Aspects of Tests and Assessment of Filtering Materials Used for Respiratory Protection Against Bioaerosols. Part I: Type of Active Substance,Contact Time,Microorganism Species

This paper presents the results of a study on antimicrobial activity of polymer filter nonwovens produced by needle-punching or melt-blowing with an addition of disinfecting agents. The first part of the paper discusses how the biocidal activity of nonwovens is a function of the active agent added to the nonwovens, the duration of the contact of microorganisms with nonwovens and the type of microorganisms. The types of fibres and disinfecting agents had a considerable effect on the biocidal activity of nonwovens. The biocidal effect of nonwovens increased with the duration of their contact with microorganisms. Fibre activity differed considerably depending on the species of the microorganism. The microorganisms most sensitive to biocidal activity of the active filter nonwoven were S. aureus, M. flavus and E. coli. There were no biocidal effects on spore-forming bacterium B. subtilis.     

Filtration Properties of Nonwovens

Abstract

This paper presents the results and conclusions from experimental investigations concerning filtration properties of nonwovens. The needled nonwovens were made from polyester fibres (PTE) with average fibre diameter 12 µm and polypropylene fibres (PP) with average fibre diameter 32 μm. Nonwovens were produced out of each of those fibres or out of a mixture of polyester and polypropylene fibres. This paper also presents investigations of nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene fibres (PP) with average fibre diameter 2.6 μm, which was formed according to melt-blown technology. Oil mist, as challenge aerosol, was used to evaluate the performance of filter media at various aerosol velocities. The average oil mist test aerosol particle diameter was 0.3 μm. Filter penetration was measured at oil mist concentration 0.24 g/m³.     

Efficiency of Filtering Materials Used in Respiratory Protective Devices Against Nanoparticles

The basic aim of this research was to establish the efficiency of filtering materials widely used in respiratory protection devices with particular interest in their porosity, degree of electric and changeable process parameters, such as the flow rate of the test nanoaerosol and the size range of nanoparticles. Tests were carried out with an NaCl solid aerosol of 3.2 × 10⁵ particles/cm³ for the range of particle size of 7–270 nm, at aerosol flow rate of 1800, 2700, 3600, 4500 and 5400 L/h. The tests showed that electrospun nonwovens were the most effective filtering materials for nanoparticles over 20 nm. Melt-blown electret nonwovens with lower porosity than electrospun nonwovens had higher values of penetration of 1%–4%. Those materials provided very efficient protection against nanoparticles of certain sizes only.     

Aspects of Tests and Assessment of Filtering Materials Used for Respiratory Protection Against Bioaerosols. Part II: Sweat in the Environment,Microorganisms in the Form of a Bioaerosol

The second part of the article presents the results of a study of antimicrobial activity of filter nonwovens with an addition of biocides, as a function of the presence of sweat in the environment and the method of microbe deposition on a nonwoven in the form of a liquid and a bioaerosol. At the same time, the filtration efficiency of nonwovens against microorganisms in the form of a bioaerosol was tested with the dynamic method. The results showed that the addition of sweat on the surface of a nonwoven resulted in an insignificant decrease of biological activity that still remained high. Moreover, an active nonwoven showed biostatic and biocidal activity only when microbes were deposited on the surface in the form of a solution. The nonwoven did not show any biological activity after deposition of microorganisms with the dynamical method in the form of a bioaerosol.     

一种机(针)织物与非织造布网络互穿复合材料的研究

本文主要对机织物与非织造布复合材料的网络互穿结构进行了描述,并从材料选择、单体试制、复合工艺方面进行了实践,研制出了较高透气性能和剥离强度的复合材料。     

Upper limb load as a function of repetitive task parameters: part 1--a model of upper limb load.

