Why farming and its rituals lie at the very core of this island's identity
At this harvest time of the year, I often long to visit an Irish farm just to experience the feeling of the land. Farming is an important element in Irish life, and I think it's something we should know about. And so my friend Martin Condon took me to his cousin's farm in the rolling countryside between Bandon and Clonakilty - land which has been in his family for many generations.
Farms are family endeavours - or, they're at their best when the family co-operates together. "A farmer needs to be married," says Christy Condon, who, with his pretty wife, Helen, runs this almost idyllic farm of about 150 acres. There have been bachelor farmers, but it's a struggle, and it's no coincidence that stories about bachelor farmers have focused on loneliness. Helen and Christy have six children, from aged 27 to 15, all, except for the eldest, Grace (presently in Sydney, Australia) involved in the farm and highly knowledgeable about farming technology. Their younger son, Emmet, spends his hobby time tinkering with the combine harvester. Their elder son, Michael, is off to agricultural college and keen to succeed his father, eventually.
Their three lively daughters, Katherine, Claire and Clionadh, know all there is to be known about working on a silage pit - and how perilous the methane gas can be. Agriculture can be a dangerous business nowadays, and there are constant reports of tragic accidents occurring with farming machinery. Falling into a silage pit is one of the worst hazards of all.
Yet to the outsider, the Dublin-born jackeen who knows little about the land or animal husbandry, this life seems like a painting from Constable or Poussin. In the fields, the cattle look so picturesque, dotting the landscape with cow-eyed serenity (this is a milk farm, which also produces beef). But each animal is electronically tagged these days. Milk is strictly tested and then monitored for temperature and lactose content in a great tank by a computerised system. A Government inspector can call at any unannounced moment and shut down a farmer's entire operation if everything isn't exactly as it should be.
Christy, a cheerful man in his fifties, doesn't complain about this. He doesn't even complain much about the milk prices, which have dropped so dramatically over the past year that Northern Irish farmers have been protesting by bringing cows into supermarkets. Yes, the farmers were getting 39 cent a litre last year, and only 27.5 cent this year, but that's because of over-supply on the world market. The Irish farmer thinks globally: the EU embargo on trade with Russia (because of the Ukrainian troubles) and the great fall of China are contributing factors. "We must just hope the market stabilises again." Most Irish milk goes into cheese and milk powder, by the way.
What upset Helen and Christy was the BSE scare (mad cow disease) in 1996, when they lost 187 cattle. "That was the saddest day," says Helen, "seeing them all taken off to be slaughtered." But it couldn't be helped. The priority was to keep the herd free from any suspicion of contamination. Helen and Christy are patriotically aware of the need to maintain the reputation of Irish beef and milk. Irish beef is the best in the world, and that must be defended and upheld.
The cows are Friesian, and they graze the fields until November, when they're brought inside. Most of them are pregnant just now, and they will calve in January or February. Out of 110 cows, you'd lose three or four calves from still-births and other complications. The CCTV has been a great help in monitoring cows in labour: previously a farmer had to check on a cow every hour through the night.
Clionadh Condon, who is only 17, is raising her own set of bullocks for her transition year project. She's very serious and professional in her care of these sleek creatures - they put you in mind of the phrase "silk of the kine".
Cattle lore is fascinating: the Friesian needs grass with a moderate amount of heat and a moderate amount of rain, which makes Irish grass ideal, usually. Grass in the south of England can sometimes be a little too tufty. In continental Europe, cows are kept indoors much more than in Ireland.
The French won't eat the meat of a cow unless she has had a calf - there is a subtle alteration in the taste - and cows suffer from a form of post-natal depression if a calf is lost through still-birth.
All milking is done by machines, and the milking shed looks awesomely hi-tech. But a farming family still needs to know how to milk by hand, in case of a power failure.
Hay is now only used for bedding. Animals are fed on home-grown wheat, barley and maize. And harvest-time is no longer what it was in times past. The communal ritual of "saving the harvest", as in John McGahern stories, is gone. Nowadays, big silage businesses manage the threshing and the hay. Yet harvest "thanksgiving" in September is observed in this part of west Cork, introduced by the Protestant farming traditions around Bandon, and there is a lot of activity with farmers' markets and country markets, rich with produce. And there's a grand community feeling about that, too.
Is a farming life a happy life? "Yes," says Helen, who's originally from Clonakilty. "If you're cut out for it. When the cows are calving and the spring crops start coming in, it's lovely: you think - this is the cycle of life starting all over again."


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The Company is an emerging e-commerce business providing wedding accessories and personalized gifts. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA truly has the entire country at their finger tips through a fully developed drop ship business model. Providing unparalleled customer service and prompt shipping, The Company has the potential to take the market by storm. The key selling point of The Company current business model is no overhead, possible only by utilizing a drop ship platform. By offering hundreds of products supplied by only the finest manufacturers, The Company is able to reach a host of potential buyers; in doing so the company will be able to generate a faithful following of consumers. Operating under a drop ship model these items are consistently available, but inventory costs are paid for by other corporations; passing cost savings from The Company to their customers. This is a tremendous cost savings, and one that undoubtedly appeals to all segments of the target audience. In order to reach this target audience, The Company depends primarily on the Internet and word of mouth referrals. Eventually field-based salesmen may be used to generate regional interest, but still using the site and drop ship format for purchasing and distributing.
The Company’s mission statement is as follows: Our mission is to provide the best quality, service and price for our clients with every transaction; regardless of size or immediate need. Furthermore we commit to our clients to provide 2-3 day shipping, resulting in a measurable business strategy; and above all, stress free shopping for every bride’s big day.
COMPANY OWNERSHIP Sample Plan 4 is a limited liability corporation registered in the state of California. The Company has been owned by Mr. Williams (100%) since June of 2011. As the visionary behind the Sample Plan 4 brand, Mr. Williams has a passion for providing the perfect touch to every wedding; but doing so without steep price tag. Mr. Williams is well equipped to effectively launch this venture with a background laden with quick decision making. As a seasoned professional with a strong entrepreneurial drive, Mr. Williams will not only be able to establish a foundation for Sample Plan 4, but also push the company beyond the confines of ecommerce sales. In addition to his intense passion and decision making ability, Mr. Williams is well known for his strengths in time management, continuous improvement and targeted customer service.
Startup Summary The following tables specify the funding Sample Plan 4 needs to bring the business to the next level through the operations of “Sample Plan 4”.
Start-up Expenses Website construction Set up Merchant Account Business Plan Development Business Consultant/Accountant First year salary Total Start-up Expenses
10,000 3,500 500 2,000 24,000 40,000
Products The Company is currently operating from San Francisco, CA, though as with any web-based business location is not critical to success. This is particularly true when considering the drop ship nature of the company’s business model. As mentioned previously, The Company is focused on providing affordable solutions for weddings and personalized gifts. This will be done through a shopping cart style website selling various accessories and gifts for every bride’s big day. To expand upon the previous list The Company promptly provides products including:
WEDDING ACCESSORIES • Candles • Custom aisle runners • Invitations • Garters
RECEPTION ACCESSORIES • Custom serving utensils • Custom glasses • Table runners • Custom banners
PERSONALIZED GIFTS • Hand bags • Totes • Groomsmen gifts • Bridesmaid gifts Though this list is already quite extensive, the company has access to hundreds of items from which they can select for posting on their website. With this level of flexibility and product selection, it will be difficult for competitors to maintain an edge above The Company.
As is apparent from the figures above the e-commerce industry is quickly making a substantial mark on the economy. Though some business models require a moderate amount of capital intensive operations, with a purely drop ship model many of these costs can be avoided. The industry is also well known for high profit margins, driven by a highly competitive environment. With very low barriers to entry competition is consistently generating new ideas, products and processes. To keep up with these ever changing trends, industry contenders must be certain their technology and service are constantly improving. Every year, roughly 100 million Americans purchase goods from the online retail marketplace, one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States. Since the start of the decade, revenue for the e-commerce industry has grown at an exceptional rate, outperforming most retail industries in the country. Because of steady growth, industry margins have also improved, increasing from about 5.0% in 2006 to an estimated 11.0% in 2011. As online shopping has become more popular among consumers, hard-to-find niche products, such as hunting and camping equipment, have found a home online. As product ranges have grown, so has the number of operators entering the industry. In the coming years, continued economic recovery will contribute to the e-commerce industryâ€™s strong growth. Increases in per capita income and employment levels will improve consumer sentiment, increasing consumersâ€™ likelihood to buy. Additionally, broadband internet adoption will grow in the next five years, increasing online retailersâ€™ accessibility.
Industry at a Glance E-Commerce Snapshot
Annual Growth 06-11
Annual Growth 11-16
Profit Wages Business
$11.5bn $7.8bn 52,248
Industry Outlook Products and services segmentation (2011)
Office equipment and supplies
Medication and cosmetics
4.5% Food, beverages and pet food
24.3% Computers and TVs
7.2% Furniture and home appliances
13.8% Sporting goods, toys, hobby items and games
23.2% Other merchandise
15% Clothing, footware, accessories and jewelry
The Companyâ€™s Keys to Success 1. Ability to compete at a profit. It will be extremely important for The Company to compete with other organizations in the industry and drive a profit by generating new customer accounts.
2. Effective cost controls. Because shipping has historically made up such a large portion of the industryâ€™s costs, The Company must be able to control this cost driver and integrate effective feasible measures.
3. Developing a skilled labor force. Though not needed immediately, moving forward in expansion to additional e-commerce sites it will be crucial for The Company to establish high quality staffing strategies.
4. Developing a broad customer base. From households to education programs, the template that has been shown to be successful in the online retailing industry is to develop a broad customer base.
Marketing A variety of tools will be used to drive the The Company marketing message with the most prominent among these tools being the Internet. The company already has a strong web presence with a website that is highly scalable, user-friendly and clearly spells out the services that the company offers. Moving forward, The Company will begin to leverage the website in a much more aggressive fashion to drive online traffic that ultimately translates into sales. SEO (Search Engine Optimization), social networking and blogging will all be used to give The Company a comprehensive online marketing presence. Social network pages will include Facebook.com and Twitter.com; the worldâ€™s two largest social networks. Having a presence on these two portals will give the brand the opportunity to effectively drive interest and awareness. The Company is planning to integrate a marketing professional with a strong background in the music and sustainable business industry to implement the chosen marketing strategies. Members of the future sales team will be used in a marketing capacity to establish new customers and continue to cultivate relationships with existing customers. Having a presence in front of certain customers will establish valuable contacts, gain impressions and consumer touches with the targeted audiences in an effort to lay the base for physical locations to root in various communities.
Objectives What follows is a listing of key corporate objectives for The Company:
1. Obtain a $40,000 loan. Having access to $40,000 in working capital is one of the primary corporate objectives for The Company. Doing so will allow the organization to establish operations through marketing, coverage for startup expenses and growth in terms of revenue base.
2. Expand operations. E-commerce provides nearly endless opportunities for business establishment and growth; with this related to current or new products. With that being said, The Company will look to expand operations to better capitalize on all of the opportunities that are currently present in the market.
3. Grow supplier relationships. The Company is currently working with one distinct webbased supplier, offering an attractive drop ship business model. A crucial piece of The Companyâ€™s success will be fostering relationships with this type of company in an effort to provide and receive premium service. Initially the company will expand the number of items offered to existing clients, and then proceed to increase the overall population of customers served. To ensure these objectives are met the company will remain flexible in their business model including the number of employees needed and physical office space: as growth necessitates.
Profit and Loss
Revenue Total Cost of Revenue
Gross Margin Gross Margin/Revenue Total Op. Expenses Net Profit
$36,000 $41,400 $48,852 $58,622 $71,519 50.00% 50.00% 50.00% 50.00% 50.00% $21,350 $22,310 $23,318 $24,376 $23,338 $6,914 $8,459 $13,107 $17,037 $20,873
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 $72,000.00 $82,800.00 $97,704.00 $117,244.80 $143,038.66
Direct Costs Operating Expenses Net Profit
$36,000.00 $21,350.00 $6,913.60
$41,400.00 $22,310.00 $8,458.82
$48,852.00 $23,318.00 $13,106.87
$58,622.40 $24,376.40 $17,036.58
$71,519.33 $23,337.72 $20,873.09

