More applicable environmental scanning systems leveraging “modern” information systems

With Ansoff’s article about weak signals as a flagship example, a substantial body of knowledge about environmental scanning systems exists. However, these concepts often go unused in practice. The 2008/2009 economic crisis provided a strong, ongoing impulse for redesigning such information systems (IS). This article develops six guidelines for the conceptual design of environmental scanning systems that are more applicable than those specified by previous research. We start with literature research, which reveals three gaps in existing approaches. Then we develop design guidelines to fill these gaps with the help of “modern” IS. To address the lack of sound requirements analysis, our first design principle proposes 360-degree environmental scanning systems for executives and suggests how to select the most important scanning areas. Three further findings cover weaknesses in the IS model perspective, focusing on more effective implications of weak signals. In terms of method, we propose incorporating scanning results more closely into executives’ decision-making processes. Applying the design guidelines at a raw materials and engineering company, we arrive at a prototype we call the “corporate radar.” It includes an IS-based tree with economic value added at risk on top. The resulting lessons learned help to evaluate our findings and the research method presented here, as well provide concrete starting points for future research.     

The physical and mechanical properties of polyurethanes from oleic acid polyols

Three different polyester polyols, with various oleic acid content, were used in the preparation of polyurethane (PUR) coatings. The polyols were designated as Alk28, Alk40, and Alk65, in which 28, 40, and 65 represent the percentage of oleic acid of the polyol formulations. These polyester polyols were reacted with aromatic diisocyanate [toluene diisocyanate (TDI)] to form PUR coatings. The acid value, hydroxyl value, molecular weight, and viscosity of the polyols have been determined. The reaction between the polyols and TDI was studied by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The effects of varying NCO/OH ratio and oleic acid content of polyols on physical and mechanical properties of PUR films were studied. XRD results indicate that the samples are amorphous. PURs, made with Alk28, have the best mechanical properties followed by Alk40 and Alk65. The mechanical properties of the samples have increased as the NCO/OH ratio was increased from 1.2 to 1.6. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Effect of methyl methacrylate content on coatings’ properties of palm oleic acid-based macromer

The macromer was synthesized using medium oil length oleic acid, phthalic anhydride, and glycerol. The synthesized macromer and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were copolymerized by free radical polymerization in toluene. The ratio between the macromer and MMA changed, and the effects on different properties of the copolymers, such as glass transition temperature (T _g) and film properties, were studied. The macromer and copolymer structures were characterized by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The coatings prepared with the highest ratio of MMA exhibited better overall physico-chemical properties. Alternatively, Tafel polarization curves showed that the corrosion rate value in NaCl solution decreases significantly when the MMA content is increased. Dynamic mechanical analysis results revealed that the increasing amounts of MMA lead to increasing T _g values of copolymers.     

XPS studies of iodine complexes of pyrrole — N-methylpyrrole copolymer

Summary Simultaneous chemical copolymerization and oxidation of pyrrole and N-methylpyrrole by iodine has been carried out. The electrical conductivity, the I^– ₃ content and the amount of positively charged pyrrolylium nitrogen decrease with increasing N-methylpyrrole content in the copolymer complexes.     

Defective Y2O3−x–driven anomalous photocatalytic enhancement using Y2O3−x–TiO2−x nanorod composite composition spreads

Synergistic photocatalysis is reported, using the optimal amounts of oxygen vacancies of high‐k materials and nanoarchitecture maneuvering by employing a combinatorial sputtering approach. The highlights include (i) the successful fabrication of samples using combinatorial sputtering; (ii) a systematic investigation of the coupling effect between Y₂O_3?x and TiO_2?x; (iii) elucidating charge carrier transport through current‐voltage (I‐V) and capacitance‐voltage (C‐V) characterizations; and (iv) providing an alternative application for high‐dielectric constant (high‐k) materials in photocatalysis. The simple yet effective composition spread technique rapidly determined that Sample 6 (4 at% Y₂O_3?x‐96 at% TiO_2?x, TiO_2?x‐rich on the Y₂O_3?x–TiO_2?x nanorod composite composition spread) exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency (i.e., approximately 3.4 times and 1.4 times higher than that of P25 and pure TiO_2?x nanorods, respectively). The predominant factor was determined to be electron migration along defective Y₂O_3?x nanorods to the sample surface. The extracted mobility was discovered to be an order of magnitude greater than that of pure TiO_2?x. The photoelectrochemical stability and reusability were also demonstrated.     

