The Effectiveness of Home Water Purification Systems on the Amount of Fluoride in Drinking Water
Statement of the Problem
Laboratory ultrapure water purification systems for domestic use have drawn significant attention over the past few years. This can be related to the improvement of public health and concern for water contamination. 

Purpose
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether home water purification systems eliminate the essential materials such as fluoride besides filtrating the heavy ions and other unwanted particles out of water.

Materials and Method
In this experimental study, six most frequently used commercial brands of water purifiers were evaluated and compared. Specimens were collected right before and after setting up the device, and 6 months later. Then, spectrophotometry (the Harrison device) was performed to compare fluoride clearance by each home water cleaner device.

Results
Based on the data collected from all water purification devices in different locations, the amount of fluoride was significantly different before and right after using home water purifier and six months later (p= 0.001 and p= 0.00, respectively).

Conclusion
The filtration of water significantly decreased its fluoride concentration. The fluoride content of purified super series iltrapure water system was approximately as much as zero in some cases.
Fluoride is a natural element branched from Fluorine. This element can be found in all sorts of water and soil. Out of every kilogram of outer layer of earth, 0.3 gram is fluoride. Mineral waters have more amount of this element compared to other sources.(1)

About 60 years ago, Grand Rapids in Michigan State was the first city in which fluoride supplement was synthetically added to tap water. In US, adding fluoride to community water supplies of many cities has improved the oral health of millions of American citizens.(2)

Fluoridation of community water supplies is adding a specific amount of fluoride (0.7-1.2 ppm) to water in order to reduce the risk of dental caries. By 2002, almost 170 million Americans were provided with this privilege.(3)

Since most of the systemic fluoride is provided through tap water to population, many policies have been established to add fluoride to community water regarding its benefits for teeth and bones.(4)

In regions and countries that do not have water-fluoridation technology, there are natural supplements as previously mentioned. For example, Iran has many mineral water supplies that contain considerable amounts of fluoride. Amount of fluoride in natural mineral waters depends on weather conditions; the warmer the weather is, the higher the amount of fluoride can be detected. Mineral waters in southern regions that have warmer weather contain more fluoride. In Iran, the highest amount of fluoride has been found in southeast and northeast areas.

Water purification systems for domestic use have drawn much of attention over the past few years. This can be related to improvement of public health and concerns for water contamination. There are several types of home laboratory reverse osmosis water purification systems that can be categorized into 3 different groups(5) as filtered systems, systems using UV irradiation, and ion-exchange systems.

The aim of this study was to find out whether domestic laboratory deionized water purification systems could eliminate the essential materials such as fluoride besides filtrating the heavy ions and other unwanted particles out of water.

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Materials and Method
In this study, 6 frequently used commercial brands of water purifiers in Ahwaz were compared. The commercial brands evaluated in the current study were CCK (Ceramic and Ceramic/Carbon Cartridges ; RTX-TS DLM filters, Korea), Soft Water (Ceramic Candles; Alpine TJ Series filters, W9332420, USA), Alkusar (Special media cartridges filters; PRB50-IN, USA), Puricom (Special media cartridges filters; Watts 4.5" x 10" Dual Housing, Korea), Water Safe (Granular Carbon Cartridges filters; LCV (Lead, Cysts, VOC's) (Carbon Block Filter Cartridges, Australia), and Aquafresh (Sediment String-Wound; Poly Spun and Pleated Washable Cartridges filters, K5520, USA). The main drinking dura pro series ultrapure water system supply for Ahwaz is provided by governmental companies. After making arrangement with certain companies that supported these brands, the devices were setup in 6 different regions of Ahwaz. Samples were collected before and right after setting up the device. To reduce the errors and elevate the accuracy of the module, 5 samples were taken from each device. Another sample was collected from each single device 6 months later. A total of 64 samples were collected including 32 unfiltered (control) and 32 filtered samples of tap water (experimental) from 6 regions in Ahwaz. Fluoride sampling kits (Spands; EW-99574-08Hach® Test Kits, USA) were used to test the amount of fluoride in sample waters. Samples were all collected in polyethylene sampling containers and were then coded. Spectrophotometry (AvaSpec-ULS2048L- USB2 UARS spectrometer, USA) was performed. In order to measure the characteristics of individual molecules, a mass spectrometer converted them to ions so that they could be moved about and manipulated by external electric and magnetic fields.

Atmospheric pressure was around 760 torr (mm of mercury). The pressure under which ions may be handled is roughly 10-5 to 10-8 torr (less than a billionth of an atmosphere). By varying the strength of the magnetic field, ions of different mass can be focused progressively on a detector fixed at the end of a curved tube and also under a high vacuum.

Latin alphabetic words were used to code each commercial device. Numbers were used for samples obtained before and after setting the device.(6)
The present article gives a review about water purification, filtration techniques and technologies that are practiced till date. Purification of water is mainly focused because of a sensitive reason that it is one of the essential sources of survival for all living beings. Water is found in many forms on the earth’s surface, large amount of drinking water is from lakes and rivers. All living beings need drinking water but human beings need them to be drunk in a purified manner with rich in minerals and salts. Pure water refers to absence of bacteria and disease causing microorganisms, dissolved metal ions and heavy impurities. To gain the whole usefulness of drinking water, it should be not only pure but also healthy. Healthy water refers to presence of nutrients such as minerals and salts that are required to the human body for functioning of body organs like heart, kidneys and blood circulation freely throughout the body. All the technologies had tried to make water pure but not healthy. This makes a lot of difference in life cycle before and after drinking only pure water for a longer period. Some technologies for purification of water chose harmful polymers and dreadful chemical compositions. The then technologies updated and entered into the nanotechnology and polymers for water purification and filtration. Reverse Osmosis is base for any purification process that uses semi permeable membrane which contains ultra, micro and nano porous membranes which removes bacteria and microbes as well as minerals and salts. This RO processed water may cause illness on consuming for a long time continuously. Hence some fiber composites and mineral cartridges were introduced to overcome to add minerals and salts to water. All these techniques adopted for purification of water and usage of fiber composites, polymer membranes are reviewed in this article with defects in them that might cause a lot of damage to mankind.

