Aproveitamento de resíduo de beneficiamento do caulim na produção de porcelanato cerâmico

Nowadays, industries from all sectors have great concerns over the disposition of the residues generated along the productive process. This is not different in the mineral sector, as this generates great volumes of residues. It was verified that the kaolin improvement industry generates great volumes of residue basically constituted of kaolinite, muscovite mica and quartz, which are basic constitution elements to formularisations of ceramics masses to the production of covering of stoneware tiles type. This happens because the methodology applied to the improvement process is still very rudimentary, what causes a very low yield, only ¼ from all the material volume that enters the improvement process, in the end, is marketable. The disposal of this residue, in a general way, causes a very big negative environmental impact, what has justified the researches efforts aiming to find a rational solution to this problem. In this way, the intention of this present work is the utilization of this residue in the manufacture of products to high quality ceramics covering, stoneware tiles in an industrial scale. For this purpose, the influence of the addition of the residue to a standard ceramics mass used by a ceramics sector company, already established in the market, with the intention of verifying the possibility of use of this residue as the mass complementary raw material and even the possible partial or total substitution of one of the components of the mass for the raw material in evidence will be studied. To the accomplishment of this work, the kaolin improvement residue generated by an industry of exploitation and improvement of kaolin, located in the region of Equador-RN, in the levels 1,2,4,8, 16 and 32% will be added to the standard mass already used for the production of stoneware tiles. The raw materials used, kaolin residue and the standard mass, were characterized through DRX, FRX, DTA, TGA and dilatometry. After the sintering of the bodies of test, tests of water absorption, apparent porosity, post burning linear retraction, apparent specific mass and flexural strength (3 point bending) were realized to determinate the technological properties of these materials. The results show the studied residue can be considered raw material of great potential to the industry of floor and ceramics covering of the stoneware tiles type

Sinterização de matrizes cerâmicas à base de alumina reforçadas por carbetos a partir de precursores poliméricos

Ceramic composites produced with polymerics precursors have been studied for many years, due to the facility of obtaining a complex shape, at low temperature and reduces cost. The main objective of this work is to study the process of sintering of composites of ceramic base consisting of Al2O3 and silicates, reinforced for NbC, through the technique of processing AFCOP, as well as the influence of the addition of LZSA, ICZ and Al as materials infiltration in the physical and mechanical properties of the ceramic composite. Were produced ceramic matrix composites based SiCxOy e Al2O3 reinforced with NbC, by hidrosilylation reaction between D4Vi and D1107 mixtured with Al2O3 as inert filler, Nb and Al as reactive filler. The specimens produced were pyrolised at 1200, 1250 and 1400°C and infiltred with Al, ICZ and LZSA, respectively. Density, porosity, flexural mechanical strength and fracture surface by scanning electron microscopy were evaluated. The microstructure of the composites was investigated by X-ray diffraction to identify the presence of crystalline phases. The composites presented apparent porosity varying of 31 up to 49% and mechanical flexural strength of 14 up to 34 MPa. The infiltration process improviment of the densification and reduction of the porosity, as well as increased the values of mechanical flexural strength. The obtained phases had been identified as being Al3Nb, NbSi2, Nb5S3, Nb3Si and NbC. The samples that were submitted the infiltration process presented a layer next surface with reduced pores number in relation to the total volume

Estudo do perfil térmico de fornos do tipo "caipira" utilizados pelo setor de cerâmica vermelha em parelhas na região Seridó-RN

