Durable Products Research Articles

Phosphorous Incorporated PtNi Networks with Synergistic Directional Electron Transfer for Efficient and Durable Seawater Hydrogen Production

AbstractThe abundant chloride ions in seawater, which poison and corrode electrode materials, are the main reason for the low performance of Pt‐based catalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in seawater. Coupling Pt with oxophilic transition metals can enhance the activity of Pt‐based electrocatalysts, but their long‐term stability is still unsatisfactory. Herein, a small number of phosphorous atoms (from 1.2 to 5.9 at%) are precisely incorporated into PtNi networks (P‐PtNi networks) via a facile aqueous reduction strategy at room temperature. Experimental measurements and theoretical calculations prove that P incorporation leads to a synergistic directional electron transfer from P and Ni to Pt, resulting in improved water dissociation kinetics, enhanced Cl– resistance and facilitated hydrogen adsorption. Consequently, P‐PtNi networks exhibit outstanding HER activities with a lower overpotential of 37 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and an 8.5‐fold higher mass activity at –0.07 V compared to commercial Pt/C and only slightly lowered potential after 120 h of testing in alkaline simulated seawater. Furthermore, P‐PtNi networks show an ultrahigh solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of 15.2% for solar cell‐driven hydrogen production from seawater. This work sheds new lights on the design of high‐performance Pt‐based nanomaterials toward practical applications of seawater hydrogen production.

Product Durability: A Systematic Literature Review

Product Durability: A Systematic Literature Review

Exploring the potential of perovskite LaBO3 (B = Co, Fe, Cu, Al) as an efficient and durable hydrogen production catalyst for methanol steam reforming: Experimental and DFT studies

In this study, LaBO3 (B = Co, Fe, Cu, Al) perovskite catalysts were introduced for Methanol Steam Reforming (MSR). Results showed that LaCoO3 displayed a 100 % methanol conversion efficiency and a notable hydrogen production rate of 7.86 mol/min/gcat, maintaining stability for more than 40 h at 600 °C. Theoretical computations indicate that the CH3O dehydrogenation to CH2O (a rate-determining process) occurs without methanol breaking down into methane and coke, thus ensuring its long-lasting stability. The fusion of experimental findings with theoretical forecasts underscores the prowess of LaCoO3 as a remarkable perovskite catalyst and its extensive possibilities in the realm of methanol hydrogen generation.

Agile Software Development with Secure and Scrum-Centric Approach

The fulfillment of agile models is crucial for ensuring that a software development project's tasks are completed efficiently and collaboratively. The definitions of the project architecture are usually performed in these models. Factors such as delivery time, cost and maintenance are determined. In traditional methods, project stages are carried out sequentially. After one of the stages is completed, another one is performed. When an innovation or change is attempted at any point in the project, some problems occur. These problems can generally be solved with Scrum agile methods, where communication is highlighted and processes are performed more flexibly. It is an undeniable fact that Scrum and security issues can be brought together when incorporating the Scrum strategy into software development models. In such a case, models are used that allow Security and Scrum to work within a framework. In this study, scientific studies based on scientific evidence aimed at eliminating incompatibilities in software development systematics were analyzed. The distribution of the publication years, the relation of scrum and security, the citation topic, the bibliometric maps and co-citation report are used in these analysis. In the result of these analyses, bibliometric and statistical analysis results of studies in the literature on software development that includes security principles with the Scrum model were revealed. When the results obtained in the experiments were examined, it was concluded that it was possible to develop secure software with an architecture in which Scrum and Security models were used together. During the software development phase, it enables proactive risk management by blending scrum and security elements. It also allows teams to detect security vulnerabilities during the software development phase. These facilitate the creation of a more secure and durable software product.

