Changes In Durability Research Articles

Spray coating of 2D materials in the production of antifouling membranes for membrane distillation

Membrane surface coatings with 2D materials have been shown to exhibit antifouling properties for water-treatment applications; however, synthesis methods currently based on vacuum filtration are not easily scalable. This study describes a scalable method for coating membranes with a range of 2D materials including graphene oxide (GO), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and tungsten disulphide (WS2). Isopropyl alcohol solutions containing each class of the 2D flakes were spray-coated onto commercial polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) using a pyrolyser. The nanomaterials were secured with polydopamine (PDA) as a crosslinker in a method that could easily be integrated into a scalable roll-to-roll process. Changes in morphology, surface roughness, hydrophobicity, mechanical durability and chemical composition were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle, tensile strength measurements and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The 2D nanomaterials-coated membranes were tested in membrane distillation (MD) experiments over 72 h and compared to pristine PVDF and PDA/PVDF membranes. Salt rejection and MD performance stability were evaluated using feedwaters with high concentrations of humic acid (150 ppm) and paraffin oil (200 ppm) simulating simple organic wastewater from oil and gas extraction. The flux decline ratio was measured in terms of percentage permeate loss per hour (%/h), to allow for future comparisons with studies with different experimental times. The pristine PVDF membrane failed after 10 h by pore-wetting due to fouling while the PDA/PVDF membrane had the largest flux decline ratio (0.3 %/h). The membranes coated with GO and hBN had flux decline ratios orders of magnitude lower (0.0021 ± 0.005 and 0.028 ± 0.01 %/h, respectively). All membranes had a high salt rejection (>99.9 %). The GO-coated membrane was the only membrane type that was able to treat both surfactant-containing and foulant-containing feedwaters. The improved performance is attributed to the decrease in both surface roughness and hydrophobicity, which reduces the adsorption of foulants onto the membrane surface. This work shows a facile, scalable method to overcome fouling limitations in MD.

Impact of Limestone Calcined Clay Concrete (LC3) in Various Aggressive Soil Environments: A Comprehensive Review

Aggressive soil environments are known for causing deterioration in concrete sub-structure and attacking the concrete of the earth structures by chemical contamination of the soil with fluoride, sulfide, and chloride. The degree of deterioration in the soil can vary from rapid dissolution to minor effects. Many construction materials placed underground are exposed to the aggressive action of the soil. Therefore, studying the impact of soil nature on the deterioration of concrete is crucial to maintaining the safety and efficiency of infrastructures. Recent research states that the conception of limestone calcined clay concrete (LC3) is different from ordinary concrete. Therefore some changes in durability and strength might occur. Hence the present study focuses on the strength and durability aspects, which are of prime importance in almost all concrete structures and permeability. This review stated that LC3, due to their dense microstructure, were chemically resistant in terms of compressive strength, surface scaling, and length change in the aggressive soil environment. These promising results escalate LC3 to be suitable for more reliable concrete earth structures. This paper discusses the properties, optimisation method, environmental impacts, strength, and durability of LC3 and ends with suggestions on subjects on which further research is required.

PROCEDURE TO GROW FUNGI-BASED BIODEGRADABLE INSULATING PANELS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT This work tackles the development of green biocomposite insulating panels out of fungi mycelia and to replace petroleum-based foam-expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels. These biological prototypes have advantages over expanded polystyrene foam panels, since they do not pollute, they are not flammable, and they are 100% biodegradable. They have been developed growing Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) and Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) mycelia on different agricultural substrates inside different types of moulds (up to 21 × 30 cm). As a result, the most suitable combinations of fungi species and agricultural substrates have been determined to grow biological insulating panels. Prototypes obtained were subjected to accelerated ageing tests to evaluate their resistance and changes in durability against water filtration and humidity changes in the event that they are used as insulating panels. Some technological properties have also been determined to evaluate their use as construction materials. The results obtained allow us to claim that biodegradable fungi-based insulating panels are viable to replace polluting foam-based insulating panels for the construction industry.

