TURI Technical Reports
N-methyl pyrrolidone: chemical profile. 1996.
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| TURI Technical Report No. 36. N-methyl pyrrolidone has been used in industry as a substitute for other undesirable solvents. In particular, it has been introduced as a less toxic and low volatility substitute for solvents such as methylene chloride and 1,1,1 trichloroethane, for applications such as paint removal, graffiti removal, cured urethane cleanup, and industrial degreasing. According to the EPA, although paint stripping accounts for only 10-15% of NMP used, it appears to offer the greatest potential for exposures because many of the other uses involve closed processes. Virtually all paint stripping chemicals and processes involve some form of health or safety risk.The exposure path of most concern to individuals is the dermal route. Exposure to NMP by inhalation is also possible. Download PDF file (408.84 kB) |
Implementation of ISO 14001 at the Acushnet Rubber Company. 1997.
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| A properly-functioning EMS can be a cost saving system, eliminating production inefficiencies and environmental risks throughout the product life-cycle. This life-cycle approach helped give a broader perspective to the assessment of environmental aspects and impacts, providing a more comprehensive understanding of a products environmental effects and how changes to the product will alter those effects. The Acushnet Rubber team was able to consider aspects which might have otherwise gone overlooked, such as packaging and energy conservation, in relation to product standards development. This is one of the many areas in which the ISO 9000 Quality Management System augmented and facilitated the development of an effective EMS. Concentrating on production-based pollution prevention and design for the environment was the factor which helped make the ISO 14001 process a worthwhile investment rather than just another cost of doing business. Download PDF file (666.64 kB) |
Cleaning urethane, ink and paint manufacturing vessels. 1997.
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| In 1995, Raffi and Swanson, Inc. received a $20,000 grant from the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) to examine alternatives to toxic solvents in the company’s cleaning operations. Raffi and Swanson set a project goal of reducing chemical use and byproducts from these cleaning operations by 50%. Raffi and Swanson met this goal, reducing chemical use and emissions by roughly 50% (roughly 46,000 lb.) and chemical byproducts 50% (roughly 200,000 lb.). These reductions were achieved through the implementation of over thirty worker-identified changes to cleaning practices. These changes included redesigning equipment and procedures to eliminate the need for solvent cleaning, methods to increase solvent reuse, and more careful management of solvent distribution and application throughout the site. These changes have saved Raffi and Swanson approximately $18,000/yr. During the course of the project, Raffi and Swanson worked closely with the TURI Surface Cleaning Lab to evaluate alternatives to N-methyl pyrrolidone in the company’s urethane reactor vessel cleaning operation. The Surface Cleaning Lab evaluated seven aqueous cleaners and four semi-aqueous cleaners as replacements for N-methyl pyrrolidone. Two semi-aqueous cleaners were the most promising substitutes but the inability to recycle the cleaners makes them cost-prohibitive. Download PDF file (1.34 MB) |
Evaluation of alternatives to chlorinated solvents for metal cleaning. 1996.
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| TURI Technical Report No. 46. This report details results of investigations into alternatives to chlorinated solvents used for metal degreasing. In addition to technical evaluations, financial analyses and environmental impact assessments were performed for the cleaning alternatives. A substitution analysis methodology that provides qualitative results was developed and used to evaluate the environmental, occupational and public health effects of the alternative cleaning processes. Download PDF file (5.23 MB) |
The Use of Enzymatic and Aqueous Electrochemical Polymerization of Phenol and Amphyphilic Alkyl Tyrosine Based Derivatives as Environmentally Benign Coatings. 2002.
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| TURI Technical Report 55. The surface coating properties of enzymatically polymerized decyl esters of d-tyrosine from aqueous solutions onto gold surfaces have been investigated utilizing the complementary techniques of potentiometric titration, UV-VIC spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The aqueous-based coatings are of interest as environmentally friendly and cost-effective replacements for epoxy-based coatings currently employed in the microelectronics industry for both chemical protection and electrical insulation of gold-covered metallic conductors. In this final report on the project for FY2001, experimental results with respect to polymerization pH, immersion pH, and immersion time are presented and compared to the ionization behavior of the monomers in solution. Optimum processing conditions have been established which yield uniform aqueous-based polymeric coatings on gold conductor surfaces. Future research will be conducted to measure and optimize the coating thickness utilizing additional surface characterization techniques. Download PDF file (553.23 kB) |
Green(er) PVC: The Development of Lead and Phthalate-Free Nanocomposite Formulations with Practical Utility. 2007.
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| TURI Research Report No. 60. The goal of this project is the production of high-performance, lead- and phthalate-free PVC compounds for wire and cable insulation, which addresses the serious environmental issues surrounding the use of their leaded counterparts, providing a lower toxicity alternative to current materials. Clay nanocomposite technology has been selected as a means to achieve this goal, as it has been demonstrated that such systems can improve a variety of properties relevant to the performance of wire and cable insulation (thermal stability, barrier properties, flame retardance, etc.). The researchers chose environmentally benign clay nanofillers and vegetable oil-based plasticizers, and looked for synergistic interactions between the two additives that are expected due to the excellent dispersability of nanoclays in epoxidized vegetable oil and the stabilizing effects reported for both additives. Download PDF file (1.09 MB) |
Nanoscale Lead-free Solders (“Nano-Solders”): Synthesis, Characterization, and Reflow Properties. 2008.
