amostras de papel coletadas na direção transversal de uma bobina jumbo, na saída da enroladeira da máquina de papel e utilização de técnicas de análise de imagem baseadas na transformada bidimensional rápida de Fourier (2D-FFT), obtiveram-se perfis relativos e absolutos do perfil de encolhimento transversal (CD) diferencial do papel, elemento chave para a análise e diagnóstico da estabilidade dimensional, dada a forte correlação encontrada, neste trabalho, entre o encolhimento e a higroexpansibilidade do papel. Para desenvolvimento da presente tese, foram examinadas amostras de papel reprográfico, com gramatura nominal de 75 g.m-², fabricado em máquina industrial com velocidades operacionais de 1256 m.m-¹ e 1362 m.min-¹, com larguras na enroladeira de 5278 mm e 5300 mm, respectivamente. Os resultados mostraram a viabilidade da aplicação do método, que se mostrou adequado para implementação em fábricas de papel e vantajoso com relação aos métodos tradicionais de medição, e.g., aqueles utilizados para medição de higroexpansibilidade do papel, dependentes de equipamentos sofisticados e demandantes de longos tempos de execução e retorno de resultados . Este trabalho oferece, adicionalmente, contribuições de diversas naturezas, tanto metodológicas, como o esclarecimento do processo de medição do encolhimento do papel por meio da detecção e medição das marcas de telas formadoras e o desenvolvimento de programa de análise de imagem específico, para automatização da busca de informações de interesse no espectro de freqüências de Fourier, como ainda, para aumentar a base de dados sobre o comportamento higroexpansivo do papel reprográfico fabricado totalmente com pasta branqueada de fibras de eucalipto do Brasil. / Dimensional stability represents on of the most important properties of paper, among the ones that controls its performance in end-use. This property fixes the paper functionality in printing and converting processes and, particularly, in copier machines and commercial printers applications. Dimensional stability monitoring can bring opportunities for interfering in manufacturing process parameters, in order to establish operating conditions suitable for a more efficient and economic production and better support for technical assistance to endusers. The objective of this work is to present a feasible methodology for evaluating the dimensional stability of reprographic paper by measuring the CD differential shrinkage profile of paper using image analysis and digital processing to detect periodic marks (from the forming fabric) in the structure of paper. The method presented is based on simplified sampling and measuring protocols, which allow for its simple introduction in the paper mill industrial environment. From digital images of paper samples acquired along the transverse direction of a jumbo reel at the end of the paper machine and by using image analysis techniques based on two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2D-FFT), relative and absolute CD differential shrinkage profiles were obtained as the key element for analysis and diagnoses of the paper dimensional stability, given the strong correlation found out in this study, between shrinkage and hygroexpansivity of paper. For development of this thesis, reprographic paper with nominal basis weight of 75 g.m-², manufacture in industrial paper machine at operating speeds of 1256 m.m-¹ and 1362 m.min-¹ and having width of 5278 mm e 5300 mm, respectively, were investigated. The results showed the feasibility of the method, which proved to be suitable for implementation in paper mills and advantageous over traditional measurement methods, e.g., those used for paper hygroexpansivity measurement, which depend on sophisticated equipment and long lead times for getting it executed and having the measurement results. This work offers, in addition, contributions of various natures, such as methodological ones, like to elucidate the paper shrinkage measurement method by means of forming fabrics marks detection and develop of a specific image analysis computer program for automation of data searching in the Fourier frequency spectrum and yet, to improve the database related to higroexpansive behavior of reprographic paper manufactured totally from eucalyptus fiber bleached pulp from Brazil.

The use and implementation of adhesive joints for space structures is necessary for incorporating fiber-reinforced composite materials. Correct modeling and design of cylindrical adhesive joints can increase the dimensional stability of space structures. The few analytical models for cylindrical adhesive joints do not fully describe the displacement or stress field of the joint. A two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model for the design and analysis of adhesive joints was developed. The model was developed solely for the analysis of cylindrical adhesive joints, but the energy techniques used to develop the model can be applied to other types of joints as well. A numerical program was written to solve the system of equations [K]{d}={R} for the unknown displacements {d}. The displacements found from the program are used to design cylindrical adhesive joints based on dimensional stability. Stresses were calculated from the displacements for comparison with analytical models. The cylindrical joints were assumed to remain within the linear elastic region and no failure criteria was taken into account. The design process for cylindrical joints was developed based on dimensional stability. The nodal displacements found from the finite element model were used in the optimization of geometric parameters of cylindrical joints. The stacking sequence of the composite, the bond length, and the bond thickness were found to have the greatest impact on dimensional stability. Other factors that were found to further reduce the maximum displacements are the implementation of 0° and 90° laminas, the isotropic cylinder thickness, tapering of the isotropic cylinder, and the inside radius of the cylindrical joint. This axisymmetric finite element model is beneficial in that a cylindrical joint can be designed before any testing is performed. The results and cases in this thesis are generalized in order to show how the design process works. The model can be used in conjunction with design requirements for a specific joint to reduce the maximum displacements below any specified operating requirements. The joint is dimensionally stable if the overall displacements meet specific design requirements.