Natural stone lends a sense of inimitable elegance and a unique texture to all interior spaces. Granite, travertine, slate or marble are commonly used for all types of interior design projects. We tell you 5 ways to use natural stone in home decoration:
Stone’s thermal inertia helps maintain constant temperatures in the home’s interior, promoting thermal comfort and energy savings. Environmentally sustainable, this product does not contain any chemical and can be safely used for indoors. Stone is completely recyclable, reducing any adverse impact on the ecosystem, and can even be reused in new projects. 
Granite, marble, travertine, quartzite, slate and limestone are resistant and durable products used for flooring. They can create a welcoming atmosphere in home decoration.
You can mix colours and textures for getting an interesting look. Their hardness and durability enables the creation of resistant floors in bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms or living-rooms.
Natural stone like slate slate or sandstone can be used as wall cladding solutions. It adds more texture and a fresh appeal to interior walls.
You can create interior divisions using stone cladding in the living room and the kitchen. Or you can add a touch of texture by cladding walls with different types of natural stone. Even you can renovate your kitchen walls.
Fireplaces clad in natural artificial stone are functional and easy to maintain. They add value to any interior design project. You can use our DECOPANEL™, a panel composed by natural stone with a slab format, which provides the ideal lightness to decorate interior fireplaces. It has an unparalleled high thermal resistance, so it perfectly withstands heat from chimneys and stoves without showing any damage (no direct contact with fire).
Check out this post about Natural stone fireplaces: how to choose the right one.
Granite and quartzite are the best natural stones for kitchen countertops and backsplashes. They are hard, non-porous, durable and can be cleaned easily. You have many aesthetic possibilities, colors and finishes to choose. 
Have a look at this article about how to choose natural stone for kitchen countertops.
Natural stone can be used to create decorative items such as sculptures, lamps or coffee terrazzo table. They are perfect accessories for decoration, helping you apply the finishing touches to every room in your home. 
For further informations, visit CUPA STONE website.
Stone is one of the most popular building materials to have ever existed. It has seen implementation within architecture and design ever since the early days of the industries themselves. Ever since the stone age, this material has been king.
And even if the stone was overshadowed in popularity by newer, shinier materials, this material giant is going nowhere any time soon.
Stone has seen a lot of infrastructural implementation over its long history, but in more recent times, it is reserved for a myriad of decoration purposes.
There is just something special about the brute honesty and simplicity of stone. That's what kept it in the limelight for centuries. The fact that it’s dirt cheap, beautiful, and ample in supply also helps its popularity.
As mentioned above, ever since we've started using materials for the design and build of things, we've used stone. So, perhaps we can say that stones' popularity as a building material and design material stems from the start of humanity itself.
It was most famous as a building material in the medieval ages, where fortresses were constructed out of it.
It has remained a popular decoration material for quite some time after that. It’s still one of the most popular articles.
Stone never went anywhere – it's always been a popular choice as a material. The purpose that it served has changed drastically over the years and continues to evolve to this day.
While we are no longer constructing our houses out of stone, we're decorating them with numerous different stone ornamentation and decorations. Rock is appealing due to multiple various reasons.
There are many different kinds of stone. There are many stones if we can say so. Each stone has its very own unique properties and qualities, which can all be boiled down to its practicality.
Not all rocks are priced the same, as you can get a common rock for free, but a diamond might set you back by quite a lot.
But this is where the beauty of stone comes in. It's simplicity, it's honesty, and its sheer variety gives it a special place in our material realm.
Now that we have established why stone is one of the most important materials out there, it's time to get into the implementation of it.
While we don't want to go about building stone houses, building and designing parts of your home out of stone can has its benefits.
It can be cost-effective, depending on the type of stone furniture, and it can make for some of the most beautiful designs in the world.
We've all visited a bar or two back in the day. While wooden bars are most prevalent in modern society, they are no match for the simplicity and elegance that stone bars bring to the "table."
Bars are an essential part of every household as well and make for some dashing kitchen additions.
Every kitchen needs a proper workspace, and bars make a fantastic compromise. You can't only expect this versatile kitchen addition to serving a singular purpose, can you?
Of course, you can't. Bars are universally useful, whether you're looking for additional cooking space or somewhere to have a couple of drinks at. Bars are best topped with granite or marble. Still, people have made some thrilling limestone-epoxy combinations that are to die for.
While stone is known for its gorgeous properties, it is also far superior in wood as a bar top design. While wood is subject to cracking, inadequate maintenance, discoloration, and cleaning issues – stone isn't.
Stone, in general, is a solid material that is easy to clean, maintain, and won't change color in any way, shape, or form.
If you're a little bit tight on the funds but still wish to have a beautiful stone bar in your kitchen, there is no need to worry. Faux-stone or stone foil can be purchased for quite a low price at your local design store or ordered through Amazon.
While it does give the illusion of real stone, it's far inferior when it comes to function, so remember to be careful!
It's best left to the architectural experts who are designing your home, as stone can be quite heavy and provide some infrastructural issues if mishandled. That's why stone has been less popular as a form of wall decoration.
But every problem comes with a solution, and the answer to the weight issue might be a little bit more creative than you think.
People have invented molds that are applied to a thin level of concrete, which is covering your wall, imitating stone perfectly.
Concrete is stone-hard and is a great wall material. Molding it into stones, polishing it, and painting it to look like the real thing will give it that new shine that nothing else can achieve.
Concrete is also insanely cheap, and the whole process is low-budget in nature.
If you're looking for something perhaps even cheaper than real stone imitation, you might be interested in 3D stone plastic stickers.
Not tacky at all if you ask us, these stickers are virtually stuck to your wall and imitate stone perfectly. Just don't expect them to be as resilient as stone, as these stickers are quite fragile.
If you're looking for yet another wall decoration opportunity while utilizing stone, you're going to love the idea that has been around all of 2019. Stone shelves!
Stone is not traditionally a shelf material, as the stone is pretty heavy. But, topping off your wooden shelves with stone slabs is not only trendy, but adds visuals, functionality, durability, and sturdiness!
You can't imagine a bathroom without a porcelain toilet or sink, but why stop there? Tiles have been out of fashion for quite some time now, and that is because they're quite dull.
Concrete is really in right now, due to the resurgence of the Brutalist movement.
That's why concrete has found its way into your bathroom. Concrete sinks are not only really simple-looking but are also very beautiful and durable.
While we don't recommend flooring your bathroom with concrete, perhaps a big, beautiful artificial marble slab might be more in your taste. Incorporating stone into your bathroom doesn't only have some exceptional aesthetic value, but some great functionality as well.
Stone is not only a durable, sturdy, and beautiful material – it’s also one of the best natural insulators. If you're looking to keep your bathroom heat-insulated, stone is the way to go.
Stone is also great at retaining heat, which will keep your bathroom warm a lot longer than thin tiles.
Porcelain or god forbid, metal bathtubs have also been out of fashion for quite some time. The latest hit in the design world is stone cut bathtubs.
While these might be one of the most expensive tubs out there, they are a great marriage of functionality and beauty.
While we've mentioned stone floors in our previous addition to this list, the potential really doesn't stop in your bathroom.
While there are molds for your walls that turn concrete into the gorgeous aritificial stone decoration design, there are molds for quite a lot of other things as well.
One of these molds is stone molds for your backyard. Why would you spend a ton of money on bricks to make a walkway to your house if you could just mold one out of stone?
If you don't fancy faking stone and are looking to make a gorgeous walkway, you can use real stones.
Now, you don't want to use an expensive stone such as marble or granite for your walkway, but you can utilize common stones. Common stone walkways give out a comfortable rustic vibe that is sure to persist over the ages.
Stone walkways have been present in our history for quite some time, and are incredibly persistent and durable. They're also dirt cheap to construct.
If you're looking for a little bit more finesse in your stone walkway, you can enhance it with some thrilling brickwork or some strategically placed plants.
There is no reason to stop at walkways either, as you can include as much stone into your backyard as you want. Stone walls, stone summer houses, and even stone pool ornamentation.
Stone is very easy to incorporate into any enviro
Stone has been a cornerstone of the universal design and architecture industry and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Even if the stone is such a popular material, it seems to be keeping up with the times.
It has found new life in the interior design world through adaptation and aesthetic value alone.
Humans have been making man-made stone for quite some time now, and we're aching to see what the next big hit is going to be. Who knows what the future holds for this solid material.

If the holiday sales are tempting you to refresh your wardrobe, consider the environmental footprint of buying a new jacket and throwing away your old one. Today, about 80 billion new pieces of clothing are made each year—400 percent more than 20 years ago, while the world’s population only grew about 30 percent. That growth has a huge environmental cost. The Danish Fashion Institute named fashion “one of the most resource-intensive industries in the world, both in terms of natural resources and human resources.” Designer Eileen Fisher has called it “the second largest polluter in the world… second only to the oil industry,” and while that fact has been disputed, a 2010 research paper found that the industry is responsible for almost 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Moreover, once clothes have been made and worn for a short while, they’re thrown away. A new report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that cumulatively around the world a truckload of clothes gets dumped every second. The average American tosses about 82 pounds of textiles a year, much of which ends up in landfills or incinerated. Of the clothing that reaches second-hand stores like Goodwill—only 15 percent of all discards—some is recycled into shoddy (filling for cheap furniture) or upcycled into things like denim insulation, but most of it is shipped to poorer countries. However, they too have limits—African countries including South Africa and Nigeria recently banned Western castoffs, which have overwhelmed their markets, causing the decline of their local fashion business.
Replacing Old stock fabrics With New Biopolymers
Two types of textiles—petroleum-made polyester and field-grown cotton, often woven together—have been the fashion industry’s darlings for decades. “Much of [what we wear now] is a blend of PET, a petroleum-based fiber, and cotton fiber,” says Ramani Narayan, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University. But these hipora fabric have their issues. Cotton, which makes over 30 percent of our clothes’ yarns, is a natural material, but it’s a thirsty crop that siphons 3 percent of the fresh water, and accounts for almost 20 percent of pesticides and 25 percent of the insecticides used in agriculture worldwide, before it’s even picked. Processing cotton—knitting, weaving, and dyeing—also takes water and energy, yielding more pollution. The production of polyester, the demand for which has doubled in the last 15 years, is an energy intensive process that requires a lot of oil and generates harmful emissions, including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases, like hydrogen chloride, all of which contribute to respiratory disease. “Adding PET to a textile gives you better performance—it makes taffeta fabrics more moisture-resistant and gives them more washability,” says Narayan, but these textiles don’t break down naturally, and instead fill up our landfills and oceans. Polyester threads discarded from washing machines have recently been found in fish, including some species we eat. Unless PET threads are decoupled from cotton and recycled, they don’t decompose, but separating fibers is very difficult.

That’s where biopolymers come in.  Biopolymers are macromolecules—long chains of smaller molecular units strung together.  These basic units can be amino acids, nucleotides, and monosaccharaides. The most common biopolymer is cellulose, which makes up one third of all plant material on earth. Cotton is 90 percent cellulose, but there are other, less polluting alternatives.

Biopolymers can be grown or harvested from other plants like kelp or from living organisms like bacteria or yeast, which produce biopolymers as part of their lifecycle. The resulting fibers can be woven into a variety of textiles akin to polyester, leather, or a cellulose-like yarn. To a certain extent, these materials can sequester carbon from the atmosphere, acting as wearable carbon sinks. And when they’re thrown away, these biopolymers will decompose. Just as a cotton t-shirt will break down in a compost heap after a few years, so will any biopolymer-based textile.

“Obviously it’s better to use plants and biomass to make products,” says Narayan, “because then the plants fix the carbon and when you make a product from that you have removed carbon dioxide from the environment.” Using biopolymers in clothing can reduce energy and freshwater use and may help mitigate climate change resources. Plus, as the following examples show, some biopolymers can take the creativity of fashion design process in a whole new direction.
Seining Sweaters from the Sea
AlgiKnit uses kelp, a type of seaweed, to produce a biopolymer called alginate, which is then used for textile production. Kelp grows all over the world, forming offshore kelp forests. Some kelp species grow quicker than the fastest-growing terrestrial plant, bamboo, and are inexpensive to farm. As it sprouts, kelp cleans water too—absorbing phosphorous, nitrogen, and five times more carbon dioxide than land plants—so farming it near seaside cities can improve polluted local waters. Like any plant, kelp absorbs carbon to grow, so when used in durable materials, it is also a carbon sink.

AlgiKnit extracts alginate from kelp by adding certain salts to the seaweed base. After the so-called “salt bath” pulls the alginate from the kelp’s cell walls, the biopolymer is extracted from the seaweed residue, dried into a powder and fused into a yarn that can be turned into a variety of stretch fabric types. “The process is similar to that of synthetic materials, where one long continuous strand is produced,” says Tessa Callaghan, the co-founder of AlgiKnit. “The filament can be plied and twisted to increase strength, or cut into short fibers for other purposes.” AlgiKnit won National Geographic’s Chasing Genius Competition for developing this technology.

