Amostras de nitrato de potássio e enxofre natural foram irradiadas no núcleo do reator de pesquisas IEA-R1 do Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN-SP, operando entre 3,5 e 5 MW de potência, para determinar as secções de choque térmicas e integrais de ressonância das reações 34S(n,)35S e 42K(n,)43K. O fluxo de nêutrons foi monitorado com ligas ouro-alumínio. As atividades induzidas nos alvos de ouro-alumínio e nitrato de potássio foram medidas com um detector semicondutor de germânio hiper puro; as atividades dos alvos de enxofre foram determinadas com um sistema de coincidências 4\\pi\\beta - \\gamma. Os efeitos de depressão de fluxo, autoblindagem e autoabsorção nos alvos foram corrigidos com base em simulações com o método de Monte Carlo por meio do programa MCNP. O programa PENELOPE, também baseado no método de Monte Carlo, foi modificado para simular o comportamento do sistema de coincidências 4\\pi\\beta - \\gamma. O formalismo de Westcott e o método da razão de cádmio foram usados para determinar os fluxos de nêutrons térmicos e epitérmicos, assim como as secções de choque térmicas e integrais de ressonância de ambos nuclídeos. Foi efetuado um tratamento estatístico das incertezas envolvidas e determinadas as covariâncias entre os resultados, incluindo aquelas decorrentes das incertezas do padrão de referência (ouro). As reações 34S(n,)35S e 42K(n,)43K apresentaram, respectivamente, seções de choque térmicas de 228(14) mb e 44,8(9) b, e integrais de ressonância de 144(6) mb e 1635(75) b. Estes resultados são incompatíveis com aqueles obtidos com cálculos teóricos. A seção de choque térmica da reação 34S(n,)35S concorda com valores obtidos por outros autores, dentro das incertezas experimentais. / Samples of potassium nitrate and natural sulphur were irradiated in the IPEN/CNEN-SP IEA-R1 research reactor core, operating between 3.5 and 5 MW, to determine the thermal neutron cross sections and resonance integrals of 34S(n,)35S and 42K(n,)43K reactions. The neutron flux was monitored with gold-aluminium alloy. The activities induced in targets of gold-aluminium and potassium nitrate were measured with a high purity germanium detector. Sulphur targets activities were determined with a 4\\pi\\beta-\\gamma coincidences system by the tracer method. Flux depression, self-shielding and self-absorption in the targets was evaluated by simulations using the MCNP software. The PENELOPE software, also based on Monte Carlo method, was modified to simulate the behavior of the 4\\pi\\beta-\\gamma coincidence system. The Westcott formalism and the cadmium ratio method were used to determine epithermal and thermal neutrons flux as well as the thermal cross sections and resonance integrals of both nuclides. A statistical analysis of the uncertainties was performed and the covariance between the results was determined, including those arising from the uncertainties of the gold reference standard. The results were compared with experimental values and theoretical predictions obtained by other authors. The 34S(n,)35S and 42K(n,)43K reactions had, respectively, thermal cross sections of 228(14) mb and 44.8(9) b, and integral resonances of 144(6) mb and 1635(75) b. These results are incompatible with the obtained with theoretical calculations. The 34S(n,)35S reaction thermal cross section agrees with values obtained by other authors, within the experimental uncertainties.