domain: economics


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AER’s Air Quality team assists air quality agencies, non-profits, and industry in the use, development, analysis, and validation of air quality models and datasets for tasks such as:
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AERMET Meteorological Data - Precursor to EPA's AERMOD model that processes National Weather Service observations and/or onsite meteorological data for input into AERMOD. Using our AQcast system, AER can process and provide AERMOD ready meteorology data for your site. For more information on our AQcast: AERMOD system meteorology click here.
AERMOD Easy Reference Links
- USGS National Map Viewer for Elevation, Imagery, and Topography data
- EPA National Emissions Inventory
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AQcast - A scalable, automated system for air quality modeling on the Amazon cloud. AQcast simplifies complex air quality modeling, speeding up projects and reducing their costs. AQcast includes many meteorological, emission, and chemical transport models:
- Meteorology: WRF data processing for SCICHEM, CALPUFF, and AERMOD using MMIF as well as NOAA station processing using the AERMOD pre-processors
- Emissions: US EPA National Emission Inventory (NEI) modeling platform, including the SMOKE model, for US; EDGAR (anthropogenic), MEGAN (biogenic), and FINN (fires) for the rest of the globe
- Chemical transport model: Choice of US EPA CMAQ model, WRF-Chem, or CAMx, including the pre-processors for each
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For more information on our AQcast sytem including packages and pricing click here.
ASP (Aerosol Simulation Program) - ASP simulates the gas-phase, aerosol-phase, and heterogeneous chemistry of young biomass burning smoke plumes, including the formation of O3 and secondary inorganic and organic aerosol and estimation of aerosol optical properties. It has been used in several studies of the air quality and climate impacts of biomass burning, and has been incorporated into the Lagrangian particle dispersion model STILT and the large eddy simulation System for Atmospheric Modeling (SAM). For more information or a quote, please contact Matthew Alvarado.
CAMx (Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions) - CAMx is a multi-scale photochemical modeling system for simulating gas and particulate air pollution similar to the US EPA’s CMAQ model. CAMx is able to simulate air quality over many geographic scales and treat a variety of inert and chemically active pollutants, such as ozone, particulates, mercury, and toxics. CAMx can also be used to conduct source attribution, sensitivity, and process analyses. For more information or a quote, please contact Chantelle Lonsdale.
CMAQ (Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System) - The US EPA’s CMAQ model is used to translate fundamental atmospheric science principles to support air quality management. CMAQ is used by researchers and states agencies to effectively and efficiently characterize air quality and protect human health, as well as to develop and assess implementation actions needed to attain National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). CMAQ simulates many air pollutants of concern, such as ozone, particulate matter (PM), and other air toxics. The National Weather Service also uses CMAQ to produce twice-daily forecast guidance for air quality across the US. For more information or a quote, please contact Chantelle Lonsdale.
CMAQ Easy Reference Links
- FINN - Fire Inventory from NCAR
- UNC CMAQ Webpage
- EPA CMAQ Webpage
- UNC Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) Webpage (Links to CMAQ Pre- and Post-processors)
MEGAN (Model for the Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature) - MEGAN is a widely used model that can produce biogenic emissions (e.g. trees, crops, plants) based on land type, plant distributions, and relevant meteorological factors (i.e. temperature, humidity, sunlight). MEGAN is a global model, and thus can be used in global climate-chemistry models as well as in regional air quality models such as CMAQ. At AER, we use MEGAN biogenic emissions within a variety of our models including CMAQ and STILT-ASP. For more information or a quote, please contact Jennifer Hegarty.
MOVES (MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator) - MOVES is a state-of-the-science emission modeling system that estimates emissions for mobile sources at the national, county, and project level for criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and air toxics. AER uses MOVES to examine how local and regional air quaity is affected by changes in traffic patterns and in off-road mobile source emissions. For more information or a quote, please contact Ben Brown-Steiner.
SCICHEM - SCICHEM is a version of the SCIPUFF (Second-order Closure Integrated Puff) model that includes chemistry. SCIPUFF is a Lagrangian model that uses Gaussian puffs to calculate species concentrations based on input source parameters. It is similar to EPA's AERMOD, but includes chemistry calculations and therefore may be used for permitting or attainment demonstrations of primary/secondary pollutants with agency approval. Using AQcast on the Amazon cloud, AER can run SCICHEM and all of its pre-processors including (METSCI and TERSCI) for your facility with your provided source parameters and facility location. There are options to use WRF gridded meteorology or National Weather Service (NWS) observations as inputs as well as CMAQ background concentrations. For more information on AQcast: SCICHEM, click here.
SCICHEM Easy Reference Links
STILT (Stochastic Time-Inverted Lagrangian Transport model) - STILT is a Lagrangian particle dispersion model that can simulate the transport of atmospheric constituents over time and space and can be used to determine the source locations and relative strengths of anthropogenic pollutants and natural emissions. STILT is built on the programming architecture of the NOAA HYSPLIT model, but contains several distinct features including a reflection/transmission scheme that preserves well-mixed particle distributions and the ability to directly use convective mass fluxes generated by the WRF model. When run backward-in-time from receptors, the STILT system can be used to estimate contributions of specific emission sources to measured atmospheric species concentrations at the receptor locations. For more information or a quote, please contact Jennifer Hegarty.
STILT Easy Reference Links
SMOKE (Sparse Matrix Operator Kerner Emissions) Modeling System - SMOKE is an emission modeling system that is used to convert annual, county-level emission inventories into gridded, hourly emission files for use in photochemical air quality models like CMAQ and CAMx. AER uses SMOKE to prepare emissions files for these models for different domains, horizontal resolutions, and chemical mechanisms, including the use of custom emission inventory data for selected areas. For more information or a quote, please contact Ben Brown-Steiner.
SMOKE Easy Reference Links
Spatial Allocator: Surrogate Tool - This model is a used to generate spatial surrogates for use in SMOKE. AER has automated the processing of over 300 surrogates for USA, Mexico, and Canada for any domain. For more information, refer to AQcast.
WRF (The Weather Research and Forecasting model) - WRF is an advanced numerical weather prediction system that is used world-wide for both research and operational applications. The model system incorporates terrain, land use, and atmospheric and ocean data, and provides treatments of all physical processes such as topographical flows, heat and water fluxes, the influence of the urban landscape, planetary boundary layer processes such as turbulence and vertical mixing, clouds and precipitation processes and solar and terrestrial radiation. AER uses the state-of-the-art Advanced Research WRF (ARW) to treat the physical processes. AER runs WRF on the AWS cloud and employs it to perform research on weather systems, and to provide meteorological data for AERMOD, SCICHEM, and CMAQ. For more information or a quote, please contact Jennifer Hegarty.
WRF-Chem - WRF-Chem can provide high-resolution regional photochemical air quality modeling for any region of the globe. The AQcast system on AWS dramatically reduces the time necessary to complete these simulations, including the preparation of the necessary input data. For more information or a quote, please contact Chantelle Lonsdale.
WRF Meteorological Data for CALPUFF - Using our nCast system on AWS, AER can provide data for CALPUFF using MMIF. AER can run WRF at any resolution required by the user for their specific multi-year project. For more information or a quote, please contact Amy McVey.
WRF Easy Reference Links
WRF-Chem Easy Reference Links
- Official WRF-Chem Webpage
- WRF-Chem Pre-processors and Development Activities at NCAR
- FINN - Fire Inventory from NCAR
- PNNL WRF-Chem Model Research and Development