The present study aimed to characterize the thermal profile of wood fired oven used by the red ceramic industry in Parelhas, in the Seridó region/RN, aiming to propose structural interventions that can contribute to increasing productivity and product quality, optimize wood consumption and mitigate existing losses during the burning process. The study was conducted at Cerâmica Esperança in the city of Parelhas -RN, Brazil, during the period from August 2012 to September 2013. Four treatments were performed with three replicates, ie, with, a total of 12 experimental units (burnings). In the first stage 4 treatments were performed with three replicates, totaling 12 experimental units (firings). In the second stage 2 treatments were performed with three replications, totaling 6 experimental units (firings). The physical characteristics of the wood were analyzed using standard NBR 11941 and NBR 7190 for basic density and moisture, respectively. The clay was used as a reference parameter for distinguishing treatments. For both the analysis and characterization was carried out using techniques of fluorescence X (XRF) rays, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, particle size analysis (FA). In the first and second stages were monitored: the time during the firing process, the amount of wood used at each firing, the number of parts enfornadas for subsequent determination of the percentages of losses, but also product quality. To characterize the thermal profile of the oven, we measured the temperature at 15 points scored in the surface charge put into the oven. Measurements were taken every 30 minutes from preheat until the end of burning, using a pyrometer laser sight sighting from preheating until the end of burning. In the second step 12 metal cylinders distributed on the oven walls, and the cylinder end walls 8 of the furnace 2 and rollers on each side walls are installed equidistant to 17 cm from the soil and the surface 30 of the wall are installed. The cylinders distributed on the front were placed 50 cm above the furnace, and the base of the oven 20 cm distant from the ground. 10 also thermocouples were installed, and five thermocouples distributed 1.77 cm above the combustion chambers, and one thermocouple on each side, and three thermocouples in front of the oven. We carried out the measurements of the temperatures every 1 hour during the burning two hours in cooling the cylinders with a pyrometer and thermocouples for dattaloger. These were fixed with depth of 30 cm from the wall. After statistical analysis it was found that: the thermal profile of the furnace surface and at different heights was heterogeneous; and the ranges of density and moisture content of wood are within recommended for use as an energy source standards. We conclude that even at low temperatures reached during firing there was a significant production of good quality products, this is due to high concentrations of iron oxide and potassium oxide found in clay, which lowers the melting point of the piece. The average burn time for each step varied 650-2100 minutes wood consumption was on average 20 m3, product quality was on average 16% of first quality, 70% second, third and 5% to 10% loss . The distance between the wire and the surface of the oven was a significant parameter for all treatments, but with different variations, meaning that the wire should not be so generic and unique form, used as a criterion for completion of the burn process. The central part of the furnace was the area that reached higher temperature, and in a unified manner, with the highest concentration of top quality products. The ideal temperature curve, which provided the highest quality of ceramic products was achieved in the central part of the furnace

Fatores que afetam a germinação e a emergência de Xanthium strumarim L.: dormência, qualidade da luz e profundidade de semeadura

Foram conduzidos três ensaios com o objetivo de estudar os efeitos de diferentes métodos de quebra de dormência das sementes, da qualidade da luz e da profundidade de semeadura na germinação e emergência do Xanthium strumarim L. (carrapichão). No primeiro ensaio, sob condições de câmara de crescimento, os tratamentos constaram de 5 métodos de quebra de dormência: mecânico (lixa), químico (H2SO4 conc. por 10 min.), pré-tratamento em água (imersão por 2 horas), físico (choque térmico: água à 80oC por 2 min.) e testemunha, que proporcionaram 100%, 93%, 93%, 87% e 80% de germinação, respectivamente, sem haver diferença estatística entre os mesmos. O pré-tratamento em água apresentou menor índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) e os demais não diferiram significativamente entre si. No segundo ensaio, também sob condições de câmara de crescimento, os tratamentos de qualidade da luz constaram de 6 filtros de luz, que resultaram nas seguintes porcentagens de germinação: azul - com refletividade máxima a 450 nm (13%), verde-500 nm (33%), vermelho-700 nm (13%), vermelho/distante-760 nm (7%), ausência de luz (26%) e transparente - sem absortividade na região de 380 a 760 nm (testemunha, 73%), indicando sensibilidade das sementes à qualidade de luz. No terceiro ensaio, sob condições de casa-de-vegetação, os tratamentos foram diferentes profundidades de semeadura (0 a 20 cm, em intervalos de 2 cm), sendo que o máximo de emergência ocorreu no intervalo de 0 a 8 cm, no qual foi observado 67% de emergência do carrapichão, com maior índice de velocidade emergência (IVE), sendo que após os 16 cm, praticamente não houve emergência.