Diese Dissertation widmet sich der spektroskopischen Untersuchung verschiedener Aspekte der Strahlungsemis\-sion hochgeladener Krypton-Ionen mit Relevanz für die Fusionsforschung. Die Experimente hierzu erfolgten an der Berliner Elektronenstrahl-Ionenfalle (EBIT). Der erste Teil der Arbeit hat die Messung kanalspezifischer Wirkungsquerschnitte für die dielektronische Rekombination (DR) der KL$n$-Resonanzserie ($n$=2, \ldots, 5) von Helium- bis Kohlenstoff-ähnlichen Kr-Ionen ($\mbox{Kr}^{(34\, \ldots\,30)+}$) zum Inhalt, die relativ zum Wirkungsquerschnitt der nichtresonanten strahlenden Rekombination (RR) bestimmt wurden. Die Anpassung der Anregungskurven durch eine Modellfunktion aus berechneten Resonanzst ärken ermöglichte den Vergleich mit theoretischen DR-Wirkungsquerschnitten. Es zeigt sich, dass Vorhersagen des HULLAC-Atomstrukturcodes für die Resonanz\-st"ar\-ken der Kr-Ionen durch das Experiment innerhalb der Me"sunsicherheiten best"a\-tigt werden. Darüber hinaus wurde auch die Relaxation der einfach angeregten Ionen nach erfolgtem DR-Stabilisierungsübergang analysiert. Die zur Auswertung der DR-Anre\-gungs\-kurven angewandte Technik eröffnet gleichzeitig eine spektroskopische Methode für die Bestimmung der relativen Konzentration hochgeladener Ionen in EBIT. Die Messung der Strahlungskühlungsrate von Krypton, die den zweiten inhaltlichen Schwerpunkt der Dissertation darstellt, wäre ohne diese in situ Diagnostik der Ladungbilanz nicht möglich gewesen. Hier wurde die Ionenfalle so eingestellt, dass sich eine Ladungsverteilung herausbildet, die dem Ionisationsgleichgewicht eines Plasmas bei einer Temperatur von etwa $5\;\mbox{keV}$ entspricht. Die Bestimmung der Strahlungsk"uhlungsrate profitierte von dem Potential einer EBIT, die gefangenen Ionen mit Elektronenenergien aus einem weiten Bereich abzutasten und einzelne Strahlunsprozesse selektiv anzuregen. Die Röntgenemission verschiedener Strahlungskanäle, wie Bremsstrahlung, strahlende Rekombination, dielektronische Rekombination und Linienstrahlung nach direkter Anregung wurde separat erfaßt. Hieraus konnten erstmals kanalspezifische Strahlungskühlungsraten bestimmt werden. Es stellte sich heraus, dass der dominante Beitrag zur Strahlungskühlungsrate durch die direkt angeregte Linienstr ahlung des L-Schalen-Spektrums zustande kommt, die etwa 75\% der gesamten Verlustleistung ausmacht. Beim Vergleich der totalen Strahlungsverlustleistung mit Vorhersagen der Theorie sind Abweichungen festzustellen. Die berechneten Werte sind je nach Modell um einen Faktor 1.5 - 2.0 kleiner als das Ergebnis der Messung. Dieser Unterschied liegt außerhalb der experimentellen Unsicherheit von maximal 30\%. / This thesis deals with the spectroscopic investigation of various aspects of the x-ray emission of highly charged krypton ions with relevance for fusion research. The experiments have been performed at the Berlin electron beam ion trap (EBIT). One part of the work was devoted to the measurement of channel-specific cross sections for dielectronic recombination (DR) via the KL$n$ ($n$=2, \ldots, 5) resonance series of He- to C-like krypton ions ($\mbox{Kr}^{(34\, \ldots\,30)+}$). The DR cross sections were determined relative to the cross section for non-resonant radiative recombination (RR). A fit procedure was used to compare the measured data with theoretical calculations. Predictions of the HULLAC atomic structure code are confirmed within the experimental uncertainties. Additionally, the radiative relaxation mechanism following the stabilizing transition in the DR process was analyzed. The approach used to obtain the DR excitation function opens up a spectroscopic method to determine the relative abundance of the highly charged ions in the trap. This in situ diagnostic of the charge state balance allowed for the measurement of the radiative cooling rates of krypton being the second focus of the thesis. For this purpose EBIT was tuned to a charge state distribution approaching the ionization balance of a plasma at a temperature of about $5\;\mbox{keV}$. EBIT's capability to sample a wide range of electron-beam energies and distinguish between different radiation channels was utilized to determine the cooling rate. The x-ray emission from the various plasma radiation channels, like bremsstrahlung, radiative recombination, dielectronic recombination, and line radiation following electron-impact excitation was analyzed. For the first time, channel-specific cooling rates could be obtained from these data. It was found, that the dominant contribution to the cooling rate is made up by the directly excited x-rays of the L-shell spectra of krypton, producing more than 75\% of the total radiation loss. A difference with theoretical calculations is noted for the total cooling rate. The predicted values are lower by a factor of 1.5 - 2.0, depending on the theoretical model. This discrepancy is clearly beyond the experimental uncertainty of 30\% at maximum.

