<p> Digital Holography (DH) is an emerging tool for use in the structural investigation of temperature dependent material processes. DH is able to reveal deformations and topological details at ultrahigh sensitivity (a few tens of nanometers) for particular details such as point-like objects and interfacial structures, allowing for the investigation of a range of processes. However, while DH is able to provide high precision data, the height measurement range is limited by the probe wavelength. Therefore a 'synthetic' wavelength created from the superposition of two or more individual wavelengths is often required in order to increase the measurement range to a suitable value dependent upon the object dimensions. </p><p> The use of multiple wavelengths attached to one system thus allows for surface height measurements over a relatively long range. In addition as the complex wave-front of each wavelength can be captured simultaneously in one digital image, real-time performance is achievable. In this thesis a number of materials processes were investigated at differing temperatures. The structural changes associated with the martensite to austenite phase transformation were measured using dual-wavelength digital holography during thermal cycling of nickel-aluminum-platinum (NiAlPt) and single-crystal Fe-15Cr-15Ni alloys. Real-time in-situ measurements reveal the formation of striations within the NiPtAl alloy at &sim;70&deg;C, and the FeCrNi alloy at &sim;520&deg;C. The results demonstrate that digital holography is an effective technique for acquiring non-contact, high precision information of the 3D surface evolution of alloys at high temperatures.</p>

<p>Microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices are not capable of withstanding harsh operating environments, which may include high temperatures, pressures and corrosive agents. Ni-base superalloys have been used successfully in the hot stages of jet turbine engines despite the presence of these conditions. In my thesis work, I developed two techniques compatible with micro-processing methods to produce Ni-base superalloy micro-components for MEMS applications. The mechanical properties of these materials were accessed at room and elevated temperatures. Microstructural studies were performed, linking microstructural features to mechanical properties. </p><p> The first technique modified LIGA Ni (LIGA is a German acronym for lithography, electroplating and molding) microtensile specimens using a vapor phase aluminization process. A subsequent homogenization heat treatment produced a two phase Ni-Ni3A1 microstructure characteristic of modern Ni-base superalloys. Al composition was used to tailor both the precipitate size and volume fraction. Aluminized LIGA Ni micro-components exhibited room temperature yield and ultimate strengths 3 to 4 times LIGA Ni micro-components subject to the same heat treatment. </p><p> The second technique involved sputtering a commercial Ni-base superalloy, Haynes 718, to produce thick sputtered foils (up to 20 gam) on silicon and brass substrates. The as-deposited foils were nanocrystalline solid solutions with chemical compositions similar to the bulk material. Foils subject to ageing heat treatments exhibited unique precipitation mechanisms and good thermal stability. Strengths as high as 750 MPa at 700&deg;C were observed with several percent ductility. This is a significant improvement over state of the art metallic MEMS materials. </p><p> Furthermore, a new high temperature microtensile testing technique was developed. The technique embeds a displacement based force sensor into the hot zone of a furnace. This arrangement ensures temperature uniformity during testing, while permitting friction along the loading axis by measuring force locally. Load and displacement are measured simultaneously with a single camera using digital image correlation techniques. Initial results, using Al 6061-T6 as a reference material, were promising. </p>

Relative densities and relative massic heat capacities have been measured for aqueous solutions of triflic acid (CF3SO3H), sodium triflate (NaCF3SO3), gadolinium triflate (Gd(CF3SO3)3), dysprosium triflate (Dy(CF3SO3)3), neodymium triflate (Nd(CF3SO3)3), erbium triflate (Er(CF3SO3)3), ytterbium triflate (Yb(CF3SO3)3), and yttrium triflate (Y(CF3SO3)3) at T = (288.15, 298.15, 313.15, and 328.15) K and p = 0.1 MPa. The resulting densities and massic heat capacities have been used to calculate out apparent molar volume and apparent molar heat capacity data for each of the investigated aqueous systems. The concentration dependencies of the apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities have been modeled using Pitzer-ion interaction equations. Single ion volumes and heat capacities have been calculated using estimates of the apparent molar properties at infinite dilution obtained from the Pitzer-ion interaction equations. These single ion values have, where possible, been compared with those previously reported in the literature. Also, relative densities have been measured for aqueous solutions of CF3SO3H, Gd(CF3SO3)3, Nd(CF3SO3)3, and Yb(CF3SO3)3 at T = (323.15, 348.15, 373.15, and 423.15) K and p = (5.00, 10.00, and 15.00) MPa. The resulting densities have been used to calculate apparent molar volumes. The concentration dependences of these properties have also been modeled using Pitzer-ion interaction equations. The apparent molar volumes have been used to calculate single ion volumes which, in turn, have been compared with those previously reported in the literature. This thesis also attempts to model the temperature, pressure, and concentration dependencies of the reported apparent molar properties of each system investigated using an equation of state commonly referred to as the density model. Where possible, the results of this model have been compared with those results from models previously reported in the literature. / xiv, 148 leaves ; 29 cm.