Sistema com aeração, decantação e filtragem para a melhoria da qualidade de água em irrigação localizada

A qualidade da água é muito importante para irrigação por gotejamento, pois ela escoa por pequenos bocais dos emissores, podendo ocorrer obstrução devido à deposição dos sólidos em suspensão. Portanto, antes da instalação do projeto, devem-se avaliar parâmetros de qualidade da água, para adotar medidas preventivas, evitando o risco de entupimento do sistema. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar um sistema composto por aeradores com aspersores, sobre leito de pedra, para a precipitação dos íons Fe+2e Mn+2 em tanque de decantação, e um conjunto de filtragem composto por três filtros de areia e um de disco, em sistema de irrigação localizada. O trabalho foi realizado na Fazenda Alvorada, no município de Nova Granada - SP, no período de março a outubro de 2008. Foram realizadas determinações de variáveis físicas e químicas da água, ao longo do sistema de aeração, decantação e filtragem, o qual foi eficiente para a melhoria da qualidade de água, reduzindo os níveis de risco de entupimento de severo para médio e de médio para baixo. Oxigênio dissolvido, condutividade elétrica, pH, Fe+2e Fe+3 não diferenciaram a qualidade de água entre os pontos do sistema de tratamento, porém a turbidez, sólidos dissolvidos, sólidos em suspensão, ferro total e manganês total reduziram-se significativamente pelo uso do sistema proposto, melhorando a qualidade da água.

Desenvolvimento de equipamento motorizado para aplicação líquida de produtos fitossanitários na cultura do café

O trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um protótipo aplicador de líquidos na superfície do solo para cafezais localizados em regiões de topografia acidentada ou cultivados em sistema de plantio adensado. O protótipo do aplicador construído é um trator de rabiças acionado por um motor de dois tempos a gasolina, de 2,61 kW (3,5 cv), com duas rodas motrizes com bitola de 0,60 m e uma terceira roda direcional, equipado com sistema de pulverização dotado de depósito de 40 L, bomba centrífuga, filtros de linha, regulador de pressão, manômetro, mangueiras, válvulas e suporte de bicos. Para avaliar a eficiência do protótipo, foram instalados dois experimentos de campo em São Sebastião do Paraíso - MG (2003 e 2004), onde foram aplicados inseticidas sistêmicos para o controle da cigarra. Os métodos de aplicação avaliados foram: aplicação em faixa, filete, drench contínuo e drench intermitente. O protótipo aplicador de líquidos à superfície do solo atendeu aos objetivos propostos, visto que conseguiu realizar o controle químico de cigarras com destaque para a aplicação em drench contínuo. O protótipo, se equipado para aplicar simultaneamente nos dois lados da planta, apresentará capacidade de campo operacional semelhante à do equipamento tratorizado.

Modelo de desdobramento da função qualidade adequado a produção da cerâmica vermelha

A presente dissertação representa uma contribuição na resolução dos problemas que se apresentam no setor das indústrias de cerâmica vermelha, apresentamos um modelo, baseado na estratégia do QFD (Desdobramento da Função Qualidade), na qual associa os requisitos dos consumidores na elaboração dos projetos do produto e dos processos de produção. A qualidade do produto é avaliada tanto no aspecto interno(especificações técnicas) quanto no aspecto externo (qualidades exigidas pelos clientes). A pesquisa mostra, além da realidade que vive o setor das indústrias de cerâmica, a importância e os atributos da qualidade definidos pelos consumidores relativo aos tijolos cerâmicos de vedação. O trabalho também mostra os resultados da aplicação do modelo numa das empresas do setor, através de desdobramentos da qualidade exigida, se estabelece a qualidade planejada, mostra ainda a posição da empresa em relação aos concorrentes em função do desempenho do produto. Procura-se ainda, através de sugestões de melhorias, atacar os problemas das falhas na qual geram o desperdício

Análise e otimização de superfícies seletivas de Frequência utilizando redes neurais artificiais e algoritmos de otimização natural

