Matching Items (28)
Filtering by
- Creators: Barrett, The Honors College
Description
This thesis analyzed Canon GPR-30 Black Standard Yield Toner in hopes to gain better understanding of the additives and plastic used in a popular photocopier toner formulation. By analyzing the toner’s composition from the perspective of its recyclability and potential to be manufactured using recycled plastic, this thesis hoped to fill a gap in current literature regarding how toner fits into a circular economy. While the analysis of the selected toner was ultimately inconclusive, three hypotheses about the toner’s composition are put forth based upon data from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), solubility analysis, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy experimentation. It is hypothesized that the toner is most likely composed of either polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Both of these polymers have characteristic FTIR peaks that were exhibited in the toner spectra and both polymers exhibit similar solubility behavior to toner samples. However, the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of the toner sampled were 58℃ and 74.5℃ respectively, both of which are much lower than that of PMMA and PET. Thus, a third hypothesis that would better support DSC findings is that the toner is primarily composed of nylon 6,6. While DSC data best matches this polymer, FTIR data seems to rule out nylon 6,6 as an option because its characteristic peaks were not found in experimental data. Thus, the Canon GPR-30 Black Standard Yield Toner is probably made from either PMMA or PET. Both PMMA and PET are 100% recyclable plastics which are commonly repurposed at recycling facilities, however, unknowns regarding toner additives make it difficult to determine how this toner would be recycled. If the printing industry hopes to move towards a circular economy in which plastic can be recycled to use towards toner manufacturing and toner can be “unprinted” from paper to be recycled into new toner, it is likely that monetary incentives or government regulations will need to be introduced to promote the sharing of toner formulations for recycling purposes.
ContributorsChase, Jasmine (Author) / Green, Matthew (Thesis director) / Emady, Heather (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsChase, Jasmine (Author) / Green, Matthew (Thesis director) / Emady, Heather (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsChase, Jasmine (Author) / Green, Matthew (Thesis director) / Emady, Heather (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2023-05
ContributorsStains, Kate (Author) / Westover, William (Thesis director) / Etzioni, Tessa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Graphic Information Technology (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsStains, Kate (Author) / Westover, William (Thesis director) / Etzioni, Tessa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Graphic Information Technology (Contributor)
Created2023-12
DescriptionThis thesis explores the opportunities around incorporating sustainable practices into the fast food industry, which are then applied to practical branding and collateral designs for a hypothetical restaurant.
ContributorsStains, Kate (Author) / Westover, William (Thesis director) / Etzioni, Tessa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Graphic Information Technology (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsStains, Kate (Author) / Westover, William (Thesis director) / Etzioni, Tessa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Graphic Information Technology (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsStains, Kate (Author) / Westover, William (Thesis director) / Etzioni, Tessa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Graphic Information Technology (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsStains, Kate (Author) / Westover, William (Thesis director) / Etzioni, Tessa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Graphic Information Technology (Contributor)
Created2023-12
ContributorsStains, Kate (Author) / Westover, William (Thesis director) / Etzioni, Tessa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Graphic Information Technology (Contributor)
Created2023-12