The underlying structure in the region A~100, N~60 has been under intensive and extensive investigation, mainly by β-decay and γ-ray spectroscopy from fission processes. Around N~60, by adding just few neutrons, protons a rapid shape change occurs from spherical-like to well deformed g.s. shape. Shape coexistence has been observed in the Sr and Zr nuclei, and is expected to take place in the whole region. The mechanisms involved in the appearance of the deformation is not well understood. The interplay between down-sloping and up-sloping neutron Nilsson orbital is evoked as one of the main reasons for the sudden shape change. However, a clear identification of the active proton and neutron orbitals was still on-going. For that purpose, the neutron rich ⁹³′⁹⁵′⁹⁷′⁹⁹Rb isotopes have been studied by Coulomb excitation at CERN (ISOLDE) using the REX-ISOLDE post-accelerator and the MINIBALL setup. The completely unknown structures of ⁹⁷′⁹⁹Rb have been populated and observed. Prompt γ-ray coincidences of low-lying states have been observed and time correlated to build level schemes. The associated transition strengths have been extracted with the GOSIA code. The observed matrix elements of the electromagnetic operator constituted new inputs of further theoretical calculations giving new insight on the involved orbitals. The sensitivity of such experiment can be increased using nuclear spin polarized RIB. For that purpose the Tilted Foils Technique (TFT) of polarization has been investigated at CERN. A new TFT polarizer with a β-NMR setup have be created and installed after REX-ISOLDE. The uncomplete knowledge of the polarization process associated to the technique needs to be investigated. Conclusive preliminary tests have been performed on ⁸Li in order to determine the potential of the present setup. / La structure sous-jacente dans la zone A~100, N~60 a été étudié intensivement et extensivement, principalement par décroissance β et spectroscopie γ suite à des réactions de fission. Autour de N~60, en ajoutant juste quelques neutrons, protons un changement de forme rapide des états fondamentaux se produit, allant de sphérique à bien déformé. La coexistence de forme observée dans les noyaux de Sr et Zr est supposée avoir lieu dans toute la région. Les mécanismes impliqués dans l'apparition de la déformation n'étaient pas clairement identifiés. L'interaction entre les orbitales de Nilsson montantes et descendante est évoqué comme l'une des principales raisons du changement de forme. Cependant, une identification claire des orbitales proton et neutron en jeu était nécessaire. A cet effet, l'étude des isotopes ⁹³′⁹⁵′⁹⁷′⁹⁹Rb riches en neutrons a été réalisé excitation Coulombienne au CERN (ISOLDE) en utilisant le post-accélérateur REX-ISOLDE et le dispositif Miniball. Les structures excitées encore inconnues des isotopes ⁹⁷′⁹⁹Rb ont été peuplées et observées. Les coïncidences de transitions γ des états de basse énergie ont été observées et leur corrélations ont permis la construction de schémas de niveaux. Les probabilités de transitions associées ont été extraites grâce code GOSIA. Les éléments de matrice de l'opérateur électromagnétique observées constituent de nouveaux apports afin d'effectuer de nouveaux calculs théoriques permettant de statuer sur les orbitales impliquées. La sensibilité des expériences de ce type peut être accrue en utilisant des faisceaux radioactifs d'ions dont le spin nucléaire est polarisé. La technique de polarisation des feuilles orientées (TFT) fut étudiée dans ce but au CERN. Un nouveau polariseur TFT et un dispositif β-NMR ont être créés et installés après REX-ISOLDE. La connaissance du processus de polarisation associé à la technique reste incomplète à ce jour et de plus amples études sont nécessaires. Des tests préliminaires prometteurs ont été effectués sur le noyau de ⁸Li afin de déterminer le potentiel du dispositif actuel.

