The use of vacuum coating is mostly limited to production of high fat containing extruded aqua and pet diets. The physical characteristics of extrudates are favourable for vacuum coating due to their high porosity and durability. However, with pelleted feed for broilers, there are potentially several opportunities, but there are also challenges; these are explored here. The opportunities identified were inclusion of high level of oils, protected delivery of feed additives (e.g., enzymes, probiotics, vaccines, etc.), improved and safe use of offensive feed additives and improvement of shelf-life of feed and additives. Challenges include the relatively high density of pellets (low porosity) which limits liquid infusion, increased processing cost and decreased feed throughput. However, feed ingredients selection and alternating processing variables (temperature, moisture, die specifications etc.) were deemed to overcome the challenges of low porosity. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of vacuum coating in pelleted feed. In the first experiment, the effect of particle size on post-pellet oil absorption (OA), porosity, pellet durability index (PDI) and bulk density were investigated. The three particle sizes for three grains (wheat, barley and corn) were pelleted using a 4.7 mm die to get whole grain (WP), coarse (CP), and fine (FP) grind pellets. The pellets were coated with 15% canola oil without (VC-) and with (VC+; 0.3 bar) vacuum coating. The grain type was found to have a significant effect on the particle size when ground through either fine (3.2 mm) or coarse (6.4 mm) screen. With coarse grinding, the mean particle size was 1896, 1290 and 1057 µm, respectively for barley, wheat and corn; with fine grinding, the mean particle size was 1153, 767 and 732 µm, respectively. Porosity of CP from wheat and corn was significantly (P<0.01) higher than WP and FP. For barley, there was no difference in porosity of CP and FP but both were significantly higher than WP. For wheat, OA of CP was highest (P<0.01), but no significant difference was found between FP and WP. However, for barley, higher OA was found in FP followed by CP and WP. In corn, OA of CP was higher than for FP or WP. Vacuum coating (VC+) improved (P<0.01) OA of all pellets compared to VC-. Porosity was positively correlated with OA and negatively correlated to PDI and bulk density. Overall, the first experiment suggested that alteration of particle size and grain type could be the options for improving the oil absorption by vacuum coating. A second experiment was conducted to observe the effect of enzyme addition method (EAM; E-, without enzyme; PreE+, Pre-pellet addition of enzyme; PosE+, post-pellet addition of enzyme), conditioning temperature (CT; 65 or 95°C) and coating method (CM; VC- or VC+) on broiler performance when fed wheat-rye-based diets. Enzyme addition (pre or post-pellet addition in comparison to without enzyme) significantly improved (P<0.01) the body weight at 21 and 35d. Higher CT (95°C) improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) in both starter (P<0.01) and grow/finish phase (P=0.04) and PDI of both starter and grow/finish pellets (P<0.01) when compared to low CT (65°C). Vacuum coating did not have any effect on the diet extract viscosity, animal performance or digesta viscosity in either of the phases. However, with post-pellet vacuum coating, there was high retention of xylanase activity after processing. Vacuum coating significantly (P<0.05) reduced the relative length of small intestine of broilers at 21d but not at 35d. In the third experiment, broiler grow/finish diets were stored in an incubator (37°C) to see if vacuum coating can improve the shelf-life of feed. The results showed post-pellet vacuum-coated pellets retained higher enzyme activity after 15 days of storage. Although no effect of vacuum coating on animal performance was observed, vacuum coating was able to protect the enzyme during processing and storage. Further work needs to be done to translate these benefits to improve animal performance, which might be achieved using various vacuum coating and processing conditions, and bioactives.

No description available.