The team’s big challenge has been to get their end fiber to be strong and flexible enough for use on an industrial knitting machine. It took a lot of experimentation to ensure compatibility between yarns and machines, but one of the team’s goals is to be able to use the yarn in the existing fiber and textile infrastructure, to streamline the new material’s acceptance, Callaghan says.
Modern Meadow’s yeast-produced collagen is another biopolymer that is about to make its runway debut in a form of a leather product named Zoa. The New Jersey-based company designs DNA that can yield collagen, the protein that makes up leather. These specially constructed DNA strands are inserted into the yeast cells. As the yeast cells grow and multiply, they produce collagen and other proteins essential in forming leather, which then cluster together to make a triple-helix collagen molecule. The resulting molecules form bundles that are “cooked” in Modern Meadow’s “secret sauce,” resulting in a leather-like material. “We design DNA that can make collagen, the main building block of leather, then we purify it, and then use an assembly process to turn it into leather,” says Susan Schofer, vice president of business development at Modern Meadow.
Compared to traditional leather industries, Zoa’s production has a lower environmental impact and more fashion design opportunities. To turn a piece of animal hide into bags, shoes, or pants, it must undergo chemical and physical treatments to remove fats, hair, and other impurities. That processing is ecologically and medically fraught—most leather tanning is done in countries with few or unenforced environmental laws because the effluent from the process contains fish-killing sulfides, carcinogenic chromium, and chlorinated phenols that are linked to bladder and nasal cancers in tannery workers.

Using yeast to grow collagen eliminates the animal part of the equation—including slaughter and subsequent hide processing. It yields higher quality materials—perfectly shaped hides without branding marks or scars, and yields very large spans of leather, much bigger than a cow’s body. It also offers nearly endless creative design ideas. The new collagen can be sprayed on top of another minimatt fabric to create never-before-seen leather fashions, like the t-shirt that is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York as part of its Items: Is Fashion Modern? exhibit. This material can also be embossed or textured in ways that cow or pig leather just can’t.

Modern Meadow will be introducing Zoa to market in 2018. The production facilities are already available from related industries such as biofuels. “We use 200,000 or 500,000-liter fermentation tanks [for the yeast],” says Schofer, “So the infrastructure already exists around the globe to take this from lab to commercial levels.”

Strapping Bands or Strapping Belts are used to bundle (or band) items together as one unit, to strap an item to a transporting structure such as a pallet. Strapping also known as bundling and banding, is the process of applying a strap to an item to combine, hold, reinforce, or fasten it. Strapping cargo prevents movement and slipping of products. When handlers are unloading the goods, the products will not fall out, reducing the risk of workplace injury. Place Dunnage Airbags to fill gaps in between cargo units to prevent movement during transportation. Lashing Bands can also be used to hold cargo units together on the container.

To maximise efficiency, use a tensioner to secure the Strapping Band, Stream Peak provides high-quality, durable, and robust Tensioners (strapping tools for PP PET strapping) for different cargo loads. We provide Manual Tensioner, Battery Operated Tensioner, Pneumatic Strapping Tensioner, and Ratchet Tensioner.

We provide Strapping Band Dispensers, which allow a smooth and hassle-free release of strapping bands to prevent tangling. They come with a moveable handle, which enables easy adjustments and oscillations. Finest steel or plastic construction offers extra strength, resilience, and durability. These dispensers can be used for dispensing steel or plastic strapping with ease.
The strapping and industrial packaging industries can be challenging to get your head around if you haven’t had any exposure to them, or their products, before. Are you feeling overwhelmed about the components that are used with the manual tools as well as the high-tech automatic machines?

Let’s get back to basics and break down everything you need to know about strapping products. With this information, you’ll be able to make the right choice for your business.

The first step is to consider if you need to implement them in your business or not. Small businesses that need strapping for carton, crates, or pallets less than 15 times a month will find a manually operated tool is sufficient for their needs. If you need to perform this task every day, you’ll benefit from investing in a strapping machine. You’ll find it will boost your productivity because it will save your team time.

You should also look at your team’s capacity. Automated machines could free up your staff to focus on other areas that need attention. This could improve productivity, motivation, and quality control. Most important is protecting your product. A simple investment in a strapping tool could drastically reduce the damage your items experience in transit. Damaged boxes or pallets can be an overhead that affects your bottom line and your brand’s reputation. More suppliers may be willing to work with you if they know your packaging arrives safe, secure, and undamaged.

Perform an audit on your loads. If you work with smaller cartons, a table or arch strapper is the right product for your business. Large crates and pallets can be strapped manually unless you’re working with large volumes. In this case, you should investigate horizontal or vertical pallet strappers.

The type of materials you need to secure will also inform your choice in a strapping hand held strapping tool. For example, industries that trade in the print media area will require specialized machines to use on palletized loads.

Another thing you need to explore is the strapping that you will be used to secure your products. They will affect the tools you use and the method you apply them. Polypropylene is inexpensive and can be used for many applications. It is usually secured using a buckle and tensioner system, metal crimping seal or can be friction welded. A tensioner tool can be used to achieve the correct tension. Steel strapping can be secured with metal crimping seals using a device that crimps the strap.

So, what types of tools will you need? Let’s look at the options:

Combination tools
This tool combines a tensioner, sealer, and cutter in a single device.

How it works: Once the strap is locked, tensioned, and sealed, the combination tool crimps the seal and cuts the strap from the spool.

Suitable for: Straps up to 19mm wide.

Safety cutter
This tool is used on plastic strapping. Steel straps need specific tools. They are like metal cutting shears or bolt croppers and may come with rubber pads on the side of the blades.

Friction weld tool
This is a combination tool. It can be used with polypropylene and oriented polyester strapping.
There’s a wide range of both manual tools and automatic machines that are used in the strapping industry. If you’re new to the market, it can be challenging to choose what’s best for your business. Read on as we take you through everything you know to make your selection process easier.

What you need to know about strapping tools for cord strapping and machinery
March 20, 2020 by Guest Post

Click here to get this post in PDF

What you need to know about strapping tools and machinery
There’s a wide range of both manual tools and automatic machines that are used in the strapping industry. If you’re new to the market, it can be challenging to choose what’s best for your business. Read on as we take you through everything you know to make your selection process easier.


FREQUENCY
How often you need to strap a carton, crate or pallet will help you make the decision. Unless you need to perform these tasks reasonably regularly, a manually operated tool will be sufficient for your business. You could even settle on a standard set of tools. But, once your frequency for packaging increases, it will be worth your while to invest in a commercial-grade strapping tool or machine. The increased productivity will pay off the overheads pretty quickly.

SIZE
If you are packaging relatively small cartons, you will be able to use a table strapper. The packages can be loaded with ease onto a table strapper, where they can then be fed through the arch of the strapper. Pallets or larger crates only have the option of being manually strapped unless they are being strapped in large numbers.

METHOD
The tools you need to use to secure strapping, and the method you use will also be determined by the strapping you plan to use.

What you need to know about strapping tools for steel strapping and machinery
March 20, 2020 by Guest Post

Click here to get this post in PDF

What you need to know about strapping machine
There’s a wide range of both manual tools and automatic machines that are used in the strapping industry. If you’re new to the market, it can be challenging to choose what’s best for your business. Read on as we take you through everything you know to make your selection process easier.


FREQUENCY
How often you need to strap a carton, crate or pallet will help you make the decision. Unless you need to perform these tasks reasonably regularly, a manually operated tool will be sufficient for your business. You could even settle on a standard set of tools. But, once your frequency for packaging increases, it will be worth your while to invest in a commercial-grade strapping tool or machine. The increased productivity will pay off the overheads pretty quickly.

SIZE
If you are packaging relatively small cartons, you will be able to use a table strapper. The packages can be loaded with ease onto a table strapper, where they can then be fed through the arch of the strapper. Pallets or larger crates only have the option of being manually strapped unless they are being strapped in large numbers.

METHOD
The tools you need to use to secure strapping, and the method you use will also be determined by the strapping you plan to use.

Follow these tips when choosing the right tools for the strap:


First, consider polyester cord strapping. It is the easiest to work with and comes in various forms, including woven strapping, composite, and hotmelt. It is secured with a metal buckle or a plastic one.

You’ll only need a tensioner as the buckles lock onto the strap preventing it from loosening.
The strap will be easy to cut using a sharp knife or cutter.
If you want to tension the strap again because the load has shifted, you’ll be able to do so using the buckle system. 
Another option is polypropylene. It’s a popular choice because it is versatile and cost-effective.  You can use it with both buckles and tensioners, or it can be secured with a metal crimping seal. Friction welding is also an option. Oriented polyester, which looks similar, can also be friction welded or crimp sealed.

If you opt for steel strapping you’ll need to use metal crimping seals to secure a package. There are further choices you can explore, such as using a tool to crimp the strap that allows it to form a firm grip.

If you choose to go with a separate tensioner and sealer, you’ll find there are certain advantages, such as a low individual weight. Using separate tools also gives you more choice because it can be used on a vertical surface. Some can also be fitted with attachments so they can secure odd-shaped packages. They are versatile so you can adjust notch strength to increase the strength of the seal, for example.

A combination tool can tension, seal and cut. Once it locks and tensions the strap, it then applies the seal manually. It is a tensioner, sealer, and cutter that is combined in a singular tool. The strap is locked and tensioned. Then the seal is applied manually. The tool crimps the seal and will then cut the strap. They are limited to straps up to 19mm wide. If you need to work with wider straps, you’ll to use separate tools.
When it comes to strapping cutters a safety cutter is sufficient for plastic strapping. Steel straps need specialised tools. Thinner grades of the strap will require similar shears, but you’ll need to use stronger tools for heavier grades.

