Purging compounds allow for rapid colour and material changes in plastics converting machines. They have both a cleaning and a purging action. The cleaning action refers to the removal of contaminants, e.g. carbon deposits, from the die, barrel and extruder-screw surfaces. This mechanism relies on conventional detergency in combination with high wall shear stresses. The purging action refers to the observed narrowing in the residence time distribution and is less well understood. The action of a purge compound may encompass both the cleaning and purging mechanisms in order to achieve the desired effect. In industry the effectiveness of a purge is determined by a visual observation of the extrudate. Therefore, a scientific method was required to quantitatively determine the efficiency of each purging mechanism under a set of fixed experimental conditions. In this study, a method was developed using a laboratory film-blower, which made use of a phthalocyanine blue pigment to impart colour to the film produced. The method was used to test the efficiency of various commercial purge compounds in switching the colour of film from blue to clear. The analysis was achieved by measuring the residual pigment concentration in the blue polymer film using a UV -Visible spectrophotometer. Commercial purge compounds function by means of various mechanisms such as filler abrasion, solvent dissolution, the dislodging of deposits with the aid of surfactants, etc. This study also considered the use of slip additives as an additional purging mechanism. In proposing that slip additives can contribute to a purging action, several slip additives where tested in polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The slip additives polypropylene wax and polyamide showed a significant increase in the MFI of PE whereas the additives polar wax and polyamide exhibited a slight increase in MFI of PP. Three additives, namely, polyamide, polypropylene wax and polar wax had showed noticeable improvement on the MFI of ABS. The slip additives that showed a significant improvement in polyethylene were tested together with six different commercial purge compounds. These compounds were tested for their colour change efficiency using polyethylene and switching from blue to clear in a laboratory film blower. It was found that the slip mechanism contributes very little to the purging action. Polymeric materials tend to adhere to hot metal surfaces. When the material continues to adhere to the metal after cooling down, cleaning of the processing equipment becomes very difficult. A purge manufactured by the CSIR, Pretoria, exhibited this problem. This study also covers an investigation into overcoming the adhesion problem of this purging compound. / Dissertation (MSc (Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Chemistry / unrestricted

O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar a existência de uma ligação empírica entre a dimensão ambiental e a dimensão econômica da firma. A revisão da literatura apontou para lacunas nos modelos de relação existentes, com seus resultados não sendo considerados consistentes. Assim, este trabalho busca identificar a relação entre o Desempenho Ambiental – medido pelo Desempenho Ambiental Operacional, pelo Sistema de Gestão Ambiental e pela Regulamentação Ambiental – com a Inovatividade e do Desempenho Financeiro da firma. Uma pesquisa com o setor de terceira geração petroquímica, a industria de transformação de plásticos, foi realizada em Agosto de 2008. Testes estatísticos foram realizados para identificar padrões de resposta, testar as hipóteses do modelo proposto. Ao final, este modelo comprova empiricamente que por meio da dimensão ambientais e da inovatividade se pode explicar aproximadamente 34% da variância do desempenho financeiro das empresas em uma análise de regressão linear. Pontos relevantes foram encontrados na descrição ambiental do setor pesquisado, fornecendo informações aos gerentes para a tomada de decisões ambientais. / The main purpose of this study is to verify a connection between environment dimension and economic dimension in firms. The review of literature show gaps in existing models and their results did not be consistent. Therefore, this study look for a relationship among the Environment Performance – measured by Operational Environment Performance, by Environment Management Systems and by Environmental Regulations – and the Innovativeness and Financial Performance. A research in third generation petrochemical chain sector, the industry of plastics transformation, was done in August 2008. Statistical analysis was performed to identify patters and to verify hypothesis in proposed model. In the final, this model prove empirically 34% of financial performance variation by environment performance and innovativeness in a linear regression. Relevant knowledge was found in sector environment description, being important to managers taking decisions.