Novel approach to convert non-self drying palm stearin alkyds into environmental friendly UV curable resins

UV curable coating is a form of green technology that reduces or eliminates completely the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and is in line with the current global call in preserving nature. The objective of this project is to produce UV curable resins from non-self drying palm stearin alkyds by the incorporation of maleic anhydride (MAH) which could introduce more unsaturation into the main chains of alkyds. Four alkyds with different level of unsaturation were prepared and the successful incorporation of MAH was confirmed by FTIR and ¹H NMR analyses. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was used as the reactive diluents, and benzophenone as the UV-photoinitiator. The UV-cured coatings were tested using standard methods adopted from ASTM, and results showed that coatings of maleated alkyds exhibited good film properties. This novel approach has succeeded in converting a non-self drying palm stearin alkyd into UV-curable resins.     

Hydrogenation of natural rubber using nickel 2-ethylhexanoate catalyst in combination with triisobutylaluminum

Kinetic studies for the homogeneous hydrogenation of natural rubber, in the presence of nickel 2-ethylhexanoate and triisobutylaluminum, have been carried out by monitoring the change in hydrogen pressure in a Parr reactor of fixed volume. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy provides the measurements of the extent of hydrogenation. The reaction kinetics, in the presence of a fixed amount of catalyst, showed an overall second-order kinetic with respect to [H₂] and [CC]. The reaction has a relatively low apparent activation energy of 26.0 kJ mol^-1 and is therefore suitable for the hydrogenation of natural rubber at ambient conditions to minimize side reactions. The impurities in commercial rubbers have a slight effect on the catalyst activity. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Palm oil‐based compound as environmentally friendly plasticizer for poly(vinyl chloride)

Many plasticizers have been invented to serve the purpose of making poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) into a more flexible plastic. In this work, the potential of palm oil‐based compound (Palm1) as a polymeric plasticizer for PVC was investigated. Plasticization of PVC was conducted via the solvent casting technique, using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the mutual solvent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to find evidence of interactions between the plasticizer and PVC. Transition temperatures (T_gs) of the plasticized PVC were obtained using DSC, and their thermal stabilities were evaluated using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Results from the study show that the polymeric plasticizer could interact with PVC chains via polar interaction involving –C‐Cl of PVC and possibly the ‐OH groups of Palm1. T_g of the PVC was reduced after it was plasticized with Palm1. The results obtained from this study suggest that the Palm1 may have the potential to serve as an environmentally friendly plasticizer for PVC. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:80–87, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Reactions between epoxidized natural rubber and palm oil‐based alkyds at ambient temperature

The reactions between epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and a low‐molecular weight palm oil‐based alkyd (A1) have been investigated. Experimental results (FTIR and toluene swelling tests) showed that the alkyd having both hydroxyl and carboxylic groups could react with the epoxide groups of ENR at ambient temperature to cause crosslinking. To establish the predominant reaction, alkyd A1 was chemically modified to vary the amount of hydroxyl and carboxylic groups. A1 was treated with maleic anhydride under two different temperatures of 130 and 185°C. At 130°C, the anhydride has reacted partially with the hydroxyl groups to produce alkyd A2 with higher carboxylic content and lower hydroxyl content. On the other hand, at 185°C, the anhydride has reacted completely to produce alkyd A3 with similar carboxylic acid content as A1 but lower hydroxyl content. Subsequent reactions of A2 and A3 with ENR under similar conditions have demonstrated that the predominant reaction with epoxide groups was due to the carboxylic groups from the fact that A2 could form higher amount of crosslinkages than A3, which has lower carboxylic content similar to A1. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Fast physical drying, high water and salt resistant coatings from non-drying vegetable oil

This paper reports fast physical drying, high water and salt resistances of coating materials from non-drying palm oleic acid. Short oil-length alkyd was synthesized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate. Three copolymers of the alkyd and methyl methacrylate with different alkyd/MMA ratios were prepared via free radical polymerization. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR and H NMR spectroscopy, and glass transition temperatures (T_g) were measured by DSC. The decreasing amount of alkyd was noticed to increasing conversion and T_g. The overall thermal stability has increased with higher amount of alkyd in the copolymer. Moreover, incorporation of alkyd has improved the adhesion and film hardness of the coatings.