Les analogues du bleu de Prusse sont intéressants pour le stockage de l’information car ils présentent des propriétés de photo-commutation. Afin d’intégrer et d’exploiter ces propriétés photomagnétiques dans d’éventuelles applications, il est nécessaire de faire une étape de mise en forme. Cette dernière consiste à contrôler la taille, la forme ainsi que l’arrangement tridimensionnel des nanoparticules. Une stratégie consiste à élaborer des oxydes de silice nanostructurée par le procédé sol-gel. Une méthode a consisté faire précipiter les analogues du bleu de Prusse photomagnétiques dans la nanoporosité. Ainsi, il a fallu obtenir un monolithe ayant une unique organisation et non un mélange de phases. Il a été possible d’optimiser la méthode pour obtenir un monolithe hexagonal ayant des ions cobalt. Cette méthode a pu être étendue à différentes organisations : lamellaire, cubique, hexagonale, vermiculaire. Un traitement thermique permettant d’éliminer le copolymère afin de former le nanoréacteur. Une étude a permis de montrer que l’organisation etait conservée après un traitement thermique. Les ions cobalt subissaient une thermo hydrolyse durant le traitement thermique.Il a été possible de mettre en place une méthode d’imprégnation permettant d’obtenir différents nanocomposites CoFe et de contrôler la stœchiométrie des particules d’ABP confinées.Cette méthode a permis d’élaborer des nanocomposites CoFe sans cations alcalin et des nanocomposites CoFe contenant deux cations rubidium par maille. Les propriétés magnétiques ont permis de montrer l’effet de la mise en forme. De plus cette étude a permis de montrer que les propriétés de commuation sont concervées mêmes sur des nanoparticules de 5 nm. / The Prussian blue analogues (CoFe PBA) have attracted growing interest owing to the tunability of their magnetic properties by external stimuli that make them good candidates for future optical memories or switching devices.This study need a processing step to elaborate a nanocomposite material with full control on the stoichiometry, the size, the shape and the organisation of PBA particles.Our strategie consit to precipitate photomagnetic Prussian blue analogue in the nanoporosite. Our main idea is to use mesoporous silica monoliths as template for the precipitation of the PBA in order to control the size and the shape of the nanoparticles. A silica monolith contaigning cobalt ions in the hexogonal structuraction have been obtained. The method have been extended to another structuration ( wormlike, cubic and lamallar). A termal traitement at 500°C in air have been optimised to remove the copolymer and to obtain the nanoreacteur. During the termal traitement the cobalt ion change the symmetry. A thermo-hydrolysis of the cobalt drives to the formation of monomer tetrahedron of cobalt.The precipitation of Prussian Blue Analogues is realized by impregnation with a solution of potassium hexacyanoferrate (III). The parameters of the impregnation have to be finely controlled in order to obtain nanocrystals of Co-Fe wihout alkalin cations and nanocrystrals of CoFe with two cation rubidium. A photomagnetic nanocrystrals have been obtained.

