Several lignin-based adhesives were developed during the last decades. More recently, lignin isolation methods were improved, leading to technical grade lignins with constant properties. This recent scenario created the required conditions for the industrial use of lignin in adhesive applications, at large scale, with reliable properties. In this work, technical grade kraft lignin was epoxidized and incorporated in industrial epoxy resin, resulting into a partly biobased epoxy resin. Notwithstanding, the mechanical properties of cured partly biobased epoxy were investigated using Arcan device, aiming to reproduce realistic load conditions for the adhesively bonded joints. At last, failure envelopes were obtained from Drucker–Prager and von Mises models, revealing the most reliable model to calculate the failure prediction. Results pointed out to the development of a partly biobased epoxy adhesive with slightly superior mechanical properties, in comparison with industrial epoxy adhesive. Indeed, an important contribution was provided for the lignin revalorization and the mechanical characterization and failure prediction of epoxy adhesive based on the modified lignin.

The Manufacturing System (MS) for the fourth industrial revolution, as known as industry 4.0, will be highly flexible in volume production and customization of products. The control system might be able to regenerate the MS in the occurrence of an unexpected event, such as the breakage of a machine. With the evolution of mechatronics systems, machines that have two or more functions in one and the same resource, such as drilling, turning and milling have been developed. These machines are the Multifunctional Machine Tools (MMT). But after the planning step, the MMT are seen as just as one more conventional machine with a single function and the multiple functions contained within it are not exploited, i.e. the functional flexibility of MMT are currently only considered during the production planning phase and encapsulated in that decision-making level. In this work, we proposed a methodology of control system modeling the resource allocation control system that has the capacity to regenerate the MS based on the concept of functional flexibility on the occurrence of an unexpected event such as breaking of a machine by use of the Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) system. The architecture to regenerate the MS was modeled using a Petri Net (PN).

Metals solidification involves the transformation of the molten metal back into the solid state. Solidification structures impact heavily on the final product's characteristics. The microstructure effects on metallic alloys properties have been highlighted in various studies and particularly the dendrite arm spacing influence upon the mechanical properties such as tensile strength has been reported. In the present investigation, Al-10wt%Si-2wt%Cu and Al-10wt%Si-5wt%Cu alloys were directionally solidified upward under transient heat flow conditions. The experimental results include solidification thermal parameters such as tip growth rate and cooling rate, optical microscopy, volume fraction of the eutectic mixture, primary dendritic arm spacing and ultimate tensile strength. Experimental growth laws of primary dendrite arm spacing as a function of the solidification thermal parameters are proposed. The Hall-Petch mathematical expressions were used to correlate the ultimate tensile strength as a function of the primary dendritic arm spacing. It was found that the alloy with higher copper content had a more refined structure. More refined structures had higher ultimate tensile strength values.

The dynamics of the interaction between different levels in production system is the study of many research groups to seek a better understanding of the complex nature of such systems to propose an effective and efficiency from rational use of available resources and required inputs. Demand for products increasingly customized by a dynamic and competitive market has reduced considerably the life cycle of such products and flexibility of production processes has become essential for companies. Flexibility is not only one attribute, but a set of attributes that provides the flexibility for production systems. The interactions between the flexible sub-systems are sources of waste and rework, causing high costs in the production process. In this sense, the concept of Lean Manufacturing has promoted a restructuring of some processes of the MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), responsible for managing the activities of production, integrate data from the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and synchronize production tasks the flow of materials, making them oriented by the demand. One other important aspect in the industrial context is the new future vision promoted by Industry 4.0 paradigm that is envisioned a complete decentralization of control of the production system by autonomous and intelligent devices interconnected by a communication system, that contribute to the global goals of the enterprise. The ANSI/ISA S95 presents a conceptual model that may contribute to the implementation of the industry 4.0 concept. The objective of this study is to present a proposal for modeling of objects in level 3 of the S95 standard using interpreted Petri nets.