The compatibility properties of some contemporary finish coats together with their complementary layers used in insulated exterior walls were examined in terms of water vapour permeability and modulus of elasticity. Basic physical and mechanical properties of some synthetic-, cement- and polymer-based external finish coats were analyzed in laboratory. Some additional samples, complementing the wall section, were also examined for their water vapour permeability. Results showed that the finish coats were high vapour permeable although they had high resistance to water vapour permeation, which was achieved by their application in thin layers. Cement-based undercoats were found to be medium permeable. The application of primer and/or paint was found to decrease the permeability of finish coats in different ranges. Thermal insulation layer was found to interrupt water vapour flow considerably. Among polystyrene- and mineral-wool-based thermal insulation boards, rockwool was recommended as the insulation layer due to its medium vapour permeability. In conclusion, walls insulated externally with rockwool boards and plastered with polymer-based finish coat, FC8ACB or synthetic-based finish coat FC3SB were found to be the most proper combination in terms of breathing and thermal resistance capabilities. All finish coats seemed to have sufficient strength and except the synthetic-based finish coat, FC2SB, they seemed to be compatible with each other and with the masonry in terms of their Emod values. Further studies were recommended on some other compatibility properties of finishing systems, such as thermal and moisture dilatation properties, and on the relation between the resistance to water vapour permeation and water permeability.

Biodegradable, edible wheat gluten films offer a renewable alternative to plastic food packaging or can be incorporated directly in the food product. Wheat gluten is a good option because it forms a fibrous network, lending strength and elasticity to films. The goal of this research project was to produce, with a water-based film formulation and methodology, smooth, homogeneous wheat gluten films with low water vapour permeability (WVP). The water-based film formulation also served to compare the FT Wonder wheat cultivar, grown in Ontario, to commercially produced wheat gluten and determine the effect of wheat source on the film properties, surface morphology, surface hydrophobicity, WVP, and film swelling in water for different pH, temperature and casting surface conditions. Fluorescence, SPR, and casting formulation viscosity provided preliminary information on the mechanism of film formation and on gluten protein structure induced by modifying the film formulation. This research provides an alternate use for some Ontario wheat cultivars based on their properties in films compared to commercial sources of gluten. As a result, using Ontario cultivars to prepare gluten film packaging material has potential as an alternate source of income for Ontario farmers. This research also defines the film properties for gluten films produced from aqueous solutions, helping to identify processing parameters that could bring gluten films on par with plastic packaging and make gluten films a viable alternative food packaging material. Finally, it was determined that the water vapour permeability of wheat gluten films was not correlated to film surface contact angle.

Biodegradable, edible wheat gluten films offer a renewable alternative to plastic food packaging or can be incorporated directly in the food product. Wheat gluten is a good option because it forms a fibrous network, lending strength and elasticity to films. The goal of this research project was to produce, with a water-based film formulation and methodology, smooth, homogeneous wheat gluten films with low water vapour permeability (WVP). The water-based film formulation also served to compare the FT Wonder wheat cultivar, grown in Ontario, to commercially produced wheat gluten and determine the effect of wheat source on the film properties, surface morphology, surface hydrophobicity, WVP, and film swelling in water for different pH, temperature and casting surface conditions. Fluorescence, SPR, and casting formulation viscosity provided preliminary information on the mechanism of film formation and on gluten protein structure induced by modifying the film formulation. This research provides an alternate use for some Ontario wheat cultivars based on their properties in films compared to commercial sources of gluten. As a result, using Ontario cultivars to prepare gluten film packaging material has potential as an alternate source of income for Ontario farmers. This research also defines the film properties for gluten films produced from aqueous solutions, helping to identify processing parameters that could bring gluten films on par with plastic packaging and make gluten films a viable alternative food packaging material. Finally, it was determined that the water vapour permeability of wheat gluten films was not correlated to film surface contact angle.