Following the growth of IC and opto-elctronic industry in Taiwan in recent years, vacuum coaters used in the both industries has drawn a lot attention and initiated a growing investment in this sector. Conventional wisdom toward this industry had been much related to consumer products such watch cases and low-price optical lenses and decorative plastic parts. Companies facing unique industrial market characteristics and tougher competition, Competitive strategies for Taiwanese players in this sector are explored. Resources based theory and related secondary industrial data were used to form a base on which a managerial strategy and marketing perspevtives are built. As limited source of industrial information available from existing vacuum coating companies in Taiwan either inform of interview or indigenous literature, the thesis were prepared mostly based on author's industrial experiences, data provided by author's company and related academy literature related to strategy. A further field study for a generalization of competition strategy shall be required and refined for this special industry in Taiwan.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:37:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 05586.pdf: 7089535 bytes, checksum: 4459c81f8f267c76f9328265ae1fc952 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:37:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 05586.pdf: 7089535 bytes, checksum: 4459c81f8f267c76f9328265ae1fc952 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Die vorliegende Dissertation behandelt Charakterisierung, Modellbildung sowie Anwendung einer magnetfeldgestützten Hohlkathoden-Bogenentladung. Hohlkathoden sind seit den 1960er Jahren Gegenstand grundlagen- sowie anwendungsorientierter Forschung und werden seit 20 Jahren am Fraunhofer-Institut für Elektronenstrahl- und Plasmatechnik für die Anwendung auf dem Gebiet der Vakuumbeschichtung weiterentwickelt. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die technologischen Fortschritte physikalisch zu verstehen und gezielte Weiterentwicklungen für spezifische Einsatzgebiete zu ermöglichen. In der untersuchten Hohlkathodenbauform ist das aus Tantal bestehende, vom Arbeitsgas Argon durchströmte Kathodenröhrchen koaxial von einer Ringanode sowie von einer Magnetfeldspule umgeben. Die Entladung wird durch Hochspannungspulse gezündet, worauf sich ein diffuser Bogen im Röhrchen (internes Plasma) ausbildet. Das Röhrchen wird von Plasmaionen auf hohe Temperaturen geheizt, die eine thermionische Emission von Elektronen ermöglichen, welche das Plasma speisen. Das technologisch nutzbare externe Plasma wird im Vakuumrezipienten durch Wechselwirkung der Gasteilchen mit Strahlelektronen aus der Kathode erzeugt. Bei starker Reduktion des Arbeitsgasflusses wird die Entladung durch das Magnetfeld der Spule stabilisiert. Der experimentelle Befund, dass dadurch Plasmadichte und -reichweite sowie ggf. die Ladungsträgerenergien im Rezipienten aufgrund des intensiveren Elektronenstrahls wesentlich gesteigert werden können, wird durch ortsaufgelöste Langmuir-Sondenmessung, optische Emissionsspektroskopie und energieaufgelöste Massenspektrometrie ausführlich belegt und nach der Lösung von Strom- und Wärmebilanzgleichungen durch die Verhältnisse im Kathodenröhrchen begründet. Neben Argon werden auch typische Reaktivgase der Vakuumbeschichtung im Hohlkathodenplasma betrachtet: zum einen Stickstoff und Sauerstoff, die in reaktiven PVD-Prozessen (physikalische Dampfphasenabscheidung) zur Beschichtung mit Oxid- bzw. Nitridschichten zum Einsatz kommen und durch Ionisation, Dissoziation und Anregung im Hohlkathodenplasma verbesserte Schichteigenschaften ermöglichen; zum anderen Azetylen, das bei PECVD (plasmagestützte chemische Dampfphasenabscheidung) von amorphen wasserstoffhaltigen Kohlenstoffschichten z. B. für tribologische oder biokompatible Beschichtungen genutzt wird. Azetylen wird durch Streuprozesse mit Elektronen und Ionen im Plasma aufgespalten, wodurch schichtbildende Spezies erzeugt werden, die am Substrat kondensieren. Durch die Wahl der Plasmaparameter sowie durch abgestimmte Substratbiasspannung und Substratkühlung lassen sich die Beschichtungsrate einstellen sowie polymer-, graphit- oder diamantartige Eigenschaften erzielen. Neben der Plasmadiagnostik mittels energieaufgelöster Massenspektrometrie werden die erzeugten Kohlenstoffschichten