Apesar de suas excelentes características técnicas e estéticas, a aplicação de porcelanato em fachadas requer especial atenção devido ser um material diferente das cerâmicas convencionais, além de que as fachadas estão sujeitas a diversos agentes capazes de danificar os revestimentos cerâmicos. O baixo índice de absorção de água do porcelanato é a principal causa da perda ou falta de aderência entre o tardoz e a argamassa colante, pois não permite o mecanismo de aderência mecânica existente nas cerâmicas porosas. O presente trabalho visa o estudo de argamassas com adições de látex base estireno acrílico e sílica ativa para o assentamento de porcelanato em fachadas a fim de evitar o aparecimento de patologias decorrentes da falta de aderência. Foram realizados ensaios normalizados para a avaliação das propriedades das argamassas quanto à fixação do porcelanato, além de procedimentos experimentais para a avaliação da microestrutura tais como análises térmicas, difração de raios-X, porosimetria por intrusão de mercúrio, espectroscopia de infravermelho e microscopia eletrônica de varredura associada à espectrografia por dispersão de energia. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a adição combinada de polímero e sílica ativa às argamassas resultou em elevadas propriedades mecânicas e alta resistência de aderência, decorrentes da melhora das propriedades microestruturais, ou seja, aumento da compacidade, diminuição da porosidade e refinamento do diâmetro médio dos poros, além da redução na quantidade do hidróxido de cálcio consumido para a produção de silicato de cálcio hidratado. / Despite the excellent characteristics of porcelain tiles, their application in building facades requires special attention, since this material differs from conventional ceramics and facades are exposed to weathering, which can damage ceramic revetments. The lower water absorption of porcelain tiles is the main cause of the poor adherence between them, as it prevents the mechanical interlocking adherence mechanism that occurs when more porous ceramic materials are applied. The present thesis aims to investigate the effect of silica fume and acrylic polymer together on the properties of mortars employed to install porcelain stoneware tiles to avoid detachment problems due to lack of adherence. An experimental investigation evaluated the fixing properties of the mortars, and a microstructural study including thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, mercury intrusion porosimetry, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy was performed. The results showed that silica fume and acrylic polymer addition to the mortar resulted in improved properties to fix porcelain stoneware tiles, mainly adherence strength, as a consequence of the microstructural improvement due to the decrease in the porosity and the pore mean diameter, and the decrease in the calcium hydroxide to form hydrated calcium silicate

A biomassa vegetal, seja como produto de interesse econômico ou do ponto de vista ecológico, é estritamente dependente do processo fotossintético. O advento das técnicas de biologia molecular e transformação genética de plantas trouxe boas perspectivas para a alteração do processo fotossintético, já que pouco foi conseguido com o melhoramento vegetal tradicional. Modificações genéticas nos LHCs (estruturas responsáveis pela captação e transferência da energia luminosa) mostram-se promissoras. Plantas transgênicas de tabaco (Nicotiana tabacum, L.) que expressam o gene quimérico Lhcb1*2 de ervilha têm sido estudadas por apresentarem uma série de alterações no metabolismo fotossintético, além de um ganho genético em relação à planta selvagem original. Vários autores observaram mudanças morfológicas, fisiológicas, bioquímicas e adaptativas que favorecem estas plantas em diversas condições de cultivo. Diversos experimentos foram realizados no intuito de melhor caracterizar as plantas transformadas com o gene Lhcb1*2 de ervilha. O potencial produtivo foi avaliado através da análise de crescimento e produção de massa seca. O metabolismo fotossintético foi analisado através de medidas de assimilação de CO2, fluorescência da clorofila a, metabólitos do ciclo de Calvin-Benson, glicólise e ciclo de Krebs, carboidratos (amido e sacarose) e aminoácidos. Os resultados obtidos mostram uma redução da taxa de fotorrespiração pelas plantas transgênicas. Esta redução promoveu o aumento do período de crescimento vegetativo e produção de biomassa, à semelhança do que ocorre em plantas cultivadas sob baixa pressão de oxigênio (5%) ou alto CO2. Entretanto, ao contrário do que ocorre nessas condições, a produção de sementes e o peso nas linhagens transgênicas não foram reduzidos. / Plant biomass, seen either from the economic or the ecological points of view, is highly dependent upon photosynthesys. The development of molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques brought great perspectives for