The Influence of Different Butter Type, Their Fatty Acid Composition and Melting Enthalpy on the Viability Rate of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG Directly After the Spray-Drying Process and During Storage of Powders

The present work reports on the microencapsulation of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) by the spray-drying process using a solution of starch, whey protein concentrate (WPC), soy lecithin and ascorbic acid as a carrier, with addition of different types of butters. The aim of this study was to examine the protective mechanism of six different butter samples on the viability rate of LGG bacteria directly after the spray-drying process and during storage for 4 weeks at 4 °C and 20 °C (±1 °C) based on hypothetical factors—the fatty acid’s chemical character and content, and its melting enthalpy. The viability of bacteria, moisture content, water activity, color properties, morphology, particle size of powder, melting enthalpy of butters and their fatty acids composition were evaluated. It is assumed that the highest viability may be indirectly influenced by the relationship between the highest content of proteins and sugars and the lowest content of fats and fatty acids, which is characteristic for butter with a reduced fat content. This butter contained also the least monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The highest number of viable LGG (for systems with reduced-fat butter, as well as salted and lactose-free butter) may be caused by (among other factors) by the lower content of palmitic acid (C16: 0). For these butters, it was also observed that cell viability increased with the increase in melting enthalpy. The results confirmed the protective role of selected butters, which indicates the possibility of using them in industrial processes to increase the durability of additives and products using probiotic powders obtained by spray-drying.

The “nature” and “nurture” of product lifetimes in dynamic stock modeling

AbstractProduct life extension is often portrayed as one of the pillars of the circular economy since longer lifetimes slow down material turnover rates and thus decrease resource use and associated emissions. Strategies for product longevity can involve addressing the product “nature” (inherent product durability) or “nurture” (external factors). Yet, in most dynamic material flow analysis (dMFA) studies, lifetime is an intrinsic property of the cohort assigned “at birth,” so “nurture” strategies such as repair or reuse cannot be explicitly considered. Here, we introduce a Python‐based tool for comprehensive modeling of lifetime changes in dMFA, including three dimensions of lifetime: age, period (time), and cohort. The tool employs the hazard function, which directly links the outflow to the preceding year's stock, allowing for differentiating the influence of product nature and nurture on lifetimes. The tool supports dynamic stock and flow calculations and is compatible with ODYM, a commonly used dMFA framework. We apply the tool to a case study on dishwashers in Norway to illustrate nature‐ and nurture‐focused lifetime extension strategies. The framework enables linking product lifespans with events such as economic crises and pandemics. It can serve to model life extension scenarios in dMFA that (i) extend the lifetime not only of the new products entering use but also of the products already in use, thus achieving faster effects; and (ii) expand the group of potential stakeholders beyond producers and designers to, for example, consumers, repairers, and resellers. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.

Satiation-Based Theory of Frugal Materialism

Frugal materialism is a tendency of consumer demand to become more elastic in product durability in response to a tightening budget constraint. This paper proposes a value function-based model of frugal materialism and establishes a close theoretical link between frugal materialism and the slope of value satiation as defined in the decision analytic literature; for both their absolute and relative versions, frugal materialism and increasing value satiation are nearly equivalent to each other. Only some shapes of the value function are thus compatible with frugal materialism, and the shape restrictions involve concepts familiar from models of decision making under risk, even though the proposed model of frugal materialism does not involve any risk. Under the additional assumption of relative risk neutrality, the demand for risky assets of a frugally materialistic consumer should exhibit well-known behavioral patterns associated with increasing risk aversion, and there is only a narrow possibility for frugal materialism to coexist with precautionary saving behavior.

Boosting Propane Dehydrogenation to Propylene via Electron Hole‐Hydrogen Coupling on Cobalt Metal Surface

AbstractNonoxidative dehydrogenation of propane is useful for the high selectivity to propylene but is suffering from the heavy coke deposition on the catalyst surface. Herein, we present a proof‐of‐concept application of a hole‐hydrogen (H) couple on a metallic cobalt surface to decrease the deactivation rate. The coupled H atoms on the Cobalt (Co) surface, partially resulting from propane dehydrogenation, enabled the desorption of propylene to avoid deep hydrogenolysis and coke deposition and realize selective and durable propylene production, while conventional Co metal‐based catalysts do not generate propylene. The optimized hole‐H coupled Co catalyst provided a low deactivation rate (0.0036 h−1) and a high turnover frequency (55.6 h−1) for propylene production with a high propane flux (48 vol.% C3H8 in gas feeds) at 550 °C.

