PurposeThis paper aims to focus on interactions between old and new cultural influences, investigating consumer preferences for a new type of product – the mobile phone – by looking at the cultural and socio‐economic factors that affect these preferences.Design/methodology/approachA total of 22 Russian experts in design and marketing were interviewed in the spring of 2005. The paper takes the viewpoint of Western firms interested in Russian (mobile phone) markets.FindingsThe study shows that the general features (high power distance, femininity, high uncertainty avoidance) characterizing Russian culture affect preferred mobile phone design. Long‐term values are seen, for example, in family orientation, which affects the use of mobile phones. Changing cultural and socio‐economic features are seen in the strict division of consumers into distinct segments. Current aspects of society, such as high level of street crime, are apparent in the desired features of products. The emerging Russian markets seem to consist of very different consumer groups and simultaneously represent both old and new cultural features and norms. Design has become a central tool for affecting product marketing, and an influential community of designers and a design industry are emerging.Practical implicationsCooperation with the local designers can provide an important competitive edge and support when promoting both industrial and consumer goods in Russia's emerging markets.Originality/valueDesign was earlier neglected and it has only recently started to play a more significant role in production and marketing of products in Russia. Designers can now act as important intermediaries between Russian markets and Western marketers.
Technologies for producing two classes of syntactic carbon foams of regular structure were developed: thermal insulating and heat-conducting foams with specific physico-mechanical properties designed for operation under extreme conditions. The possibility of controlled development of porous structure in carbon foams upon their production by selecting the initial components in the form of binders, hollow particles (microspheres) and various additives (solvents, etc.), their optimal combination and ratio, as well as operating parameters of thermal processing. Phenol-formaldehyde resins, melamine and coal or oil pitches filled with hollow particles in the form of phenolic and carbon microspheres were used as starting components for the production of carbon foams. Technologies for producing carbon foams include the sequence of the following stages: preparation and mixing of the starting components, molding of samples, carbonization, graphitization, pyrocompaction and mechanical processing. Thermal insulation foams were obtained using two technologies. The first technology for producing foams involves using phenolic microspheres and a binder in the form of a phenol-formaldehyde resin of the novolac type. The second technology for producing foams through template carbonization involves the use of high porosity melamine with cellular structure as a binder, and hollow phenolic microspheres.
Technology for producing syntactic carbon foams by the method of pitches carbonization under pressure is proposed. The components and optimal regime parameters for producing the foams with given thermophysical and strength characteristics are determined. The foams structure was studied using scanning electron microscopy.
The paper studied the influence of starting components and operating conditions of synthesis processes on the performance properties of syntactic carbon foams. The studies determined the behavior and ranges of hardness, ultimate compressive strength, apparent density, and thermal conductivity of foams made by template carbonization and using carbon microballoons, depending on heat treatment temperature. They determined the influence of a volatile blowing agent (sodium chloride) with wide and narrow fraction on a change in the studied properties of syntactic carbon foams.
The comparative analysis of a combination of primary properties of foam materials made using the different starting components and technologies was made. According to the review of the literature and analysis of the experimental data, the paper shows a significant influence the starting components and process approaches have on the properties of the materials. The comparison of material properties revealed that the properties of syntactic carbon foams are higher than those of other porous materials, including metal foams, and comply with the specification.
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