the improvement of the photosynthetic process, since few progress had been achieved with traditional plant breeding. Genetic alteration of the LHCs (structures responsible for the capture and distribution of radiant energy) seems promising. Transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum, L.) over expressing the pea Lhcb1*2 gene have been studied. They present several alterations in the photosynthetic metabolism which lead to a genetic improvement of them in relation to the original plant. Many authors observed morphological, physiological, biochemical and adaptative changes which were benefical to these plants to diverse growing conditions. Several experiments were carried out in order to better characterize these transgenic tobacco lines. The potential for production was evaluated, via dry wight and growth rate. The photosynthetic metabolism was analyzed through CO2 assimilation, chlorophyll fluorescence, metabolites of the Calvin-Benson, glycolysis and Krebs cycles, carbohydrates (starch and sucrose) contents and amino acids. The results obtained show a reduction in photorespiration rate in the transgenic plants. Such reduction lead to on extension of the plant growing period and on enlargment of the biomass, similar to what occurs in plants growing under low O2 (5%) or high CO2 conditions. However, in contrast to what normally happens under these conditions, dry weight and seed production were not reduced in the transgenic lines.

Neste trabalho, por meio de uma metodologia experimental foram analisados vários aspectos de tijolos modulares compostos por misturas binárias e ternárias de solo-cimento e solo cimento-sílica produzidos em prensa manual modelo SAHARA, com a finalidade de se obter parâmetros e diretrizes que visam um melhor desempenho do material. Realizaram-se ensaios em corpos-de-prova cilíndricos de maneira acessória no decorrer do trabalho, o que resultou no suporte para fundamentação de diversas avaliações sobre as composições de traços utilizados na fabricação dos tijolos. Foram executados painéis de parede com o objetivo de verificar o comportamento da alvenaria em relação à resistência à compressão e à deformabilidade das paredes, possibilitando correlações com os resultados dos ensaios de prismas, tijolos e argamassa de assentamento. As contribuições da pesquisa permitem relacionar a tecnologia da fabricação de tijolos de solo-cimento com o contexto de construção sustentável e o aproveitamento de resíduos industriais, além de sistematizar informações para a elaboração de um projeto tecnológico com os tijolos modulares / In this work, several aspects of modular bricks composed by binary and ternary mixtures of soil-cement and soil-cement-silica, produced by manual press model SAHARA, were analyzed by means of an experimental methodology, with the purpose of obtaining parameters and guidelines to aim a better performance of the material. During the work, tests in cylindrical samples were executed in an accessory way, what resulted in the support for theoretical basement of several evaluations about the compositions of proportions used in brick's production. Wall panels were constructed with the objective of verifying the masonry’s behavior in relation to the compressive strength and wall’s strain, promoting correlation with the test’s results in prisms, bricks and mortar. The research’s contributions allow to relate the technology of the production of soil-cement bricks with the context of sustainable construction and the use of industrial residues in the production of construction materials, besides systematizing information for the elaboration of a technological project with the modular bricks

O uso de adições minerais no concreto como substituição parcial ao cimento Portland ajuda a preservar os recursos naturais poupando a matéria-prima, reduzindo o consumo de energia necessária para a produção do cimento e reciclando rejeitos que se lançados no meio ambiente causariam problemas ambientais e de saúde pública. A adição mineral que vem tendo muito destaque devido à sua alta reatividade, considerada por vários pesquisadores como uma superpozolana, é a sílica ativa (SA), um subproduto da fabricação de silício metálico ou ligas de ferro-silício. A sílica ativa se caracteriza por uma elevada finura e alta área específica e um alto teor de sílica vítrea, estes fatores somados garantem à SA a alta reatividade com o hidróxido de cálcio, transformando-o em silicato de cálcio hidratado. A casca do arroz vem sendo pesquisada como uma fonte alternativa de sílica ativa. A sílica ativa extraída da casca de arroz contém um alto teor de SiO2 e, dependendo do processo de extração, possui propriedades adequadas para a utilização na confecção de concretos de elevado desempenho. Este trabalho visa estudar a atividade pozolânica da sílica da casca de arroz produzida no laboratório de materiais avançados à base de cimento. Para avaliar as características das sílicas, foram