POSTER Mastura Abdalshafie
IMRI
Melt dripping behaviour of thermoplastic polymers and their
significance with respect to their burning behaviour
Mastura Abdalshafie, Baljinder Kandola, D. Price and Dr. Beth Mottershead
IMRI
This poster presents a study of melting and dripping behaviour of thermoplastic polymers
and their significance with respect to their burning behaviour. Seven different thermoplastic
polymers have been selected. Their melting and decomposition temperatures have been
identified by using thermal analytical equipment, DTA-TGA. The flammability behaviour has
been studied using Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) at the room temperature measures the
minimum amount of oxygen required for a sample to burn and UL-94 vertical burning test
conditions. The flame was applied for 10 seconds and the length of time that the sample
burned was measured. The flame was reapplied 10mm below the burned edge of the
sample for a further 10 seconds, the length of time; the sample burned for a second time
was measured. The melting, dripping and burning behaviour were recorded using high
speed video.
To study melt dripping behaviour, methodology is being developed. The results from these
experiments have been analysed to draw a relationship between melt dripping and burning
behaviour. Most of previous work on melt and dripping behaviour was concentrated on
study of fire operating conditions, and modelling of the thermal process, however, no work
has been reported on quantitative relationship between melting and burning behaviour of
thermoplastic polymers.
Key words: Thermoplastic polymers; burning behaviour, thermals stability decomposition,
flammability.
POSTER Mamadou Ndiaye
IMRI
Thermal modelling of fibre-reinforced composite laminates
M. Ndiaye, P. Myler, B. Kandola, G. Edwards
Fibre-reinforced composite laminate is a combination of fibre (eg, glass, carbon etc) and
resin (eg, epoxy, unsaturated polyester, vinyl ester etc). Different components behave
differently on exposure to heat and/or fire. When exposed to an external heat, the resin part
is affected most, which degrades and then may ignite after undergoing various physical /
chemical stages. 1) The first stage is the glass transition, when the cured resin softens, 2)
the second stage is the decomposition of the resin, where some fragments break away from
the resin, 3) at the pyrolysis temperature, the volatile fragments leave the surface and diffuse
and convect outwards mixing with the ambient oxygen, creating a flammable mixture near
the solid surface, 4) when the temperature of the mixture is increased, gas phase oxidation
of the flammable volatiles becomes the dominant component. That means flaming ignition
could occur and combustion reaction is self-sustained.
In this work the above process is described schematically and a numerical study of the
phenomenon based on the work of Henderson‟s model [1] for the burning of composite
materials is presented. This model was used as the basis of a computer programme using
fortran language. Subsequently a guide drive process using matlab is being developed
based upon the original fortran programme to enable greater flexibility in terms of modelling
the behaviour of these composites. It is shown how the modelling programmes written in
Matlab and Fortran work and how the simulations compare with experimental results,
obtained previously [2] by exposing the composite materials to radiant heat via cone
calorimeter.
Keywords: Fibre reinforced composites, epoxy resins, flammability, pyrolysis, modelling,
spontaneous combustion, heat transfer model.
References
1. Henderson J.B., Wiebelt J.A., Tant, M.R., J. Compos. Mater. 19, (1985), p. 579
2. Kandare E., Kandola B.K., McCarthy E., Myler P., Edwards G., Jifeng Y., Wang Y.C.,
„Fibre-reinforced epoxy composites exposed to high temperature environments. Part I:
Experimental data acquisition, Submitted to J Composite Materials.
POSTER Maria Rodriquez-Yborra
School of Arts, Media & Education
Piloting, Informing, Embedding and Evaluating e PDP in a School of
Arts, Media and Education (SAME) - the PIeR project : Closing the
loop, from WebCT to Mahara
Barbara Thomas
Dr. Maria Rodriguez-Yborra (co-authors)
(http://pierproject.edublogs.org/)
This work in progress interactive poster (action research) presents on-going
research of the challenge and evaluation faced during the implementation of pilot
studies of an ePDP exercise in the School of Arts, Media and Education (SAME)
at the University of Bolton as well as the future development of an integrated
ePDP and Personal Tutoring framework within a VLE in the school.
With the emergence of new technologies that could support the traditional PDP,
the school explored a more flexible approach using an open source VLE
(Moodle) to implement the existing PDP framework. The experience provided the
school with data to inform full implementation of ePDP through Moodle and to
further explore the optimum process, infrastructure and research that was
needed to support future developments across the SAME more effectively using
available ICT technologies in the University.
A further development is being explored: the integration of Personal Tutoring
(PT) using the ePDP approach. Following the testing and piloting of Mahara (an
open source e-Portfolio system) as the ePDP support software, and newly
available through the UoB Upgraded Moodle (2010-2011), the embedding of PT
within the SAME PDP will be piloted (2011-2012). The outcomes of these
experiences will inform the SAME and the UoB PDP and PT strategies and
implementations.
Keywords: ePDP, VLE, PT, Art & Design, eLearning, flexibility, pilot, action research
Interactive Poster
(the loops move automatically or by demand during presentation, as seen in the
PieR project blog: http://pierproject.edublogs.org/)
POSTER Muhammet Uzun
IMRI
Carboxylmethylcellulose (CMC) Fibres in Wound Management
M.Uzun* and S.Anand*
*
Centre for Materials Research and Innovation, Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5AB
Investigation of novel wound dressing materials and methods are an important part of the
fast growing biomaterials industry. Especially following the development in cellular and
molecular biology which understanding of the biological processes involved in wound healing
and tissue regeneration. The wound dressing materials increased in variety and some of
textile fibres are relevant to wound dressing needs. Primary goals of wound innovations are
at alleviating patient suffering, shortening wound healing time periods, and resolving chronic
wound healing clinical problems.
