Search

Little is known about how the strength of biodegradable polymers changes during decomposition. This study investigated the changes in the tensile properties of polybutylene succinate (PBS) and basalt-fiber (BF)-reinforced PBS (PBS-BF) composite sheets during degradation in bacterial solutions. Seven days after the start of the experiment, the elongation at break of the PBS specimens decreased significantly, and the PBS-BF composite specimens were characterized by barely any change in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) after immersion in the bacteria-free medium for 7 and 56 days. Meanwhile, when immersed in the bacterial solution, the UTS of the PBS-BF composite specimens showed a tendency to decrease after 7 days. After 56 days, the UTS decreased to about half of its value immediately after fabrication. The degradation of the material was attributed to infiltration of the bacterial solution into structurally weak areas, causing decomposition throughout the material.

In this study, traditional Japanese washi paper was sandwiched with poly(butylene succinate)(PBS) in order to produce a paper-based composite material that can be biologically degraded. Specimens were prepared using a hot press, and the mechanical properties of the washi paperand the new composite material were investigated by tensile tests. The cross-sections of specimens were then observed with a digital microscope as well as by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. The microscope images indicated that therelatively hollow washi provides a structure for the polymer to settle into, which could contribute to the improved strength of the composite material. Specimens made from three layers of washipaper and combined with two layers of PBS film had remarkable mechanical propertiesincluding a UTS of 95 MPa.The composite material was incubated in compost and a MODA C-S (Microbial Oxidative Degradation Analyzer) was used to evaluate its biodegradability. The material showed good biodegradability with significant losses of mass (-32 %) as well as major loss of mechanical strength after four weeks of incubation. The biodegradability of the material will be further investigated.

Cement is produced in three main steps: grinding of a mixture of raw materials, sintering of the raw meal to form clinker, and grinding and mixing of clinker, gypsum and additives to make cement. Slag from steel manufacturing can be used to replace some of the raw material, but since slag is a carrier of some unwanted compounds, problems arise. Excess sulphur circulating in the system during clinker production can cause various problems such as clogging. In this report, the circulation of sulphur and other volatile compounds as well as the composition of gaseous and solid materials in the cyclone tower has been studied using old data from 2014 and new measurements. No sulphuric gases were found in the cyclones, so it was concluded that most of the sulphur condenses at the bypass at the inlet to the cyclone closest to the kiln. Condensation is assumed to occur early in the pre-heating tower because of air leaking in. Sulphur balances from 2014 and 2020 showed that usage of slag increases the amount of sulphur that circulates in the system and that the critical amount has been exceeded as of the measurements taken 2020. It is recommended that further measurements are performed, such as qualitative analysis of the solid material to distinguish the different sulphuric compounds, as well as more experiments with varied parameters such as the amount of slag and kiln fuel used.

International human rights law and international humanitarian law are traditionally two distinct branches of law, one dealing with the protection of individuals, the other with the conduct of parties to an armed conflict. There is today a recognition that international human rights law is applicable in situations of armed conflict, in parallel with international humanitarian law. The aim of this Master thesis is to determine the significance of international humanitarian law that the European Court of Human Rights gives to it. At the outset the historical relationship between the bodies of law is explained and briefly the conceptual difference between international human rights law and international humanitarian law addressed. The thesis further undertakes an examination of the selected judgments and decisions, and systematizes the patterns of the use of international humanitarian law. The empirical research demonstrates that the European Court of Human Rights does interpret the relationship in diffent ways depending on the context and that the interpretation to some extent has changed over time. More specifically, the Court has in situations amounting to internal armed conflicts only applied the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Protocols, without any clear reference to IHL, although awarding some flexibility in the application of the convention with regard to the situation's character. In international armed conflicts the Court has found that the provisions should, to some extent, be interpreted and applied in the light of the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law. This marks a difference from its earlier case law where the Court did not consider the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Protocols to be the prevailing body of law in situations of international armed conflicts. The thesis contends that Court’s approach to international law reflects the specific nat, Mänskliga rättigheter och internationell humanitär rätt har traditionellt betraktats som två skilda rättsområden. i dag är mänskliga rättigheter emellertid universellt tillämpliga, även under väpnade konflikter. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka i vilken utsträckning Europadomstolen tillämpat eller tagit hänsyn till internationell humanitär rätt i sina domar. Vad som visas är att Europadomstolen i sina avgörande implicit skiljer mellan olika typer av väpnade konflikter. I förhållande till internationella väpnade konflikter tillämpar domstolen Europakonventionen i ljuset av internationell humanitär rätt, detta till skillnad från konflikter av annan karaktär i vilken endast Europakonvention utgör grunden för domstolen avgöranden, även om en viss flexibilitet tillämpas. Den utveckling som kan ses i förhållande till internationella väpnade konflikter kan möjligen bidra till en minskad fragmentering av internationell rätt. Samtidigt är det viktigt att Europakonventionens innehåll inte urvattnas.