Nanotechnology offers a great potential do design fertilizers with unique properties capable to boost the plant productivity. However, the nanoparticles environmental fate and their toxic responses still need to be deeply investigated to their safe use. This study aims to investigate the effect of copper oxide (nCuO) and magnetite nanoparticles (nFe3O4) on the germination and seedling development of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Seeds were treated in nanoparticles dispersions in a wide range of concentrations (1, 10, 100 and 1 000 mg L-1) and incubated in a germination chamber during 5 days. Different sized nCuO (25, 40 and <80 nm) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated nFe3O4 were evaluated. Although both nCuO and nFe3O4 treatments did not affected the germination rate, seedling weight gain was promoted by 40 nm CuO at 100 mg Cu L-1 and inhibited by 1 000 mg Cu L-1 of 25 nm CuO and positive control (CuSO4). Among the tested nCuO, the higher chemical reactivity was found for the 25 nm CuO, and this may partially explain the observed deleterious effects. Seeds treated in nFe3O4-PEG at 1 000 mg Fe L-1 increased radicle elongation compared to the negative control (water), while Fe2+/Fe3+ (aq) (positive control) and bare nFe3O4 at 1 000 mg Fe L-1 treatments reduced the radicle of the seedlings. The growth promoted by the PEG-coated nanoparticles can be justified by the higher water uptake induced by the PEG, and also by its lower chemical reactivity compared to the bare nanoparticles. This was reinforced by enzymatic assays since nFe3O4-PEG treatment was also the least harmful to the alpha-amylase activity. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) showed that most of the Cu and Fe incorporated by the seeds remained in the seed coat, specially in the hilum region, and X-ray tomography indicated that Fe3O4-PEG penetrated in this structure. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) unraveled that the Cu and Fe chemical environment of the nCuO and nFe3O4-PEG treated seeds persisted mostly in its primitive form. These results contribute to the understanding of how nCuO, nFe3O4 and nFe3O4-PEG interact with common bean seeds and seedlings and highlights its potential use in seed priming / A nanotecnologia oferece um grande potencial para o desenvolvimento de fertilizantes com propriedades únicas, capazes de impulsionar a produtividade das plantas. Contudo, o destino ambiental e os efeitos tóxicos das nanopartículas ainda necessitam ser profundamente investigados para o seu uso seguro. Este estudo visa investigar o efeito das nanopartículas de óxido de cobre (nCuO) e magnetita (nFe3O4) na germinação e desenvolvimento das plântulas de Phaseolus vulgaris L. As sementes foram tratadas em dispersões de nanopartículas em diversas concentrações (1, 10, 100 and 1 000 mg L-1) e incubadas em uma câmara de germinação durante 5 dias. Diferentes tamanhos de nCuO (25, 40 e <80 nm) e nFe3O4 recoberta com polietileno glicol (PEG) e foram avaliados. Embora ambos tratamentos de nCuO e nFe3O4 não afetaram a taxa de germinação, o ganho de massa das plântulas foi promovido pela nCuO de 40 nm à 100 mg Cu L-1 e inibido pelos tratamentos de nCuO de 25 nm e controle positivo (CuSO4) à 1 000 mg Cu L-1. Dentre as nCuO testadas, a maior reatividade química foi encontrada para a nCuO de 25 nm, e isso pode explicar parcialmente os efeitos deletérios desta nanopartícula. Sementes tratadas com nFe3O4-PEG à 1 000 mg Fe L-1 aumentaram o alongamento das radículas em comparação ao controle negativo (água), enquanto que os tratamentos Fe2+/Fe3+ (aq) (controle positivo) e nFe3O4 sem recobrimento à 1 000 mg Fe L-1 reduziram as radículas das plântulas. O crescimento promovido pelas nanopartículas recobertas com PEG pode ser justificado pela maior absorção de água induzido pelo PEG, e também pela sua baixa reatividade química comparada às nanopartículas sem recobrimento. Isso foi reforçado por ensaios enzimáticos uma vez que o tratamento de nFe3O4-PEG foi também o menos prejudicial à atividade da alfa-amilase. A espectroscopia de fluorescência de raios-X (XRF) mostrou que a maior parte do Cu e do Fe incorporados pelas sementes permaneceu no tegumento, especialmente na região do hilo, e a tomografia de raios-X indicou que nFe3O4-PEG penetrou nesta estrutura. A espectroscopia de absorção de raios-X (XAS) revelou que o ambiente químico do Cu e do Fe das sementes tratadas com nCuO e nFe3O4-PEG persistiram majoritariamente em sua forma primitiva. Estes resultados contribuem para o entendimento de como nCuO, nFe3O4 e nFe3O4-PEG interagem com sementes de feijão e destaca seu potencial uso no tratamento de sementes