The bidimensional periodic structures called frequency selective surfaces have been well investigated because of their filtering properties. Similar to the filters that work at the traditional radiofrequency band, such structures can behave as band-stop or pass-band filters, depending on the elements of the array (patch or aperture, respectively) and can be used for a variety of applications, such as: radomes, dichroic reflectors, waveguide filters, artificial magnetic conductors, microwave absorbers etc. To provide high-performance filtering properties at microwave bands, electromagnetic engineers have investigated various types of periodic structures: reconfigurable frequency selective screens, multilayered selective filters, as well as periodic arrays printed on anisotropic dielectric substrates and composed by fractal elements. In general, there is no closed form solution directly from a given desired frequency response to a corresponding device; thus, the analysis of its scattering characteristics requires the application of rigorous full-wave techniques. Besides that, due to the computational complexity of using a full-wave simulator to evaluate the frequency selective surface scattering variables, many electromagnetic engineers still use trial-and-error process until to achieve a given design criterion. As this procedure is very laborious and human dependent, optimization techniques are required to design practical periodic structures with desired filter specifications. Some authors have been employed neural networks and natural optimization algorithms, such as the genetic algorithms and the particle swarm optimization for the frequency selective surface design and optimization. This work has as objective the accomplishment of a rigorous study about the electromagnetic behavior of the periodic structures, enabling the design of efficient devices applied to microwave band. For this, artificial neural networks are used together with natural optimization techniques, allowing the accurate and efficient investigation of various types of frequency selective surfaces, in a simple and fast manner, becoming a powerful tool for the design and optimization of such structures

Desenvolvimento de substrato cerâmico BiNbO4 para antenas de microfita de sistemas de comunicações sem fio

The main purpose of this work was the development of ceramic dielectric substrates of bismuth niobate (BiNbO4) doped with vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), with high permittivity, used in the construction of microstrip patch antennas with applications in wireless communications systems. The high electrical permittivity of the ceramic substrate provided a reduction of the antenna dimensions. The numerical results obtained in the simulations and the measurements performed with the microstrip patch antennas showed good agreement. These antennas can be used in wireless communication systems in various frequency bands. Results were satisfactory for antennas operating at frequencies in the S band, in the range between 2.5 GHz and 3.0 GHz.

Desenvolvimento de antenas de microfita e antenas DRA Broadband

The search for ever smaller device and without loss of performance has been increasingly investigated by researchers involving applied electromagnetics. Antennas using ceramics materials with a high dielectric constant, whether acting as a substract element of patch radiating or as the radiant element are in evidence in current research, that due to the numerous advantages offered, such as: low profile, ability to reduce the its dimensions when compared to other devices, high efficiency of ratiation, suitability the microwave range and/or millimeter wave, low temperature coefficient and low cost. The reason for this high efficiency is that the dielectric losses of ceramics are very low when compared to commercially materials sold used in printed circuit boards, such as fiberglass and phenolite. These characteristics make ceramic devices suitable for operation in the microwave band. Combining the design of patch antennas and/or dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) to certain materials and the method of synthesis of these powders in the manufacture of devices, it s possible choose a material with a dielectric constant appropriate for the design of an antenna with the desired size. The main aim of this work is the design of patch antennas and DRA antennas on synthesis of ceramic powders (synthesis by combustion and polymeric precursors - Pe- chini method) nanostructured with applications in the microwave band. The conventional method of mix oxides was also used to obtain nanometric powders for the preparation of tablets and dielectric resonators. The devices manufactured and studied on high dielectric constant materials make them good candidates to have their small size compared to other devices operating at the same frequency band. The structures analyzed are excited by three different techniques: i) microstrip line, ii) aperture coupling and iii) inductive coupling. The efficiency of these techniques have been investigated experimentally and compared with simulations by Ansoft HFSS, used in the accurate analysis of the electromagnetic behavior of antennas over the finite element method (FEM). In this thesis a literature study on the theory of microstrip antennas and DRA antenna is performed. The same study is performed about the materials and methods of synthesis of ceramic powders, which are used in the manufacture of tablets and dielectric cylinders that make up the devices investigated. The dielectric media which were used to support the analysis of the DRA and/or patch antennas are analyzed using accurate simulations using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) based on the relative electrical permittivity (er) and loss tangent of these means (tand). This work also presents a study on artificial neural networks, showing the network architecture used and their characteristics, as well as the training algorithms that were used in training and modeling some parameters associated with the devices investigated