Boosting Propane Dehydrogenation to Propylene via Electron Hole-Hydrogen Coupling on Cobalt Metal Surface.

Nonoxidative dehydrogenation of propane is useful for the high selectivity to propylene but is suffering from the heavy coke deposition on the catalyst surface. Herein, we present a proof-of-concept application of a hole-hydrogen (H) couple on a metallic cobalt surface to decrease the deactivation rate. The coupled H atoms on the Cobalt (Co) surface, partially resulting from propane dehydrogenation, enabled the desorption of propylene to avoid deep hydrogenolysis and coke deposition and realize selective and durable propylene production, while conventional Co metal-based catalysts do not generate propylene. The optimized hole-H coupled Co catalyst provided a low deactivation rate (0.0036 h-1) and a high turnover frequency (55.6 h-1) for propylene production with a high propane flux (48 vol.% C3H8 in gas feeds) at 550 °C.

Sustainable Manufacturing Engineering: Enhancing Product Quality through Green Process Innovations

The imperative for sustainable practices within manufacturing has become increasingly critical, driven by environmental concerns, regulatory pressures, and the evolving expectations of eco-conscious consumers. This paper investigates the role of sustainable manufacturing engineering in enhancing product quality through the implementation of green process innovations. Specifically, the study explores how sustainable manufacturing methods, including energy-efficient systems, additive manufacturing, zero-waste production, and renewable energy integration, can drive quality improvements while reducing the environmental impact of production processes. The research is grounded in a comprehensive analysis of current green innovations in the manufacturing sector, drawing on case studies of companies that have successfully balanced quality and sustainability. The findings indicate that companies adopting sustainable practices not only reduce waste and lower emissions but also experience notable gains in product durability, customer satisfaction, and brand reputation. For instance, additive manufacturing is shown to improve precision and material efficiency, while zero-waste initiatives lead to a more efficient resource cycle, which in turn supports consistent quality standards. This paper further delves into the challenges of implementing green manufacturing processes without compromising product quality, examining factors such as initial costs, technological readiness, and market adaptation. Visual data in the form of tables and graphs are presented to compare different green process innovations and their respective impacts on quality and sustainability metrics. In addition, case study summaries provide real-world examples of how leading companies have enhanced product quality through sustainable engineering approaches. This study underscores the value of sustainable manufacturing engineering as a dual-benefit strategy that can drive environmental stewardship alongside quality enhancement. The paper recommends that future research focus on the development of new, cost-effective green technologies and the application of advanced data analytics for improved process control in sustainable manufacturing. Through these efforts, the manufacturing sector can continue advancing toward a more sustainable, high-quality production paradigm.

EKSPLORASI FAKTOR PENGHAMBAT DALAM MENGADOPSI GREEN MARKETING PRACTICES PADA IKM RENDANG DI KOTA PADANG

The purpose of this study is to explore the inhibiting factors in the implementation of green marketing practices in rendang SMEs in Padang City. This study uses a qualitative method that aims to obtain a clear picture of a problem, which will be focused on collecting data or information on the object. The results of the research findings and the results of the NVivo 12 plus Project Map analysis, various obstacles felt by SMEs actors to implement green marketing practices, namely government regulations, resources, organizational management, costs and awareness. This is due to the lack of involvement in long-term environmental concerns when producing products. In general, SMEs in rendang businesses focus more on the taste of food, product durability and good quality to reach consumers. In this case, there is no involvement in environmental aspects to minimize environmental impacts ranging from products, production sites, and price to product promotions.