O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar a existência de uma ligação empírica entre a dimensão ambiental e a dimensão econômica da firma. A revisão da literatura apontou para lacunas nos modelos de relação existentes, com seus resultados não sendo considerados consistentes. Assim, este trabalho busca identificar a relação entre o Desempenho Ambiental – medido pelo Desempenho Ambiental Operacional, pelo Sistema de Gestão Ambiental e pela Regulamentação Ambiental – com a Inovatividade e do Desempenho Financeiro da firma. Uma pesquisa com o setor de terceira geração petroquímica, a industria de transformação de plásticos, foi realizada em Agosto de 2008. Testes estatísticos foram realizados para identificar padrões de resposta, testar as hipóteses do modelo proposto. Ao final, este modelo comprova empiricamente que por meio da dimensão ambientais e da inovatividade se pode explicar aproximadamente 34% da variância do desempenho financeiro das empresas em uma análise de regressão linear. Pontos relevantes foram encontrados na descrição ambiental do setor pesquisado, fornecendo informações aos gerentes para a tomada de decisões ambientais. / The main purpose of this study is to verify a connection between environment dimension and economic dimension in firms. The review of literature show gaps in existing models and their results did not be consistent. Therefore, this study look for a relationship among the Environment Performance – measured by Operational Environment Performance, by Environment Management Systems and by Environmental Regulations – and the Innovativeness and Financial Performance. A research in third generation petrochemical chain sector, the industry of plastics transformation, was done in August 2008. Statistical analysis was performed to identify patters and to verify hypothesis in proposed model. In the final, this model prove empirically 34% of financial performance variation by environment performance and innovativeness in a linear regression. Relevant knowledge was found in sector environment description, being important to managers taking decisions.

Diante do elevado nível de competição presente no cenário atual, torna-se indispensável a adoção de medidas de gestão capazes de priorizar e dirigir esforços na busca pela excelência no desempenho operacional das empresas. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é propor uma abordagem baseada em custos de produção e previsão de demanda voltada ao planejamento e controle da capacidade produtiva. Inicialmente, realizou-se o mapeamento dos artigos publicados em dezenove periódicos no período de 2002 a 2013, visando identificar abordagens relacionadas ao tema custos de produção e o processo de previsão de demanda. Com a finalidade de otimizar o planejamento da capacidade produtiva disponível, uma modelagem matemática, que utiliza o algoritmo generalized reduced gradient (GRG) não linear, é proposta. Por fim, é apresentado um modelo para o controle do desempenho operacional do sistema produtivo, fundamentado na avaliação de custos e no planejamento da capacidade de produção. Para avaliar a eficácia do modelo proposto, este foi aplicado em uma empresa de manufatura de materiais plásticos para a construção civil, em um sistema com múltiplos produtos e múltiplas máquinas. / Given the high level of competition present in the current environment, it is essential to adopt management measures in order to prioritize and direct efforts in the search for excellence in the company operational performance. Therefore, the objective of this study is to propose an approach based on production costs and demand forecasting focused on production capacity planning and control. A mapping of the articles published in nineteen journals, during the period of 2002 to 2013, was conducted to identify the different approaches related to production costs and demand forecasting. A mathematical modeling is proposed with the objective of optimizing the capacity planning using the nonlinear algorithm generalized reduced gradient (GRG). This study presented a model for controlling operational performance of the production system based on the evaluation of production costs and capacity planning. To evaluate the efficacy the model was applied to a manufacturing company of plastic materials for the construction, in a system with multi-products and multi-machines.