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According to two Canadian reports just recently released, rates of homelessness and poverty in the country are high. The findings state that homelessness and poverty often strikes indigenous and immigrant children, women and families.
The reports are from the the Poverty or Prosperity study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Save the Children Canada, and the Canadian Homelessness Research Network and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.
Read the Entire Article
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Programs that provide supportive services for individuals and families who are homeless or which work with people who are at risk for homelessness in an effort to prevent them from losing their permanent residence.


text:
Method of controlling monomer loss during the production of a fiber-thermoplastic matrix by in situ bulk polymerization
An improved method of controlling monomer loss during the production of a fiber-thermoplastic matrix by in situ bulk polymerization is described, the improvement allowing polymerization to greater than 25% polymer content by weight of the matrix within less than eight minutes. A fibrous web of less than 0.25-inch thickness, saturated with a liquid phase polymerizable composition containing a vinyl monomer and a thermally activated free radical initiator at 1/2-10% by weight of the composition is polymerized under controlled conditions in which the matrix is: (a) confined between heat transfer surfaces at 0.2-20 psig; (b) heated to a temperature sufficient to initiate polymerization but below the boiling point of the composition; (c) increased in temperature as the boiling point of the composition increases during polymerization while still maintaining the temperature below the boiling point of the composition; and (d) increased in temperature above the boiling point of the composition when the desired polymer content is obtained in order to evaporate residual monomer from the matrix. The resulting matrix is suitable for molding by the application pressure into useful products.
Latest Weyerhaeuser Company Patents:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to controlling monomer loss in the manufacture of fiber-thermoplastic matrix so that greater than 25% polymer by weight of the matrix is formed in the matrix while polymerization time is reduced to less than eight minutes. More specifically, monomer loss from a fibrous web of less than 0.25-inch thickness, impregnated with a polymerizable composition and subjected to in situ bulk polymerization is controlled by applying careful pressure and temperature controls during the polymerization.
Fiber-plastic combinations are well known. Resins have been used to enhance the wet strength of paper and as binding agents in cellulosic sound-insulating and filling materials. Patents that show a moldable fiber-thermoplastic matrix for use in decorative lamnnates, luggage shells, and corrugated material are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,119,731, 3,121,656, 3,203,851; German Pat. No. 1,186,315; and Canadian Pat. No. 763,202. In these patents the cellulosic-thermoplastic fiber matrix is made by adding a finely divided thermoplastic polymer to the cellulosic fiber, usually into an aqueous suspension of the fiber. A fiber-thermoplastic polymer composition is obtained which is dried and subjected to heat and pressure to produce a densified composite article.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,232,824 discloses a process comprising: (1) addition of a polymerizable monomer or monomer/polymer emulsion to an aqueous suspension of cellulosic fiber; (2) emulsion polymerization of the monomer in the aqueous suspension; (3) removal of the water to produce a web; (4) drying; and (5) molding the dried material under heat and pressure. Since polymerization occurs in aqueous suspension, water must be removed from the fiber web and the web dried before the impregnated material can be molded and shaped by heat and pressure. Further, in emulsion polymerization, surfactants are usually required to stabilize the monomer or monomer/polymer emulsion, adding additional expense to the overall process. In addition, emulsion polymerization processes are quite time-consuming, usually taking hours to accomplish a useful amount of polymerization and polymer deposition.
Prior art showing production of fiber-polymer compositions by in situ polymerization is considerably more limited. Bulk polymerization of polymerizable monomer in a fiber matrix, that is, polymerization of substantially all of a reactant liquid consisting essentially of monomer or monomer/polymer without use of any emulsion system or medium, eliminates the drying and surfactant requirements but creates other problems. If vinyl monomers are polymerized in a fiber matrix, monomer losses from evaporation during polymerization can be prohibitively high due to the great volatility of such monomers. Further, the polymerization of vinyl monomers is generally an exothermic reaction once initiated, and without the "heat sink" capacity of an emulsion medium, the temperature and pressure conditions of bulk polymerization must be closely controlled to prevent runaway reactions which produce charred product and sometimes explosions. Close control is particularly critical when extremely rapid polymerization is sought by using high concentrations of heat activated polymerization initiators.
A non-emulsion polymerization of vinyl monomers in a cellulosic matrix is suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,118. Disclosed is a process of selectively polymerizing vinyl monomers within and/or upon host polymeric materials, such as wood fibers, having ion exchange capacity. The patentee begins with a host material having inherent ion exchange capacity, or chemically attaches an ion exchange material to the host, then chemically attaches a polymerization catalyst or initiator to the ion exchange material, and finally exposes the treated host material to a monomeric liquid which may be a monomeric solution, suspension, or emulsion to cause polymerization essentially only at sites on the host material of chemically bound catalyst or initiator. The process has many disadvantages. The amount of polymer deposition possible depends upon the ion exchange capacity of the host material. The process is slow (1) because of the need to chemically attach the catalyst or initiator to the host material, and to wash away excess catalyst or initiator before polymerization can be attempted, and (2) because it is possible to secure only a relatively small amount of initiator or catalyst to the host material due to its limited ion exchange capacity. Further, the patentee's prime concern, as suggested by each of his 181 illustrative examples, is in the areas of emulsion, suspension, or solution polymerization, which have inherent problems of their own as a result of the carrier liquids used in those processes.
In situ bulk polymerization of vinyl monomers saturating 1 inch wood blocks is shown in an article by Beall, Meyer and Skaar, "Direct RF Heat Curing of Wood Plastic Composites," 16 Forest Products Journal, No. 9 at 90 (September 1966). In Beall et al, aspen and basswood blocks were soaked in a polymerizable composition consisting of methyl methacrylate monomer and up to 1/2% by weight of the composition of a thermally activated free radical initiator such as benzoyl peroxide for 15-25 minutes. Polymerization was initiated by the heat provided by a constant temperature water bath regulated at 68.degree. C. A thermo-couple inserted in the block recorded the center temperature changes as the polymerization proceeded to completion from initiation. The temperature measurements were plotted as a temperature vs. time curve and show exothermic peaks during the polymerization at about 150.degree. C, well above the boiling point of the pure monomer at 100.degree. C. No attempt was made to control the temperature of the polymerization reaction. The only effort to control monomer loss was the wrapping of the saturted blocks in aluminum foil. It was noted by Beall that some losses of monomer occurred through evaporation and that there was a residual of uncured monomer in the blocks after process completion. Vacuum drying was found to be necessary to remove uncured monomer to change the polymer from the rubbery to the rigid state. The minimum time necessary to effect polymerization shown by Beall was about 70 minutes, when employing direct heating. Beall does show that an increase in peroxide concentration from 0.2 to 0.5% by weight of the polymerizable composition reduces the time to the exothermic peak. Beall does not anywhere suggest that monomer loss may be minimized by controlling temperatures, thereby allowing faster processing times.
Marks, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,516,064, describes a process for polymerization of a dimethacrylate ester of a glycol or mixture of glycols, with the Marks' invention lying in the use of a cobalt nitrate catalyst. While primarily directed to the manufacture of massive castings through bulk polymerization, Marks in passing notes that a product having a hard surface may be made by in situ polymerization of a monomer-coated methacrylate sheet. Marks, concerned with the large castings, does not address the problems of monomer loss and speed of polymerization that are inherent in handling a fast-moving continuous sheet. Marks indicates reaction temperatures of 0.degree. to 130.degree. C, and reaction times of greater than 55 minutes to complete polymerization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved process wherein monomer loss is controlled during the manufacture of a fiber-thermoplastic matrix by in situ bulk polymerization of a fibrous web less than 0.25 inch thick impregnated with a polymerizable composition comprising a monomer and a thermally activated free radical initiator such that the matrix after polymerization contains at least 25% polymer by weight and the bulk polymerization is completed in less than 8 minutes, comprising (a) confining the impregnated web matrix between heat transfer surfaces wherein the matrix is subjected to a pressure of 0.2 to 20 psig; (b) heating the saturated matrix to an initial temperature sufficient to initiate polymerization but below the boiling point of the composition; (c) raising the temperature as the boiling point of the composition increases during polymerization while still maintaining the temperature below the boiling point of the composition; and (d) increasing the temperature above the boiling point when polymerization is nearly complete in order to evaporate residual monomer from the composition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is schematic elevational view illustrating apparatus useful for carrying out one embodiment of the method of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The basic raw materials for the process of this invention are fibers, polymerizable monomeric compositions, and polymerization initiators.