Calcium Leaching of 3D-Printed Cement Paste Exposed to Ammonium Chloride Solutions

Understanding the degradation of 3D-printed cement paste (3DPC) is essential to evaluate changes in the long-term durability of concrete structures subjected to aggressive water. However, the degradation mechanism of 3DPC has yet to be reported, as the microstructure and pore characteristics of 3DPC are very different from those of its cast counterparts. This work studies the performance anisotropy of 3DPC due to calcium leaching to investigate the degradation mechanism. Samples with aggregate micro fines (AMF) and fly ash (FA) were prepared. A 6 mol/L NH4Cl solution was used in the accelerated experiment. At specific leaching durations, performances were tested on the samples in different leaching directions. The performance anisotropy of 3DPC exposed to aggressive water was investigated by comparing the changes in bulk density, water absorption, leaching depths, and compressive strength in different leaching directions. X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal gravity-thermogravimetric (DTG−TG), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) were used to characterize the changes in hydration products and pore structure in different leaching directions. The results show that the performances of 3DPC in aggressive water have a significant anisotropic behavior. The evolution of pore defects and hydration products mainly governs the performance anisotropy of degraded 3DPC. The remaining hydration products of the surface of 3DPC leached in the Z direction are fewer than the other two directions because calcium ions leached in the Z direction are difficult to compensate through weak interfaces between layers. The test results clearly show that the calcium leaching mechanism of 3DPC in aggressive water is directly influenced by the hydration products, such as portlandite (CH) and C-S-H, and the pores. The current study may help us understand the degradation mechanism of 3DPC to assess its durability performance anisotropy.

Simulation device for shoulder reductions: overview of prototyping, testing, and design instructions

BackgroundShoulder dislocations are common occurrences, yet there are few simulation devices to train medical personnel on how to reduce these dislocations. Reductions require a familiarity with the shoulder and a nuanced motion against strong muscle tension. The goal of this work is to describe the design of an easily replicated, low-cost simulator for training shoulder reductions.Materials and methodsAn iterative, stepwise engineering design process was used to design and implement ReducTrain. A needs analysis with clinical experts led to the selection of the traction-countertraction and external rotation methods as educationally relevant techniques to include. A set of design requirements and acceptance criteria was established that considered durability, assembly time, and cost. An iterative prototyping development process was used to meet the acceptance criteria. Testing protocols for each design requirement are also presented. Step-by-step instructions are provided to allow the replication of ReducTrain from easily sourced materials, including plywood, resistance bands, dowels, and various fasteners, as well as a 3D-printed shoulder model, whose printable file is included at a link in the Additional file 1: Appendix.ResultsA description of the final model is given. The total cost for all materials for one ReducTrain model is under US $200, and it takes about 3 h and 20 min to assemble. Based on repetitive testing, the device should not see any noticeable changes in durability after 1000 uses but may exhibit some changes in resistance band strength after 2000 uses.DiscussionThe ReducTrain device fills a gap in emergency medicine and orthopedic simulation. Its wide variety of uses points to its utility in several instructional formats. With the rise of makerspaces and public workshops, the construction of the device can be easily completed. While the device has some limitations, its robust design allows for simple upkeep and a customizable training experience.ConclusionA simplified anatomical design allows for the ReducTrain model to serve as a viable training device for shoulder reductions.

Impact of Anti-TNFα Treatment on the Humoral Response to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

The efficacy of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, including the third vaccination in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) patients is not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the humoral immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 vaccine and the changes in durability until 20–28 weeks after the initial vaccine series in PIBD patients on immunosuppressive drugs. The safety of the initial vaccine series and the booster effect of the third vaccination were also evaluated. A single-center, prospective cohort study was conducted, and 63 participants (anti-TNFα: 11; non-anti-TNFα: 31; 5-ASA: 21), with a mean age of 15.2 (range 9.6–17.9) years, were enrolled. All PIBD patients were seroconverted, with no serious short-term AEs. PIBD patients on anti-TNFα had significantly lower antibody titers than those on other medications at all measurement points. Furthermore, antibody titers waned over time with anti-TNFα and were significantly lower at 20–28 weeks than at 3–9 weeks after a two-vaccine series. In all 10 patients (anti-TNFα: 5; non-anti-TNFα including 5-ASA: 5), the third vaccination led to antibody concentrations significantly higher than those at the same time point after the second vaccination. PIBD patients on anti-TNFα need to remain vigilant about COVID-19 even after two vaccinations, and a third vaccination may be considered.

