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This project investigated the potential for the regeneration of fibres from cotton-based waste garments. The project focused on the preparation of the cotton waste pulps and assessed the suitability of the prepared material for regeneration of ReCell fibres. Mechanical processes have been developed to degrade the fabrics into a fibrous pulp potentially allowing easier fibre dissolution and purification in the fibre regeneration processes. Wet degradation and dry degradation methods were evaluated and the optimal method identified. It was established that the wet deconstruction method could produce fibres with longer length and lesser degradation of the cellulose than the dry deconstruction method. The pulp produced by wet deconstruction methods could be formed into sheets which were stronger than the pulp produced by the dry deconstruction methods. Although the cotton pulp reclaimed by the wet deconstruction methods requires extra energy to dry, it is still the most attractive processing route since the pulp will be transported to the fibre spinning plant in the form of dry cellulosic sheets. Methods for stripping off the easy care finishes in order to increase dissolution of the cellulosic garments were optimised. The stripping performance was assessed by fibre degradation, contents of the easy care finishes, and solubility of the stripped fibres in selected solvents. It was established that a combination of acidic and alkaline treatment can effect the removal of all easy care finishes and enable efficient dissolution of the pulps for fibre making. ReCell fibres were produced from 100% reclaimed material and a blend of reclaimed cotton pulp and wood pulp and structural and mechanical properties were characterised and compared to the existing Lyocell fibres. It was established that for easy separation of non-cellulosic material from the cellulose-based waste garment pulp the fibres must be modified to avoid formation of tufts. Fibre enrichment by gravity separation was recommended as a pre-requisite process prior to wet cyclone separation and the optimisation of the process was recommended for future work. ReCell processing of dyed waste garments, fibre spinning, fabric construction and wet processing of ReCell fibres have been recommended for future work. The results from this project will be used for pilot tests and later commercial production of ReCell fibres by Lenzing Company. Commercial production of ReCell fibres will contribute to the reduction of economic and environmental challenges caused by textile wastes. Moreover, the findings have identified a potential reduction of pressure on raw material for fibre production by providing an alternative source of material for regeneration of cellulosic fibres.

Novel coatings have been designed to solve problems associated with biofouling of marine structures, particularly ship hulls. The best candidates to date are multilayered coatings incorporating silicone rubber technology. These materials are efficient because they exhibit excellent release properties. However, they are very soft and tend to be more susceptible to various forms of mechanical damage. Fundamental analysis of the durability of these coatings has been done using standard laboratory tests. Simulative studies are essential to screen candidates as well as to predict the true life of the systems. The goal of this project was to develop a testing protocol for the evaluation of the durability of elastomeric easy release coatings and to implement it on selected candidate coatings. A brushing apparatus was designed and built to simulate the cleaning processes of ship hulls. Wear was measured with profilometry. The proposed methodology is valuable to study the processes of wear of the coatings, to screen various materials and to identify parameters, either functional or material, which would directly affect their durability. Two groups of candidate coatings were tested: the EXS series and the NRL series. The EXS samples showed better wear resistance than the NRL samples and showed no dependence on the rotational speed of the brushes. The NRL samples showed that increasing the sliding speed resulted in a decrease in wear. An increase in the applied load resulted in increased wear for both sample series. The effect of coating thickness was also investigated and discrimination between the proposed coatings could not be established because the tips of the bristles were sharp and irregular. Scratches matching the path of the brush bristles were observed in the wear scars of both sample types under all load and speed conditions. The NRL samples also exhibited ridges perpendicular to the sliding direction similar to the abrasion pattern. / Ph. D.

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No description available.

This thesis deals with the creation of an electronic course, designation of a reliable support system for testing and also with the preparation and suggestion of testing questions for a Computer hardware subject. Another part of the thesis is the appending Graphical User Interface (GUI) for generation of questions of type “Cloze”. It means “Embedded answer” in Moodle. Nonetheless, the significant part of the thesis is the designation of its own E-learning information system. This system enables the students to have the opportunity to educate themselves and also to get prepared for the successful completion by passing the electronic exam.

Escape from instructional demands is one of the most common functions of problem behavior. Some research suggests that a switch from difficult to easy tasks may function as a reinforcer for problem behavior. This is of particular concern for situations in which easy tasks are part of the intervention procedure to reduce problem behavior. This project examined the reinforcing effects of a switch from low-probability (low-p) to high-probability (high-p) tasks for individuals whose problem behavior was maintained by escape from demands. It also provided preliminary evidence as to the quality of reinforcement provided by a switch from low- high-p tasks. Three individuals with disabilities who were referred for treatment of escape-maintained problem behavior participated in this research. We used a multi-element design to compare the effects of two intervention conditions on problem behavior and compliance in relation to control and baseline conditions. During the control condition, no demands were presented, and the participant had continuous access to preferred items and attention. In the baseline condition (break), a break from low-p demands was presented contingent on problem behavior. In the first intervention condition, problem behavior no longer resulted in a break from demands (escape extinction). During the second intervention condition, problem behavior following low-p tasks resulted in a switch to high-p tasks. All participants engaged in elevated levels of problem behavior and decreased compliance when problem behavior resulted in a switch of tasks. These results imply that for individuals whose problem behavior is maintained by escape from demands, a switch from low- to high-p tasks may reinforce problem behavior.

The aim of the study is to ascertain what characterizes a book classified as easy reading, and how the selected books relate to factors that are regarded as facilitating reading. The study was conducted with the help of a text analysis considering both linguistic and narratological aspects. The material used is the four parts in the series Jakten på Jack, written by Martin Olczak and illustrated by Anna Sandler. The theories on which the study is based are LIX value, the classification levels of the publisher Nypon Förlag, and MTM’s different aspects of what makes books easily read. The result of the study shows that it is not possible to use a calculation of the LIX value to find out how well a book suits a reader at a particular level. Other aspects need to be considered, for example, those found in Nypon Förlag’s levels and via MTM’s website. The results show that tempo and cliffhangers are factors that make reading easier. The illustrations in the books prove to be significant too, since they can help to explain difficult words or events.

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No description available.