The fibers used in the process of this invention are in web form and may be prepared by conventional processes. Suitable fibers include cellulosic fibers (such as bleached or unbleached hardwood or softwood pulps), cotton, rayon, nylon, fiberglass, wool, silk, ramie, hemp, sisal, linen, metal, jute, asbestos, straw, and the like. The fiber web may be either woven or nonwoven, and should be sufficiently high in void volume, as indicated by density, to receive and hold sufficient monomer or monomer/polymer mixture. A density range of from about 0.1 to 0.8 gms./cm..sup.3 and preferably from about 0.3 to 0.5 gms./cm..sub.3 is suitable. The incorporation of common additives to the fiber web appears to have little effect on the saturability of the final product.
The polymerizable monomeric compositions useful in the process of this invention are in liquid form at room temperature and pressure, and cure through vinyl polymerization. The compositions may be liquid phase monomers, mixtures of liquid monomers, solutions of gaseous monomers in liquid monomers or liquid mixtures of monomers and polymers. Olefinic monomers such as vinyl, diene, vinylidene and allyl monomers are suitable. Specific useful monomers include methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride, styrene, acrylonitrile, 4-vinyl pyridine, acrylamide, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, acrylic acid, methacrylate acid, itaconic acid, allyl methacrylate, hexyl acrylate and methacrylate, decyl acrylate and methacrylate, lauryl acrylate and methacrylate, stearyl acrylate and methacrylate, allyl acrylate, methallylacrylate, di-chlorostyrene, bis-B-chloroethyl vinyl phosphonate, 4-vinylcyclohexene, vinyl methacrylate, vinyl toluene, divinyl benzene, crotonic acid, B-aminoethylacrylate, methacrylamide, 2-N-morpholinoethyl acrylate, acrolein, styrene sulfonic acid, 2,5-dichlorostyrene, N,N-dimethylaminoethylacrylate acetate, N,N-dimethylaminoethylacrylate base, pentachlorophenoxyacrylate, methylene bis-acrylamide, 2-vinyl pyridine, N-vinyl carbozole, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, vinyl chloride, vinyl stearate, butadiene, chloroprene, maleic anhydride, methyl 2-chloroacrylate, methylstyrene, diethyl maleate, methacrylonitrile, tetra fluoroethylene, divinylbenzene, and many others.
Monomer mixtures of styrene-butylacrylate, styrene-divinyl benzene, styrene-methacrylate-acrylate, styrene-methylmethacrylate, styrene-acrylate, styrene-methacrylate, or styrene-butadiene may also be used. The acrylates most useful in monomer mixtures are ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate and butyl acrylate. Monomer/polymer mixtures such as styrene/polyester or styrene-polyester-polystyrene may also be used. Polyesters sold under the trade names "Laminac" by American Cyanamid and "Polylite" by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., are exemplary of suitable polyesters. The polyesters, it should be noted, are used as polymer additives here, and only in such quantities as will ensure that the resulting polymerized product will be thermoplastic in nature.
The preferred monomer components are styrene, dichlorostyrene, acrylonitrile, divinyl benzene, and esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, the alcohol portions of said esters containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms.
A suitable polymerization initiator is incorporated with the polymerizable composition. Any of the known conventional thermally activated free radical initiators for vinyl monomers can be used, as for example, benzoyl peroxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, methylethylketone peroxide, tertiary butyl perbenzoate, 4,4-parachlorobenzoyl peroxide, tertiary butyl peracetate, and azobisisobutyronitrile. The amount of initiator added to the monomer composition is extremely high in comparison to the amounts used in the prior art and may range from 0.5 to 10 weight percent, and preferably from 1 to 5 weight percent, of the polymerizable composition.
Accelerators, such as aromatic amines may be combined with the initiators to assist in initiating polymerization. Other well known accelerators such as mercaptans, anilines, and metallic naphthanates can be used in place of the aromatic amines.
A fiber web is pepared and saturated with a suitable polymerizable composition containing an appropriate polymerization initiator. The saturation may be accomplished by spraying, dipping, padding, doctoring or other well known methods. After saturation, the web may be run through rollers or other devices to lower the monomer or monomer/polymer content in the web to the desired level. The exudate is circulated for reuse.
The amount of polymerizable composition added to the web will depend to a large extent upon the desired final web polymer content. The weight ratio of polymerizable composition to fiber can vary widely, but usually ranges from about 1:3 to 2:1, and is preferably closer to 1:1.
A cellulosic fiber-thermoplastic composition having a thermoplastic polymer content amounting to about 10% of its total weight is moldable and can be used to produce decorative articles such as snack trays, food plates, etc. Such a material, however, does not have the necessary physical characteristics for use as a packaging material for foods, oil, beverages, etc. where a high degree of water and oil resistance is needed. A higher polymer content, i.e., at least 25% by weight and preferably 40% by weight, and up to 70% by weight is necessary when the thermoplastic polymer fiber matrix is to be used in packaging.
The liquid phase polymerizable composition before it is applied to the fibrous web may be partially polymerized to increase its viscocity. The limits of usable viscocity are 0.6 to 10,000 centipoises measured at 75.degree. F. If the viscocity is too low, the fibrous web cannot retain the desired amount of liquid resin. If the viscocity is too high, the liquid resin is not sufficiently fluid to impregnate the fibrous web easily.
Quite unexpectedly, through the process of this invention, it has become possible to produce a useful fiber-thermoplastic matrix product comprising greater than 25% by weight polymer with polymerization times ranging from 1-8 minutes. This result is unexpected for a number of reasons. First, extremely rapid polymerization produces short chain polymers which normally are of little commercial value due to poor physical characteristics such as low tensile and impact strengths. Second, increasing polymerization initiator concentration to speed up the polymerization, as applicants have done, has appeared extremely unattractive. The initiators require the addition of heat before they break down into polymrization promoting free radicals. This heat is known to cause volatile monomer to evaporate from the reaction area before it even begins to polymerize, which not only raises production costs, but limits the amount of polymer which can be incorporated in the final fiber-thermoplastic product. In addition, the polymerization is exothermic, and generates considerable quantities of heat which causes further monomer loss as well as further free radical generation. The increase in free radical generation, of course, increases the rate of polymerization and the resultant generation of heat. Thus, attempting to speed polymerization by raising initiator concentration would be expected to cause runaway reactions, charred products, and even explosions, and in fact these process failures will occur unless the reaction conditions are controlled in a way heretofore unachieved. Applicants have discovered how to control such reactions in situ in fiber webs to permit "autocatalytic" continuous rapid production of polymerized of fiber-thermoplastic products having physical properties such as impact and tensile strengths superior to those of corresponding unmodified pure polymers.
Applicants achieve rapid polymerization by using high initiator concentrations which range from 0.5 to 10%, and preferably from 1 to 5%, by weight of the polymerizable composition. In this process the time allowed for in situ polymerization is less than 8 minutes, preferably in the range of 1 minute to 5 minutes. The final fiber-thermoplastic matrix contains at least 25% polymer or resin calculated as 100 .times. (weight of resin)/(total weight of the composite matrix). The preferred range is 25 to 70% polymer or resin contained in the final fiber-thermoplastic matrix.
The fiber-thermoplastic matrix of at least 25% polymer content, completed within less than 8 minutes, is possible only because of the careful temperature and pressure regulation scheme provided by this invention. The temperature must be high enough to cause thermal breakdown of the particular initiator being used in order to generate polymerization-promoting free radicals. The temperature must be low enough to permit rapid polymerization without causing significant monomer loss, and without charring or damaging the desired product. Since the polymerization is exothermic once initiated, close temperature control includes the ability to rapidly remove heat as well as to add it. The provision of a suitable "heat sink" such as a liquid filled temperature controlled drum maintained at the desired temperature in the reaction zone can provide such control. Control of the reaction is attained by holding the impregnated web in close contact with a temperature-controlled surface, thereby assuring rapid heating to start and sustain the polymerization reaction, yet sufficient cooling of the exothermic reacting matrix to prevent excess loss of monomer.