Changes in fractal dimension and durability of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with silica fume content

Changes in fractal dimension and durability of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with silica fume content

Early-age mechanical properties and microstructures of Portland cement mortars containing different admixtures exposed to seawater

This study investigated the effects of seawater exposure on the mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties of cement mortars, which contained silica fume, metakaolin, or glass powder at two different replacement ratios. Test variables included the exposure conditions, exposure periods, supplementary cementitious material types, and replacement ratios. Compressive, flexural, and pull-off strengths were measured periodically. Mass change, water absorption, and rapid chloride permeability tests were conducted to evaluate the durability performance of Portland cement mortars (PCMs). Microcomputed tomography was utilized to obtain the pore information from representative PCMs. Test results revealed that seawater exposure yielded positive effects, including flexural strength and durability improvements during short-term exposure periods while those effects might not be last for long period. Metakaolin was the most effective supplementary cementitious material to minimize the reduction in compressive strength, while silica fume contributed to durability improvements. On the other hand, PCM containing GP did not show significant changes in strength and durability. Strong correlations between the flexural strength and durability were observed, and it was explained by additional hydration (i.e., matrix densification) of PCMs (except for the GP) due to the seawater curing which filled specific size of pores ranging 50–200 µm.

Environmentally induced changes in fatigue life and durability of marine structures and vessels

Failure and fatigue life prediction becomes more important for design of composite marine vessels and structures as their application as constructive material increases. Harsh environmental operational conditions have a great impact on such structures. Realistic environmental input parameters for structural modeling of marine structures are crucial and can be obtained by conducting tests in real sea environment for prolonged periods, as opposed to usual accelerated laboratory experiments. The needed changes in the approach to the modelling of S-N curves for composite materials prescribed by the Classification societies, considering the material properties degradation due to the effects of water absorption, fouling marine organisms and prolonged exposure to the marine environment are discussed here. Regression analysis results for experimental data collected during a 2-year period are presented and a procedure for the decrease estimation of expected fatigue life is given for glass/polyester composite material for three different fiber layout configurations. All the submerged coupons with different fiber layout configuration exhibited a significant loss of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) which consequently shortened their fatigue life and decreased durability.

Study of changes in concrete durability during the operation of buildings

Abstract The purpose of this study is to select the best methodologies for determining the condition of concrete structures. Semi-destructive concrete exposure methods were used to determine resistance parameters: the impact echo test to determine internal structure, the Figg test for air permeability, the initial surface adsorption test for water adsorption, titrimetric for chloride amounts, and a chemical and physical method to determine carbonation levels. In addition, two situations were simulated: a fire and a pipe burst and their impact on the condition of reinforced concrete structures. It was shown that the exposure to temperatures decreases the level of acidity, resulting in increased corrosion of steel. During a pipe burst, the amount of chlo-rides increases, which affects the reinforcement, oxidizing it. A search for possible correlation between concrete structure and carbonation, air permeability and water adsorption was also carried out. It was found that there is an almost linear dependence of these parameters on the presence of cracks, the deterioration of the structure leads to an increase in the transport properties of concrete, which becomes a danger to steel.

Effect of the physicochemical changes in the antimicrobial durability of green synthesized silver nanoparticles during their long-term storage.

It is generally recognized that the stability of nanoparticles (NPs) has a great impact on their potential biological applications. Despite this, very few studies have investigated the change in toxicity of NPs over time but none has studied the periodic physicochemical changes contributing to it. To address this, we analyzed the effects of long-term storage on the physicochemical changes of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that directly influences their antimicrobial durability. Light-induced slow synthesis of AgNPs was carried out using Saraca asoca aqueous leaf extract. The synthesis was optimized with respect to parameters known to play a major role in the long-term stability of AgNPs: pH, temperature, light exposure time, AgNO3 concentration, extract proportion in the reaction mixture and storage conditions. Freshly synthesized AgNPs were characterized and then stored under optimized conditions. UV-vis spectrophotometry, AAS, conventional TEM and HR-TEM along with EDX spectroscopy were used at regular intervals to test the physicochemical properties that influence their long-term stability. Broth dilution assay was used to test antimicrobial activity of AgNPs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Under dark storage conditions at room temperature, the AgNPs exhibited excellent stability with very good dispersity, throughout the study period of 18 months, despite the particles undergoing physicochemical changes in largescale. AgNPs exhibited sufficient antimicrobial activity against both strains tested. Due to the stronger stabilizing effect of the extract, we observed the lowest inhibition of E. coli and S. aureus by the freshly synthesized and 15 day old AgNPs; however, the inhibition rate escalated after a month and the highest rate of inhibition was observed with the particles between 2 months to 6 months of storage. After 6 months, we observed the particles losing their antimicrobial potential gradually, that lasted throughout the rest of our study period. This observation was in accord with the physicochemical changes that AgNPs were undergoing with time. By deepening our understanding of the changes in the physicochemical properties of green synthesized AgNPs over time, this study contributes to the development of more effective, durable, and potent AgNPs.