realizados ensaios tanto para determinação das suas propriedades físicas quanto para a determinação de sua composição química e pozolanicidade. Os ensaios realizados foram:composição química, pozolanicidade (método Chapelle modificado), área superficial B.E.T., distribuição granulométrica, distribuição do tamanho de partículas via MEV, amorficidade (por difratometria de raio X), massa específica e determinação do índice de atividade pozolânica com cimento Portland (NBR-5752). Os ensaios de caracterização demonstraram que a sílica da casca de arroz possui um alto grau de amorficidade e elevada área superficial, que garantiram uma maior reatividade nas idades iniciais, porém em idades avançadas apresentou a mesma eficiência que a sílica de ferro-silício. / The use of mineral additions in concrete in order to partially replace Portland cement helps to protect natural resources by saving raw material, reducing energy consumption in cement production and recycling industrial waste that could otherwise cause environmental and public health hazards. One mineral addition that has drawn considerable attention due to its high reactivity is silica fume (SF), a byproduct of the manufacturing process of metallic silicon or iron-silicon alloys and considered by many researchers as a superpozzolan. Silica fume is characterizated by high fineness, high specific area and high content of vitreous silica. The sum of these factors provides SF high reactivity with calcium hydroxide, which is transformed into hydrated calcium silicate. Rice husk ash has also been investigated as an alternative source of silica fume. The silica from rice husk ash contains a high percentage of SiO2 and, depending on the extraction process, has adequate properties to be employed in the manufacturing of high-performance concrete. The objective of this work is to study the pozzolanic activity of silica from rice husk ash produced at the Laboratório de Materiais Avançados à Base de Cimento. In order to evaluate the characteristics of silica samples from rice husk, assays were performed to determine their physical properties as well as their chemical composition and pozzolanicity. The assays performed were: chemical composition,pozzolanicity (modified Chapelle method), B.E.T. surface area method, granulometric distribution, particle size distribution by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), amorphicity by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), specific mass and pozzolanic activity index determination with Portland cement (NBR-5752). The characterization assays showed that the silica from rice husk ash has a high amorphicity level and a high surface area, which yield higher reactivity at initial ages. However, at advanced ages it pesented the same efficiency as that of silica from iron-silicon.

A tecnologia dos materiais a base de cimento Portland vem se desenvolvendo rapidamente, onde a melhoria das propriedades mecânicas vem sendo alcançada, eliminando os agregados graúdos e estudando a composição granulométrica da mistura, procurando preencher os vazios utilizando materiais finos e ultrafinos, como pó de quartzo e a sílica ativa. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivos: desenvolver concreto de pós reativos com resistência à compressão próxima de 200 MPa e módulo de elasticidade acima de 45 GPa; propor uma relação constitutiva para o material, considerando o volume de fibras; especificar as deformações máximas na tração e na compressão; e verificar a influência das fibras nas resistências à compressão e à tração na flexão. Para isso, foi utilizado o método de empacotamento das partículas sólidas, com o intuito de definir composições granulométricas, e desenvolveu-se técnicas necessárias para a moldagem, adensamento e cura térmica. A análise experimental compreendeu o estudo das seguintes propriedades: resistência à compressão, módulo de elasticidade, resistência à tração na flexão, deformações e ductilidade. As fibras metálicas melhoraram as propriedades mecânicas e aumentaram a ductilidade do concreto. A temperatura de cura e o tempo de submissão ao tratamento térmico, tornou o material mais resistente. A deformação específica máxima na compressão foi definida experimentalmente como 4,3%. O limite elástico para as deformações de tração ficou em 0,28%. Foi proposta uma relação constitutiva para tensões de compressão, que pode ser utilizada para concretos de pós reativos, com resistência à compressão próxima de 200 MPa e taxa de fibras até 4% em volume. Os resultados obtidos indicam que o concreto de pós reativos desenvolvido apresentou altas resistências à compressão e à tração na flexão, onde a microestrutura do material mostrou-se com baixíssima porosidade e interface pasta - agregado praticamente suprimida. A tecnologia desenvolvida nesta pesquisa pode ser considerada um grande avanço na tecnologia de materiais a base de cimento Portland que, com maiores aperfeiçoamentos, espera-se