The aim of this study is to explain production and utilization of Carboxylmethylcellulose
(CMC) fibre which is mainly used for wound dressing purpose. Cellulose based fibres like
cotton and viscose have been employed for wound management for a long time. Process for
production fibrous caboxylmethyl cellulose was invented in 1983 by Nakayam et al. CMC
fibre are manufactured by reacting a starting cellulose with an alkaline solution containing an
etherifying agent dissolved there in while the cellulose is filled in a reactor and the solution is
circulating by pump so as to come into continues contact with cellulose. CMC was chosen
for producing fibre due to its superior properties such as absorbent for physiological liquids
(urine, blood). The fibres can absorb up to 20 times its weight of water and they are also
capable of a high degree of swelling when wet in water.
General applications of CMC fibre based wound dressing (AqucelTM ) which include chronic
wounds such as leg ulcers, pressure ulcers and acute wounds such as abrasion, laceration,
incision, donor sites, and first and second degree burns. The dressing is also intended for
use in the management of surgical or traumatic wounds that have been left to heal by
secondary intent.
POSTER Mostafa Zanganeh
IMRI
Concept based databases
Mostafa Zanganeh
As the number of online publication is on the increase, new tools are developed for online
navigation such as search engines. However users still have to navigate through the vast
amount of queried information to find their suitable match. In the databases various
techniques are also used to model data structures. Database models such as object-
oriented or relational models are common in structuring data. But they all have some
disadvantages when it comes to interaction with the user. In this work we propose a
conceptual representation database model to represent information as a form of concepts.
This conceptual schema represents the semantics of an organisation and not the database
design, so it may exists in various levels of abstraction. The idea is to create a conceptual
model where different layers of content structure integrated into a single architecture as a
content model. This can have a profound effect on the way we create, process and consume
documents. We want to use this idea with extracting document objects from different layers
of content model such as ontology, topic or subject domain layers and represent them
conceptually in an operational environment. The user will interact with the objects and
explore their relationship with navigating through different layers of the environment
smoothly. The empirical evaluation of the model will determine its suitability and
effectiveness in user‟s retention and acquisition of information.
POSTER Paul Russell
School of Health & Social
Sciences
Characteristics of Muscle Dysmorphia Symptomatology in
Bodybuilding, Rugby, Football and Non-Sporting Individuals
McGill, C., and Russell, P.
School of Health and Social Sciences
Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) is a recently proposed disorder addressing the pathological pursuit
of a hyper-mesomorphic physique and a preoccupation with the idea that one‟s body is
insufficiently muscular and/or lean. The disorder has been proposed as a form of body
dysmorphic disorder whereby individuals become pathologically preoccupied with their
degree of muscularity, which may cause them to suffer severe subjective distress, impaired
social and occupational functioning, and the abuse of steroids and other substances.
Research has commonly examined the phenomenon in those individuals who heavily invest
in their physiques through weightlifting and bodybuilding. However, it has become
established that such body image concerns may exist in athletes and the general population.
The aim of this research was to identify differences in the prevalence of MD symptoms in
bodybuilders (n=20), rugby players (n=20), footballers (n=20), and a non-sporting control
group (n=20). After receiving ethical approval from the School of Health and Social Sciences
the participants completed a demographic questionnaire, and the Muscle Dysmorphia
Inventory (MDI). Using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), with post-hoc Tukey's
HSD (Honestly Significant Difference) Test (SPSS: version 12), the results revealed a
significant main effect for group (p<0.05) for all MDI subscales. Post-hoc analysis revealed
that bodybuilders scored significantly higher (p<0.05) on 5 out of the 6 MDI subscales.
Overall the current study supports contemporary literature that bodybuilders are at “high” risk
of displaying MD symptomatology, though future examination of MD in strength/power
related sports is warranted.
POSTER Vijay Parikh & Dignesh Shah
IMRI
Stimuli Responsive Chitosan Based Hybrid Polymeric Drug
Delivery System
V Parikh, D Shah, M Zafar, Dr T Shah
Institute of Materials Research and Innovation (IMRI), University of Bolton
Response to a stimulus is a basic process of living systems. Based on the lessons learned
from the nature, many researchers have been designing interesting materials that respond to
the external stimuli such as temperature, pH, light, electric & magnetic field, chemicals and
ionic strength. These responses are manifested as dramatic changes in one of the following
characteristics of system: shape, surface characteristics, solubility, and formation of an
intricate molecular self-assembly or a sol-to-gel transition. Applications of stimuli responsive,
or „smart‟, polymers in delivery of therapeutics to specific organ site of body, tissue
engineering, bio-separations, sensors, cell culture or actuators have been studied
extensively. However, stimuli responsive, hybrid natural-synthetic polymer based drug
delivery systems (DDSs) have not received much attention. Use of hybrid polymers can lead
to the formation of well-defined, biocompatible, macromolecular blocks, for instance,
hydrogel, nanoparticles, microspheres etc. The hybrid DDS can mimic biological systems
and also response to tiny environmental variations of pathological state of body. The major
aims of the present study are to prepare, characterize and evaluate stimuli responsiveness
of sodium diclofenac loaded poly N-isopropyl acrylamide (pNIPAAm) and chitosan, and
sodium tripolyphosphate (Na-TPP) and chitosan Nano particulate carrier systems. Another
objective is to compare the drug release profiles of the prepared hybrid polymeric systems
due to different physiological as well as pathological changes in pH and temperature. The
two DDSs have been characterised using FTIR, DSC, HPLC and SEM techniques. This
poster will present the results of the characterization of these nanoparticle DDSs as well as
their in vitro drug release behaviour.