МОДЕЛІ ЦИРКУЛЯРНОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ В КОНТЕКСТІ СТАЛОГО РОЗВИТКУ

The aim of the article is to identify the essence of the circular economy (CE) and to develop business models for its use to reduce environmental impact. It is established that the essence of the economic system lies in the self-accumulation of capital by increasing the mass of recycled resources and the speed of their circulation in the production process. To ensure its functioning, such a system absorbs new territories, sources of raw materials, energy, and human resources. The linear model of economic growth can no longer meet the needs of modern society. It has been proven that in a circular economy, the value of products and materials is preserved much longer, resource use efficiency is increased, and waste is minimized. When a product reaches the end of its life cycle, resources remain in the economy for the creation of additional value. These models not only create safe jobs but also introduce innovations that provide a competitive advantage and a high level of protection for the population and the environment. Additionally, the CE model provides consumers with more durable and innovative products that help save money and improve quality of life. Based on the principles in the waste management hierarchy from 4R (reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose) through 5Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle) to 9Rs and 12Rs of zero waste, business models have been identified that implement the ideas of the circular economy at the micro (products, enterprises, consumers), meso (eco-industrial parks), and macro levels (city, region, nation). It has been substantiated that in a circular economy, the value of products and materials is preserved much longer, resource use efficiency is increased, and waste is minimized. When a product reaches the end of its life cycle, resources remain in the economy for the creation of additional value. These models not only create safe jobs but also introduce innovations that provide a competitive advantage and a high level of protection for the population and the environment. The CE model provides consumers with more durable and innovative products that help save money and improve quality of life.

Pre- and post-harvest aflatoxin contamination and management strategies of Aspergillus spoilage in East African Community maize: review of etiology and climatic susceptibility.

Globally, maize (Zea mays L.) is deemed an important cereal that serves as a staple food and feed for humans and animals, respectively. Across the East African Community, maize is the staple food responsible for providing over one-third of calories in diets. Ideally, stored maize functions as man-made grain ecosystems, with nutritive quality changes influenced predominantly by chemical, biological, and physical factors. Food spoilage and fungal contamination are convergent reasons that contribute to the exacerbation of mycotoxins prevalence, particularly when storage conditions have deteriorated. In Kenya, aflatoxins are known to be endemic with the 2004 acute aflatoxicosis outbreak being described as one of the most ravaging epidemics in the history of human mycotoxin poisoning. In Tanzania, the worst aflatoxin outbreak occurred in 2016 with case fatalities reaching 50%. Similar cases of aflatoxicoses have also been reported in Uganda, scenarios that depict the severity of mycotoxin contamination across this region. Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan seemingly have minimal occurrences and fatalities of aflatoxicoses and aflatoxin contamination. Low diet diversity tends to aggravate human exposure to aflatoxins since maize, as a dietetic staple, is highly aflatoxin-prone. In light of this, it becomes imperative to formulate and develop workable control frameworks that can be embraced in minimizing aflatoxin contamination throughout the food chain. This review evaluates the scope and magnitude of aflatoxin contamination in post-harvest maize and climate susceptibility within an East African Community context. The paper also treats the potential green control strategies against Aspergillus spoilage including biocontrol-prophylactic handling for better and durable maize production.

SWOT Analysis in Determining Consumer Preferences For Designing Traditional Nias Clothing

The purpose of this research is to find out consumer preferences in designing traditional Nias clothing, find out the design after conducting a SWOT analysis, and find out the obstacles that exist in the process of making traditional Nias clothes. This research uses a qualitative research approach. The sample in this study were 6 people consisting of business owners, traditional leaders, employees, and consumers. Data collection techniques, namely interviews and observations. The results of this study are steps in determining consumer preferences in designing traditional Nias clothing at UD. Vivi is the determination of the size motif and type of material, color selection based on market demand, the design produced by UD. Vivi in designing Nias traditional clothing is seen in terms of shape, size, quality, and product durability, the findings of threats to UD. Vivi is that it can come from various factors, namely competition, changes in market trends, changes in consumer preferences, especially among the younger generation who may prefer clothes with modern styles rather than traditional ones, which can reduce demand for traditional Nias clothing, the influence of foreign cultures: Influence from outside culture, and the tools used are still traditional.

