This work presents a novel means of producing thin-film light-emitting devices, functioning according to the principle of electroluminescence, using an inkjet printing technique. This study represents the first report of a light-emitting device deposited completely by inkjet printing. An electroluminescent species, doped zinc sulfide, was incorporated into a polymeric matrix and deposited by piezoelectric inkjet printing. The layer was printed over other printed layers including electrodes composed of the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), doped with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and single-walled carbon nanotubes, and in certain device structures, an insulating species, barium titanate, in an insulating polymer binder. The materials used were all suitable for deposition and curing at low to moderate (<150°C) temperatures and atmospheric pressure, allowing for the use of polymers or paper as supportive substrates for the devices, and greatly facilitating the fabrication process. The deposition of a completely inkjet-printed light-emitting device has hitherto been unreported. When ZnS has been used as the emitter, solution-processed layers have been prepared by spin-coating, and never by inkjet printing. Furthermore, the utilization of the low-temperature-processed PEDOT:PSS/nanotube composite for both electrodes has not yet been reported. Device performance was compromised compared to conventionally prepared devices. This was partially due to the relatively high roughness of the printed films. It was also caused by energy level misalignment due to quantization (bandgap widening) of the small (<10 nm) nanoparticles, and the use of high work function cathode materials (Al and PEDOT:PSS). Regardless of their reduced performance, inkjet printing as a deposition technique for these devices presents unique advantages, the most notable of which are rapidity of fabrication and patterning, substrate flexibility, avoidance of material wastage by using drop-on-demand technology, and the need for only one main unit operation to produce an entire device.

This work presents a novel means of producing thin-film light-emitting devices, functioning according to the principle of electroluminescence, using an inkjet printing technique. This study represents the first report of a light-emitting device deposited completely by inkjet printing. An electroluminescent species, doped zinc sulfide, was incorporated into a polymeric matrix and deposited by piezoelectric inkjet printing. The layer was printed over other printed layers including electrodes composed of the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), doped with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and single-walled carbon nanotubes, and in certain device structures, an insulating species, barium titanate, in an insulating polymer binder. The materials used were all suitable for deposition and curing at low to moderate (<150°C) temperatures and atmospheric pressure, allowing for the use of polymers or paper as supportive substrates for the devices, and greatly facilitating the fabrication process. The deposition of a completely inkjet-printed light-emitting device has hitherto been unreported. When ZnS has been used as the emitter, solution-processed layers have been prepared by spin-coating, and never by inkjet printing. Furthermore, the utilization of the low-temperature-processed PEDOT:PSS/nanotube composite for both electrodes has not yet been reported. Device performance was compromised compared to conventionally prepared devices. This was partially due to the relatively high roughness of the printed films. It was also caused by energy level misalignment due to quantization (bandgap widening) of the small (<10 nm) nanoparticles, and the use of high work function cathode materials (Al and PEDOT:PSS). Regardless of their reduced performance, inkjet printing as a deposition technique for these devices presents unique advantages, the most notable of which are rapidity of fabrication and patterning, substrate flexibility, avoidance of material wastage by using drop-on-demand technology, and the need for only one main unit operation to produce an entire device.

This thesis has been performed at Mondi kraft pulp and paper mill located in Sweden, Kramfors Dynäs due to the low return rate of condensate. Currently, the return rate is only at 65 - 75 %. This is problematic as the demineralization process is operating on full capacity and thus requires a reduced make-up water need. The production of demineralized water is an expensive process due to large requirements of chemicals and pump-energy, but also due to the cost of raw water and maintenance. Therefore the purpose of the work was to investigate the possibility to increase the condensate return rate and thus reduce the need of make-up water. The investigation was performed during normal production rates to simplify the interpretations. The steam and condensate system was mapped and extracted flows were identified, measured and marked on map. The extracted flows were investigated in more detail and characterized as either consumed in a process or lost to sewer or atmosphere. In the work, both minor and major improvements were investigated. Minor improvements are accomplished with small intervention measures and could be done with small or no investments costs. Major improvements require large investments costs and further investigations. Six different processes were found to constitute the total production of make-up water. These are the free blowing of excess steam, soot blowing steam, paper machine 6, de-aerating process in the feed water tanks, digester process and steam- &amp; condensate leaks along the pipe network. Improvements with the category of minor were found to reduce steam and condensate consumption by 22 - 23 ton/h. This implies a reduction by 30 - 32 % of the added make-up water, including an annual financial benefit of 3,3 - 3,9 MSEK. Additionally 0,41 - 0,82 MSEK could be gained annually by improving the insulation on the cylinder dryer heads. The make-up water would be further reduced if insulation jackets and inspection programs were implemented on equipments along the steam lines. Two major improvements are recommended. The first major improvement involves elimination of the free blowing of excess steam. This could be accomplished by drying the bark before combustion. The added make-up water would be reduced by 25 % and with the possibility to sell the dried bark during low steam production. The second major improvement involves the digester process, where the consumptions of medium pressure steam could be reduced by replacing steam with liquor-steam from the strong liquor accumulator. Medium pressure steam could instead be converted into electricity by the turbine.