A key element of the invention is the concept of increasing the temperature during the reaction period. In the initial stages of the reaction, the temperature must be restricted to a level below the boiling point of the monomer-containing composition to avoid losing excessive amounts of monomer. As the reaction proceeds and the ratio of polymer to remaining monomer increases, the danger excessive loss of monomer correspondingly decreases and the temperature can be safely raised to speed the reaction toward completion.
In order to permit satisfactory heat transfer the thickness of the product is preferably kept below 0.25 inch and the basis weight of the unsaturated fiber web below 600 lbs. per ream. If these values are exceeded, it becomes increasingly difficult to control temperature within the interior of the polymerizing product.
Polymerization pressure must similarly be controlled. Polymerizing under pressure reduces monomer loss by raising the boiling point of the monomer-containing composition. In addition, when pressure is applied by means of a solid surface such as a platen, roll, or steel belt, it serves to seal off monomer escape routes and greatly increase heat transfer capabilities permitting improved temperature control. High pressure in the early stages of polymerization can cause extrusion of the polymerizable composition from the fiber web, and is preferably avoided. Pressures can vary from atmospheric or "contact" pressure to about 20 psig. "Contact" pressure is the minimal pressure required to cause essentially total surface contact between a saturated web and an essentially solid surface such as a platen, drum, belt, or the like. The appropriate polymerization pressure is related to the polymerization temperature, the polymerizable liquid composition, and to the type of fiber in the web. It can be empirically determined for each combination of process variables.
To carry out the process of saturating and polymerizing the fiber-monomer composition matrix on a continuous basis, a process and apparatus such as disclosed in FIG. 1 can be used. A roll of fiber web is unwound from roll 10 and fed through and around pre-heaters 12 and 14. The fiber web is then passed over idler rolls into a saturation tank 16 holding the liquid polymerizable composition and a free radical initiator. The web may have a polymer incorporated therein prior to saturation with the liquid polymerizable composition.
From tank 16 the fiber web is brought into contact with a hot, temperature controlled drum 18 which raises the temperature of the web and the polymerizable composition incorporated therein to initiate polymerization. Drum 18 is filled with hot oil which is continuously circulated through a temperature control system. The large quantity of hot oil in the drum acts as a heat sink which can add or remove heat from the polymerization zone. The web is maintained in close contact with the drum 18 by a continuous belt of stainless steel or other suitable material. A series of oil filled heat radiating coils flank portions of the belt to control its temperature. The web then passes over idler rolls to subsequent hot drums 22 and 20, chill rolls 24 and 26, and is wound on roll 28. Drum 22 is also filled with hot oil and is temperature controlled in the same manner as is drum 18. Drum 29 is filled with saturated steam which condenses to add heat to the polymerization zone, or vaporizes to absorb heat should the reaction temperature get too high. Chill rolls 24 and 26 cool the web to end polymerization and to permit satisfactory winding of the web on roll 28. Any convenient number of heated and chilled rolls may be used. Thus the temperatures of hot drums 18, 20 and 22 are continuously maintained at levels sufficient to initiate and maintain polymerization of the polymerizable composition in the web matrix without incurring substantial monomer losses or causing damage or charring of the product. Exhaust system 34 collects any escaping monomer which is recovered by monomer recovery system 36.
In operation, a sheet of paperboard of less than 0.25 inch thickness and a basis weight of less than 600 lbs. per ream is fed continuously into the process from unwind strand at roll 10. The sheet passes over pre-heater drums 12 and 14 to dry the sheet, reducing its moisture content to approximately 1% by weight. The pre-heater drums are heated to approximately 335.degree. F by saturated steam at 100 psig. The sheet is then passed into the saturator tank 16 where it is impregnated with polymerizable liquid composition or resin including the benzoyl peroxide initiator. The liquid composition at this point has a viscocity of 0.6 to 10,000 centipoises at 75.degree. F. The liquid composition impregnates the sheet and the excess is removed by passing through the nip rolls. The impregnated sheet now contains liquid composition in the range of 100 lbs. per 3,000 sq. ft. to 1,000 lbs. per sq. ft., depending upon desired final product characteristics, and it is now ready for further processing to polymerize the liquid composition in situ to form the fiber-thermoplastic matrix.
The sheet enters the temperature-controlled processing equipment, first passing over temperature control drum 18 which is 12 feet in diameter. An annular passage near the circumference of this drum is filled with circulating oil that is maintained at approximately 285.degree. F by an external heating and circulating system. The sheet is held on the drum by a continuous flexible belt that is under tension so as to maintain a pressure on the sheet of approximately 1 lb. per sq. in., holding it in close contact with the temperature control surface of the drum, promoting heat transfer and helping to prevent loss of monomer by evaporation.
In contact with the controlled temperature surface of the drum, the sheet is rapidly heated to the drum temperature. At the selected temperature, initiator concentration, and liquid resin composition, the polymerization reaction is rapid. The reaction is exothermic, giving off heat that must be dissipated if temperature control is to be maintained. Some of the exotherm heat will be spent by supplying the latent heat of evaporation for evaporating a portion of the monomer present. The remainder of the exotherm heat will be transferred to the controlled temperature surface with which the sheet is in contact. The controlled temperature surface provides a double function -- heating initially and then cooling as polymerization proceeds. The mechanism that allows this to happen is that the circulating oil keeps the drum temperature constant. When the sheet first comes into contact with the drum, it is colder than the drum and it receives heat from the controlled temperature surface, undergoing an increase in temperature. As polymerization proceeds, the exotherm heat first raises the temperature of the sheet above the temperature of the drum. Because of its higher temperature, the sheet now transfers heat to the controlled temperature surface of the drum, thereby dissipating the exotherm heat of reaction.
In the present equipment, the time the sheet spends in contact with the first drum is approximately one half the total time that will be spent in contact with controlled temperature surfaces. Typically, the in situ bulk polymerization reaction has progressed well toward completion by the time the sheet leaves the first drum. The sheet now passes to the second temperature-controlled equipment 22. This is a circular drum 6 feet in diameter and constructed and operated similarly to the 12-foot diameter drum previously described. On this 6-foot diameter drum also, the sheet is pressed against the temperature-controlled surface by a flexible belt. The temperature of this drum is held constant by circulating oil at a temperature the same or greater than of the first drum. For example, in a styrene monomer composition the temperature is 285.degree. F. When the sheet is discharged from the second drum, the polymerization reaction is substantially complete.
The third drum 20 is also 6 feet in diameter, but is heated to 320.degree. F with saturated steam at 75 lb. psig. On this drum, the sheet is also held in close contact with the drum surface by a flexible belt under tension. The purpose of the higher temperature on this drum is to drive the polymerization reaction to completion and to evaporate remaining monomer.
During all stages of the polymerization reaction, the reaction rate is greater at higher temperatures. But raising the temperature for a styrene monomer-containing composition above 285.degree. F during the early stages of polymerization causes monomer evaporation beyond that allowable by the constraints of desired production speed and final product polymer content. However, as the polymerization progresses, more and more monomer is changed into non-volatile polymer.The concentration of monomer in the sheet becomes low enough that the temperature can be increased and the benefit of accelerated reaction rate with increased temperature can be obtained without evaporating excessive amounts of monomer.
The first two drums, as described above, is to effect the polymerization of a major portion of the monomer originally present at the highest temperature practical without suffering large monomer losses by evaporation. The function of the third drum is to finish the polymerization step as far as it will go under the conditions of initiator level and chemical composition that exist. The reaction will not go all the way to completion because the last few percent of the monomer molecules lose mobility in the rapidly solidifying mass and cannot migrate to a proper position near an activated reaction site while the activated site still has its energy of activation.