Comparative analysis of vertical irregularities on high rise structure considering various parameters

Now, every day tall constructing structures constructed around the goal of residential and industrial cause etc. Layout of tall buildings both earthquake as well as wind loads got to be take into considered. An irregular structure, failure of structure starts at a point of its weakness and those weaknesses comesups withs separation of mass, stiffness and geometry of that models. The structures having this kinds of discontinuity are called Irregular structures. (H, J, & darshan, 2017) [2]. For example,Structures with the soft storey were the foremost remarkable fallen structures. Therefore, the impact of vertical alignment within the seismic structure of buildings is very significant. The changes in durability and size provide powerful features of those structures that are completely different from the standard structure. For this present evaluation ‘ETABS’ software package is employed. All Reinforced Concrete structural elements are follows as per ‘IS 456:2000 (Plane and Reinforce Concrete-Code of Practice, Bureau of Indian Standard)’. Seismic load follows with respect to IS 1893:2016 along with self-weight of modelles for analysis of the structure. Here 2 kinds of buildings of (G+15) were created one is regular structure and alternative one Mass irregular. To observe, Effect of lateral in both buildings using Seismic load and to check the results,most of maximum displacement for various models and various parameters.

LIFE-TIME PREDICTION FOR POLYMER MATERIALS

Polymer testing including natural, accelerated testing or creep and fatigue testing, etc. is very important to evaluate the changes in properties, structure, morphology and durability of polymer materials. This is also the basis for experts to predict life-time or service working life or safe working life of polymer materials. This review presents an overview of the life-time prediction for polymer materials owing to natural tests or accelerated ageing tests and the methods for extrapolation of data from induced thermal degradation.

Hybrid artificial ground freezing as a sustainable solution for containing hazardous-waste in critical environmental projects

Permafrost degradation represents a severe challenge for mining operations in Northern Canada. The foundations of the infrastructures rely on the steadiness of the permafrost. Accordingly, changes in permafrost durability may contribute to destructive failures if not appropriately preserved. Thus, it is of the greatest interest to maintain the integrity of permafrost in the affected areas. One of the safest methods to sustain permafrost is by employing artificial ground freezing (AGF). The associated AGF system, in contrast, is usually designed to operate continuously to sustain permafrost stability. This non-stop mode of operation requires intensive energy consumption. Therefore, an innovative, reliable operational technique is crucial to ensure permafrost sustainability. This paper presents and illustrates a novel concept of a ‘renewable energy’-based AGF system, with zero human-generated energy input, comprising a closed-loop thermosyphon coupled with a cold-energy storage tank that could be filled with a phase-change material (PCM). A mathematical model has been derived, validated, and exploited to simulate the AGF under various operating and design parameters. The results suggest that the employment of the coupled system of closed-loop thermosyphon and cold-energy storage unit reduces overall power consumption while maintaining the permafrost's thickness, notably during the summer.

Auto-detection of acoustic emission signals from cracking of concrete structures using convolutional neural networks: Upscaling from specimen

Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring has gained significant interest as a promising method for monitoring of changes in structural integrity and durability. Long-term AE monitoring needs to detect and distinguish crack signals from ambient noise (or dummy) signals; however, it is still a daunting task which currently limits field implementation of the AE method. Herein, we explore the feasibility of using convolutional neural network (CNN) models to detect AE crack signals from ambient signals. The trained models are validated both with noise-embedded synthesized signals and with upscaled physical model experiments simulating earthquake loading to a scaled model foundation by using a large-scale shaking table. The 2D CNN model trained the laboratory-synthesized signal sets effectively captured the crack and crack-free signals in all cases including the upscaled physical model experiments. This study presents a simple but robust CNN model for pre-filtering of crack signals and a novel training method for enhanced accuracy, which can be applied for real-time structural health monitoring of concrete-based structures.