O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar a existência de uma ligação empírica entre a dimensão ambiental e a dimensão econômica da firma. A revisão da literatura apontou para lacunas nos modelos de relação existentes, com seus resultados não sendo considerados consistentes. Assim, este trabalho busca identificar a relação entre o Desempenho Ambiental – medido pelo Desempenho Ambiental Operacional, pelo Sistema de Gestão Ambiental e pela Regulamentação Ambiental – com a Inovatividade e do Desempenho Financeiro da firma. Uma pesquisa com o setor de terceira geração petroquímica, a industria de transformação de plásticos, foi realizada em Agosto de 2008. Testes estatísticos foram realizados para identificar padrões de resposta, testar as hipóteses do modelo proposto. Ao final, este modelo comprova empiricamente que por meio da dimensão ambientais e da inovatividade se pode explicar aproximadamente 34% da variância do desempenho financeiro das empresas em uma análise de regressão linear. Pontos relevantes foram encontrados na descrição ambiental do setor pesquisado, fornecendo informações aos gerentes para a tomada de decisões ambientais. / The main purpose of this study is to verify a connection between environment dimension and economic dimension in firms. The review of literature show gaps in existing models and their results did not be consistent. Therefore, this study look for a relationship among the Environment Performance – measured by Operational Environment Performance, by Environment Management Systems and by Environmental Regulations – and the Innovativeness and Financial Performance. A research in third generation petrochemical chain sector, the industry of plastics transformation, was done in August 2008. Statistical analysis was performed to identify patters and to verify hypothesis in proposed model. In the final, this model prove empirically 34% of financial performance variation by environment performance and innovativeness in a linear regression. Relevant knowledge was found in sector environment description, being important to managers taking decisions.

Thesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009. / The objective of this project was to measure the performance of high-strength aluminium alloys as injection mould material compared against conventionally used tool steel.

Diante do elevado nível de competição presente no cenário atual, torna-se indispensável a adoção de medidas de gestão capazes de priorizar e dirigir esforços na busca pela excelência no desempenho operacional das empresas. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é propor uma abordagem baseada em custos de produção e previsão de demanda voltada ao planejamento e controle da capacidade produtiva. Inicialmente, realizou-se o mapeamento dos artigos publicados em dezenove periódicos no período de 2002 a 2013, visando identificar abordagens relacionadas ao tema custos de produção e o processo de previsão de demanda. Com a finalidade de otimizar o planejamento da capacidade produtiva disponível, uma modelagem matemática, que utiliza o algoritmo generalized reduced gradient (GRG) não linear, é proposta. Por fim, é apresentado um modelo para o controle do desempenho operacional do sistema produtivo, fundamentado na avaliação de custos e no planejamento da capacidade de produção. Para avaliar a eficácia do modelo proposto, este foi aplicado em uma empresa de manufatura de materiais plásticos para a construção civil, em um sistema com múltiplos produtos e múltiplas máquinas. / Given the high level of competition present in the current environment, it is essential to adopt management measures in order to prioritize and direct efforts in the search for excellence in the company operational performance. Therefore, the objective of this study is to propose an approach based on production costs and demand forecasting focused on production capacity planning and control. A mapping of the articles published in nineteen journals, during the period of 2002 to 2013, was conducted to identify the different approaches related to production costs and demand forecasting. A mathematical modeling is proposed with the objective of optimizing the capacity planning using the nonlinear algorithm generalized reduced gradient (GRG). This study presented a model for controlling operational performance of the production system based on the evaluation of production costs and capacity planning. To evaluate the efficacy the model was applied to a manufacturing company of plastic materials for the construction, in a system with multi-products and multi-machines.

Diante do elevado nível de competição presente no cenário atual, torna-se indispensável a adoção de medidas de gestão capazes de priorizar e dirigir esforços na busca pela excelência no desempenho operacional das empresas. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é propor uma abordagem baseada em custos de produção e previsão de demanda voltada ao planejamento e controle da capacidade produtiva. Inicialmente, realizou-se o mapeamento dos artigos publicados em dezenove periódicos no período de 2002 a 2013, visando identificar abordagens relacionadas ao tema custos de produção e o processo de previsão de demanda. Com a finalidade de otimizar o planejamento da capacidade produtiva disponível, uma modelagem matemática, que utiliza o algoritmo generalized reduced gradient (GRG) não linear, é proposta. Por fim, é apresentado um modelo para o controle do desempenho operacional do sistema produtivo, fundamentado na avaliação de custos e no planejamento da capacidade de produção. Para avaliar a eficácia do modelo proposto, este foi aplicado em uma empresa de manufatura de materiais plásticos para a construção civil, em um sistema com múltiplos produtos e múltiplas máquinas. / Given the high level of competition present in the current environment, it is essential to adopt management measures in order to prioritize and direct efforts in the search for excellence in the company operational performance. Therefore, the objective of this study is to propose an approach based on production costs and demand forecasting focused on production capacity planning and control. A mapping of the articles published in nineteen journals, during the period of 2002 to 2013, was conducted to identify the different approaches related to production costs and demand forecasting. A mathematical modeling is proposed with the objective of optimizing the capacity planning using the nonlinear algorithm generalized reduced gradient (GRG). This study presented a model for controlling operational performance of the production system based on the evaluation of production costs and capacity planning. To evaluate the efficacy the model was applied to a manufacturing company of plastic materials for the construction, in a system with multi-products and multi-machines.