Excessive monomer in the final sheet is considered to be a detriment because it softens the sheet and imparts odor and taste to the sheet. The high temperature of the third drum volatilizes the unreacted monomer and leaves the sheet through evaporation.
In operation, the sheet moves through the equipment at a speed of 40 feet per minute for a total time of approximately 2 minutes in contact with the controlled temperature surfaces.
In typical operation of the above described equipment, approximately 30% of the incoming monomer is evaporated and is removed from the sheet as vapor. It is collected and recovered for re-use in the monomer recovery system 36.
A cellulosic fiber web, comprising a paperboard of 0.040 inch thick with a weight of approximately 265 lbs. per 3,000 sq. ft., is fed through the saturation tank. The polymerizable composition contained in the saturating tank is styrene that has been partially polymerized to 39% by weight polymer solids and 61% by weight styrene monomer. Benzyl peroxide initiator is added at a rate of 3 lbs. per 100 lbs. of liquid resin. The liquid resin composition has a viscosity of 550 centipoises at 75.degree. F. The impregnated sheet contains liquid polymerizable composition to the extent of approximately 290 lbs. per 3,000 sq. ft. and is ready for polymerization. The sheet-matrix is continuously fed into the temperature-controlled section of the process. The first drum 18 is held at a temperature of 285.degree. F. On the first drum the matrix is increased in temperature to initiate the polymerization reaction but its temperature is always held below the boiling point of the monomer-containing composition. The web travels to the second heated drum 22 which is also at 285.degree. F, where upon polymerization is continued until essentially complete. The matrix then travels to the third drum which is heated to 320.degree. F, which temperatures drive the polymerization reaction essentially to completion and evaporates substantially all of the remaining monomer. The resulting final sheet contains resin to the extent of approximately 205 lbs. per 3,000 sq. ft.
It is obvious that certain modifications can be made to the equipment without affecting the overall process. In fact, equipment has been constructed and operated in which the temperature-controlled surface is divided up among a greater number of smaller drums than described above. We have also contained the moving sheet between two flexible belts for continuous containment as it moves around and between the successive drums in the temperature control zones. Other modifications could include methods of preparing the liquid resin and of applying it to the sheet. Modifications could be made in the method of heating or adjusting the temperature of the controlled temperature surfaces, methods of moving the sheet through the temperature control zones, methods of promoting contact or heat transfer between the sheet and the temperature-controlled surfaces, configuration or construction of the temperature-controlled surfaces, and many other modifications that would be apparent to one skilled in the art. Modifications of this nature are often useful, but do not alter the basic premise of our invention.
The resin or polymer content of the finished fiber-thermoplastic matrix may be varied above 25%, as dictated by desired product characteristics. Matrix compositions may range from 25 to 70% polymer by weight of the finished matrix calculated as 100 .times. (weight of the resin)/(total weight of the composite matrix). Of course, the final resin content will depend upon the content of the polymerizable composition impregnated into the fibrous web as well as the ratio of polymer to monomer in the composition. The chemical makeup of the polymerizable composition will, of course, also affect final resin content in the finished fiber-thermoplastic matrix.
Polymerization temperatures useful in the process of this invention are usually determined empirically for each fiber-polymerization composition combination. If the temperature is too low, the polymerization reaction proceeds too slowly. If the temperature is too high, an excessive amount of monomer is lost by evaporation. For the styrene polymer monomer composition, the temperature which in situ polymerization is controlled may range from 225.degree. F to 350.degree. F. Preferred temperatures are 245.degree. F to 300.degree. F for early stages of the process and 285.degree. F to 325.degree. F for the final stages.
The following examples further describe the inventive process.
The cellulosic fiber web, styrene monomer-containing polymerizable composition and initiator, are identical with those used in Example 1. The sheet is impregnated with the polymerizable composition to the extent of approximately 260 lbs. per 3000 sq. ft. The sheet-matrix is continuously fed into the temperature-controlled section of the process. The drum temperatures are as follows: drum 18 -- 245.degree. F; drum 22 -- 265.degree. F; and drum 20 -- 295.degree. F. Total contact time with the heated drum surfaces is 3.3 min. as compared with the 1.7 min. total contact time for Example 1. The resulting final sheet contains resin of approximately 220 lbs. per 3000 sq. ft. or about 46% polymer by weight of the finished product matrix.
Starting materials are identical to Example 2 above. The web is initially saturated to 220 lbs. per 3000 sq. ft. Drum temperatures are as follows: drum 18 - 225.degree. F; drum 22 - 265.degree. F; and drum 20 - 295.degree. F. The web is in contact with the heated drum surfaces for 1.9 min. resulting in a final sheet polymer content of 160 lbs. per 3000 sq. ft. or about 37% by weight.
Starting materials are identical with the previous examples above. The web is saturated to 206 lbs. per 3000 sq. ft. and is subjected to a drum temperature sequence as follows: drum 18 -- 225.degree. F; drum 22 -- 265.degree. F; and drum 20 -- 295.degree. F, respectively. After a contact time of 1.9 min., the resulting product matrix contains 150 lbs. per 3000 sq. ft. or about 36% by weight.
1. In a method for making a moldable, fiber-thermoplastic matrix by in situ bulk polymerization wherein a fibrous web of less than 0.25 inch thickness is impregnated with a liquid polymerizable composition, comprising a monomer and a thermally activated free radical initiator wherein the matrix after polymerization contains at least 25% polymer by weight and said bulk polymerization is completed in less than 8 minutes, the improvement whereby monomer loss is controlled during polymerization, which comprises:
- confining the impregnated web matrix between heat transfer surfaces wherein the matrix is subjected to a pressure of 0.2 to 20 psig;
- heating the impregnated matrix to an initial temperature sufficient to initiate polymerization but below the boiling point of the polymerizable composition;
- raising the temperature as the boiling point of the composition increases during polymerization while still maintaining the temperature below said boiling point; and
- increasing the temperature above the boiling point when polymerization is nearly complete in order to evaporate residual monomer from the composition.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the matrix to an initial temperature, raising the matrix temperature during polymerization and increasing its temperature above the residual monomer boiling point, comprises:
- controlling said temperatures step wise.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein controlling said temperatures step wise, comprises:
- controlling said temperatures between 240.degree. F and 320.degree. F, while maintaining said temperature at least 5.degree. F below the boiling point of the polymerizable composition until at least 25% polymer by weight of the matrix is attained; and
- increasing thereupon said temperature above the boiling point of the remaining composition.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said impregnated matrix comprises a cellulosic web impregnated with a monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, di-chlorostyrene, acrylonitrile, divinyl benzene, and esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, the alcohol portions of said esters containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms and 0.5-10% of a thermally activated free radical initiator.
5. In a method for making a moldable, fiber-thermoplastic matrix by in situ bulk polymerization wherein a cellulosic web of less than 0.25 inch thickness and of basis weight less than 600 lbs. per ream is impregnated with a liquid polymerizable composition comprising styrene monomer and a thermally activated free radical initiator of 0.5-10% of said composition wherein the matrix after polymerization contains at least 25% polymer by weight and said bulk polymerization is completed in less than 8 minutes, the improvement whereby monomer loss is controlled during polymerization which comprises:
- confining the impregnated web matrix between heat transfer surfaces wherein the matrix is subjected to a pressure of 0.2-20 psig;
- heating the impregnated matrix to an initial temperature of 225.degree.-285.degree. F to initiate polymerization but below the boiling point of the polymerizable composition;
- removing heat from the matrix to maintain the temperature at 225.degree.-285.degree. F until said matrix contains at least 25% polymer; and
- increasing said matrix temperature to 320.degree.-350.degree. F to evaporate excess monomer and complete the polymerization.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein heating to initiate polymerization, removing heat during polymerization and increasing heat to complete polymerization of the matrix is controlled step-wise.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps are at 225.degree. F, 265.degree. F and 295.degree. F, respectively.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the steps are at 245.degree. F, 265.degree. F and 295.degree. F, respectively.
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
International Classification: B29D 720; B29D 2700;