vorgestellt und hinsichtlich Härte, Zusammensetzung und Morphologie analysiert. / In the present thesis, characterization, modeling and application of a magnetically enhanced hollow cathode arc discharge are presented. Since the 1960s, hollow cathodes are being studied in basic and applied research. At Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology, further development concerning the application in vacuum coating technology has been carried out for about twenty years. The present work targets on physically understanding the technological progress in order to enable specific further development and application. In the investigated hollow cathode device, a ring-shaped anode and a magnetic field coil are arranged coaxially around the tantalum cathode tube, which is flown through by argon as the working gas. The discharge is ignited by high voltage pulses establishing a diffuse arc within the cathode tube (internal plasma). The cathode is being heated by the plasma ions to high temperatures, which leads to thermionic emission of electrons sustaining the plasma. The external plasma in the vacuum chamber, which can be used for technological applications, is generated by collisions of gas atoms with beam electrons originating from the cathode. In the case of strongly reduced working gas flow, the discharge is stabilized by the magnetic field of the coil; the related experimental findings such as significantly increased plasma density and range as well as higher charge carrier energies in the external plasma are extensively proved by spatially resolved Langmuir probe measurements, optical emission spectroscopy, and energy-resolved ion mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the results are correlated to the conditions within the cathode tube by solving the current and heat balance equations. Besides argon, typical reactive gases used in vacuum coating are examined in the hollow cathode plasma, too. First, nitrogen and oxygen, which are applied in PVD (physical vapor deposition) processes for the deposition of oxide and nitride layers, are ionized, dissociated, and excited by plasma processes. In the case of practical application, this plasma activation leads to improved film properties. Second, acetylene is used as a precursor for PECVD (plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition) of amorphous hydrogenated carbon films, e.g. for tribological or biocompatible applications. Acetylene is cracked by electron and ion scattering in the plasma providing film-forming species to be deposited on the substrate. The deposition rate as well as the polymeric, graphitic, or diamond-like properties can be controlled by plasma parameters, a defined substrate bias, and substrate cooling. The hollow cathode-generated acetylene plasma has been characterized by energy-resolved ion mass spectrometry, and the carbon films obtained are analyzed regarding hardness, film composition, and morphology.

Die vorliegende Dissertation behandelt Charakterisierung, Modellbildung sowie Anwendung einer magnetfeldgestützten Hohlkathoden-Bogenentladung. Hohlkathoden sind seit den 1960er Jahren Gegenstand grundlagen- sowie anwendungsorientierter Forschung und werden seit 20 Jahren am Fraunhofer-Institut für Elektronenstrahl- und Plasmatechnik für die Anwendung auf dem Gebiet der Vakuumbeschichtung weiterentwickelt. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die technologischen Fortschritte physikalisch zu verstehen und gezielte Weiterentwicklungen für spezifische Einsatzgebiete zu ermöglichen. In der untersuchten Hohlkathodenbauform ist das aus Tantal bestehende, vom Arbeitsgas Argon durchströmte Kathodenröhrchen koaxial von einer Ringanode sowie von einer Magnetfeldspule umgeben. Die Entladung wird durch Hochspannungspulse gezündet, worauf sich ein diffuser Bogen im Röhrchen (internes Plasma) ausbildet. Das Röhrchen wird von Plasmaionen auf hohe Temperaturen geheizt, die eine thermionische Emission von Elektronen ermöglichen, welche das Plasma speisen. Das technologisch nutzbare externe Plasma wird im Vakuumrezipienten durch Wechselwirkung der Gasteilchen mit Strahlelektronen aus der Kathode erzeugt. Bei starker Reduktion des Arbeitsgasflusses wird die Entladung durch das Magnetfeld der Spule stabilisiert. Der experimentelle Befund, dass dadurch Plasmadichte und -reichweite sowie ggf. die Ladungsträgerenergien