Växthus används för att ge ett bättre odlingsklimat åt grödor och växter. För ytterligare förbättring av förhållandena används växthusvävar som exempelvis kan reglera temperatur, fuktighet och ljustillförsel. Väven som behandlas i denna rapport är en så kallad energiväv som främst har till uppgift att minska energiåtgången vid uppvärmning.När väven är fördragen nattetid, ökar luftfuktigheten då grödorna avger fukt dygnet runt. Fukten kan kondenseras mot energiväven, vilket gör att det bildas droppar på väven som kan falla ned på växtligheten. Den höga luftfuktigheten kan medföra svampsjukdomar och i övrigt också bidra till att tillväxten avstannar. Ludvig Svensson AB i Kinna som tillverkar växthusvävar vill undersöka hur struktur och materialval påverkar energivävens fuktgenomsläpplighet. Detta skall göras genom framtagning av ett antal olika provmaterial, där modifieringar av energiväven görs. Provmaterialens fukttransmission mäts med fyra metoder, saltmetoden (EN ISO 15 496:2004), kanadensiska burkmetoden (CAN2-4.2-metod 49:1977), hudmodellen (ISO 11 092:1993 (E)) och Permatran-W som baseras på ASTM E96/E96M-05. De två förstnämnda metoderna utfördes på Swerea IVF AB i Mölndal. Ett antal förändringar gjordes på väven, däribland byte av material, ändring av masklängd och bindningstyp. Resultaten visade att en modifiering av plastsorten i väven gav störst förändring av fuktgenomsläppligheten. De flesta provmaterialen påvisade en mindre fukttransmission än hos den ursprungliga energiväven, dessa värden kan i sig ge användbar data inför framtida produktutveckling. / <p>Greenhouses are used for the improvement of the cultivation climate for crops and plants. For further improvement of the environment, climate screens can be used, they control for example the temperature, humidity and brightness. The screen which is treated in this report is an energy saving screen that lowers the energy consumption.</p><p></p><p>When the greenhouse is covered at night, the humidity increases, since the crops transpire round the clock. The moisture can condense on the cold screen which contributes to the forming of drops that fall down on the vegetation. This effect and the high humidity level in the greenhouse could lead to fungus disease and a decrease in the growth of the cultivation.</p><p></p><p>Ludvig Svensson AB in Kinna who produces different climate screens, would like to investigate how structure and choice of material affects the energy saving screens water vapour transmission. This should be done by modifying the existing climate screen. The modified materials will be tested with four water vapour transmission methods, ISO 15496:2004, the cup method (CAN2-4.2-method 49:1977), the sweating hotplate method (ISO 11092:1993 (E)) and Permatran-W (based on ASTM - E 96/E 96M -05). The first two methods will be executed at Swerea IVF in Mölndal.</p><p></p><p>A few changes were made on the original screen, for example an exchange of materials, a change of looplenght and a change of binding. The results showed that a modification of the plastic band in the screen gave the largest vapour transmission. The most of the modified materials showed a lower humidity transport then the now existing screen. The given results can still offer useful information for future product development.</p><p>Program: Textilingenjörsutbildningen</p>

New methods, based on tracer gas measurements and isotopicanalysis can be used to evaluate the moisture properties ofbuilding materials and provide the means for forensic analysisof the origins and history of excessive water in buildings, theimmediate practical consequences of which will be the abilityto improve the moisture performance of constructions. It is shown, in theory and through measurements how thewater vapour permeability of porous building materials can witha good degree of accuracy be estimated with tracer gasmeasurements that provide an efficient alternative to the cupmethod. Complementary measurements may be carried out in orderto evaluate the contribution of surface diffusion and theeventual enhancing effects of moisture content on the diffusioncoefficient. The Random Hopping Model is used to illustrate howthe surface diffusion coefficient depends on the amountadsorbed and the activation energy of migration that can beevaluated from the sorption isotherms. It is explained how the abundance ratios of two of the mostordinary isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in water can be usedto determine its history. These isotopes are stable and givethe water a distinct signature that can be used to reveal itssource as shown in a case study. In a contrary manner themeasured isotopic separation can be used to determine therelevance of different transport processes and reactions. It isof central importance that not only does the magnitude ofisotopic separation for the reactions vary for deuterium andoxygen-18 but even the ratio thereof. One of the challenges hasbeen to construct an experimental method for retrieving samplesof water for comparison. Furthermore this thesis includes an evaluation of a new typeof a light weight construction with loose-fill cellulose fibre,in which the conventional polyethylene vapour barrier has beenreplaced with polypropylene fabric. With a verified model ithas been investigated how the construction would perform fordifferent internal moisture loads and reference climate fromthe literature. The results suggest that this type ofconstruction is not to be recommended. KEYWORDS:tracer gas, water vapour permeability,diffusion, surface diffusion, isotopic analysis, deuterium,oxygen-18, fractionation, vapour barrier, transient numericalmodelling of diffusion. / QC 20100611

The application of current soy protein films are limited due to their low mechanical strength and high moisture sensitivity compared to synthetic materials. This research studied several methods to improve the mechanical properties [tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EAB), Young’s modulus of elasticity (YM)] of solvent cast soy protein isolate (SPI) films. Drying times were significantly reduced through the use of a heated casting surface. Neutral (pH 7) SPI films were prepared but were found to have lower TS, EAB and YM than control films prepared under alkaline conditions. Cellulose was extracted from soybean wastes and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified the existence of nano-sized fibres. Composite SPI films were prepared using either extracted cellulose fibres or titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and their mechanical and barrier properties (water vapour, and oxygen permeability) were evaluated under different relative humidity (RH) conditions. In general, TS and YM decreased and EAB increased with increasing RH. Films with 5% (w/w) added cellulose exhibited significant (p-value < 0.05) improvements in TS and YM but decreased EAB. TiO2 composites possessed similar TS, YM, and EAB values to control films. Barrier properties were comparable across all samples, and decreased with increasing RH. Samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Preliminary work investigating synthesis of filler materials using cross-linked sodium alginate particles increased the TS and YM of SPI films to a similar extent as extracted cellulose. A method for electrospinning cellulose using ionic liquids was developed, but requires further process optimization to be used for fibre/filler synthesis. / OMAFRA; Hannam Soy Utilization Fund

