Wood and wood-related substances have been among the most important materials in human history. Today, various forms of wood are being used in numerous industries, and therefore a significant market exists for improved and functionalized wood-based products. In this context, we’re proposing an atmospheric-pressure plasma-based approach to treatment of wood-based surfaces using a roll-to-roll cold plasma reactor.

In recent years, automation has become more accessible to small- and medium-sized businesses, leading to an increase in popularity of ultra-compact and easy-to-integrate industrial robot arms like Mecademic’s Meca500. However, because of their size constraints, it is harder for these robots to accurately follow a programmed path. This research project aims to improve the path-tracking performance of Mecademic’s Meca500 robot using more sophisticated simulation and control techniques than the ones employed in typical industrial robots.

The intern will work with a multi-disciplinary research team from architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, biology, business development and materials research in the design development phase of a project to create a structural insulated panel prototype from cellulose. As the most abundant organic polymer on the planet, cellulose is currently emerging as a sustainable material alternative to plastics and other non-recyclable materials.

With the increase in polyurethane foams in manufacturing applications such as car seats, shoe soles etc., there has also been a rise in demand for higher quality and more sustainable products. This project involves the collaboration of Evoco Ltd with Dr. Hani Naguib’s research team at the University of Toronto to work on the fabrication of flexible polyurethane foams containing natural fibers. These fibers will help enhance the mechanical properties of the fiber enabling a cost-performance benefit. Additionally, microbes will be added to the foam, aimed at making it eco-friendlier.

The manufacturing of high-performance graphene/polymer nanocomposites relies on both the production of high-quality and low-cost graphene sheets and the fine dispersion of graphene in the nanocomposites. The commercial graphene materials in large quantity are typically GnPs with several to tens or even hundreds of graphene layers whose properties are inferior to monolayer graphene. In the previous work, it was demonstrated that SCF-assisted foaming of GnP/polymer nanocomposites can effectively exfoliate GnPs in situ.

The 21st century has witnessed an increased prevalence of men and women removing unwanted body hair for cosmetic, social, cultural, or medical reasons. When not done properly, the removal of unwanted hair can lead to injuries to the skin and can cause ingrown hairs, also known as razor bumps. The prevention of ingrown hairs is highly dependent on utilizing post-hair removal treatments (e.g.

Viryl technologies currently manufactures one of the worlds only modern day vinyl record presses. The recent vinyl renaissance has taken the marketplace by storm. The quality of a record pressing is determined by the characteristic of the vinyl used, its temperature, the force used to stamp the record, the final thickness of the pressing, the cycle time of the press, the efficacy of the flash cooling incorporated in the press, and possibly other factors. It is the aim of this research to study the effects of such parameters on the final quality of the pressed discs.

In the steelmaking industry, process control models need to be based on a sound physical understanding of the process but should also account for many uncertainties due to the nature and complexity of the environment in which the process is carried out. As a result, it is crucial to extract useful process control information from the raw data stream acquired by the industrial sensors.

Nearly 20% of all piercings lead to local infection, and therefore, it is imperative to develop alternative and commercially-viable methods of piercing aftercare to prevent infection. The general objective of the proposed project is to optimize the design of drug-eluting bio-absorbable scaffolds for human and animal tissue piercing applications with a focus on scaffold degradation and drug release properties. Methods of low temperature fabrication of drug-eluting bio-absorbable scaffolds will be developed and optimized.