Background: The matter of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has more and more become a topic of interest today. As the concept has gained attention, the emphasis on its different concepts has shifted from the focus lying on the social responsibilities, to being more about the environmental responsibilities and impact of companies. Although the attention put on CSR and the environment has increased, an increase in the amount of plastic waste is still seen in the world. In Sweden, corporations accounts for as much as 50% of the total amount of plastic waste every year.   Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the management of environmental Corporate Social Responsibility in plastic producing companies, specifically the management of CSR within the Gnosjö region in Sweden   Method: This qualitative study involves multiple case studies primarily based on semi-structured interviews with managers of plastic producing companies in the Gnosjö region of Sweden.   Findings: The study showed that plastic companies are challenged in several ways, like re-using their production waste, caring for their employees, switching to more sustainable energy sources, and adhering to sustainable standards. Thus, companies’ goals are required to satisfy environmental demands by positioning their CSR-work towards customers’ environmental needs.   Conclusion: This thesis conclude that companies’ have different views on the meaning of CSR. It was found that sales and profit were the main motivators of adopting CSR practices, followed by some ethical aspects. Companies will continue to experience an increased demand for recycled plastics and that the importance of CSR will persistently grow. New knowledge demands the development of new materials and better strategies for recycling.

Microplastics is a growing problem for the environment and the risk that microplastics reaches our food and water is constantly increasing. Microplastics also affects animal life and it is more and more common that fishes, birds and even whales dies because of malnutrition since their stomachs are full of microplastics. The purpose of this project is to eliminate the generation and spreading of microplastics from the plastic industry. This is done by developing a method to locate where microplastics is generated and finding solutions on how they can be contained. The project has been conducted in collaboration with Tarkett Ronneby where a mapping of their facilities has been made, showing where they generate and spreads microplastics. The project has also included generating ideas and solution on how to solve the issues with microplastics at Tarkett Ronneby and other plastic industries. The method on how to eliminate the spread of microplastics from the plastic industry consists of ten different steps. The method including different protocols and a step by step template including everything from finding where microplastics are generated to implement solutions to eliminate the spread of microplastics. This method can be used not only by Tarkett Ronneby but also on other companies and factories with similar production and problems. / Mikroplaster är ett allt växande problem för miljön och riskerar att i allt större utsträckning hamna i maten vi äter och vattnet vi dricker. Det påverkar även djurliv och det är allt vanligare att fiskar, fåglar och till och med valar dör på grund av undernäring, på grund av att deras magar är fulla av plast. Syftet med detta projekt är att minska utsläppet av mikroplaster från plastindustrin genom att ta fram en metod för att lokalisera och åtgärda utsläpp av mikroplaster. Projektet har gjorts i samarbete med Tarkett Ronneby där en kartläggning av deras fabrik och vart de genererar mikroplaster har genomförts. Även lösningsförslag och åtgärder för att minska utsläpp av mikroplaster har tagits fram, dels på Tarkett Ronneby men som även andra aktörer inom samma bransch kan implementera. Metoden för att eliminera utsläpp av mikroplaster från plastindustrin består av tio steg som innefattar bland annat olika protokoll och inkluderar allt från att lokalisera utsläpp till att åtgärda dessa. Denna metod är applicerbar på alla plastindustrier, både som producerar plastgranulat men också som använder plast för att tillverka andra produkter.