Soft technology

A minor measure of civilization s progress is that television androids now look more realistic their limbs flex like a human s. Artificial joints and muscles are becoming more realistic as new lightweight soft technologies replace the steels of the industrial age and even the plastics of the twentieth century. Some new materials flex when an electrical impulse is passed through, and others expand more than 100 times when the temperature is raised by 1°C. The nonmetals and metalloids play an important role in these new materials, especially in gels, composite materials, ceramics, polymers, artificial muscle, and luminescent materials. 

Several implants are commercially available for total or partial disk replacements. For instance, currently, two polymer-based cervical and two lumbar disk prostheses approved by the FDA are being widely used for disk replacement applications [103]. The first artificial disk (DePuy Inc.), approved by the FDA in 2004, was based on a hard-on-soft technology, which employed a CoCrMo alloy in conjunction with UHMWPE. Alternatively, ProDisc-C (Eigure 19.3b,i), approved in 2006 and 2007 for both lumbar and cervical replacements, respectively, was based on similar types of polymer composites. More recently, Medtronic developed Bryan prosthesis using titanium alloys and PU polymer (Figure 19.3b,ii) [104]. 

Fabrics and ETFE systems are usually very quick to install as they are lightweight, largely prefabricated off site and are soft technologies. Glazed solutions, while also prefabricated off site require extensive preparation of interfaces to ensure long term performance. Glazed solutions also require special installation techniques to accommodate the Increased self weight of the system... 

The technologies required for the first path are called hard technologies, and those of the second soft technologies. The characteristics of the soft technologies are these ... 

Soft technologies can produce savings in the following ways ... 

Another of Dr. Cobas points that is not very clear is his doubt that an increase in the cost of energy will induce the more economical use thereof. He does not believe that energy conservation is achieved more by price than by policy that is, it is more rhetorical than real. Is it not reasonable to assume that a higher cost of energy would induce individuals, and industries probably to an even greater extent, to adopt measures to reduce their energy consumption Finally, what is meant by soft technologies ... 

SPA Wafidns, Custom fit laessure garment pattern inofilii , hit Conf Wearable Futures Hybrid Culture in the Design and Development of Soft Technology, University of Wales, September 2005. 

Phillips several years ago introduced a modified procedure of introducing the hydrocarbon feeds to the reactor. In this newer method designated as SOFT (split olefin feed technology), a mixture of all of the isobutane and part of the olefins is injected into the liquid HF at the bottom of the reactor. Additional olefin feed is then injected at higher levels of the reactor. The lengths of the reactor in which reactions occur are extended. The liquid droplets after each injection point obviously produce alkylates of quite different compositions. Phillips claim but provide no experimental evidence that the SOFT technology reduces the overall isobutane/olefin ratio with no loss in alkylate quality. Probably yields of alkylate decrease, however. 

Typical textile fibers have linear densities in the range of 0.33—1.66 tex (3 to 15 den). Fibers in the 0.33—0.66 tex (3—6 den) range are generally used in nonwoven materials as well as in woven and knitted fabrics for use in apparel. Coarser fibers are generally used in carpets, upholstery, and certain industrial textiles. A recent development in fiber technology is the category of microfibers, with linear densities <0.11 tex (1 den) and as low as 0.01 tex. These fibers, when properly spun into yams and subsequendy woven into fabrics, can produce textile fabrics that have excellent drape and softness properties as well as improved color clarity (16). 

Man-Made Leathers. These materials contain a nonwoven fabric which is impregnated with a polyurethane to improve fiexibiHty, processibiHty, and conformabiHty (Fig. 9). Advanced man-made leathers contain microfibers as fine as 0.03 tex (0.3 den) or less to imitate coUagen fiber bundles, thereby attaining the soft feel and appearance essential for soft leather use. Polyurethane in the substrate is usually provided with porous stmcture by poromeric technology. The coating layer is also porous in the two-layer type man-made leathers (5—10). 

The polymers exist in saline solution as tightly coiled chains and are readily adsorbed owing to relatively low solubiUty in hard water. Subsequent injection of soft, low salinity water uncoils the adsorbed polymer chains increasing water viscosity and reducing rock permeabiUty. This technology could also be used to reduce the permeabiUty of thief 2ones adjacent to injection wells. However, mechanical isolation of these 2ones may be necessary for cost-effective treatments. 

The Rheo-Tex rheometer is an inexpensive, automated instmment using load cell technology to measure indentation and creep. Available software calculates hardness/softness, brittleness, plasticity, and tensile strength. This instmment is particularly valuable for measurements on foods and personal care products. 

This part-also deals w ith static controls and drives, soft starting and process control through solid-state technology (phasor and field-oriented controls) using IGBTs as well as energy conservation,... 

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