Friction weld tools are another type of combination tool. They can be used with polypropylene, but you also have the choice of using oriented polyester strapping. The bonus is that they lead to shorter strapping cycle times and regular strap tensions. It’s suitable for high volume strapping of crates or pallet loads.
Table strappers are useful for those faced with medium volumes of carton strapping and bundling. They work with polypropylene strap sand friction weld sealing. The process is fast and leads to consistent strapping. They are usually mobile, so can be stored and only brought out when needed, which is a space-saver on the floor. Side action strappers can be mounted on the side of the table instead of under it so it can be used in wet or dirty conditions. The types of items you are packaging, and the conditions of your warehouse will determine which of these is most appropriate for you to use.

Arch strappers are suitable when you need to strap high volumes of cartons continuously. Some models are used with receiving conveyers. 

Pallet strappers are time savers if you’re working with high volumes.

When arriving on the scene of a fire, emergency crews have to make quick, on-the-spot decisions for approaching the situation. Arguably, one of the most crucial determinations that needs to be made is which hose lines are best suited for the circumstances. Fire severity, type of property, amount of required hose, and suppression tactics are all factors that influence what size and type of hose should be used. Choose correctly; the blaze has a better chance of being contained. Get it wrong; the situation can take a turn for the worse. Two essential hoses operated by firefighters are attack and supply hoses. In this article, the BullDog Hose team highlights why hose size matters when approaching a fire. 

Attack Lines
Attack hoses, such as BullDog’s Hi-Combat II®, Firepower II™, Ultima™, and Fireguard™, are designed to tackle fires in their beginning stages and offer flexible approaches to different types of fires. The most common attack line sizes that fire departments deploy are 1.75 inches and 2.5 inches. Both sizes have pros and cons, depending on the situation at hand. Deciding to work with one format over the other can dictate the effectiveness of the initial suppression efforts. Smaller diameter hoses require much higher pressure to move lower volumes of water.

When working with the 1.75-inch hose, it is most useful for taking on residential and vehicle fires. This hose size is much lighter and more maneuverable than the 2.5-inch line. A more compact design makes it easier for firefighters to move the line through hallways, stairwells, and small rooms. Generally, this hose can be operated by two to three firefighters and can deliver water around 140 to 200 gallons per minute (gpm). So this is the desired hose to utilize when suppressing smaller fires. Being relatively easier to manage, 1.75-inch hoses tend to be a ‘catch-all’ when first responding to a fire. If attempting to tackle larger blazes, the 2.5-inch attack hose should be fielded. 

A 2.5-inch hose line is the best choice when responding to more significant commercial buildings and exterior fires. With the ability to deliver high volumes of water at 200 to 300 gpm, this hose can take on more of the fire load than the smaller 1.75-inch attack line. The 2.5-inch hose can be more challenging to control in smaller spaces and is commonly handled by three to four firefighters. 
Supply Lines
Keeping the attack lines charged and operating at their best efficiency all depends on the supply hoses. These hoses, like BullDog’s Hi-Vol® and Hi-Vol TPU™, can be found in sizes ranging from 3 to 6 inches in diameter. The bigger supply lines move high volumes of water from hydrants and fire engines to the attack lines. With the larger diameter, supply hoses can carry more water at lower pressures. Relocating supply lines can be difficult once the water begins flowing. 
Fire fighting is one of the professions that keeps our nation thriving. But, fire departments around America have to select the best hoses every year. Budgets might change and the seasons grow warmer, but safety is of utmost importance. However, not every fire hose works the same due to the fires they have to fight. So, let’s learn about the big differences between municipal and industrial fire hoses. 

Municipal Fire Hoses
Municipal Fire Hoses are designed for fire fighting that requires kink resistance and critical water flow. Being lightweight is key, as these hoses often have to deal with shifting terrain and various on-the-job changes. While older and more standard municipal fire hoses are maximized for normal wear and tear, what about the specialty hoses?

There are a variety of municipal fire hoses on the market to solve any problem your fire department or town might be facing. Need hoses to be more cost conscious, solutions are available. What about municipal hoses needed to reach high rise or raised angle structures? There are fire hoses for that as well.

Pumping to high-rise buildings in cities vs. rural settings is also a concern faced by these same municipal fire hoses. Depending on the structures you protect, you will need to consult with your hose supplier to find out which one works the best for you. 

Industrial Fire Hoses
Industrial Fire Hoses pack a little more punch than the typical municipal fire hose. They feature far superior heat and abrasion resistance. Plus, they tend to be able to support issues concerning oil, fuel and chemicals far greater than the typical municipal fire hose. The industrial fire hoses tend to be flexible and lightweight as well. 

These fire hoses also tend to be optimized to be maintenance free. While that doesn’t mean you won’t have to take care of industrial fire hoses, it means maintenance demands will be fewer. The practical uses of the industrial fire hoses remain the same in theory. You’re going to transfer liquid, washdown areas and generally solve problems.

However, municipal fire fighting hose belong to the typical mental image you have day-to-day fire fighting. Meanwhile, industrial fire hoses are used on air strips, military bases, heavy industrial factories and related business areas. 
What kind of fire fighting hose are you going to need?
As time marches on deeper into the year and your budget deadline grows close, you will have to address your fire fighting needs. No one wants to be the person that reaches for a fire hose only not have it be suited for the purpose at hand. Whether you’re outfitting your local rural fire department or keeping an auto plant safe, you must know the differences between municipal and industrial fire hoses. 

Is there really a best fire fighting hose?
Well, it depends on the environment and overall purpose. Industrial forestry fire hose can fight all sorts of fires started by various things, but they do this in fixed environments.

Municipal fire hoses save towns money. They also are ready to suction water out of unusual water resources. Then, there is the method of actual dispersing the fire.

A municipal fire hose extinguishes a fire with limited structural damage and loss of life. The industrial fire fighting hose keeps fire from accelerating. Stopping the acceleration means it doesn’t spread to other structures that might combust in a short amount of time. The power in an industrial fire hose will keep a plane from exploding, but it also can punch holes in an unstable wall during a house fire. 

In the end, the best fire hose is determined by the purpose and the individual. Keep reading and visiting Bulldog Hose to learn more about the world of fire fighting hose. 
Fire hoses are constantly in demand in our ever-changing world. But, if you’re trying to meet a municipal budget, where do you turn? Your friends at BullDog Hose have been helping fire departments around the US and Canada discover their perfect work balance. Finding the needs to meet safety with the durable hoses that would break a fire department’s budget.

Big Hoses that don’t break the bank
When people think of fire hoses, their background changes their opinion of them. Older veteran firefighters remember the thick monstrous hoses of the 1970s that made high-rises difficult to navigate. While most fire houses have gotten rid of those bulky behemoths, what are they doing in 2021?

The answer is simple for many fire fighters and fire departments around the US and Canada. They’re struggling with big hoses from a bygone era that aren’t getting the job done. Couplings are worn or a little off. If that wasn’t enough, the same fire fighters are having to keep up with changing fire fighting standards.

What is the right size hose for fire fighting and attack?
Fire fighting and fire attack have several unique demands. First, they have to be able to be used and save lives. Second, the fire fighting hose costs can’t break the Department’s budget. Finally, they have to be perfectly adapted to fit and attack fires in the most accurate way.

The idea of big fire needs big water is traditionally heard in fire fighting. That has lead to the majority of fire departments purchasing larger hoses ala something with a 2 1/2 inch handline. While this standard was applied for years without any consideration towards fire fighting needs, the National Fire Academy found a formula to help you pick the best hose.

Length x Width / 3  x Rate of Involvement
So, let’s say you have a 25 foot length of hose and the width of a building is 40 feet that is 25% on fire.

25 x 40 = 1,000 square feet

1,000 divided by 3 is 333.3

333 x .25 = 83.25 gallons per minute.

The benefits of knowing the right size suction hose formula
The NFA formula allows fire departments to measure and understand what they need on the fly. While this is helpful for online and in-person shopping, these modern mathematic applications help your Fire Department save money. Times are tough and budgets aren’t what they used to be, but every municipality and bigger city needs fire fighting materials.

BullDog Hose has Fire Hoses for Sale
At BullDog Hose, we have many fire hoses for sale. But, which is best for you? While we’ve discussed the need to keep an eye for the best fit, provided a formula to figure out your needs and guided you in your journey…what’s next?

Examine our Top 5 hoses for Fire Departments
Attack Fire Hoses
Hi-Combat II
Supply Line Fire Hoses
Hi-Vol
General Fire Hoses
While browsing the marine hose for Sale, don’t forget to look at the Fireguards
Fireguards are a very aggressive fire hose meant for interior attack. Too often, we see Fire Departments only concentrating on their immediate needs for external fires. The special weave and flexibility of the Fire Guard aids transport and helps for specialized fire fighting. During the summer, public fire fighting statements have shown that that fireguards can assist with waterside related fire needs.

Don’t forget to check out the fire nozzles. Do you need a fog nozzle or a smoothbore nozzle?
Smoothbore nozzles have an open path from coupling to nozzle tip. If you want to create different kinds of streaming patterns, you’re going to want a fog nozzle. The traditional firefighter will find what they need with a smoothbore nozzle. However, there is an added benefit to having the ability to apply different kinds of pressure depending on what a situation needs.

You have a choice in purchasing municipal fire hose, make sure you pick the best with BullDog Hose.
 