Estudo do acoplamento entre superfícies seletivas de frequência assimétricas em estruturas de multicamadas

This work presents the development of new microwaves structures, filters and high gain antenna, through the cascading of frequency selective surfaces, which uses fractals Dürer and Minkowski patches as elements, addition of an element obtained from the combination of the other two simple the cross dipole and the square spiral. Frequency selective surfaces (FSS) includes a large area of Telecommunications and have been widely used due to its low cost, low weight and ability to integrate with others microwaves circuits. They re especially important in several applications, such as airplane, antennas systems, radomes, rockets, missiles, etc. FSS applications in high frequency ranges have been investigated, as well as applications of cascading structures or multi-layer, and active FSS. In this work, we present results for simulated and measured transmission characteristics of cascaded structures (multilayer), aiming to investigate the behavior of the operation in terms of bandwidth, one of the major problems presented by frequency selective surfaces. Comparisons are made with simulated results, obtained using commercial software such as Ansoft DesignerTM v3 and measured results in the laboratory. Finally, some suggestions are presented for future works on this subject

Dispositivos planares integrados utilizando método dinâmico com metamateriais e PBG

This work presents a theoretical, numerical and computation analysis of parameters of a rectangular microstrip antenna with metamaterial substrate, fin line as a coupler and also integrated devices like integrated filter antenna. It is applied theory to full-wave of Transverse Transmission Line - TTL method, to characterize the magnitude of the substrate and obtain the general equations of the electromagnetic fields. About the metamaterial, they are characterized by permittivity and permeability tensor, reaching to the general equations for the electromagnetic fields of the antenna. It is presented a study about main representation of PBG(Photonic Band Gap) material and its applied for a specific configuration. A few parameters are simulated some structures in order to reduce the physical dimensions and increase the bandwidth. The results are presented through graphs. The theoretical and computational analysis of this work have shown accurate and relatively concise. Conclusions are drawn and suggestions for future work

Agentes Inteligentes com Foco de Atenção Afetivo em Simulações Baseadas em Agentes

Simulations based on cognitively rich agents can become a very intensive computing task, especially when the simulated environment represents a complex system. This situation becomes worse when time constraints are present. This kind of simulations would benefit from a mechanism that improves the way agents perceive and react to changes in these types of environments. In other worlds, an approach to improve the efficiency (performance and accuracy) in the decision process of autonomous agents in a simulation would be useful. In complex environments, and full of variables, it is possible that not every information available to the agent is necessary for its decision-making process, depending indeed, on the task being performed. Then, the agent would need to filter the coming perceptions in the same as we do with our attentions focus. By using a focus of attention, only the information that really matters to the agent running context are perceived (cognitively processed), which can improve the decision making process. The architecture proposed herein presents a structure for cognitive agents divided into two parts: 1) the main part contains the reasoning / planning process, knowledge and affective state of the agent, and 2) a set of behaviors that are triggered by planning in order to achieve the agent s goals. Each of these behaviors has a runtime dynamically adjustable focus of attention, adjusted according to the variation of the agent s affective state. The focus of each behavior is divided into a qualitative focus, which is responsible for the quality of the perceived data, and a quantitative focus, which is responsible for the quantity of the perceived data. Thus, the behavior will be able to filter the information sent by the agent sensors, and build a list of perceived elements containing only the information necessary to the agent, according to the context of the behavior that is currently running. Based on the human attention focus, the agent is also dotted of a affective state. The agent s affective state is based on theories of human emotion, mood and personality. This model serves as a basis for the mechanism of continuous adjustment of the agent s attention focus, both the qualitative and the quantative focus. With this mechanism, the agent can adjust its focus of attention during the execution of the behavior, in order to become more efficient in the face of environmental changes. The proposed architecture can be used in a very flexibly way. The focus of attention can work in a fixed way (neither the qualitative focus nor the quantitaive focus one changes), as well as using different combinations for the qualitative and quantitative foci variation. The architecture was built on a platform for BDI agents, but its design allows it to be used in any other type of agents, since the implementation is made only in the perception level layer of the agent. In order to evaluate the contribution proposed in this work, an extensive series of experiments were conducted on an agent-based simulation over a fire-growing scenario. In the simulations, the agents using the architecture proposed in this work are compared with similar agents (with the same reasoning model), but able to process all the information sent by the environment. Intuitively, it is expected that the omniscient agent would be more efficient, since they can handle all the possible option before taking a decision. However, the experiments showed that attention-focus based agents can be as efficient as the omniscient ones, with the advantage of being able to solve the same problems in a significantly reduced time. Thus, the experiments indicate the efficiency of the proposed architecture