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| TURI Research Report No. 61. Nanoscale lead-free solders (“nano-solders”) have been proposed and investigated in the development of nano-soldering technique for nanoscale assembly and integration. Tin (Sn)-based and indium (In)-based lead-free nano-solders have been synthesized directly onto multisegmented nanowires using electrodeposition method in nanoporous templates. The diameter of nano-solder nanowires ranges from 50nm to 200 nm and length from 1-10 μm. The microstructure of nano-solder nanowires have been studied using optical microscope and electron microscopes (FESEM and TEM) along with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Thermal reflow properties of nano-solders were characterized with a temperature programmable furnace tube. It was found that flux plays an important role in the nano-solder reflow process. Download PDF file (743.05 kB) |
Sustainable Routes to Non-Halogenated Flame Retardants Based on Phenolic Monomers. 2009.
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| TURI Technical Report No. 62. In 2007‐2008 UMass Lowell researchers investigated the possibility of substituting toxic halogenated flame retardant (FR) materials with a new class of polyphenol based FR materials under a TURI funded project. The proof‐of‐concept studies were completed during the first year of this project. Subsequently in 2008‐2009, the goal was to modify the synthetic strategies investigated in the first study and create a new class of non‐halogenated flame retardant copolymers based on synthetic monomers as well as naturally occurring starting materials. Download PDF file (727.51 kB) |
Cupric Chloride Etch Regeneration. 1997
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| TURI Technical Report No. 45. Tri-Star Technologies, located in Methuen, Massachusetts, has one of the world's largest facilities offering in-house printed circuit board design, fabrication and assembly, from prototype through production volumes. Their state-of-the-art, 120,000 square foot facility provides a "one-stop shop" for a full range of on-site services and expertise, providing the customer with the advantage needed in today's competitive marketplace. In its continuous efforts to implement toxics use reduction (TUR) and pollution prevention, Tri-Star Technologies evaluated, adopted and installed an electrolytic regeneration technology to reduce the amount of spent cupric chloride etchant generated. By making electrolytic regeneration an integral part of the process, Tri-Star is able to reuse the etchant and sell the recovered copper. This technology replaces the chemical regeneration system previously used, while reducing costs, worker exposure to hazardous materials, and environmental impact. TriStar has achieved many prior successes with TUR, including an 86%reduction in volatile organic compounds through the addition of a double-sided solder mask screening unit, a reduction in sulfuric acid use on the auto pattern plate line, and the elimination of bath contamination on the copper deposition line. Download PDF file (402.63 kB) |
Development and Testing of Biosurfactants in Aqueous Metal Cleaning Applications. 1997
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| Two biosynthesized surfactants were studied in this project; emulsan and sophorolipid. A number of studies and patents have shown emulsan to be an effective emulsifier of oily substances, initially in emulsifying oily residues in oil transport ship hulls and later in personal care products. Sophorolipid has good surface tension-lowering properties and can reportedly be produced at a cost comparable to petroleum-based surfactants. The research described in this report sought to take advantage of the emulsification properties of emulsan and the surface-tension lowering properties of sophorolipid in metal cleaning and degreasing applications. Download PDF file (3.43 MB) |
Use of an Ultrafiltration Unit in a Closed Loop Aqueous Cleaning System. 1997.
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| TURI Technical Report No. 41. The intent of this research was to evaluate the potential of ultrafiltration (UF) to successfully "close the loop" for different aqueous cleaning applications. The evaluation was based on data obtained from experimental work in which a variety of cleaner/contaminant test solutions were processed through three membranes of different types and pore sizes. This project also included researching and reporting on aqueous cleaner compositions and contaminants commonly encountered in aqueous cleaning. A qualitative evaluation of the recyclability of different cleaner/contaminant solutions based on oil-surfactant tradeoff was performed. The research implied that any of the three membranes studied is capable of successfully recycling aqueous cleaning baths containing hydrocarbon oil-based contaminants. However, UF did not appear to be wellsuited for recycling aqueous cleaning baths containing synthetic contaminants. In addition, the research further validated equations developed to describe flux and flux decline in UF. Download PDF file (1.59 MB) |
Brooks Instrument, LLC. Lead-free Electronics Implementation. 2008.
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| TURI Technical Report No. 59. During 2007 and 2008, the Institute worked with representatives from Benchmark Electronics, Brooks Instrument, and Emerson Process Management to conduct and document a lead-free electronics implementation for a high reliability electronics product that is exempt from the European RoHS Directive. The research information provided by the New England Lead-free Consortium, as well as the information contained in this case study, is of high value to companies that need to transition to lead-free electronics for their high reliability products. The Institute's university research program continues to fund research efforts to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in the electronics industry. Download PDF file (5.56 MB) |
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