a aplicação desse material em situações que tirem proveito das excelentes propriedades mecânicas e durabilidade / The technology of Portland cement materials has developed quickly, where the improvement of the mechanical properties has been reached, eliminating the coarse aggregates and studying the granular mixture, in order to fill the emptiness with fine and ultra-fine materials, like crushed quartz and silica fume. The present paper aimed: develop reactive powder concrete with compressive strength close to 200 MPa and module of elasticity above 45 GPa; propose a strength x strain relationship in compression for the material considering the volume of fibers; specify the maximum strain in the traction and in the compression; and to verify the influence of the fibers in the compression strength and in the bending strength. It went using the method of packing of the solid particles to define the grain size distribution, and necessary techniques were developed for the preparation and thermal cure. The experimental analysis understood the study of the following properties: compression strength, module of elasticity, bending strength, strain and ductility. The metallic fibers improved the mechanical properties and they increased the ductility of the concrete. The cure temperature and the time of submission to the thermal treatment, improved the compression strength. The maximum strain in the compression was defined experimentally as 4,3%. The elastic limit for the traction strain was 0,28%. A strength x strain relationship in compression was proposed, and can be used in reactive powders concrete, with compression strength of around 200 MPa and rate of fibers of up to 4% of volume. The results indicate that the reactive powders concrete developed presented excellent compression strength and bending strength, and the material presented a microestrutura with low porosity. The technology developed in this research can be considered a great progress in the technology of materials with Portland cement, and the application of that material is expected in situations that use advantage of the excellent mechanical properties and durability

A ligação entre concretos com cimento Portland de diferentes idades, composições e resistências é um dos problemas da tecnologia dos concretos estruturais. A continuidade desta ligação é prejudicada por uma diversidade de fatores que implicam desde a retomada de uma concretagem (junta fria) até a recuperação de estruturas de concreto deterioradas. Sob esse ponto de vista apresenta−se neste trabalho uma análise do comportamento de um sistema de reparos aplicados à recuperação de estruturas, ligações concretos velhos x concretos novos (caso das ampliações) e continuidades de concretagens. Um dos pontos mais frágeis de uma estrutura é a zona de interface, tanto dos materiais que a compõe quanto da transição entre os diferentes concretos. Utilizou−se como substrato corpos−de−prova prismáticos executados com concretos (fck=15MPa, 18MPa, 21MPa, 25MPa, 30MPa, 40MPa e 50MPa), que após ruptura completa através de ensaios de tração na flexão foi posteriormente executada ligação com concretos de reparo, e corpos−de−prova cilíndricos de concretos convencionais apresentando ninhos de concretagem. Com a finalidade de melhorar a zona de transição citada, utilizou−se como sistema de reparo, concretos de elevado desempenho executados com cimento Portland CP V ARI RS − NBR 5733⁄NBR 5737 − ABNT, agregados: miúdo de origem quartzosa, e graúdo de Dmáx ≤ 6,3 mm de origem basáltica, adições de sílica ativa (Fe−Si) de 5%, 10% e 15% e aditivo superplastificante de pega normal em teores de 1,5%, 1,8% e 2,0%, após prévio tratamento, através de desbaste superficial e imprimação com pastas de cimento de elevado desempenho. A eficácia da ligação é percebida principalmente pelo fato de que em resultados de ensaios de tração na flexão do corpo−de−prova prismático recuperado a ruptura ocorreu, em quase 100% dos casos na região do concreto velho. Em ensaios de compressão axial com corpos−de−prova cilíndricos com ninhos de concretagem recuperados, percebeu−se através do modo de ruptura, que as transferências de tensões ocorreram normalmente através do sistema de reparo, sem que houvesse desvio de tensões, além de um acréscimo de resistência em alguns casos. / The bonding among Portland cement concrete of different ages, compositions and resistances is one of the technological problems of structural concretes. The continuity of this connection is harmed by a several factors from the re−starting of a casting (cold joint) to the recovery of deteriorated concrete structures. From this point of view this paper presents an analysis of the behavior of a repair system applied to the recovery of structures, new−to−old concrete bonding (amplification cases) and casting continuities. One of the most fragile points of a concrete structure is the interface zone, of both materials that compose it and