Predictive Estimation of Sliding Bearing Load-Carrying Capacity and Tribological Durability

A computational method is presented as a method for solving a plane contact problem of the theory of elasticity to determine the contact strength and tribological durability of sliding bearings. The effect of load and radial clearance on the initial contact pressures and their reduction due to wear is studied. The durability of the bearing is estimated. Qualitative and quantitative regularities of changes in contact parameters and durability from the factors under study are established. In particular, it has been shown that both contact angles and maximum contact pressures are approximately linearly dependent on the load, and the durability decreases nonlinearly with increasing load.

Study on the Mechanical Properties and Durability of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Lime-Based Mortar

In this study, the changes in mechanical properties and durability of Portland cement lime-based mortar due to the addition of chopped carbon fibers (CFs) have been studied. Compressive strength (CS), split tensile strength (STS) and flexural strength were determined in relation to the volume of CFs, water to binder ratio and SP dosage. Additionally, the durability, i.e. immersion water absorption (IWA) and capillary water absorption (CWA), has also been investigated. The results show that the CS, STS, IWA and CWA of the mortar with 1 vol.% CFs are increased by 11.24%, 3.69%, 5.41% and 46.50% respectively, comparing with that of the mortar with 0.5 vol.% CFs. The lime mortar with 1 vol.% fiber shows 6.59% higher energy absorption than that with 0.5 vol.% fiber in aspect of flexural strength.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane polyimide nanocomposites for color filters and flexible conductive films

AbstractColor filters and conductive films are widely used in spacecraft, while the lack of lightweight, flexibility, and atomic oxygen (AO) durability confine their potential applications in low earth orbit. In this study, a clear poly(amic acid) with an empirical 20 wt% polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) solid content is designed for transparency and AO durability. Red, green, blue, and yellow dyes are reinforced with small amounts of 1–5 wt% in POSS polyimides for color filters. A silver nanowire network film is infiltrated onto the POSS polyimide for conductive film. Erosion depth upon hyperthermal AO exposure, surface morphology, surface chemistry, optical transparency, and conductivity have been systematically investigated. The erosion yields of all 20 wt% POSS polyimides decrease by an order of magnitude when subjected to 2.32 ± 0.05 and 2.39 ± 0.06 × 1020 atoms cm−2 AO fluences, as passivating SiOx networks are formed on film surface. The small‐amount dye additives into polyimides do not introduce obvious changes in AO durability and surface chemistry. The silver nanowire infiltrated POSS polyimide film shows a 65.7% transmittance at 550 nm and a sheet resistance of 8.50 ± 0.36 Ohm square−1. This study reveals promising attempts of POSS‐polyimide‐based color filters and flexible conductive films for potential space applications.