A crescente preocupação mundial com o manejo dos recursos florestais tem exercido grande pressão nos ambientes extrativistas e industriais ligados à base produtiva silvícola. Em vista da dificuldade de se estabelecer quais empresas e produtores adotam padrões produtivos ambientalmente sustentáveis, o uso das certificações tem ganhado notoriedade, funcionando como mecanismo de sinalização de comportamento mercadologicamente valorizado. Este cenário representa empiricamente teorizações da Economia da Informação em um ambiente agroindustrial específico, apresentando ferramentas de emissão de sinais como potenciais redutores da assimetria de informação presente na estrutura econômica de comércio. Contudo, permanecem questionamentos sobre como este uso de certificações e conseqüente melhoria da disponibilidade informacional podem impactar sobre as firmas adotantes desta estratégia. Relacionando esta situação com elementos da Economia Industrial (abordagem Estrutura-Conduta-Desempenho) e caracterizando a sinalização como um elemento de Conduta, esta pesquisa se propõe a verificar empiricamente potenciais impactos desta estratégia de atuação no Desempenho resultante. Como objeto específico de estudo, elegeu-se, dentro da indústria silvícola brasileira, o setor de papel e celulose, dada a sua relevância econômica para o agronegócio brasileiro. O método de análise de desenvolve através de modelos econométricos que buscam estabelecer e mensurar relações de influência entre a evolução de adoção de certificações de manejo florestal sustentável no desempenho exportador agregado do setor para o período 1995- 2008 (dados mensais), visto que a prática de comércio internacional potencializa a disponibilidade assimétrica de informações. Os resultados encontrados são parcialmente conclusivos em direção à sustentação da hipótese de que o uso de certificações tem influências positivas sobre o desempenho de comércio exterior da indústria brasileira de papel e celulose. / World’s increasing concern regarding forest resources management has pressured the producers and industries connected to forestry activities. In face of the difficulty to differentiate agents’ productive patterns of behavior towards forests, the use of sustainable forest management certifications is becoming increasingly relevant, working as a supposedly market valued signaling device. This scenario represents empirically in a specific agroindustrial environment the theories developed in Information Economics, presenting signal emission tools as potential reducers of commercial information asymmetry. However, questions regarding how the use of these certifications and the consequent improvement of information availability impact on firms which adopt this strategy remain. Relating this situation with the elements of Industrial Economics (more specifically the Structure-Conduct-Performance approach) and defining the signaling behavior as a Conduct pattern, this research proposes an analysis of the possible impacts of this strategy in the resulting Performance. As object of study, the Brazilian Pulp & Paper (P&P) industry is chosen, given its economic importance for the country’s forest and agribusiness sectors. The methodology to develop this verification is based on econometric regression models, aiming to establish and measures influences between the sustainable forest management certifications implementation evolution in the aggregated exporting performance of the Brazilian P&P industry for the period 1995-2008 (monthly data), since the international trade is expected to rise the levels of information asymmetry and hence the value of signals. Results allow partial acceptance of the hypothesis that the use of certifications has positive influences on Brazilian P&P industry’s international trade performance.