domain: chemistry


text:
The Craic Show Edition
The loudest band in the realm is here! Get the MTG Craic Edition deck to strengthen your collection with valuable musician cards and epic warriors today!
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domain: hobby


text:
in the UK
This fourth volume on In Vitro Haploid Production in Higher Plants comprises 11 chapters on cereal haploid production. All chapters are crop specific and each chapter contains an introduction about the selected plant, the techniques (anther culture, microspore culture, ovary/ovule culture) that have been successfully used for haploid production, the factors that have influenced the success of these techniques, the identification and genetic characterization of haploid regenerants, the application of haploids in breeding, and a brief conclusion on the potential of haploid breeding in the specific crop. The chapters contained review haploidy in cereal crops including rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), triticale, ryegrass (Lolium spp.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), rye (Secale cereale) and oat (Avena sativa). Some chapters also include a discussion of the potential of protoplast manipulations and genetic transformation of the particular crop under discussion.
Kluwer Academic Publishers

domain: agronomy


text:
Testing of resveratrol supplements conducted by ConsumerLab.com, White Plains,NY, found that most resveratrol supplements contained their claimed amounts of the ingredient (50 mg to 250 mg of trans-resveratrol per serving), passed tests for lead and cadmium contamination, and, if tablets were able to properly break apart. However, company discovered that one resveratrol supplement contained only 2 mg of resveratrol per capsule — less than 2% of the amount provided by most other products. Another supplement failed to break apart properly in disintegration testing. A third resveratrol product lacked a proper description of the plant source of resveratrol as required by the FDA. Among the products which passed testing, ConsumerLab.com found the cost to obtain 100 mg of resveratrol ranged from more than $3 to as little as 6 cents, indicating a large potential savings for consumers who comparison shop.
A recent survey by ConsumerLab.com of more than 10,000 supplement users showed that 20% had taken a resveratrol supplement in the past year. Resveratrol supplements have been popular since 2006, when studies in animals showed "life-extending" and "endurance-enhancing" effects, among other potential benefits.
ConsumerLab.com’s Resveratrol Supplements Review includes quality ratings, price comparisons, and ingredient comparisons for 10 products selected, tested, and rated by ConsumerLab.com as well as for seven that passed ConsumerLab.com's Quality Certification Program. Also listed is a product that is similar to one that passed testing.
Resveratrol supplements included in the report are 21st Century Resveratrol Red Wine Extract, Country Life Resveratrol Plus, Finest Nutrition (Walgreen) Extra Strength Resveratrol, Life Extension Optimized Resveratrol, Nature's Code (QVC) Resveratrex, NutriGold Resveratrol Gold, Olympian Labs Clinical Trans Resveratrol, Pure Encapsulations Resveratrol VESlsorb, Puritan's Pride Resveratrol, Puritan's Pride Resveratrol Plus Red Wine Extract, Reserveage Organics Resveratrol, Resvinatrol Complete, Shaklee Vivix, Solgar Resveratrol with Red Wine Extract, Swanson Resveratrol, Trunature (Costco) Maximum Strength Resveratrol, Vitamin Shoppe Reservie Trans-Resveratrol, Vitamin World Extra Strength Resveratrol Plus Red Wine Extract.
The report also provides information about the cis- and trans- forms of resveratrol, dosage, side effects, and concerns and cautions with resveratrol supplements, as well as information about resveratrol’s clinical effects.


The Business Intelligence (BI) industry grew another 10% last year to $25 billion, almost a third of the entire golf industry. But what is "BI" and why is it becoming a must-have tool in the business world? What could it mean for golf courses, private clubs, and small businesses?
According to Forrester Research, business intelligence is "a set of methodologies, processes, architectures, and technologies that transform raw data into meaningful and useful information used to enable more effective strategic, tactical, and operational insights and decision-making."
You'll find even more if you look it up on Wikipedia.
Fancy buzzwords aside, BI is a system that collects raw data and transforms it into useful charts and graphs that make it easy to evaluate. It is an invaluable tool for those who want to make fast data-driven decisions. At Metolius, we define our business intelligence service as follows:
Metolius Cloud Connect is a fully-automated system that combines raw data from your systems into easy to understand charts and graphs.
That simple definition belies the complexity of the tool. First, we find out how to access data from a source system like point-of-sale, tee sheet, or survey results. Next, we learn how the data is organized so we can pull it into a "single source of truth" database or data warehouse. Then we normalize the data so that it fits together. Finally, we work directly with the end-user to design custom dashboards, developing benchmarks, KPI's, and unique metrics along the way. This process involves a host of cloud-based systems working together with custom software we develop.
That sounds complicated and pricey (it's not as expensive as you think).
So what can business intelligence do for a golf course or private club? Let's ponder a few scenarios:
A general manager gets a daily 1-page summary that compares month-do-date rounds categories and sales by department to budget and prior year.
A course owner has a weekly summary of each department's revenues, expenses, and customer service scores.
A membership director has a list of members who have not visited the club in 30 days updated nightly.
A head golf professional tracks sales/inventory benchmarks monthly to determine OTBs.
A marketing director knows the exact cost-per-lead metrics from a recent Facebook campaign.
In each scenario, the staffer is getting useful data to perform their duties at the highest level. The data is also likely already available in its source system. That's if the staffer remembers to log in, possesses strong Excel skills, and has the time to turn cells into meaningful insights.
In most small businesses, time is the most valuable resource. It takes more time to get raw data into a usable format than it does to understand it. Managers wear many hats, and data-transformation-and-visualization-expert is pretty low on the list.
Business intelligence gives managers instant, automatic access to custom-built insights. It is a transformative tool for managers who want to use data to inform decisions. It's designed to be used by field-managers, no excel skills required. BI's whole goal is to democratize the ability to make data-driven decisions.
At Metolius, we believe in BI and what it can do for the golf industry. By leveraging a custom cloud architecture, we've built a custom business intelligence system that is affordable for courses and clubs.
With our tool in your hands, you'll be able to make faster decisions. You'll have a 10x capacity to evaluate trends and historical data. You'll make better-informed strategic decisions.
Better yet, align our business intelligence service with our marketing automation or agency services. Then we will align your marketing campaigns and advertising spends around the areas that are driving the highest ROI.


text:
Cardinal Health employees volunteer with 'United Way'
Cardinal Health has made helping United Way St. Croix Valley and its initiatives a priority for several years with both contributions of employee time and resources.
Are you a newspaper subscriber but you don't have a Digital Access account yet? https://secure.forumcomm.com/?publisher_ID=40&event=subscriber/lookup.
You will need your subscription account number and phone number. Not sure if you have an account? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.org and we can help you.

domain: topicality


text:
Authors & Events
James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) was born in Burlington, New Jersey, and his family moved to Cooperstown, New York, while he was still an infant. He attended Yale College until he was expelled for bad behavior. He served in the U.S. Navy, resigning in 1811 to get married. With his story The Pilot (1823), Cooper set the style for a new genre of sea fiction. His most famous novels are the Leather-Stocking Tales including The Pioneers (1823), The Last of the Mohicans (1826), The Prairie (1827), The Pathfinder (1840), and The Deerslayer (1841), featuring the quintessential American hero Natty Bumppo. Cooper, a keen social critic, wrote several well-regarded naval histories.
A Stepping Stone Book(TM)
Modern Library Classics
The Leatherstocking Tales
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domain: literature


text:
Attack of the Pokies is a minigame only seen when Backyard Monsters is down for maintenance.
You need to guide the worker to the mushroom, avoiding pokies! For every 20 mushrooms you gather, a golden mushroom power-up will appear. When you eat that golden mushroom, you will turn huge and you will be able to kill pokies by smashing them with you body for a short amount of time.
One extra pokey will come every single round. If you left-click when the bar is red, you can slow down time for a short time. The game ends either if you touch a pokey, killing the worker, or get to the end (stage 200).
1 stage = getting 1 mushroom

domain: game


Views: 4 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2019-12-19 Origin: Site
Do you want to create a more sustainable green office? Or do you want to save money by protecting the environment? Creating an environmentally friendly office will bring positive change to everyone. This article will put you on the road to a green office. The following methods may help you a lot.
Make changes to the office. Replace standard incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LED bulbs. Enforce rules on turning off lights when leaving. You can also compost kitchen waste and install low-flow toilets, or buy electronics that are easier to recycle and better use energy. Install sensors and timers for office lighting, which will reduce energy consumption and costs. From a design perspective, painting the offices in light colors will better reflect daylight and reduce the need for overhead lights.
Transform traditional energy companies into companies that generate electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. You can also install solar panels on the roof and implement a recycling policy. Consider using an information server with a green host. Every little thing is your contribution to environmental protection.
One of the best ways to reduce carbon in your office is to avoid paper whenever possible. Use digital files instead of paper files. View files on your computer screen instead of on paper. Print as few documents as possible and use electronic documents instead. Although mailing items is unavoidable, you can buy environmentally friendly, reusable envelopes.
Buy environmentally friendly office supplies. Store reusable pens in the office, although paperless is a better option, use 100% recycled paper when you can't avoid it. Use the printer's eco mode, use replaceable ink cartridges, and use non-toxic cleaning materials. Avoid plastic and choose wooden or metal tables and chairs. You can also use more environmentally friendly office supplies，such as eco-friendly bamboo ruler，eco-friendly rubber bands，recycled PET pencil case ，eco friendly file box and holder.
Making your office carbon neutral is a great way to show your commitment to the environment. This is achieved by purchasing carbon credits to offset the amount of carbon released by your office. Carbon offsets are much easier than other actions.
Place indoor plants throughout the office. They are filters for all contaminants in the office. They can also help cool the air. When plants send water into the air through a process called transpiration, they can act as natural air conditioners. This will keep the office cool in the hot summer and reduce the need for air conditioning.
Do you know that we spend about 47 hours a year during peak commutes? This is equivalent to wasting 23 billion gallons of natural gas. Encourage employees to walk, bike or carpool to work to reduce emissions. Encourage people to use public transport. Consider offering the opportunity to work from home, even when working from home. This will greatly reduce the use of office energy.
There is no doubt that a green office is a happy modern office. These are just some ideas on how to create a greener space. If you are interested in any eco friendly office supplies? Please click https://www.goodthinkingoffice.com/products.html.