Ce travail vise à contribuer à l’amélioration de notre connaissance de l’électrodynamique quantique des états liés, par des mesures de haute précision dans des états exotiques de la matière. Bien que notre connaissance de l’électrodynamique quantique des états liés et du problème relativiste à plusieurs corps aient fait des progrès importants ces dernières années, il reste des questions fondamentales dont la résolution nécessite d’augmenter le nombre et la précision des tests expérimentaux. La première partie de ce travail a été réalisée dans le cadre de l’expérience récente sur les ions muoniques d’hélium (μ4He+ et μ3He+) conduite par la collaboration CREMA. Cette expérience vise à fournir de nouvelles valeurs précises pour les rayons de charge moyens des noyaux des isotopes stables de l’hélium. Ces valeurs sont extraites de la mesure du déplacement de Lamb, c’est-à-dire, de la mesure de la différence d’énergie entre les États 2S − 2P. Une mesure des énergies de transition d’une précision d’au moins 50 ppm, permet de déterminer les rayons de charge des noyaux des isotopes d’hélium avec une incertitude de 0,03%, dix fois plus précise que les résultats précédents obtenus à partir de la diffusion d’électrons. La deuxième partie de ce travail a été de réaliser des mesures de haute précision de transitions de rayons X dans des ions fortement chargés, à l’aide d’un spectromètre à double cristal plan. Ces ions étaient produits dans le plasma d’une source d’ions de type ECRIS (electron-cyclotron resonance ion source). Le spectromètre utilisé est non seulement capable de fournir des mesures de haute précision, mais aussi des mesures sans référence à des énergies de transition théorique ou expérimentales. Quatre énergies de transition de n = 2 → n = 1 ont été mesurées pour des ions d’argon de trois états de charge différents, héliumoïde, lithiumoïde et berylliumoïde, avec une précision meilleure que 3 ppm. La largeur naturelle de chaque raie a également été obtenue expérimentalement. Les résultats trouvés sont en excellent accord avec les calculs théoriques les plus récents. / This work aims to provide insight on Bound-State Quantum-Electrodynamics (BSQED) by experimental fundamentals high-precision tests in exotic states of matter. Although BSQED and the relativistic many-body problem have been undergoing important progress, there are still some issues that require the increase of the number and accuracy of experimental fundamental tests. The first part of this work was done within the framework of the recent experiment in muonic helium ions (μ4He+ and μ3He+) by the CREMA collaboration. This experiment, aims to provide new accurate values for the root-mean-square (rms) charge radii of the helium isotopes nuclei that are extracted from the measurement of the Lamb Shift, i.e., the measurement of the energy difference between the 2S − 2P states. With the goal of measuring the transition energies with an accuracy of at least 50 ppm, the rms charge radii of the helium isotopes will be determined with an uncertainty of 0.03%, a factor of ten more precise than previous results obtained from electron scattering. The second part of this work aims the high-precision measurement of x-ray transitions in Highly-Charged Ions (HCI) using a Double-Crystal Spectrometer (DCS). These ions were produced in the plasma of an Electron-Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source (ECRIS). This kind of spectrometer is able not only to provide high-precision measurements but also reference-free measurements, without reference to any theoretical or experimental energy. Four transitions energies from n = 2 → n = 1 have been measured in an argon plasma in three different charge states, He-, Be- and Li-like, with an accuracy of better than 3 ppm. Besides the energies, the natural width of each transition has also been experimentally obtained. The obtained results are in excellent agreement with the most recent theoretical calculations.

