Production of corundum armored ceramics

The purpose of this study was to develop the compositions and technology of corundum armored ceramics with high ballistic characteristics based on aluminum oxide with an α-Al2O3 content of more than 99 wt.%. The results of the study of the physicochemical processes of obtaining corundum ceramics modified with complex additives consisting of magnesium - aluminosilicate eutectic mixture and oxides of magnesium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium are presented. The introduction of complex additives into the composition of corundum ceramics provides a significant reduction (100-150°C) of the sintering temperature of the product. In this case, additives of yttrium and zirconium oxides contribute to the formation of a uniform-grained microstructure of ceramics, and in the case of adding titanium oxide, a collective recrystallization of corundum grains is noted. The use of small additives (0.3-0.5 wt.%) of magnesium and yttrium oxides together with a eutectic mixture in the compositions of corundum ceramics based on high-quality alumina contributes to the formation of a uniform-grained, dense structure of the material and giving it a high level of physical and mechanical properties as a result of directional the action of each component of the additive on the physicochemical processes of phase formation of the crystalline matrix. A model idea of the mechanism of action of additives on the formation of the microstructure of ceramics during stage-by-stage heating from 1350 to 1650°C in the sintering mode of products is presented. The developed compositions and technologies of corundum armored ceramics have a production focus and implementation in practice.

Blockchain and Self Sovereign Identity to Support Quality in the Food Supply Chain

This work presents how a digital identity management system can support food supply chains in guaranteeing the quality of the products marketed and the compliance of the several supply-chain’s nodes to standards and technical regulations. Specific goal of this work is to present a system that provides full visibility of process/food certifications, which nowadays are issued by accredited and approved certification bodies (issuers) and delivered and stored in paper version by the several participants (holders) of the supply chain. The system is designed and implemented by combining the latest most innovative and disruptive technologies in the market—Self Sovereign Identity system, Blockchain, and Inter Planetary File System. The crucial aspects that it aims to hit are the storage and access of food/process certifications, and the proper eligibility verification of these certifications exploiting the concepts of the Self Sovereign Identity-based models. The proposed system, realized by using standards that are WWW Consortium-compatible and the Ethereum Blockchain, ensures eligibility, transparency, and traceability of the certifications along a food supply chain, and could be an innovation model/idea that the companies that adopt the Open Innovation paradigm might want to pursue.

The Dream

Looking for your Dream provides a second tool to help you build your business model in this first stage of the Business Model Template (BMT). You have previously indicated which major social and/or ecological issues you want to solve. Now you will determine what the result of that solution could be. Look for a solution that goes beyond just tackling one issue. The Dream building block demands thinking big: it is a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (BHAG) on which you are going to work. How and why will your business model idea really make a difference? In order to not get lost in thinking about dreams, you could make use of various tools such as scenarios, metaphors or framing, all of which are addressed in this chapter. Putting all the steps in this chapter together, you will have dreamed up something big that you want to go for.

External Test

The external test is the tenth and final building block of the first and second stage of the Business Model Template (BMT). You will test the viability of the business model concept you have developed so far. You can test your business model idea against all kinds of criteria. If you do not have much time, perform your check on the basis of the very concise set of seven questions we provide. But we also provide many other tools in this chapter. Please bear in mind that you must be well-prepared when looking for feedback. Look for people you know or hope will respond critically and constructively. Going through the External Test steps may mean that you need to partially adjust some elements of your business model before you move on. So be it. Remember that every version of your business model in this stage is a beta version and that feedback will help to make it better.