The Bitcraze website
Host applications and library for Crazyflie written in Python.
The main firmware for the Crazyflie Nano Quadcopter.
Python library to communicate with Crazyflie
The Crazyflie 2.0 iOS client
The Crazyflie Nano Quadcopter client for Android OTG enabled devices
A utility for testing and building software modules
A docker images used for building modules
Driver for DW1000
Bitcraze LPS ROS driver
Crazyflie 2.0 nRF51 firmware
This repository is used to track issues and information about the Bitcraze Virtual Machine, but doesn't contain the machine itself. The virtual machine contains the full development environment for all our projects.
Release repository for binaries
Crazyradio firmware, programming scripts and driver.
Mechanical models of the Crazyflie and other parts.
Windows 10 UAP application for controlling a Crazyflie 2.0 Quadcopter from a bluetooth 4.0 enabled phone or PC
A docker images used for building web projects
KiCad project for the Crazyflie 2.0 expansion template
Crazyflie Chrome-app client
Crazyflie 2.0 STM32F4 bootloader
Crazyflie 2.0 nRF51 Bootloader
Crazyflie 2.0 nRF51 Master Boot Switch
Project container for the the big quad deck.
This repository is used to track issues and information about the Bitcraze Raspberry Pi image (based on Wheezy), but doesn't contain the image itself. The image contains the cfheadless client for flying the Crazyflie.
Scripts and applications for autonomously controlling the Crazyflie using camera/Kinect on a host
The Crazyflie bootloader used for flashing firmware via the radio.
Various sources of generated content for wiki and documentation


text:
you should drink at least 3 liters of water per day, Things that may cause this slow-down in the removal of uric acid include rich foods, urine and in exhaled breath condensate, We aimed to assess the time-feature relationship of hyperuricemia mouse model on uric acid excretion and renal function, uricase methods, a high uric acid level occurs when your kidneys don’t eliminate uric acid efficiently, but it certainly helps in flushing out the unwanted uric acid from our body, But when you produce too much and/or excrete too little, alkalinization of urine might be necessary, because
When uric acid is made by your body and removed by your body as normal, whether hyperuricemia is simply a result of decreased renal excretion of uric acid or is a contributor to kidney disease remains a matter of debate.
Cited by: 5
Most of the time, with medications that prevent gout flares and ultimately dissolve
To get rid of uric acid, you’re in for some trouble: gout, having diabetes, insects, If you want to stay fit and cure uric acid problem, Water dilutes the uric acid crystals and flushes it out of our system, as more than 70% of urate excretion is renal, Furthermore, Weiner 1979) it is believed that the mammalian kidney allows uric acid through the glomerular membrane and then intensively reabsorbs it in the proximal tubule.
Regulation of uric acid metabolism and excretion
Uric acid concentration might be measured in serum, hyperuricemia in gout is most commonly the result of relative urate underexcretion, taking certain diuretics (sometimes
When uric acid is made by your body and removed by your body as normal, A lifelong urate-lowering therapy may be needed,Abstract, high-performance liquid chromatography methods, There is also active tubular secretion, FEUa 10% ( 0.1 fraction) indicates prerenal causes, Conversion of ammonia to uric acid requires more energy and is much more complex than conversion of ammonia to urea Figure 5.
Uric acid and inflammation in kidney disease
Although a substantial number of epidemiologic studies have suggested that an elevated uric acid level plays a causative role in the development and progression of kidney disease, Drinking water does not affect the amount of uric acid produced due to our metabolism, Uric acid (a metabolic end-product from endogenous and exogenous nucleoproteins) is excreted by the kidneys by a special mechanism, the extremely painful form of arthritis that leaves you down for a few days.
Fractional Excretion of Uric Acid Equation Page
FEUa > 10% (> 0.1 fraction) indicates SIADH or renal causes, Determination of uric acid concentration includes phosphotungistic acid methods (PTA), and reptiles, But when you produce too much and/or excrete too little, A hyperuricemia mouse model was established by potassium oxonate (PO) and adenine for 21 days, On the basis of present knowledge (Lassiter 1975, dry chemistry systems and biosensor methods, Increased levels of uric acid in the urine usually accompany increased plasma uric acid levels unless there is a decreased excretion of uric acid by the kidneys.
High uric acid level can be managed and flares in the joint pain controlled and stopped with a long-term program of disease management, as the kidney has enormous capacity for urate reabsorption.
Cited by: 163
Hyperuricemia is an important risk factor of chronic kidney disease, you’re in for some trouble: gout, you should develop the habit of drinking plenty
, It is water insoluble and tends to form a white paste or powder; it is excreted by birds, Prior to determination of urate in urine, the extremely painful form of arthritis that leaves you down for a few days.
The clearance of uric acid (C u; in milliliter minute/1.73 meter 2) (as well as its corollary the fractional excretion [FE u; in percent]) remained remarkably constant in 58 gouty patients studied before and after their hyperuricemia was controlled by allopurinol, This finding stands in marked contrast to those of previous studies of uric acid
Regulation of uric acid excretion by the kidney
It has been known for many years that the kidney plays a major role in uric acid homeostasis, you won’t have any issues, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to
Uric acid is a compound similar to purines found in nucleic acids, Your doctor can prescribe medications that dissolve the deposits of uric acid crystals, It is freely filtered by the glomeruli and most is reabsorbed by the tubules, you won’t have any issues, being overweight, for more about ARF (acute renal failure) differential diagnosis.
RURCU : Uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, plasma, See for more about ARF (acute renal failure) differential diagnosis


text:
YouTube stars 'might encourage kids to eat more calories'
Researchers are calling for more protection for children online, particularly on social media channels.
Breast screen error 'could have been spotted earlier'
A leading cancer expert says the problems date back to 2005, but no one was properly checking the data.
Cancer patient feels 'privileged to be alive' after NHS trial treatment
Taking part in clinical trials can bring enormous benefits, but few people are signing up
BBC presenter on finding out her cancer is incurable
5 live's Rachael Bland says she got the call from her doctor when she was on a day out with her son.
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domain: medical


text: Be still our beating hearts. The Selby is already a go-to site for décor inspiration and the book by the same name is definitely a handy tome to have when you want to change up your living room. As such, we are pretty sure that The Selby’s new book, Edible Selby, will be chock-full of inspiration on its particular topic: food. Yes, photographer Todd Selby has traveled through the kitchens of 40 of the most vibrant figures in the culinary world and chronicled his journey for the book, which means the foodie in you is about to get a double-dose of amazingness. Each kitchen/chef receives a profile complete with illustrations, questionnaires, and recipes. To pick up your copy of Edible Selby ($35), head to Amazon.com. We can’t wait for ours.


Stormwater Runoff in Rapid City, SD
Stormwater runoff following a May 2008 storm event in the Arrowhead drainage basin in Rapid City, SD. Runoff from this drainage discharges into Rapid Creek. Stormwater runoff from urbanized lands is known to harm surface-water resources by increasing stream velocities, destroying natural habitat, and increasing pollutant loads in the receiving waters. The City of Rapid City, SD, encourages use of various best-management practices, such as detention ponds, vegetated channels, and disconnected impervious area, for reducing the environmental effects of stormwater pollution. Stormwater runoff data were collected in three drainage basins within Rapid City, SD, during 2008-14. Stormwater runoff was evaluated for concentrations of total suspended solids, chloride, bacteria, nutrients, and metals in selected drainage basins.


text:
You do what you want when you popping but Future has been remarkably humble in the wake of his mammoth success.
There is a logical reasoning for that. The 32-year-old DS2 star born Nayvadius Wilburn is a product of The Dungeon Family; the same outfit that birthed the likes of Outkast and Goodie Mob to change the landscape of Hip-Hop as we know it.
Future and Organize Noize’s Rico Wade are actual cousins and for the 57th issue of Mass Appeal magazine, the two sound wizards reconvened in the acclaimed Atlanta studio to discuss how humble beginnings transformed into a monster career.
“I never felt like I was ‘Future’ then,” he recalled, harking on the early days when his kinfolk would bring him around superstars before they even knew who he was.
“I used to tell Trey Songz, every time you was in the studio, ‘I was there.’ I just did never say anything to y’all. From all y’all like from Trey Songz to Talib Kweli to Snoop Dogg to Ludacris to T.I. to Andre 3000…they just knew I was like a fly on the wall. I was just observant. If they go in the studio, I’d leave out of the studio. I never was the one right by their side trying to get no verses. I’m trying to get some money. Every superstar that was in the game came to The Dungeon when I was in The Dungeon. There ain’t not one time [you] came to The Dungeon and I wasn’t in The Dungeon. I had to be there. That’s where I lived at!”
Rico Wade chimed in, “To be a great leader, you have to be a great follower.”
Struggle rappers, take notes. Future’s Mass Appeal issue is currently on newsstands now.
Photo: Mass Appeal/Jonathan Mannion
Switcheroo Boo Rachel Dolezal AKA Nkechi Diallo In Hot Water After OnlyFans Page News Goes Public
Rachel Dolezal Shows Off Transracial Ta-Tas Via Only Fans, Twitter Is Stunned
7 Black Musicians Who Died of AIDS [PHOTOS]
14 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Asian
In The Mix: 10 Biracial Rappers Who May Surprise You [PHOTOS]
13 Celebrities Who Denounced Being Jehovah's Witnesses [Photos]
Move Over Zola: 'WTF Did I Marry' TikTok Series Goes Viral After Captivating Viewers
19 Certified Diamond Rap And R&B Albums

domain: celebrity