This review paper present the MBBR and IFAS technology for urban river water purification including both conventional methods and new emerging technologies. The aim of this paper is to present the MBBR and IFAS technology as an alternative and successful method for treating different kinds of effluents under different condition. There are still current treatment technologies being researched and the outcomes maybe available in a while. The review also includes many relevant researches carried out at the laboratory and pilot scales. This review covers the important processes on MBBR and IFAS basic treatment process, affecting of carrier type and influent types. However, the research concluded so far are compiled herein and reported for the first time to acquire a better perspective and insight on the subject with a view of meeting the news approach. The research concluded so far are compiled herein and reported for the first time to acquire a better perspective and insight on the subject with a view of meeting the news approach. To this end, the most feasible technology could be the combination of advanced biological process (bioreactor systems) including MBBR and IFAS system.
The BioCellTM media are suitable for a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) system to provide a self-shedding, self-regulating growth biofilm treatment process. The media can be used for MBBR treatment alone or as an integrated fixed membrane activated sludge (IFAS) process to enhance the effective capacity of existing activated sludge systems.
The BioCellTM medium used in MBBR media or IFAs is a continuous motion caused by air injection and agitator. Specific density of the media can be adjusted between 0.95-1.05 g/cm3 according to customer requirements. However, it should be considered that with the formation of biofilm on the surface of the medium, the actual density of the carrying media will increase.
The main characteristic of Moving Bed Biological Reactor (MBBR) configurations is that there is no sludge recycle from a secondary clarifier. MBBR is essentially a simple, once-through process, where all of the biological activity takes place on the biomass carriers. MBBR is usually followed by a solids separation system such as a secondary clarifier or DAF, in order to separate bio-solids produced in the process from the final effluent. The main advantage of MBBR is robust and simple reduction of soluble pollutants (soluble BOD or COD, NH4 +, etc.), with minimal process complexity, utilizing a significantly smaller footprint when compared to conventional aerobic treatment methods. MBBR is typically used for either high load industrial applications or for robust simple-to-operate municipal facilities.
The Integrated Fixed-film Activated Sludge (IFAS) process combines the advantages of conventional activated sludge with those of biofilm systems by combining the two technologies in a single reactor. Typically, an IFAS configuration will be similar to an activated sludge plant (utilizing all of the different process configurations such as MLE, UCT, Bardenpho, etc.), with biomass carriers introduced into carefully selected zones within the activated sludge process. This allows two distinct biological populations to  act  synergistically, with the MLSS degrading most of the organic load (BOD), and the biofilm creating a strongly nitrifying population for oxidation of the nitrogenous load (NH4+). IFAS is typically used to upgrade existing plants in order to enable extensive Nitrogen removal, or in designing new plants with significantly smaller footprints for extensive BOD and Nitrogen removal.
 The diffuser is the special design for MBBR bio carrier media aeration system. The coarse-bubble design is employed to mix the suspended media evenly throughout the reactor  while  providing  the  mixing energy required to slough old biofilm from the internal surface area of the media and maintain the dissolved oxygen required  to  support the biological treatment process.

Coarse bubble diffuser is made of stainless steel (SUS304 or SUS316L is optional).The  coarse bubble diffuser provides maximum aeration and mixing efficiency.The standard length of diffuser is 600 mm. A 600mm long diffuser can achieve a 1250mm air release circumference.It has a service life of over 15 years. 
The dissolved air flotation(DAF) system is designed to remove suspended solids(TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and oils and greases (O&G) from wastewater. Contaminants are removed by using a dissolved aqueous solution of water produced by injecting air into the recirculating stream of clear DAF effluent under pressure. The recycle stream is then mixed with the upcoming wasterwater in the internal contact chamber. Air bubbles and contaminants rise to the surface and form a floating bed material that is removed by a surface skimmer into the internal hopper for further processing.
The initial section of dewatering drum is the Thickening Zone, where the solid-liquid separating process takes place and where the filtrate will also be discharged. The pitch of the screw and the gaps between the rings decrease at the end of dewatering drum, hence increasing its internal pressure. At the end, the End Plate further increases the pressure, so as to discharge dry sludge cake.
Albe Advance Group is the leading industrial water treatment solution provider in Malaysia with decades of experience in providing quality water treatment solutions. We prioritise in providing our clients with a one-stop water treatment centre for industrial water treatment project and services. Having doubts on industrial water treatment qualities? Contact us and let our skilled professionals provide you with a consultation in water treatment program.
In traditional activated sludge plants, biomass form flocks are kept suspended in wastewater and then separated from treated water in a settler; most biomass is re-circulated to the biological tanks, the excess is extracted and sent to sludge treatment.
Luigi Falletti, University of Padova
This technique is the most widespread and well known in the world to treat biodegradable municipal and industrial wastewater (including paper mill wastewater); but it has also disadvantages: it requires large tanks, and pollutant removal efficiency is strongly affected by sludge settleability.
In moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) biomass grows as biofilm on plastic carriers that move freely into wastewater; tanks are similar to activated sludge reactors, and they have screens or sieves to avoid carriers’ loss; aerated reactors are mixed by aeration itself, while anoxic and anaerobic reactors are mixed mechanically. MBBR can be classified into two categories:

1. pure biofilm reactors: biomass grows only on carriers without suspended sludge and without sludge recirculation;
   
   
2. hybrid reactors: in the same tank biomass grows both as biofilm on carriers and as suspended sludge; part of sludge is re-circulated.
   

The PlayStation 5 launched with a range of first-party PS5 accessories, from the DualSense Wireless Controller to the Pulse 3D Headset and PlayStation Media Remote, but while each of these can enhance your experience in different ways, they're not the only accessories for Xbox worth picking up for your new console. Brands like Logitech, Razer, Samsung, and SteelSeries all have quality products designed specifically for the PS5 (or that will work via backwards compatibility), and now that the PS5 has been on the market for some time, you can find a PS5 accessory for pretty much any specific need at this point. With that in mind, we've rounded up the very best PS5 accessories worth picking up so far, from standard controllers and headsets to flight sticks, racing wheels, external storage, and more.

For more recommendations on PS5 software and accessories for playstation, check out our guides to the best PS5 games of 2021, plus the best PS5 headsets and controllers beyond just the first-party options.
Sony's PS5 DualSense controller is a fantastic upgrade over the PS4's DualShock 4, reshaping the controller to give it a more comfortable, ergonomic shape and more easily visible light bars on either side of the touchpad. Its standout feature is the haptic feedback that, when fully utilized in compatible games, creates immersive vibrations that really let you feel what's happening in the game. Adaptive triggers work in tandem with this as well to further enhance PS5 games, offering different levels of resistance in the L2 and R2 triggers to simulate the feeling of, for instance, drawing back a bowstring. This can also be used to make different weapons, like guns, feel different when switching between them. Overall, the DualSense is an excellent controller that feels kind of magical when its features are fully utilized, and now that two new colors, Midnight Black and Cosmic Red, are available, there's good reason to pick up a second one just to have for multiplayer or switching to while your first controller charges.
Sooner or later, you're probably going to want to pick up a charging station for your DualSense controller, and this official one from Sony can charge two at once, meaning you'll always have a controller ready to go when you get that low-battery notification. It takes a little getting used to, but when you slide a controller in, you'll hear a slight click and see it light up, letting you know it's connected and charging. In terms of convenience, this is easily one of the best PS5 accessories to pick up as soon as you can. No one likes messing with a charging wire.
Surprisingly, the PS5's first-party headset option, the Pulse 3D, is on the more affordable end of the spectrum for quality headsets; however, this is paired with a build that does feel somewhat flimsy, cheap, and easy to break. On the flip side, it delivers rich audio using Sony's proprietary Tempest 3D AudioTech, which really brings surrounding environments alive in PS5 games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, letting you hear subtle sounds and get a better sense directionally of what's around you. It also supports both wireless and wired connectivity for not only PS5 but also PS4, PC, and Mac, with a battery life of up to 12 hours. At the end of the day, it's still one of the best PS5 headsets to buy, especially if you don't want to break the $100 mark, but there are even better third-party headsets we recommend that fall between $150 and $200.
SteelSeries headsets have been very popular for years, and the Arctis 7P is its next-gen headset designed specifically for PS5, though we like it for its versatility, as you can also use it with PS4, PC, Android, and Nintendo Switch thanks to an included USB-C dongle. Featuring 2.4GHz wireless audio and a low-latency connection, the Arctis 7P also pairs nicely with the PS5's 3D audio tech with excellent sound quality for such a versatile headset. Like the BlackShark V2 Pro, it's also a more durable and comfortable option than the Pulse 3D, with a lightweight steel frame and elastic ski goggle band for an adjustable fit. It also has a retractable, bidirectional microphone for clear voice capture and a 24-hour battery life to last during all-day gaming sessions.
For those planning on streaming their PS5 gameplay on Twitch or YouTube, the PlayStation HD camera is one essential accessory that'll make the entire process a breeze. Featuring 1080p capture, the PlayStation HD camera lets you record yourself and your gameplay by using the DualSense's share button, and by using the PS5's built-in background removal tools, you can add yourself to gameplay videos while streaming in picture-in-picture mode. You can crop the background or even lose it completely if you have a green screen.
The Razer Raion has long been one of our picks for the best PS4 controllers, and it still works great for playing backwards-compatible PS4 games on PS5. Though its layout may look strange, the Razer Raion is optimized for fighting games, and its six-button layout resembles what you'd find on a fight stick. It has a fantastic, clicky D-pad and is lightweight enough to comfortably hold in one hand, letting you tap on the rows of buttons piano-style. However, it also has digital buttons for every DualShock 4 shoulder button and trigger if you prefer to use it that way. Also convenient is the fact that you won't need to switch between the Raion and a more fully-featured Ps5 controller faceplate for things like character customization, as it lets you map the D-pad to the left and right analog sticks. Though the Razer Raion isn't for most PlayStation games and certainly not every type of gamer, for fighting game fans, it's a budget-friendly option that will take your experience in games like Mortal Kombat 11 and Tekken 7 to the next level.