im Rezipienten aufgrund des intensiveren Elektronenstrahls wesentlich gesteigert werden können, wird durch ortsaufgelöste Langmuir-Sondenmessung, optische Emissionsspektroskopie und energieaufgelöste Massenspektrometrie ausführlich belegt und nach der Lösung von Strom- und Wärmebilanzgleichungen durch die Verhältnisse im Kathodenröhrchen begründet. Neben Argon werden auch typische Reaktivgase der Vakuumbeschichtung im Hohlkathodenplasma betrachtet: zum einen Stickstoff und Sauerstoff, die in reaktiven PVD-Prozessen (physikalische Dampfphasenabscheidung) zur Beschichtung mit Oxid- bzw. Nitridschichten zum Einsatz kommen und durch Ionisation, Dissoziation und Anregung im Hohlkathodenplasma verbesserte Schichteigenschaften ermöglichen; zum anderen Azetylen, das bei PECVD (plasmagestützte chemische Dampfphasenabscheidung) von amorphen wasserstoffhaltigen Kohlenstoffschichten z. B. für tribologische oder biokompatible Beschichtungen genutzt wird. Azetylen wird durch Streuprozesse mit Elektronen und Ionen im Plasma aufgespalten, wodurch schichtbildende Spezies erzeugt werden, die am Substrat kondensieren. Durch die Wahl der Plasmaparameter sowie durch abgestimmte Substratbiasspannung und Substratkühlung lassen sich die Beschichtungsrate einstellen sowie polymer-, graphit- oder diamantartige Eigenschaften erzielen. Neben der Plasmadiagnostik mittels energieaufgelöster Massenspektrometrie werden die erzeugten Kohlenstoffschichten vorgestellt und hinsichtlich Härte, Zusammensetzung und Morphologie analysiert. / In the present thesis, characterization, modeling and application of a magnetically enhanced hollow cathode arc discharge are presented. Since the 1960s, hollow cathodes are being studied in basic and applied research. At Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology, further development concerning the application in vacuum coating technology has been carried out for about twenty years. The present work targets on physically understanding the technological progress in order to enable specific further development and application. In the investigated hollow cathode device, a ring-shaped anode and a magnetic field coil are arranged coaxially around the tantalum cathode tube, which is flown through by argon as the working gas. The discharge is ignited by high voltage pulses establishing a diffuse arc within the cathode tube (internal plasma). The cathode is being heated by the plasma ions to high temperatures, which leads to thermionic emission of electrons sustaining the plasma. The external plasma in the vacuum chamber, which can be used for technological applications, is generated by collisions of gas atoms with beam electrons originating from the cathode. In the case of strongly reduced working gas flow, the discharge is stabilized by the magnetic field of the coil; the related experimental findings such as significantly increased plasma density and range as well as higher charge carrier energies in the external plasma are extensively proved by spatially resolved Langmuir probe measurements, optical emission spectroscopy, and energy-resolved ion mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the results are correlated to the conditions within the cathode tube by solving the current and heat balance equations. Besides argon, typical reactive gases used in vacuum coating are examined in the hollow cathode plasma, too. First, nitrogen and oxygen, which are applied in PVD (physical vapor deposition) processes for the deposition of oxide and nitride layers, are ionized, dissociated, and excited by plasma processes. In the case of practical application, this plasma activation leads to improved film properties. Second, acetylene is used as a precursor for PECVD (plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition) of amorphous hydrogenated carbon films, e.g. for tribological or biocompatible applications. Acetylene is cracked by electron and ion scattering in the plasma providing film-forming species to be deposited on the substrate. The deposition rate as well as the polymeric, graphitic, or diamond-like properties can be controlled by plasma parameters, a defined substrate bias, and substrate cooling. The hollow cathode-generated acetylene plasma has been characterized by energy-resolved ion mass spectrometry, and the carbon films obtained are analyzed regarding hardness, film composition, and morphology.