(Invited) Fuel Cells for Heavy Duty Vehicles

The commercialization of fuel cell products for a variety of applications including forklifts, buses, cars and heavy duty trucks is well underway. Particularly in the heavy duty fuel cell market, recent studies suggest that in Europe, fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) total cost of ownership (TCO) will breakeven with battery electric buses (BEB) by 2023, and with internal combustion engine buses (ICEB) by 20241. For applications such as long-distance and heavy-duty transportation, the hydrogen route appears the decarbonisation option of choice, and can become cost competitive with internal combustion engines by 20302.Over the past 30 years, Ballard has developed a wide array of technology “building blocks” for Fuel Cell stacks components. The application requirements (duty cycle, speed, vehicle weight, lifetime and environmental exposure) will determine the key stack features and result in customization of components where economically viable. In contrast with fuel cell stacks developed for passenger cars, Fuel Cells for heavy duty vehicles are particularly challenged by high durability requirements3, with MEA attributes such as catalyst loading and peak efficiency point significantly affecting stack and fuel costs.Building on proven and demonstrated stack durability in the field of more than 35,000 hours in heavy duty vehicles4 Ballard’s MEA development activities draw from extensive field experience to support step changes in durability with each subsequent product iteration. The use of an accelerated testing and modeling approach developed and validated over numerous product iterations enables continuous cost decreases and gains in power density, operational robustness and reliability, with a calculated risk tolerance for new technology introduction.Those MEA durability prediction models along with a good understanding of failure mechanisms are a cornerstone to developing the next generation of Fuel Cells for heavy duty vehicles. Of particular importance is the use of the voltage degradation model to evaluate the time to reach the degradation target for heavy duty applications (USDOE Ultimate target of 10% degradation at 30,000 hours5). Simulation results as a function of the electrode composition show the relationship between cathode catalyst loading and lifetime, and assist in making electrode design and composition choices for a successfully durable product. A sharp increase in voltage loss is observed when local oxygen transport resistance becomes limiting once the cathode reaches low surface area. Maximizing beginning-of-life catalyst electrochemical surface area (ECSA) utilization in the electrode structure, as well as optimizing surface area retention, can have significant benefits for lifetime. A combination of design choices or processing parameters during catalyst layer fabrication can be effective ways to optimize the electrode6.The same voltage degradation model is used to demonstrate the relationship between lifetime and the peak operating current density of the product, which limits the stack design power density within the allocated voltage degradation constraints of heavy-duty vehicles.The simulation results demonstrate that the ideal Fuel Cell stack for heavy duty applications is the result of complex trade-offs between cost, stack design attributes (e.g. catalyst loading), active area sizing (peak efficiency point) and durability, with the ultimate goal to achieve an attractive TCO for wide acceptance of the technology. References Deloitte and Ballard. (2020). Fueling the Future of Mobility: Hydrogen and fuel cell solutions for transportation. Volume 1 [White paper]. Deloitte China. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/cn/Documents/finance/deloitte-cn-fueling-the-future-of-mobility-en-200101.pdf McKinsey & Company and Hydrogen Council. (2020). Path to hydrogen competitiveness: A cost perspective. https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/19006_hydrogen_class8_long_haul_truck_targets.pdfMacauley, N., Lauritzen, M., Knights, S. and Kjeang, E., J. Electrochem. Soc., 165(10), F780 (2018).https://www.ballard.com/about-ballard/newsroom/news-releases/2020/01/27/ballard-powers-fuel-cell-electric-vehicles-for-unprecedented-30-million-kilometers-enough-to-circle-the-globe-750-timesUSDOE Hydrogen Class 8 Long Haul Truck Targets https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/19006_hydrogen_class8_long_haul_truck_targets.pdf M. Dutta, A. Young, V. Colbow, J. Bellerive, S. Knights, Examining Catalyst Layer Design Strategies for Improved Fuel Cell Performance and Durability, ECS PRiME 2020

Welfare intervention and environmental impacts of milk production – cradle-to-farm-gate effects of implementing rubber mats in Austrian dairy farms

While the environmental impacts of common health disorders in dairy cattle such as lameness have recently been assessed, the effects of specific welfare intervention measures on emissions from dairying are unknown. This study aimed at estimating the impact of lameness intervention through implementation of rubber mats in alleyways on the contribution potential of milk production to global warming (GWP), terrestrial acidification (TAP), freshwater and marine eutrophication (FEP, MEP), as well as to the use of non-renewable and renewable energy resources (nRER, RER). Using life-cycle assessment, the environmental impacts of two model farms in different production areas of Austria (highlands, lowlands) were estimated before and after the implementation of rubber mats. Productivity shortfalls due to lameness in the baseline scenario (Sbasic) were assumed to be reduced by 50% through improved flooring in the intervention scenario (Smats). For Sbasic of the highland system, GWP, TAP, FEP, MEP, nRER and RER were estimated at 1.2 kg CO2-, 22.9 g SO2-, 0.1 g P-, 3.7 g N-, 2.2 and 18.4 MJ-equivalents per kg milk, respectively. In Smats, significant changes in impact levels were only found for TAP (−1.4%), nRER (+2.5%) and RER (−0.8%) (ρ ≤ 0.001). For the lowland system, results were of similar, but slightly lower magnitude. In both systems, TAP, MEP and RER estimates proved insensitive to changes in mat durability, due to a negligible impact of emissions associated with the production of mats (≤0.05%). Varying the assumed lameness reduction potential of mats had a proportionate effect on all categories. Considering the effectiveness of soft flooring in reducing physical trauma, the benefits of rubber mats for emission mitigation can be expected to be more pronounced in the case of sole ulcers rather than digital dermatitis. In conclusion, although a significant mitigating effect was shown for TAP and RER only, the findings indicate the potential of health and welfare improvement measures to mitigate emissions from dairy farming or to at least outweigh the environmental costs of their implementation. However, a comprehensive, primary data-based assessment of other intervention measures is needed to substantiate a general benefit of welfare intervention measures for sustainable dairy farming.