The Victrix Pro FS is on the expensive end of fight sticks, but for hardcore fighting game fans, it's worth every penny, and it's forward-compatible with PS5. The Victrix Pro FS has a premium build made of durable aluminum and authentic Sanwa Denshi parts, its buttons are satisfyingly clicky, and the joystick is equally satisfying to use as well as accurate in its movements. In addition to all the essential fight stick buttons, it has several added features including three programmable buttons, customizable audio, lighting adjustments, and an easy access door for swapping out components. It's also a travel-friendly stick with a removable joystick, a plastic organizer to wrap your cables around, and handles for carrying. Costing as much as a console, the Victrix Pro FS isn't for everyone, but if you're serious about having the best fighting game experience on Ps5 dual charging and competitive play, this is an excellent investment.

As with fighting games, you can certainly use your regular old DualSense with racing games, but if you're passionate about the genre and want a more realistic experience with games like Gran Turismo Sport and Assetto Corsa Competizione, a racing wheel and set of pedals is designed for just that. Released in August 2020, Logitech's next-gen racing wheel, the G923, has everything you need for the best racing experience on dongle Ps5. Its TrueForce technology delivers next-gen force feedback with a physics engine that's directly connected to the wheel for heightened responsiveness. Essentially, the wheel synchronizes with your gameplay to deliver a more immersive and realistic experience. The downside is that right now, TrueForce is supported for only a handful of games: Grid, Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, Gran Turismo Sport, Showrunner, and Dirt Rally 2.0.

The Logitech G923 also features a programmable dual clutch launch assist to get you off the starting line cleaner and faster, a progressive spring brake to simulate a pressure-sensitive brake system, a built-in rev indicator that can show you when you're redlining, and a whole set of customization options via Logitech's G Hub software.
Most flight sticks out there are designed for PC, but with flight sims having a bit of a resurgence recently thanks to games like Star Wars Squadrons and Microsoft Flight Simulator, we're starting to see more options for consoles. The official PlayStation-licensed Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4 is an affordable option that, crucially, is also widely available to buy. It'll work great with games like Star Wars Squadrons and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.

A great entry-level flight stick for those just dipping their toes into the flight sim genre, the T.Flight HOTAS 4 features adjustable joystick resistance, a detachable throttle, and a dual-rudder system that operates by rotating the handle with an integrated locking system or by the progressive tilting lever. The flight system has five axes, 12 action buttons, one rapid-fire trigger, and one multidirectional hat switch for navigation/panoramic view.
The democratization of music production has meant that just about anybody can make music from their personal computer. As a result, there's a lot of great music coming out from people who wouldn't have been able to create anything 10 years ago.

That said, whatever personal DAW (digital audio workstation) you choose as your preference, you'll need to use plugins in order to procure certain sounds that you'll need for your music. The Complete 2021 Synth & Sound Software Bundle from Applied Acoustics sets you off immediately with a collection of 10 software kits that include psychoacoustic effects, piano tones, strumming patterns, sound effects, arrangements, and more.

Specifically, you'll get the Objeq Delay filter, which grants effects ranging from echoes to modulations to loops. On top of that, the bundle includes a variety of arpeggiators from composer David Kristian, a collection of folk loops from Celine Dion's keyboardist, and a bunch of other stuff that, in total, almost completely encompasses every possible preset or filter you could ever want for creating your own music. You can go through the different plugins yourself, but suffice it to say that musicians have raved about the different features included here. Whether you are an accomplished musician, like many of the contributors to this bundle are, or a novice beginner who is looking to dip your toes into an ocean of different DAW software, there's something of value for everyone who purchases this expansive bundle.

To put the cherry on top, you can get the Complete 2021 Synth & Sound Software Bundle from Applied Acoustics for just $30. If you've bought music plugins online before, you know how expensive they can be, so the value of this deal stands out even more at an average price of just $3 per individual software pack within. Start creating at a higher level and invest in your musical career with Applied Acoustics.

Marble is a rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, with the maximum concentration of calcite or dolomite. Marble begins life as sedimentary rock known as limestone, which is a soft stone made primarily of calcite. Sedimentary rock is formed at or near the Earth’s surface by the accumulation and lithification of sediment (detrital rock).
Under heat and pressure caused by magma or the tectonic plates, this limestone begins to recrystallize, changing the texture of the rock and causing the calcite crystals to grow and interlock. Most marbles form at convergent plate boundaries. A large part of earth’s crust is exposed to metamorphism. During the process of metamorphism, the calcite recrystallizes that further changes the texture of beige marble. With the progression of the process, the crystals become larger and easily recognizable.

Marble is formed from limestone by heat and pressure in the earth’s crust. The conditions it is put under will cause the limestone to change in its very makeup, as well as texture and appearance, in a process known as crystallization. Large masses of calcite are created when the original carbonate and fossilized materials are recrystallized. And when there are impurities present in the limestone during this transformation, amazing effects and changes take place in the mineral composition. Depending upon the certain temperature, silica impurities react with the carbonate to produce crystals of quartz, or forsterite. At far higher temperatures and with rarer calcium minerals like larnite, other formations are created within the marble. There may also be a variety of other changes, depending on what’s present during the process, including water or other mineral components. Clay, sand, or chert mineral impurities may often produce distinctive veins and swirls within the marble, producing spectacular patterns and discolorations that homeowners and decorators are highly sought after.
Sedimentary rocks are the one that are formed on or near the surface of the Earth. Erosion, weathering, dissolution, precipitation, and lithification are the most important geological processes leading to the creation of sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks were originally sediments, which were compacted under high pressure. Sedimentary rocks are formed through the solidification of sediments. They are formed when minerals and other sediment sit in oceans and lakes for millions of years. This sediment then further gets compressed over time and becomes solid layers of rocks. Further, earth movements can cause sedimentary rocks to be deeply buried or squeezed. As a result, the rocks are heated and put under great pressure. They do not melt, but the minerals they contain are changed chemically, forming metamorphic rocks.

Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been changed from their original form by immense heat or pressure. The conditions necessary for the formation of a metamorphic rock are very precise and make it harder than sedimentary marble. The existing rock must be exposed to high heat, high pressure or a hot fluid rich in minerals. These conditions are most commonly found either deep in the crust of Earth or at the boundaries of plate where tectonic plates collide. In order to create metamorphic rock, it is vital that the existing rock remain solid and not melt. If there is too much heat or pressure, the rock will melt and become magma. This will result in the formation of an igneous rock, not a metamorphic rock.

What Are the Characteristics of Marble?
White marble is composed primarily of calcite, dolomite, or perhaps serpentine. The chemical composition of marble is composed of the following major constituents: Lime (CaO), Silica (SiO2), Alumina (Al2O3), oxides (NaO and MgO), and (MgCO3 and others). Marble has long been highly valued for its beauty, strength, and resistance to fire and erosion. It is known for its durability and its toughness to combat scratch and heat. The best thing about marble is that it is available in different colors due to the presence of various minerals like sand, silt and clay. Marble is usually a light-colored rock. When it is formed from a limestone with very few impurities, it will be white in color. Marble that contains impurities such as clay minerals, iron oxides, or bituminous material can be bluish, gray, pink, yellow, or black in color. Marbles of extremely high purity with a bright white color is very useful. Marble is a stone with a firm crystalline structure and slight porosity. Due to its structure, marble can be polished to improve its shine and is thus a common and attractive stone for building applications. These numerous virtues of marble make it one of the most coveted choices for the homeowners.
Marble has a diversity of physical properties that make it a useful stone. Below you will find some of the best reasons when marble is considered one of the most coveted choices:-

Value for money and resell value is high: Marble is a sturdy, solid and luxurious material that upgrades every space in which it is incorporated. It will present an elegant and distinguished look that will catch the eye of potential buyers. Marble comes with an everlasting appeal because it doesn’t get old easily. It is a stone which is very appreciated for its resistance and its ability to not lose its beauty over time. It increases the value of the property due to its characteristic combination which makes it a value for money material and it has higher resale value, higher valuation and it is reusable too.

Low maintenance and high durability: Marble requires little upkeep to stay in pristine condition, and holds up exceptionally well to age and wear. It can be easily repaired and re-polished. When you have a marble floor then you do not have to worry about cleaning messy spills and even crayon marks by kids on your floor you can easily clean them from a red marble floor with a damp, soapy towel. A great feature of marble flooring is that they are moisture resistant, which makes the surface easy to clean. Not only marble is easy to maintain, it is durable enough to withstand the toughest bumps. It is highly durable and doesn’t stain or scratch easily.

Wide range of designs of Marble: Marble comes in a wide range of designs, making it an ideal choice for accentuating any type of décor. Marble comes in thousands of colors and shades. The color and grain of marble isn’t found in any other type of natural stone which is why it’s such a timeless and classic look suitable for so many different homes. Its wide range of designs gives designers a chance to show their creativity to match the owner’s taste.
Sealing: Unless the marble is properly sealed or thoroughly clean, it can catch stains easily, and that can bring the look of your kitchen or bathroom down. To prevent this from happening, it is important to get the marble resealed at least once a year.

Etching: Marble can be etched when exposed to acidic items. Etching is the physical change that occurs to marble when acid interacts with the stone’s calcium carbonate makeup. You can use sealing as a protective layer or polishing is required to remove the etching. For example, if a coffee stain over sometime without cleaning, the stain will be permanent.
Marble when used in bathroom walls and floor and when used in the living room floor and walls speaks volume about its application. From floors to counters to walls, you can go all and about with marble and enhance your house’s décor. From kitchens to basements, marble can be used in literally every room of the house. Marble walls give a fresh feeling to your space that reads cleanly. Marble flooring gives off a grand appearance that will take your breath away.