For the automotive sector, plastics play the most important role when designing interior and exterior parts for cars. Currently, most parts are made from petroleum-based plastics but alternatives are needed to replace environmentally harmful materials while providing the appropriate mechanical performance and preferably reduce the cost for the final product. The objective of this work was to explore the use of soy flakes as natural filler in a composite with polypropylene and to investigate the mechanical properties, water absorption and thermal behaviour. For a better understanding of the filler, the soy flakes were characterized extensively with analytical and microscopic methods. Two types of soy fillers were investigated, soy flakes, provided by Bunge Inc., with a 48 wt-% protein content and an industrial soy based filler with 44 wt-% protein content and provided by Ford. The size of the soy flakes after milling was mainly between 50 and 200 µm and below 50 µm for the industrial filler. The aspect ratio for all filler was below 5. The soy flakes were used after milling and subjected to two pre-treatment methods: (1) one hour in a 50 °C pH 9 water solution in a 1 : 9 solid-liquid ratio; (2) one hour in a 50 °C pH 9 1M NaCl solution in a 1 : 9 solid-liquid ratio. A control filler, without pre-treatment was considered. The soy flakes were also compared to an industrial soy based filler provided by Ford (soy flour (Ford)). The thermogravimetric analysis showed an onset of degradation at 170 °C for the treated filler (ISH2O and ISNaCl) and 160 °C for the untreated filler. The biocomposites formulation consisted of 30 wt-% filler, and polypropylene with/without 0.35 wt-% anti-oxidant Irganox 1010 and with/without the addition of MA-PP as coupling agent. All biocomposites were compounded in a mini-extruder, pressed into bars by injection moulding and tested subsequently. The mechanical properties of the biocomposites are promising. An increase of the E-modulus was observed when compared to pure polypropylene. The addition of MA-PP as coupling agent increased the yield strength of the biocomposites. When pure polypropylene and the biocomposites were compared no difference could be seen for their yield strength. The thermal behaviour deduced from differential scanning calorimetry, revealed a similar behaviour for the biocomposites and the pure polypropylene. Only the samples treated in the presence of NaCl and without a coupling agent, appear to have a slightly higher degree of crystallinity. The melt flow index was slightly increased for the biocomposites containing soy flakes pre-treated with NaCl and decreased for biocomposites containing the soy flour. The water absorption behaviour of the biocomposites was quite similar at the beginning with a slightly lower absorption for the materials with coupling agent. After three months, all samples except the ones treated with water showed a weight loss that can be due to the leaching of the water soluble components in the untreated filler and the NaCl treated filler. In conclusion, soy flakes represent an attractive filler when used in a polypropylene matrix if an aqueous alkaline pre-treatment is performed. The aqueous alkaline extraction also leads to the recovery of the proteins that can be used in food products while the remaining insoluble material is used for the biocomposites, avoiding the competition with the use of soy for food products...

For the automotive sector, plastics play the most important role when designing interior and exterior parts for cars. Currently, most parts are made from petroleum-based plastics but alternatives are needed to replace environmentally harmful materials while providing the appropriate mechanical performance and preferably reduce the cost for the final product. The objective of this work was to explore the use of soy flakes as natural filler in a composite with polypropylene and to investigate the mechanical properties, water absorption and thermal behaviour. For a better understanding of the filler, the soy flakes were characterized extensively with analytical and microscopic methods. Two types of soy fillers were investigated, soy flakes, provided by Bunge Inc., with a 48 wt-% protein content and an industrial soy based filler with 44 wt-% protein content and provided by Ford. The size of the soy flakes after milling was mainly between 50 and 200 µm and below 50 µm for the industrial filler. The aspect ratio for all filler was below 5. The soy flakes were used after milling and subjected to two pre-treatment methods: (1) one hour in a 50 °C pH 9 water solution in a 1 : 9 solid-liquid ratio; (2) one hour in a 50 °C pH 9 1M NaCl solution in a 1 : 9 solid-liquid ratio. A control filler, without pre-treatment was considered. The soy flakes were also compared to an industrial soy based filler provided by Ford (soy flour (Ford)). The thermogravimetric analysis showed an onset of degradation at 170 °C for the treated filler (ISH2O and