Common brown colour in natural diamond forms by plastic deformation during storage in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM). Dislocation movement generates vacancies, which aggregate into clusters of perhaps 30–60 vacancies. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) support such vacancy clusters as the cause of brown colour. Brief treatment in a high-pressure–high-temperature (HPHT) vessel at 1800–2700 °C can destroy the brown colour. There has been speculation that similar colour removal should occur continuously at depth in the SCLM. Diamonds are stored at 900–1400 °C in the SCLM, according to inclusion thermometry. The effect of temperature on the time required to destroy brown colour has been calculated from published data. The activation energy for the breakup of vacancy clusters is a critical component. The time required to destroy brown colour in the SCLM is significant at the scale of geological time. Brown diamonds should easily maintain their colour for millions of years during cooler mantle storage at or below about 1000 °C. Warmer temperatures toward the base of the lithosphere may be able to reduce or eliminate brown colour within thousands of years. The survival of brown colour in the lithospheric mantle does not require the colour to be formed late in the storage history nor does it require metastable storage in the graphite stability field. Crystal strain is preserved upon loss of brown colour during HPHT treatment. Inhomogeneous crystal strain was measured in 18 natural diamonds using micro-X-ray diffraction (μXRD) χ-dimension peak widths. There is a correlation between strain and depth of brown colour. None of the colourless diamonds examined have high strain, as should be expected for a diamond that has gained and lost brown colour. This suggests that removal of brown colour is not a common natural occurrence. Infrared spectroscopy was used to determine nitrogen concentration and aggregation state in 60 natural diamonds. A loose association was found between brown colour and lower total nitrogen content. Within single diamonds, regions with less nitrogen tend to exhibit more anomalous birefringence due to strain. Colour zoned diamonds tend to have less nitrogen in the darker brown regions. This supports the hypothesis that diamonds with less nitrogen are more susceptible to plastic deformation and the development of brown colour. / Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-17 17:10:11.078

This thesis addresses some important issues when designing microfluidic systems for hot pressurized water. The properties and behavior of water at elevated temperatures and in micro scale is briefly reviewed, and opportunities and possible problems of using hot pressurized water in microfluidic devices are brought up. Experimental work was focused on corrosion resistance for commonly used microsystem materials in hot pressurized water, and the microfluidic behavior for hot pressurized water. An experiment system was successfully designed, assembled and used for corrosion resistance experiments in hot pressurized water. Corrosion resistance tests were performed for some common materials used in microfluidic and microsystems (silicon, stainless steel grade 304, silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, soda-lime glass and borosilicate glass) in deionized water and in low concentration HCl (0.1 mM) at two different temperatures (180oC and 270oC). All of the tested materials, except soda-lime glass, showed a good overall performance in the low temperature range. In the high temperature range, all materials showed signs of corrosion to some extent. Severe damages and high corrosion rates were observed for silicon and the two glasses, and stainless steel 304 showed signs of pitting corrosion. A microfluidic study identified some major issues needed to be overcome to make future microfluidic studies with hot pressurized water possible. Important observations included the importance of a short traveling distance for a hot micro flow to avoid rapid cooling, and to choose a suitable dye to avoid particles clogging thin capillaries and micro channels.

<p> This thesis presents a scheme for preparation of trapped molecular ions with a high degree of internal state purity by optical pumping with a broadband pulse-shaped femtosecond laser; the internal structure of SiO⁺ permits fast stepwise pumping through the tens of rotational levels populated in a room-temperature distribution. Two analyses, which guided the experimental implementation, are presented: (1) a novel method of quantifying anharmonicity in the trapping potentials, which limits the number of ions that can be trapped, and (2) a rate-equation simulation of the quantum state evolution during pumping. Experimental implementation of pulse shaping and its characterization are discussed, as is the molecular spectroscopy used to reference this light to the rotational cooling transitions. Internal state analysis can be performed using resonance enhanced multiphoton dissociation.</p>

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No description available.

The utilisation of alternate sources of energy has reached critical levels due to the constantly growing demand for energy and the diminishing of fossil fuels. The production of hydrogen through the Hybrid Sulphur process is a possible alternative that may contribute towards alleviating the pressure on the world's energy resources. The two-step thermochemical cycle for decomposing water into hydrogen and oxygen offers the potential to obtain acceptable thermal efficiencies, while still using common and inexpensive chemicals. The process mainly makes use of two unit process operations: an electrolyser and a chemical decomposition reactor. This research project focuses on the concept design of the decomposition reactor operated adiabatically as a multi-stage reactor system with inter-stage heating, in order to simplify the reactor design. This approach allows for the independent evaluation of the reaction kinetics and the heat transfer mechanism. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This study investigates the development of a strategy to simulate nuclear graphite oxidation with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to determine an estimate of graphite lost. The task was achieved by comparing the results of the CFD approach with a number of different experiments. For molecular diffusion, simulated results were compared to analytical solutions. Mass flow rates under conditions of natural convection were sourced from the 2002 NACOK experiment. Experimental data from the KAIST facility were sourced for the basic oxidation of graphite in a controlled environment. Tests included the reactions of carbon with oxygen and with carbon dioxide. Finally, the tests at NACOK from 2004 and 2005 were chosen for comparison for the simulation of oxidation. The 2005 test considered two reacting pebble bed regions at different temperatures. The 2004 test included multiple detailed structural graphite. Comparison of results indicated that the phenomenon of diffusion can be correctly simulated. The general trends of the mass flow rates under conditions of natural convection were obtained. Surface reaction rates were defined with user functions in Fluent. Good comparisons of the simulated and the KAIST experimental results were obtained. For the 2005 NACOK comparison, the pebble bed regions were simulated with a porous medium approach. Results showed that correct trends and areas of oxidation were estimated. The 2004 tests were with a combination of a porous medium and surface reaction approaches. More detailed oxidation experimental data would possibly improve the accuracy of the results. This research has shown that the CFD approach developed in the present study can identify areas of maximum oxidation although the accuracy needs to be improved. Both the porous and detailed surface reaction approaches produced consistent results. The limitations of the approach were discussed. These included transient phenomena which were estimated with steady state simulations, and the effects of change in geometry were not considered. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.