Most of the houses rely on marble flooring for it just amps up the ambience of the house. The compliments are surely on your way if you go for a black marble floor for your living room, bedroom, or just about any nook or corner of the house. To make your walls a statement on its own, use marble instead of the regular material. You will see your house transform for the best and make guests go gaga over the opulence created by it. Beauty is definitely at the top of the list of advantages of marble. A marble dining table will complement just about any décor and become a conversation piece with your guests.

One of the many virtues of marble is that it doesn’t erode in water; hence it makes for an amazing floor option. It is a softer stone that can be milled, machined and tumbled, which means it can have multiple uses. Marble has been a mainstay of decorative materials in bathrooms. Marble walls add glamour to your bathroom space and have been a mainstay of decorative material. Marble is a soft stone, and therefore, easy to work with. If you will maintain it properly then your bathroom walls will look incredible for many years to come.

Da Cocktails in Top-Bars immer anspruchsvoller werden, ist mehr Arbeit erforderlich, um sie zu perfektionieren, und vieles davon geschieht jetzt hinter den Kulissen.Anstatt Obst in einen großen matel cup & mug zu gießen, der auf der Theke sitzt, verbringen Barkeeper Zeit in einer Küche oder einem Labor mit Vakuummaschinen, Tischstillständen, Industriefiltern und anderen Geräten.Eis ist nicht mehr schnellschmelzende Stücke, die aus einer Maschine ausgespuckt werden;es wird mittels Spezialgetriebe oder handgeschnitzt aus kristallklaren Blöcken durch professionelle Eisschneider in bestimmte Formen eingefroren.Ein leckeres Daiquiri kann Zutaten enthalten, die mit flüssigem Stickstoff eingefroren wurden, destilliert und geklärt wurden, alles, um Ihnen davor zu ersparen, MinzsBruchstücke in Ihrem Stroh zu bekommen.
Die Barkeeper verwenden immer noch frische und lokale Produkte, aber sie verfeinern jeden Aspekt der Cocktails, in denen sie verwendet werden, von der Temperatur über die Textur bis hin zum physischen Format.In dieser Diashow schauen wir uns einige der modernsten Geräte an, die in Bars auf der ganzen Welt eingesetzt werden.
Bei der Herstellung von Infusionen, Tinkturen, Bitter und Sirup setzen Barkeeper feste Zutaten in Flüssigkeiten ein und filtern sie dann aus.Herkömmliche Filtrationsmethoden umfassen den Einsatz von Sieben, Käsetüchern und Kaffeefiltern, aber zunehmend wenden sich Barkeeper zu anspruchsvolleren Techniken wie Buchner Trichter, und zumindest in diesem Fall, ein Weinfilter namens Mini-Jet.Das Gerät wird hergestellt, um Weißweine zu filtern, um Sediment zu entfernen und den wine tools zu polieren.Bei Canon in Seattle nutzt der Besitzer Jamie Boudreau den Mini-Jet, um Infusionen und Bitter zu filtern, die er an der Bar zum Verkauf anbietet und in den Getränken verwendet.Boudreau sagt, dass dieser Filter sowohl schneller als auch gründlicher als andere Filter ist, obwohl er nur die gröbsten verfügbaren Filterpads verwendet, um Sediment unter Beibehaltung des Geschmacks zu entfernen.Derzeit macht er drei verschiedene Bitter: Kirsche, Rhabarber und eine Rekonstruktion einer seit langem bestehenden Marke namens Boker's Bitters.Diese werden in einer Reihe von Getränken verwendet, einschließlich der Fighattan mit Feigengetränktem Bourbon und Boker's Bitters.
Die Artesian hat die beste bar set der Welt in 2013 für das zweite Jahr hintereinander aufgestellt, sie umarmt Opulenz in ihrem Cocktailprogramm, serviert Getränke wie eine, die mit einem schwebenden Duft-Ballon über dem Getränk kommt, und eine andere inspiriert von The Picture of Dorian Gray, die hinter einem Spiegel serviert wird, so dass Sie sich ansehen müssen, während Sie es trinken.Sogar das ice bucket in Artesian ist schick, speziell für die Bar mit einer Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Maschine wie diese geschnitzt.Sie verwenden diese Maschinen, um sowohl runde Eiskugeln aus Blöcken zu schnitzen, als auch um Logos auf große Eispucks zu prägen.Diese Pucks schwimmen auf den Getränken, die in ihren riesigen Cocktailgläsern serviert werden.
Viele Bars und Restaurants wachsen jetzt ihre eigenen Kräuter, Früchte und Gemüse auf den Dachgärten, aber das ist wahrscheinlich eine Herausforderung während der Winter in Kanada.Der Besitzer der Victoria Bar Shawn Soole hat in Little Jumbo ein hydroponisches System installiert, um das ganze Jahr über Produkte anzubauen.Das Gerät ist mit dem Hauptwassersystem verbunden und hat Lichter an Zeitschaltern, so dass sie, sobald sie die richtige Sequenz herausgefunden haben, es einstellen und vergessen können (bis sie hineingreifen müssen und etwas für die Getränke pflücken müssen).Sie haben Minze angebaut, um Getränke wie die traditionelle Mint Julep und die Pontarlier Julep, plus Basilikum zu machen Gin-Basil Smashes, ein Cocktail, der ein beliebtes Sommergetränk in Deutschland ist.Während sie mit der Maschine immer noch die richtigen Wachstumszeiten wählen, sagt Soole, er wolle Verbena, Zitronenbaum und Thymian für zukünftige Cocktails anbauen.
In den letzten Jahren sind Cocktails auf dem Wasserhahn zu einem Trend geworden, weil Kunden ausgefallene, leckere Cocktails mit frischen, hochwertigen Zutaten wollen, aber sie wollen nicht auf 20-Minuten warten, bis Barkeeper in jedem Getränk Tropfen und Spritzen von 12-verschiedenen Dingen hinzufügen.Mit Cocktails können Barkeeper eine große Charge auf einmal machen und sie so schnell wie möglich ein Bier servieren.Und obwohl viele Bars jetzt ein oder zwei auf dem Wasserhahn anbieten, haben sie in Tavernita alle Arten von Bier und wine glass, plus zehn Cocktails auf dem Wasserhahn, und diese beinhalten Zutaten wie Paprika-getränkter RoggenWhisky, wine rack-Birnensirup und BBQ-Bitter.Der einfachste Weg, einen Cocktail am Wasserhahn zu servieren, ist, ein inertes Gas wie Stickstoff zu verwenden und es durch die Linie zu schieben, wie man es für Wein am Wasserhahn tun würde.Aber das funktioniert nur bei nicht-carbonatierten Getränken wie Netronis und Manhattans (und Sangria auch bei Tavernita).Hier gibt es auch Cocktails, die karboniert sind, wie einen Gin & Tonic mit hausgemachtem Tonikum und einen Cachaca-Drink mit Trauben-Soda.Die Fässer werden alle gekühlt und von ihrem „batchologen“ zubereitet, deren Aufgabe es ist, mit Präparaten sehr anspruchsvoll zu sein und die Inhaltsstoffe nicht nach Volumen, sondern nach Gewicht zu messen.Sie berechnen sogar die Verdünnung im Voraus und fügen dem Fass Wasser hinzu, je nachdem, ob das Getränk auf Eis serviert wird oder nicht.
Viele Barkeeper haben sich an Sous-vide Kochtechniken gewandt, um die Infusionen zu beschleunigen und ihre Konsistenz zwischen den Chargen zu verbessern.Die Methode umfasst vakuumdichtende Inhaltsstoffe (und Schnaps) in Plastiktüten und deren Beheizung bei niedriger, kontrollierter Temperatur.Bei Pint Jigger, wahrscheinlich der fortschrittlichsten Cocktailbar Hawaii, heiratet der Besitzer Dave Newman die Sous-Vide-Küche mit einer anderen, neu bekannten Technik: Fass-Aging.Statt einen Cocktail zu mischen und ihn für einen Monat oder mehr in einem kleinen Fass zu altern, kauft Newman Jack Daniel s Holzschips zum Rauchen (aus Whisky-Fässern hergestellt) und legt sie stattdessen mit den Cocktailzutaten in Mason-Gläsern in das Sous-vide-Bad.Die Getränke nehmen holzige Aromen und eine seidigere Textur nach nur zwei oder drei Tagen im Sous-vide auf, anstatt die gleiche Anzahl von Monaten in einem Fass.Newman hat mit dieser Technik flattergealterte Cocktails gemacht, darunter Boulevardier, Martini, Dark N Stormy und Vieux Carre.
"Wahrscheinlich siebzig Prozent der Cocktails auf der Speisekarte haben etwas, das durch die Zentrifuge gegangen ist", sagt Dave Arnold von Booker && Dax.Die Zentrifuge wird mit einer erstaunlich großen Anzahl von Zutaten verwendet, und diese Zutaten werden durch die Zentrifuge, je nachdem, wie sie in Cocktails verwendet werden.Schließlich wird die Zentrifuge einfach verwendet, um Zutaten nach ihrem Gewicht zu trennen.In einigen Fällen kann dies als wirklich guter Filter funktionieren, wie wenn Arnold Mandel-Sirup-Orgeat macht oder das Sediment der Bitterstoffe filtert.Er verwendet auch die Zentrifuge bei der Klärung von Säften und bei der Trennung von "milchpwed" Spirituosen.Zur Klarstellung Säfte Arnold die Frucht oder die Zitrusfrüchte, fügt Enzyme hinzu, um sie weiter zu zerlegen (manchmal auch mit Weinfiniermitteln), dann spinnt er sie in der Zentrifuge, um die Flüssigkeiten von den Feststoffen zu trennen.Er sagt, das macht nicht nur schöne klare Säfte, sondern erhöht auch den Ertrag über nur mit einem Entsafter allein.Zum Waschen von Milch fügt er Milch zu Spirituosen hinzu und trennt dann die zerkleinerten Milchstückchen.Es klingt widerlich, aber Getränke wie klassische Milk Punches unterziehen diesen Prozess auch, nur nicht in einer Zentrifuge).Die milchgewaschenen Geister haben eine weiche Textur, und wenn sie in Cocktails geschüttelt werden, erzeugen sie einen schönen Schaumkopf.Die gereinigten Säfte werden in Rührgetränken (in der Regel werden alle Getränke mit Säften geschüttelt, aber diese brauchen sie nicht mehr) sowie in kohlensäurehaltigen Cocktails verwendet, wo sie besser die Fizz des Getränks behalten.
Ein Rotary Verdampfer ist eine Miniatur, die immer noch typisch für Chemiker ist, die einige Barkeeper in letzter Zeit verwendet haben.In den meisten Ländern ist es illegal, die Ausrüstung zu verwenden, um selbstgemachten Wodka zu produzieren, zum Beispiel (zum Teil weil die Regierung Steuern auf den Alkohol erheben will), aber in einigen Ländern nutzen Barkeeper es, um High-Level-Infusionen, Reduktionen und andere Flüssigkeiten zu schaffen.Sowohl in einem traditionellen Still als auch in einem Rotavap werden Mischungen durch Verdunstung durch unterschiedliche Siedepunkte (in der Regel trennen Alkohol von Wasser) getrennt, aber in einem Rotavap kann dies bei weit niedrigeren Temperaturen getan werden, um empfindlichere Aromen herauszuziehen und zu vermeiden, sie zu verbrennen.Als der führende molekulare Mixologe Tony Conigliaro von der Bar ohne Namen sagt in seinem Buch The Cocktail Lab,"Was ich an dem Rotavar liebe, ist, dass es eines der kompliziertesten Geräte des Labors ist, aber die daraus hergestellten Produkte sind unglaublich poetisch." Conigliaro betreibt dies immer noch, um Dinge wie Pferdradische Wodka, die in einer Bloody Mary verwendet wird, und eine Portweinreduktion, die in einem Getränk mit dunklem Rum und Grenadine verwendet wird.Es kann auch verwendet werden, um alkoholfreie Zutaten wie Orangenblütenwasser, das in einem Ramos Gin Fizz verwendet wird.
Ein Super-Kühler, oder das zirkulierende Bad, kühlt schnell die Zutaten ab, die in seine super-kalte Mischung aus Ethanol und Wasser getaucht werden.In Chicago's Progressive Aviary schwimmen sie etwa acht Minuten lang mit Wasser-Ballons im Bad.Das ist genug, um eine Schicht Wasser im Ballon einzufrieren.Dann knallen sie den Ballon, stechen ein kleines Loch in die Eiskugel, um das flüssige Wasser in der Mitte zu saugen, und ersetzen es durch einen Cocktail wie den Vieux Carre.Dann, um etwas extra schick zu machen, knacken die Trinker diesen Cocktail "in den Felsen" mit einer Schleuder am Tisch.) Staff hier auch tauchen hohe Collins-Gläser mit Wasser in das Bad, damit ein Ärmel aus Eis um die Innenseite erfrieren kann.Anschließend spülen sie den restlichen slush ab und werden mit einem eisgesäumten Glas, in dem sie kohlensäurehaltige Cocktails servieren, gelassen, da die Blasen so sprudelnd bleiben.Sehen Sie sich dieses coole Video des Eisprogramms an.Foto von Christian Seel