Les protéines isolées végétales sont une source renouvelable de matière première, disponible en grande quantité. Malgré des propriétés mécaniques faibles par rapport aux polymères traditionnels, elles possèdent d’autres spécificités intéressantes comme leur biodégradabilité, leur filmabilité et leur absence de toxicité. Cette étude s’est focalisée sur l’influence du procédé d’élaboration, la compatibilité et l’ajout de nanocharges sur les propriétés de mélanges poly(butylène succinate - co - adipate)/protéines de soja isolées plastifiées (PBSA/PISP). Dans un premier temps, les protéines de soja sont plastifiées et mélangées au poly(butylène succinate - co - adipate), dans des proportions différentes et extrudées simultanément en une étape d’extrusion. Ensuite, l’effet de l’ajout du poly(2-éthyl-oxazoline) comme compatibilisant a été étudié. L’addition de ce compatibilisant permet d’améliorer l’interface et les propriétés thermiques. En outre, l’addition de nanotubes d’halloysite permet d’améliorer certaines propriétés mécaniques et thermiques. Enfin dans le cas de films préparés avec une composition PBSA/PISP égale (50/50), le compatibilisant améliore les propriétés optiques, tandis que l’ajout des nanotubes d’halloysite améliore les propriétés de barrière à la vapeur d’eau et retarde la dégradation du film enfoui dans un sol. L’ensemble des résultats donne de premières indications sur l’usage potentiel de ces films dans le domaine de l’emballage et éventuellement dans le biomédical. / Vegetable isolated proteins are a renewable source of raw material, available in the large quantities. In spite of weak mechanical properties compared with the traditional polymers, they possess other important characteristics such as biodegradability, filmability and they are non-toxic. This study investigated the effect of processing type, compatibilization and addition of nanofillers on the properties of poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate)/plasticized isolated soy protein blends (PBSA/PISP). Initially, plasticizing and blending of soy protein with poly (butylene succinate-co-adipate) at various composition were carried out simultaneously in a single step extrusion. Then, the effect of adding poly(2-ethyl oxazoline) as compatibilizer has been studied. Addition of compatibilizer improves the interface and thermal properties of the blends. Besides, addition of halloysite nanotubes improves some mechanical and thermal properties. Finally, in the case of blend films prepared with equal PBSA/PISP composition (50/50), the compatibilizer increases the optical properties whereas addition of halloysite nanotubes improves the water vapour barrier properties and delay the degradation of blends as tested by soil buriel test. The overall results gives preliminary insights into potential usage of these films in packaging and possibly in biomedical sector.

Many pieces of fine art are made of wood that has been treated with coatings. Since wood is a very hygroscopic material, the moisture content strongly influences the deformation of wooden parts. Coatings often act as moisture barriers. Therefore, the moisture permeability of coatings must be considered for the evaluation of the structural behaviour. The mechanical properties are also relevant to evaluate the deformation of thin artwork like panel paintings as well as the damage of paintings and varnishes. Therefore, the mechanical properties and the permeability of selected coatings used for cultural wooden artwork are investigated and presented in the article at hand. In this study, coatings of three artworks are investigated: a Lusatian cupboard from the eighteenth century, an altarpiece by L. Cranach the Elder and a Russian icon from 1912. The coatings considered are white ground, colours, varnishes, glue and textile reinforced sizing. Mechanical tests are conducted to evaluate the stiffness and tensile strength of the Russian icon’s coating. Cup tests are made to identify the moisture permeability of the coatings. This test was conducted for single coatings as well as for coating systems consisting of different coatings to investigate both the moisture barrier of single coatings and the interaction of coatings. Exponential functions for the relative humidity-dependent permeability are fitted based on the experimental data. The results allow the quantification of permeability for all investigated coatings—from white ground with a high permeability to beeswax with a low permeability—and the magnitude of moisture dependency of the coating’s permeability. Furthermore, it is shown that the simple addition of the water vapour resistance of single coatings underrates the resistance of a total coating system. By the mechanical tests, the strength, ultimate strain and Young’s modulus are obtained. The permeability and the mechanical parameters are required as input for numerical simulations of the structural behaviour of coated wooden artwork. These results are a good step forward to assess the risk of damage of coated wooden artwork.