The Impact of Chlorinated Water and Sun Exposure on the Durability and Performance of Swimwear Materials.

Understanding the factors that affect how materials age is essential for creating a durable product with long-lasting properties. It is also important to prioritize defining aging parameters that reflect the real-world conditions the materials will encounter. For this study, a range of swimwear materials were selected consisting of a blend of polymer (polyamide/polyester) and elastane in varying ratios. In order to simulate aging conditions, materials were immersed in chlorinated outdoor pool water during the summer season, either in shade or the sun, for 200 and 300 h. The materials were tested for mass per unit area, thickness, tensile properties, and moisture management. A slight mass per unit area increase was observed, rising from 1.0% after 200 h of chlorine and sunlight exposure to 3.7% after 300 h. Thickness increased by 1.7% after 200 h and 3.2% after 300 h of chlorine exposure, with no significant effect of sunlight. Breaking force dropped by 12.4% after 200 h in chlorine and 8.2% in chlorine and sunlight, becoming more pronounced after 300 h (65.7% in chlorine and 65.1% in chlorine and sunlight). The overall moisture management capability declined from 0.4888 to 0.3457 after 200 h in chlorine and 0.3393 with sunlight, dropping further after 300 h to 0.3838 and 0.3253, respectively.

MXene-reinforced water insensitive self-healing piezoelectric nanogenerator for ambient and aquatic mechano-pressure sensing

The development of soft electronic devices capable of autonomous self-healing (SH) holds immense potential across various endeavours, promising to revolutionize product durability, reliability, and maintenance practices. Despite some progress has been made, underwater stable SH continues to be an active area of research. Herein, SH polymer PDMS-MDI0.4-TFB0.6 (SHP) with excellent mechanical property was composited with MXene to investigate the piezoelectric nature under various circumstance. By leveraging MXene into SHP not only improves the material properties of mechanical stress but also permittivity of the elastomer. Thus, MXene incorporated SHP (mSHP) induce high polarized charges under mechanical pressure. The fabrication of mSHP piezoelectric nanogenerator (mSHP-PENG) device via spray coating AgNWs on the surface forms ohmic contact, which facilitate high sensitivity and flexibility. Nevertheless, the generated piezoelectricity (30 V, 4.2 μA: 3 Hz) upon mechanical pressure gives maximum power density of 128 μW/m2 indicating that our device can act as a reliable power source for portable electronic gadgets. In addition, SHP with amphiphilic functional groups sustain the original shape even after immerse into water for so long. Taking this into account, our device undergoes effective deformation even at low pressures, thus render to fabricate touch sensitive piezo-switches for both atmospheric and aquatics environments.

Poly (Butylene Adipate‐Co‐Terephthalate) (PBAT) – Based Biocomposites: A Comprehensive Review

AbstractWith the issue of plastic waste persisting and the need for more sustainable solutions to the ever‐increasing demand for lightweight and durable plastic products, this review has become imminent and compelling. Poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is a biodegradable polymer with exceptional film‐forming ability resembling those of low‐density polyethylene. PBAT has a huge advantage for packaging applications due to its remarkably high elongation at break, giving it a good processing window for its application in packaging. However, certain defiant intrinsic properties stand in the way of its full commercialization. The development of blends and biocomposites of PBAT has, therefore, become imperative for complementing its properties and producing a superior material. This paper focuses on the recent developments in preparing PBAT‐based blends and biocomposites with superior mechanical, barrier, and antimicrobial properties and, most importantly, has also investigated how the development of these blends and biocomposites impacts the biodegradation rate of PBAT. It also highlights the possible synthesis of bio‐based PBAT and the commercialization, market trends, and prospects of PBAT‐based materials for flexible, rigid packaging, and other industrial applications compared with biodegradable alternatives.