You may have noticed that women basic socks aren’t what they used to be. Think back: for a long time socks were just something you used to cover your feet. Possibly black, probably ankle-height and definitely an afterthought. Socks are now an important part of your outfit at the least, the making of an outfit at most.

Socks have become an area of diplomacy and woke-signalling – the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is perhaps the biggest name to use socks in this way, choosing pointedly themed ones for public occasions. Or a telling insight into a political mind: Boris Johnson was criticised recently for not washing his lucky socks, emblazoned with a ruler of the Neo-Assyrian empire King Ashurbanipal, often enough.
Socks are such a basic item that they're easy to take for granted...and leave on the floor, shove under beds, or lose to the dryer monster. (It happens to the best of us.) But socks actually deserve mad props for keeping our wiggly and sometimes stinky feet dry, warm, and free from blisters, so in honor of National Sock Day, here's a little history of how they became a thing and some guidelines on what kind to wear and when…or not.

Until the 17th century, men basic socks were called stockings, but according to Wikipedia, the modern English word sock (first recorded in 1690, btw), evolved from the Old English socc which evolved from the Latin soccus…"a lightweight shoe worn by ancient Greek and Roman comic actors." Socks are worn on our feet (mostly) and come in various lengths, fabrics, colors, patterns, and styles, depending on their intended purpose, i.e. thick wool socks for skiing, thin wool dress socks for business, and short white socks for running. But the first socks were actually made from leather or matted animal hair – called "piloi" in 8th century BC Greece. A thousand years later in the 2nd century AD, the Romans were the first ones to sew woven fabrics together and make fitted socks ("udones").

The oldest surviving socks are a red-orange pair from between 250 AD and 420 AD that were excavated from Oxyrhynchus on the Nile in Egypt. They were made with the nålebinding technique, which means "knotless netting" and uses a single thread...the precursor to modern-day knitting and crochet. And they have split toes specifically for—gasp!—wearing with sandals. (Which the ancient Romans and Greeks did more or less exclusively, so they get a pass on any fashion judgement.) Speaking of Egypt, socks were so important that alongside all of the gold and jewels, King Tut's tomb supposedly contained several pairs made from linen.

In the Middle Ages, socks were brightly-colored and started becoming more of a fashion statement. As trousers got shorter over the next few centuries, socks got longer…and more expensive. So expensive, in fact, that by the end of the first millennia, socks were actually a status symbol among the nobility, and had also become highly ornamental. #FunFact: a fancy design that's embroidered or woven on each side or the outer side of a sock beginning at the ankle is called a clock. Who knew?

As societies progressed, so did basketball function socks, and they were made from wool, silk, and cotton, depending on a person's economic class (nobles = silk; peasants = wool). Besides being a display of wealth, socks served an important utilitarian purpose since even nobles faced harsh conditions at times. (Indoor heating wasn't a thing until the 20th century, so keeping those piggies warm was essential…frostbite didn't care if someone was wealthy.) Peasants especially were exposed to the elements way more than we are today and needed to protect their feet from the wet and cold. (They also bathed less often, so if you think your teen's basketball socks are stinky, just imagine the funk of a 16th century pair.)

Socks were so critical to life that mending them—called "darning"—was a very important skill. Cold feet led to frostbite which could lead to gangrene which could lead to death, so when a sock had a hole in it, it most definitely got fixed! As early as the 12th century, the heel of a sock was the last part made, which made it easier to replace when it wore out…a very common practice. Sock owners took their maintenance seriously.

The knitting machine's arrival on the scene in 1589 was a game-changer since six pairs of football function socks could be made in the time it took to create one previously, but socks were still hand-knit alongside the machines for another couple hundred years. A tiny percentage are still made that way today. Socks were historically held up with ribbons or ties or by garters since elastic wasn't a thing yet. Until Jedediah Strut's Derby Rib machine in 1758, that is, but it was so expensive that it took almost two more centuries before more socks were held up by elastic than garters. To put it in perspective, in 1899 England, a pair of socks sold for the equivalent of $15 today…a LOT back then.

The next biggest thing to happen to socks was—drumroll please—the 1938 introduction of…nylon. The blended fabric was born, and synthetics changed the sock world, along with the rest of it. With socks now being made from recycled plastics, their evolution has come full circle in the last 80 years. The most common blends today include cotton, wool, and polyester or nylon, but socks are also made with silk, spandex, bamboo, and other fabrics.

Another big moment in the evolution of socks was globalizing production. In 2011, the Datang district of Zhuji in the Zhejiang Province of China was known as "Sock City." Why? Because it was producing 8 billion pairs of socks each year, which was a third of the world's annual total. Finding accurate sales numbers is challenging but suffice to say that BILLIONS of pairs of socks are sold each year for even more billions of dollars, the competition is fierce, and socks are almost as high-tech as electronics in some facets of their engineering.

The Rules of Socks
We've established that socks come in all kinds of fabric configurations and all kinds of styles, some of the common categories being: dress winter floor socks, athletic socks, hiking socks, ski socks, knee socks, tube socks, ankle socks, foot socks, boot socks, novelty socks, booties, slipper socks, tights, and pantyhose. There's no question that with the help of socks, shoes protect your feet from debris, disease, injury, and the elements. But sometimes, it's the outer world that needs to be protected from sweaty or smelly feet. To that end, businesses and venues with dress codes will usually tell you if socks are required (that would be yes 98% of the time). But what about when it's completely up to you? Socially and hygienically, are there times that you should always—or never—wear socks? (That would also be yes.)
Seriously, lost socks are a real and quantifiable phenomenon. But quantum physics theories aside, the average person loses 1,264 socks over his or her lifetime, so where do they GO? One clue is the way that some socks take a detour and mysteriously show up within the next couple of laundry loads. So, they weren't really lost, they were stuck in a fitted sheet, stuck to a sweater, stuck under the upper rim of the washing machine basket, or otherwise occupied for a bit. The socks that are actually lost could be under the bed, they could have fallen out of your gym bag in the locker room or landed in a gutter when you were walking, someone might have thrown a sock away because it had a hole and they didn't know how to darn it, they could be stuck to something neatly folded in a drawer somewhere, or they could actually be IN the washing machine in a hose, filter, or other part, especially if they're small, and ditto with the dryer! (Yes, really...certain models can literally eat your socks.)