The aim of the study was to develop a theoretical indicator of upper limb musculoskeletal load based on repetitive task parameters. As such the dimensionless parameter, Integrated Cycle Load (ICL) was accepted. It expresses upper limb load which occurs during 1 cycle. The indicator is based on a model of a repetitive task, which consists of a model of the upper limb, a model of basic types of upper limb forces and a model of parameters of a repetitive task such as length of the cycle, length of periods of the cycle and external force exerted during each of the periods of the cycle. Calculations of the ICL parameter were performed for 12 different variants of external load characterised by different values of repetitive task parameters. A comparison of ICL, which expresses external load with a physiological indicator of upper limb load, is presented in Part 2 of the paper.     

Dispersion modeling of LNG-Vapor on land – A CFD-Model evaluation study

Based on methane from renewable resources, LNG is an alternative fuel for heavy and long-distance traffic in land transport. Contrary to its positive properties, the fuel contains risks from an explosion and extremely low temperatures for personal and infrastructure safety. CFD-models are suitable for doing risk analyses for arbitrary scenarios. For examining how to model for risk research the dispersion of LNG-vapor, this paper contains a model variant study, with an evaluation by experiments.This paper describes the use of the CFD-code ANSYS Fluent for simulating experiments of the ‘LNG Safety Program Phase II‘. The content of the well-documented experiments was the research of the vaporization rate of LNG on land and the dispersion of LNG-vapor in the air. Based on the comparison to two experiments, overall 12 CFD-model variants with varying thermal and turbulence parameters were examined how they affect the transient LNG-vapor dispersion in air.The definition of turbulence-boundary-condition at the domain borders had the biggest impact on modeling, followed by the turbulence model. The most accurate model variant had been applied for observing the spreading behavior of LNG-vapor in the air after evaporation on land and analyzing the influence of the LNG-composition to the dispersion. The results show that the mixture of LNG-vapor and the air in the free field is cooler than the ambient air and spreads like a heavy gas on the ground.     

Performance of Firefighters’ Protective Clothing After Heat Exposure

Heat and mechanical protection properties of 6 fabric combinations commonly used in firefighters’ protective clothing were assessed before and after different heat treatment. It was shown that after heat exposure, the values obtained were generally lower than in the original state. The mechanical properties of the materials were more affected by heat than by heat protective properties. In 2 cases, degradation started before a visible change in the material could be observed, which might be potentially dangerous for the end user who will not realize the alteration of the material.     

Performance of firefighters' protective clothing after heat exposure.

Heat and mechanical protection properties of 6 fabric combinations commonly used in firefighters' protective clothing were assessed before and after different heat treatment. It was shown that after heat exposure, the values obtained were generally lower than in the original state. The mechanical properties of the materials were more affected by heat than by heat protective properties. In 2 cases, degradation started before a visible change in the material could be observed, which might be potentially dangerous for the end user who will not realize the alteration of the material.     

热成形和热处理对3.5Ni钢力学性能的影响

本文研究了不同厚度3.5Ni低温钢板以不同热成形加热温度和冷却条件成形后的力学性能变化。通过对经历热成形同样加热和冷却条件的母材试板重新进行不同规范的正火和回火,对材料被损坏的性能进行了恢复和提高,为低温钢设备的制造提供了可靠的工艺依据。     

新型黏弹性阻尼器温度相关性试验研究

黏弹性材料的力学性能和耗能能力会随着温度上升而呈现负指数趋势,从而导致黏弹性阻尼器在温度差异较大、有高附加刚度需求的工程中难以应用。针对此现象,在传统黏弹性阻尼器中增加芳纶网眼织物制成新型黏弹性阻尼器的缩尺试样,并研究环境温度变化对新型阻尼器力学性能和耗能能力的影响规律及特征。结果表明在黏弹性阻尼器中增加芳纶网眼织物能显著提高其力学性能和耗能能力,在不同环境温度下,两类阻尼器的滞回曲线具有相似性,可通过此特性实现不同温度下滞回曲线的相互转换。     