An Innovative Approach to Closing the Loop in a Circular Plastic Economy by Upcycling Single-Use Post-consumer Thin Film Plastic Packaging Waste into Durable Plastic Products

AbstractThe waste system requires a circular economy business solution to upcycle millions of tonnes of contaminated post-consumer single-use multi-material, multilayer, plastic packaging films/foils. This waste is rarely collected for recycling, firstly because the market for such waste is new and very small, and secondly due to technical issues and cross-contamination at waste recycling facilities. Conventionally, two linear disposal routs exist, energy recovery through incineration or landfill, both having an economic cost. Being very lightweight, plastics are blown around and end up contaminating terrestrial and marine environments. This paper evaluates intrusion extrusion moulding technology with agglomeration to make products. With a 50-year first lifespan and nine more life cycles, they can be used multiple times as a substitute for wood and concrete. Public bodies can catalyse the intrusion extrusion moulding manufacturing industry by including such products during their procurement processes. The technology works and the business can be profitable.

Selective O2-to-H2O2 Electrosynthesis by a High-Performance, Single-Pass Electrofiltration System Using Ibuprofen-Laden CNT Membranes.

Producing H2O2 through a selective, two-electron (2e) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is challenging, especially when it serves as an advanced oxidation process (AOP) for cost-effective water decontamination. Herein, we attain a 2e-selectivity H2O2 production using a carbon nanotube electrified membrane with ibuprofen (IBU) molecules laden (IBU@CNT-EM) in an ultrafast, single-pass electrofiltration process. The IBU@CNT-EM can generate H2O2 at a rate of 25.62 mol gCNT-1 h-1 L-1 in the permeate with a residence time of 1.81 s. We demonstrated that an interwoven, hydrophilic-hydrophobic membrane nanostructure offers an excellent air-to-water transport platform for ORR acceleration. The electron transfer number of the ORR for IBU@CNT at neutral pH was confirmed as 2.71, elucidating a near-2e selectivity to H2O2. Density functional theory (DFT) studies validated an exceptional charge distribution of the IBU@CNT for the O2 adsorption. The adsorption energies of the O2 and *OOH intermediates are proportional to the H2O2 selectivity (64.39%), higher than that of the CNT (37.81%). With the simple and durable production of H2O2 by IBU@CNT-EM electrofiltration, the permeate can actuate Fenton oxidation to efficiently decompose emerging pollutants and inactivate bacteria. Our study introduces a new paradigm for developing high-performance H2O2-production membranes for water treatment by reusing environmental functional materials.

EXPRESS: Color Me Effective: the Impact of Color Saturation on Perceptions of Potency and Product Efficacy

Consumers use observable cues, like color, to help them evaluate products. This research establishes that consumers infer greater product efficacy from higher color saturation across seven lab experiments (n = 2,745), a web scraping study, and a field experiment. The studies provide evidence that this belief stems from learned associations between color saturation and potency and is applied to both consumable and durable products. Moreover, consumers overgeneralize this intuition beyond a product’s actual color to a product’s packaging color and the background color used in its advertisements. Two studies support the proposed process with evidence via moderation, while another study identifies consumption goal as a boundary condition, such that high saturation decreases perceived efficacy and purchase intent when consumers search for a gentle (vs. strong) product. The effect is not limited to pre-purchase perceptions but also influences perceptions after actual product use. The effect is established across six hues while holding color lightness constant and has multiple downstream consequences, including purchase intent and consumption amount. The findings have implications for marketers who make product design choices like color choices for products, their packaging, and advertisements, and in instances where consumers may be harmed from underuse or overuse.