A crescente preocupação mundial com o manejo dos recursos florestais tem exercido grande pressão nos ambientes extrativistas e industriais ligados à base produtiva silvícola. Em vista da dificuldade de se estabelecer quais empresas e produtores adotam padrões produtivos ambientalmente sustentáveis, o uso das certificações tem ganhado notoriedade, funcionando como mecanismo de sinalização de comportamento mercadologicamente valorizado. Este cenário representa empiricamente teorizações da Economia da Informação em um ambiente agroindustrial específico, apresentando ferramentas de emissão de sinais como potenciais redutores da assimetria de informação presente na estrutura econômica de comércio. Contudo, permanecem questionamentos sobre como este uso de certificações e conseqüente melhoria da disponibilidade informacional podem impactar sobre as firmas adotantes desta estratégia. Relacionando esta situação com elementos da Economia Industrial (abordagem Estrutura-Conduta-Desempenho) e caracterizando a sinalização como um elemento de Conduta, esta pesquisa se propõe a verificar empiricamente potenciais impactos desta estratégia de atuação no Desempenho resultante. Como objeto específico de estudo, elegeu-se, dentro da indústria silvícola brasileira, o setor de papel e celulose, dada a sua relevância econômica para o agronegócio brasileiro. O método de análise de desenvolve através de modelos econométricos que buscam estabelecer e mensurar relações de influência entre a evolução de adoção de certificações de manejo florestal sustentável no desempenho exportador agregado do setor para o período 1995- 2008 (dados mensais), visto que a prática de comércio internacional potencializa a disponibilidade assimétrica de informações. Os resultados encontrados são parcialmente conclusivos em direção à sustentação da hipótese de que o uso de certificações tem influências positivas sobre o desempenho de comércio exterior da indústria brasileira de papel e celulose. / World’s increasing concern regarding forest resources management has pressured the producers and industries connected to forestry activities. In face of the difficulty to differentiate agents’ productive patterns of behavior towards forests, the use of sustainable forest management certifications is becoming increasingly relevant, working as a supposedly market valued signaling device. This scenario represents empirically in a specific agroindustrial environment the theories developed in Information Economics, presenting signal emission tools as potential reducers of commercial information asymmetry. However, questions regarding how the use of these certifications and the consequent improvement of information availability impact on firms which adopt this strategy remain. Relating this situation with the elements of Industrial Economics (more specifically the Structure-Conduct-Performance approach) and defining the signaling behavior as a Conduct pattern, this research proposes an analysis of the possible impacts of this strategy in the resulting Performance. As object of study, the Brazilian Pulp & Paper (P&P) industry is chosen, given its economic importance for the country’s forest and agribusiness sectors. The methodology to develop this verification is based on econometric regression models, aiming to establish and measures influences between the sustainable forest management certifications implementation evolution in the aggregated exporting performance of the Brazilian P&P industry for the period 1995-2008 (monthly data), since the international trade is expected to rise the levels of information asymmetry and hence the value of signals. Results allow partial acceptance of the hypothesis that the use of certifications has positive influences on Brazilian P&P industry’s international trade performance.

A crescente preocupação mundial com o manejo dos recursos florestais tem exercido grande pressão nos ambientes extrativistas e industriais ligados à base produtiva silvícola. Em vista da dificuldade de se estabelecer quais empresas e produtores adotam padrões produtivos ambientalmente sustentáveis, o uso das certificações tem ganhado notoriedade, funcionando como mecanismo de sinalização de comportamento mercadologicamente valorizado. Este cenário representa empiricamente teorizações da Economia da Informação em um ambiente agroindustrial específico, apresentando ferramentas de emissão de sinais como potenciais redutores da assimetria de informação presente na estrutura econômica de comércio. Contudo, permanecem questionamentos sobre como este uso de certificações e conseqüente melhoria da disponibilidade informacional podem impactar sobre as firmas adotantes desta estratégia. Relacionando esta situação com elementos da Economia Industrial (abordagem Estrutura-Conduta-Desempenho) e caracterizando a sinalização como um elemento de Conduta, esta pesquisa se propõe a verificar empiricamente potenciais impactos desta estratégia de atuação no Desempenho resultante. Como objeto específico de estudo, elegeu-se, dentro da indústria silvícola brasileira, o setor de papel e celulose, dada a sua relevância econômica para o agronegócio brasileiro. O método de análise de desenvolve através de modelos econométricos que buscam estabelecer e mensurar relações de influência entre a evolução de adoção de certificações de manejo florestal sustentável no desempenho exportador agregado do setor para o período 1995- 2008 (dados mensais), visto que a prática de comércio internacional potencializa a disponibilidade assimétrica de informações. Os resultados encontrados são parcialmente conclusivos em direção à sustentação da hipótese de que o uso de certificações tem influências positivas sobre o desempenho de comércio exterior da indústria brasileira de papel e celulose. / World’s increasing concern regarding forest resources management has pressured the producers and industries connected to forestry activities. In face of the difficulty to differentiate agents’ productive patterns of behavior towards forests, the use of sustainable forest management certifications is becoming increasingly relevant, working as a supposedly market valued signaling device. This scenario represents empirically in a specific agroindustrial environment the theories developed in Information Economics, presenting signal emission tools as potential reducers of commercial information asymmetry. However, questions regarding how the use of these certifications and the consequent improvement of information availability impact on firms which adopt this strategy remain. Relating this situation with the elements of Industrial Economics (more specifically the Structure-Conduct-Performance approach) and defining the signaling behavior as a Conduct pattern, this research proposes an analysis of the possible impacts of this strategy in the resulting Performance. As object of study, the Brazilian Pulp & Paper (P&P) industry is chosen, given its economic importance for the country’s forest and agribusiness sectors. The methodology to develop this verification is based on econometric regression models, aiming to establish and measures influences between the sustainable forest management certifications implementation evolution in the aggregated exporting performance of the Brazilian P&P industry for the period 1995-2008 (monthly data), since the international trade is expected to rise the levels of information asymmetry and hence the value of signals. Results allow partial acceptance of the hypothesis that the use of certifications has positive influences on Brazilian P&P industry’s international trade performance.