Speed choice versus celeration behavior as traffic accident predictor

INTRODUCTION: The driver celeration behavior theory predicts that this variable is superior to all other variables as a predictor of individual traffic accident involvement, including the ever-important speed parameter. The study was undertaken to test this prediction. Also, it was expected that most variables would associate fairly strongly. METHOD: The use of speed choice as a predictor of individual traffic accident record was discussed, and four different variants of this variable (maximum, net mean, gross mean, and standard deviation of speed) identified. These variables were then compared to celeration behavior as predictors of accident record of bus drivers in the same set of data. RESULTS: Celeration behavior was found to be slightly superior, in accordance with the prediction made from the driver celeration behavior theory, although the differences were not significant. Furthermore, the predictor variables were found to associate fairly strongly between themselves, with the exception of gross mean speed, and to have fair stability over time, especially when aggregated. CONCLUSIONS: These results tentatively confirm some of the predictions made from the driver celeration behavior theory. As the results for accidents were in the expected direction, but not significant, and the maximum speed variable may have suffered from a ceiling effect, the conclusion is provisional. Impact on industry: The correlations found were strong enough to warrant the use of celeration behavior as a predictive variable for transportation companies in their safety work.     

高温后不同类型混凝土力学性能试验研究

对高温后C40和G50普通混凝土以及C80高性能混凝土的力学性能进行了试验研究,描述了试验现象,探讨了火灾温度、恒温时间、试件尺寸、冷却方式和混凝土类型等因素对高温后混凝土力学性能的影响,提出了高温后不同类型混凝土的轴心抗压强度、弹性模量、峰值应变等经验计算公式和高温后混凝土轴压应力-应变关系曲线表达式.试验研究表明,随着火灾温度的升高和恒温时间的增加,高温后混凝土立方体抗压强度、轴心抗压强度、弹性模量等整体上呈降低趋势,而峰值应变逐渐增加;在火灾温度、恒温时间恒定时,试件尺寸越大越不利,喷水冷却不如自然冷却,高性能混凝土不如普通混凝土.     

Ignition temperatures of dust layers and bulk storages in hot environments

In many industrial installations, particulate solids (cereals, agri-food products, coal, plants, etc.) are stored or processed. Self-heating of these products, which can lead to fires and explosions, can occur in a variety of situations. Examples include large storage at room temperature, formation of a layer on a hot surface, layer deposited on a surface – insulating or conductive – in a hot environment or even storage of product exposed to heating on one side.The main parameters that determine the occurrence of self-heating are the size of the container, the temperature, the residence time and the characteristics of the product. Depending on the type of situation encountered and these implementation conditions, the analysis of self-heating risks must be based on specific models and/or parameters.This paper presents the different variants and combinations of the theoretical model from the theory of thermal runaway to represent self-heating, taking into account in particular the symmetry or asymmetry of heating, reagent consumption and boundary conditions. It also discusses their adaptation to the previous identified industrial situations.Nine products were chosen to be representative of those used in the different considered industrial situations. They were subjected to self-heating basket tests in isothermal ovens in order to determine the parameters for applying the described theoretical models. These results were compared with the results of self-heating tests in layers of different thicknesses in a hot environment, on an insulating or conductive plate, using a specially developed test protocol, as well as with the results of standardized tests of minimum ignition temperature in 5 mm layers.This led to the proposal of the most appropriate theoretical model to represent the self-heating phenomenon for each of the four identified industrial situations.This analysis can promote better design of industrial equipment and production conditions (temperatures, volumes or product flows …) in order to prevent fires and explosions.     

The “Mini Closed Pressure Vessel Test (MCPVT)” as a screening or classification test for explosive properties of organic peroxides

Tests according to the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods for the determination of explosive properties of organic peroxides have been compared with screening criteria for explosivity based on measurements in a closed mini-autoclave (MCPVT). It will be shown that an additional screening test may be helpful but the information obtained from the UN tests are more important to characterise the specific properties of a substance under different conditions.     