the transition among the different concretes. Prismatic specimens executed with concretes (fck=15MPa, 18MPa, 21MPa, 25 MPa, 30 MPa, 40 MPa and 50 MPa), were used as substratum after a previous complete rupture through a flexural strength test for a further connection, with repair concrete as a bond link, and cylindrical specimens of conventional concretes presenting intentionally \"holes\". High−performance concretes with Portland cement CP V ARI RS (NBR 5733⁄NBR 5737 − ABNT), small quartz aggregates, basaltic coarse aggregates with Dmáx ≤ 6,3mm, silica fume (Fe−Si) additions of 5%, 10% and 15%, and normal setting superplasticizer with contents of 1,5%, 1,8% and 2,0% were used as repair system to improve the transition zone mentioned. Such materials were used after the specimens had been treated superficially and primed with High−performance Portland cement paste. The effectiveness of the connection is noticed mainly by the fact that in results of the flexural strength test of recovered prismatic specimens, the rupture occurred in almost 100% of the cases in the area of the old concrete. In axial compression tests with cylindrical specimens presenting recovered \"holes\", the rupture way demonstrated that the transfers of tensions usually occurred through the repair system, with no tension deviation, and there was a resistance increase in some cases.

Welding is a metal joining process widely used in many manufacturing facilities around the world. It involves the process of heating the base and filler metals to a high temperature that leads to the formation of fumes. Welding emissions consist of gaseous pollutants and micron and sub-micron particles consisting of different heavy metals. Health risks associated with exposures to weld fume is well recognized in the literature. This research evaluates emissions and emission factors applicable to gas metal arc welding (GMAW) on AH 36 (mild steel) and 316 L (stainless steel). Emission factors evaluated consisted, total fume, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, and nickel. A weld fume chamber is used to capture the welding fumes onto a filter and then further analyzed to quantify the total fume and heavy metal emissions. Critical operating parameters such as current, voltage, shielding gas, welding speed, and contact tube to work distance (CTWD) were considered while evaluating emissions and emission factors. The parameters with greater influence on emissions are selected, and then the heavy metal emissions are quantified by varying those parameters using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and portable XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) analyzer. The heavy metal results from the ICP-AES and XRF are compared to explore the feasibility of using XRF analyzer in quantifying the heavy metals in welding fumes. Using the heavy metal emissions, the lifetime carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks are evaluated for the GMAW process. The mild steel (MS) and stainless steel (SS) statistical analysis results indicate current and voltage are most influencing parameters in generating the fumes in GMAW. This research found a significant linear relationship between ICP-AES and XRF heavy metal results. The lifetime carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks results indicate high potential health risks if not properly managed.

Concrete is the most broadly used material in construction worldwide and Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC, a type of ultra high performance concrete) is a relatively new member of the concrete family. In this work the critical parameters of RPC mix design are investigated and the mix design is explored through a program of concrete casting and testing. Owing to the enhanced microstructure of RPC, porosity and permeability can be significantly decreased in the concrete matrix. This benefits the durability characteristics of RPC elements resulting in a longer service life with less maintenance costs than conventional concrete. It has been used for high integrity radiation waste material containers because of its low permeability and durability. Fibre reinforced RPC is also ideal for use in long span and thin shell structural elements without traditional reinforcement because of its advantageous flexural strength. Moreover, due to improved impact resistance, RPC can be widely employed in piers of bridges, military construction and blast protection. There is no standard approach to assessing the impact resistance of concrete. This investigation utilises relatively well accepted impact equipment to evaluate the mechanical properties of RPC under dynamic loading. The compressive and flexural tensile strengths of plain and fibre reinforced RPC are investigated using a variety of specimens and apparatus. The dynamic increase factor (DIF) is evaluated to indicate the strain rate sensitivity of the compressive and flexural strength.