Novas configurações de monopólios planares quase-fractais para sistemas de comunicações móveis

The characteristic properties of the fractal geometry have shown to be very useful for the construction of filters, frequency selective surfaces, synchronized circuits and antennas, enabling optimized solutions in many different commercial uses at microwaves frequency band. The fractal geometry is included in the technology of the microwave communication systems due to some interesting properties to the fabrication of compact devices, with higher performance in terms of bandwidth, as well as multiband behavior. This work describes the design, fabrication and measurement procedures for the Koch quasi-fractal monopoles, with 1 and 2 iteration levels, in order to investigate the bandwidth behavior of planar antennas, from the use of quasi-fractal elements printed on their rectangular patches. The electromagnetic effect produced by the variation of the fractal iterations and the miniaturization of the structures is analyzed. Moreover, a parametric study is performed to verify the bandwidth behavior, not only at the return loss but also in terms of SWR. Experimental results were obtained through the accomplishment of measurements with the aid of a vetorial network analyzer and compared to simulations performed using the Ansoft HFSS software. Finally, some proposals for future works are presented

Análise e projeto de superfícies seletivas de frequência com elementos pré-fractais para aplicações em comunicações indoor

In this thesis, a frequency selective surface (FSS) consists of a two-dimensional periodic structure mounted on a dielectric substrate, which is capable of selecting signals in one or more frequency bands of interest. In search of better performance, more compact dimensions, low cost manufacturing, among other characteristics, these periodic structures have been continually optimized over time. Due to its spectral characteristics, which are similar to band-stop or band-pass filters, the FSSs have been studied and used in several applications for more than four decades. The design of an FSS with a periodic structure composed by pre-fractal elements facilitates the tuning of these spatial filters and the adjustment of its electromagnetic parameters, enabling a compact design which generally has a stable frequency response and superior performance relative to its euclidean counterpart. The unique properties of geometric fractals have shown to be useful, mainly in the production of antennas and frequency selective surfaces, enabling innovative solutions and commercial applications in microwave range. In recent applications, the FSSs modify the indoor propagation environments (emerging concept called wireless building ). In this context, the use of pre-fractal elements has also shown promising results, allowing a more effective filtering of more than one frequency band with a single-layer structure. This thesis approaches the design of FSSs using pre-fractal elements based on Vicsek, Peano and teragons geometries, which act as band-stop spatial filters. The transmission properties of the periodic surfaces are analyzed to design compact and efficient devices with stable frequency responses, applicable to microwave frequency range and suitable for use in indoor communications. The results are discussed in terms of the electromagnetic effect resulting from the variation of parameters such as: fractal iteration number (or fractal level), scale factor, fractal dimension and periodicity of FSS, according the pre-fractal element applied on the surface. The analysis of the fractal dimension s influence on the resonant properties of a FSS is a new contribution in relation to researches about microwave devices that use fractal geometry. Due to its own characteristics and the geometric shape of the Peano pre-fractal elements, the reconfiguration possibility of these structures is also investigated and discussed. This thesis also approaches, the construction of efficient selective filters with new configurations of teragons pre-fractal patches, proposed to control the WLAN coverage in indoor environments by rejecting the signals in the bands of 2.4~2.5 GHz (IEEE 802.11 b) and 5.0~6.0 GHz (IEEE 802.11a). The FSSs are initially analyzed through simulations performed by commercial software s: Ansoft DesignerTM and HFSSTM. The fractal design methodology is validated by experimental characterization of the built prototypes, using alternatively, different measurement setups, with commercial horn antennas and microstrip monopoles fabricated for low cost measurements