Influence of dustiness on small-scale vented dust explosions

A new safety characteristic the “dustiness” according to VDI 2263 – part 9 (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, 2008) is investigated. Dustiness means the tendency of a dust to form clouds. The paper deals with the physical reasons for the different behavior of dusts, even if they have similar properties such as particle size and density and the influence of the dustiness on dust explosions. In order to study the effects of the dustiness on dust cloud formation for different dispersion methods experiments in a vertical dust dispersion glass tube apparatus were carried out. Furthermore vented dust explosion experiments were done for two different dispersion methods and two static activation pressures.Experiments show that particle size and density are not the only factors which influence dispersibility. Particle shape, specific surface area, flow and dispersion method have an influence which can outweigh size and density. Preliminary explosion experiments showed that the dustiness has an influence on the reduced explosion pressure and flame speed in a vented 75 L test apparatus. In order to verify the results for applications in the process industries further tests with industrial scale experiments are planned.     

垂直壁面火蔓延速率的实验测量

垂直壁面火蔓延过程受材料本身的热物理性质以及外加辐射等复杂因素条件的影响很大,论文研究建立了可测量不同材料存在外加辐射条件下的垂直方向火蔓延实验台,来研究典型可燃物的垂直方向火蔓延特性,观察不同材料之间火蔓延行为的不同,同时测定可燃物的火焰到达高度随时间的变化情况,得到相应的火焰蔓延速率。同时考虑外辐射情况下对不同材料垂直方向火蔓延过程的影响,实验数据可为进一步的模拟研究工作提供很好的参考。     

煤炭自燃倾向性试验研究及指标气体优选

通过对新鲜煤样和氧化煤样的热解实验,研究萍乡矿业集团某煤矿煤自燃发火特性,测定实验煤样在不同热解温度下O2,N2,CO,CO2等及其他碳氢化合物的浓度,具体分析了O2,CO,CO2,CH4,C3H6浓度随温度变化特性。在实验和研究的基础上,结合指标气体选择的一般原则,讨论了用于萍乡矿业集团某煤矿预测、预报煤炭自燃发火的指标气体,对提高煤炭早期自燃预测、预报的准确度和防止矿井火灾有重要指导意义。     

化学改性空心微珠阻燃热塑性聚氨酯弹性体的研究

为了提高热塑性聚氨酯弹性体的阻燃性，以四氟硼酸盐离子液体对空心微珠进行化学改性，获得新型阻燃热塑性聚氨酯弹性体复合材料。采用锥形量热仪和烟密度测试仪测定分析新型阻燃热塑性聚氨酯弹性体复合材料的阻燃、抑烟性能；探究化学改性后的空心微珠对热塑性聚氨酯弹性体的阻燃与抑烟效果的影响，以及不同组分含量的改性空微珠对热塑性聚氨酯弹性体的阻燃抑烟性能的影响。结果表明:采用四氟硼酸盐离子液体进行化学改性的空心微珠能够明显改善热塑性聚氨酯弹性体的阻燃性能；添加以四氟硼酸盐离子液体进行化学改性的空心微珠的热塑性聚氨酯弹性体复合材料具有一定的抑烟效果，其抑烟性能虽不如添加单一空心微珠的热塑性聚氨酯弹性体复合材料，但优于纯热塑性聚氨酯弹性体材料；相比于添加单一空心微珠的热塑性聚氨酯弹性体复合材料，添加化学改性空心微珠的热塑性聚氨酯弹性体复合材料的抑烟效果下降幅度低于阻燃效果的增强幅度，改性后的复合材料阻燃抑烟总体效果强于未改性的复合材料，改性空心微珠含量越高，总体效果越好。     

Examining the effectiveness of anti-vibration gloves with a neural network

Whether anti-vibration gloves are effective in protecting against vibrations depends not only on the materials they are made of, but also on the parameters of the source of vibration. Depending on those parameters, the effectiveness of the same means of protection may be radically different. This article presents a methodology of using a neural network to test anti-vibration gloves. A network can map gloves in various conditions, i.e., for vibrations of various amplitudes and spectra, and for various forces exerted by the worker on a tool. Real, measured vibration signals produced by different tools were used in training a neural network. The results presented in this article prove that real properties of gloves are accurately represented by their models developed as a result of training a neural network.