Two metakaolins were evaluated for use as supplementary cementitious materials in cement-based systems. The metakaolins varied in their surface area (11.1 v. 25.4 m2/g), but were quite similar in mineralogical composition. Performance of metakaolin mixtures was compared to control mixtures and to mixtures incorporating silica fume as partial replacement for cement at water-to-cementitious materials ratios of 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60. In this study, the early age properties of fresh concrete and the mechanical and durability properties of hardened concrete were examined. Early age evaluations aimed to determine the reactivity of metakaolin (heat of hydration) and its effect on mixture workability (slump, setting time, unit weight). In addition, three types of shrinkage were monitored in metakaolin-cement systems: chemical, autogenous, and free. Compressive, tensile, and flexural strength and elastic modulus were measured at various concrete ages. The influence of metakaolin addition on durability was assessed through accelerated testing for sulfate resistance, expansion due to alkali-silica reaction, and through rapid chloride permeability measurements. To further quantify the underlying mechanisms of metakaolin's action, the microstructure of pastes was examined. Calcium hydroxide (CH) content was determined using thermogravimetric analysis and verified using differential thermal analysis. Surface area and pore size distribution were evaluated via nitrogen adsorption. These analyses yielded information about the pozzolanic reactivity of metakaolin, associated CH consumption and pore structure refinement, and resulting improvements in mechanical performance and durability of metakaolin-concretes.

Recently, restaurant employees exposing to cooking oil fume with potential lung cancer was highly concerned, indicating cooking oil fume emitted from restaurants might cause tremendous hazard to human health. This study combined photocatalytic oxidation and ozone oxidation technology to decompose VOCs from the exhaust of cooking oil fume from restaurants. Firstly, this study selected three different types of restaurants to implement air pollutant measurements in the indoor dinning room and stack emission. Indoor TVOCs continuous monitoring data showed that the highest TVOCs concentration was generally observed in the dining peak time. In this study, photocatalyst coated fiberglass filter was prepared by impregnation procedure and its characteristics was analyzed by SEM and XRD. Experimental results showed that the particle size of photocatalyst ranged from 25 to 50 nm and had high percentage of Anatase, suggesting that it had high photocatalytic reactivity. This study designed a continuous-flow reaction system combined nano-sized TiO2 photocatalysis with ozone oxidation technology to decompose VOCs from cooking oil fume. After passing through a fiberglass filter to remove oil droplets, the cooking oil fume then coated with nano-sized titanium oxide (UV/TiO2) fiberglass filter purification system, and then injected ozone into the system to decompose residual VOCs. This study further investigated the influences of operating parameters, including TVOCs initial concentration, O3 injection concentration, and reaction temperature on the decomposition efficiency of TVOCs by using the UV/TiO2/O3 technology. When the photocatalytic reaction temperature was 35~50¢J, the TVOC decomposition efficiency slightly increased with reaction temperature, however, when the reaction temperature went up to 55¢J, the TVOC decomposition efficiency increased only slightly, but did not increased linearly. Combination of photocatalysis and ozone oxidation system performance test results showed that ozone could decompose approximately 34% VOCs, and followed by the photocatalytical reaction of residual pollutants, achieving an overall decomposition efficiency of about 75%; while photocatalytic reaction can remove 64% of TVOCs and followed by O3 for the decomposition of residual pollutants, achieving an overall decomposition efficiency up to 94%. It showed that the combined UV/TiO2+O3 system could effectively remove VOCs in the cooking oil fume from the exhaust of restaurants. By using GC/MS to qualitatively analyze the speciation of TVOCs from cooking oil fume before and after UV/TiO2/O3, the results showed that the composition of VOCs had a decreasing trend. The peak area and dilution factor were applied to estimate the decomposition efficiency of different VOCs species. The decomposition efficiencies of pentane, 2-acrolein, acrolein, heptane, pentanal, hexanal, 2-hexenal, heptanal, heptenal and ethylhexenal were 56.21%, 72.88%, 51.33%, 32.23%, 59.04%, 69.22%, 73.53%, 41.37%, 92.57%, and 96.02%. Finally, a Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model was applied to simulate the photocatalytic decomposition efficiency with the initial concentration of cooking oil fume. Model simulation results showed that the reaction rate increased with the initial TVOCs concentration. However, when TVOCs concentration increased gradually, the reaction rate became constant since the activated sites on the photocatalyst¡¦s surface was limited and cannot allow more VOC molecules diffuse to the activated sites for further photocatalytic reaction.