ISNaCl) and 160 °C for the untreated filler. The biocomposites formulation consisted of 30 wt-% filler, and polypropylene with/without 0.35 wt-% anti-oxidant Irganox 1010 and with/without the addition of MA-PP as coupling agent. All biocomposites were compounded in a mini-extruder, pressed into bars by injection moulding and tested subsequently. The mechanical properties of the biocomposites are promising. An increase of the E-modulus was observed when compared to pure polypropylene. The addition of MA-PP as coupling agent increased the yield strength of the biocomposites. When pure polypropylene and the biocomposites were compared no difference could be seen for their yield strength. The thermal behaviour deduced from differential scanning calorimetry, revealed a similar behaviour for the biocomposites and the pure polypropylene. Only the samples treated in the presence of NaCl and without a coupling agent, appear to have a slightly higher degree of crystallinity. The melt flow index was slightly increased for the biocomposites containing soy flakes pre-treated with NaCl and decreased for biocomposites containing the soy flour. The water absorption behaviour of the biocomposites was quite similar at the beginning with a slightly lower absorption for the materials with coupling agent. After three months, all samples except the ones treated with water showed a weight loss that can be due to the leaching of the water soluble components in the untreated filler and the NaCl treated filler. In conclusion, soy flakes represent an attractive filler when used in a polypropylene matrix if an aqueous alkaline pre-treatment is performed. The aqueous alkaline extraction also leads to the recovery of the proteins that can be used in food products while the remaining insoluble material is used for the biocomposites, avoiding the competition with the use of soy for food products...

It is important to have a method of experimentally calculating fission product yields. Statistical calculations and simulations produce very large uncertainties. Experimental calculations, depending on the methods used, tend to produce lower uncertainties. This work set up a method to calculate fission product yields using gamma ray spectroscopy. In order to produce a method that was theoretically sound, a simulation was set up using OrigenArp to calculate theoretical concentrations of fission products from the irradiation of natural uranium. From these concentrations, the fission product yields were calculated to verify that they would agree with expected values. Moving forward in the work, the total flux at the point of irradiation, in the pneumatic transfer system, was calculated and determined to be 3.9070E+11 ± 6.9570E+10 n/cm^2/s at 100 kW. Once the flux was calculated, the method for calculating fission product yields was implemented and yields were calculated for 10 fission products. The yields calculated were in very good agreement (within 10.04%) with expected values taken from the ENDF-349 library. This method has strong potential in nuclear forensics as it can provide a means for developing a library of experimentally-determined fission product yields, as well as rapid post-nuclear detonation analysis. / text

Dans ce travail de thèse a été développé et étudié un nouveau type d'objet semiconducteur magnétique : des boîtes quantiques de CdMnTe insérées dans des nanofils de ZnTe/ZnMgTe constituant une structure de type cœur-coquille. L'objectif était d'étudier la croissance par épitaxie par jets moléculaires et les propriétés fondamentales de ces hétéro-structures complexes. Dans ce but deux aspects principaux ont été abordés : i) la qualité et le contrôle des propriétés structurales, électroniques et magnétiques de ces objets, grâce à une maîtrise de leur croissance et ii) l'obtention d'informations quantitatives locales sur la composition chimique de ces nanostructures inhomogènes. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, nous avons divisé notre étude en quatre étapes. La première étape de ce travail a été concentrée sur l'étude quantitative de la formation des particules d'or servant de catalyseurs à la croissance des nanofils. La seconde étape a porté sur l'analyse des mécanismes de croissance et des paramètres gouvernant la croissance des fils de ZnTe. En particulier deux types de fils ont été observés : des fils cylindriques de structure wurtzite et des fils coniques de structures zinc-blende. Un modèle de croissance guidée par la diffusion a été utilisé pour rendre compte de certains des résultats quantitatifs présentés dans cette partie. La troisième étape a concerné l'insertion de boîtes quantiques de CdMnTe dans des nanofils de structure cœur-coquille ZnTe/ZnMgTe. Une étude préalable des paramètres pertinents influençant les propriétés magnéto-optiques de ces objets, tels que le confinement de la boîte quantique, l'incorporation du Mn et l'anisotropie de contrainte créée par la structure, a été menée. La quatrième et dernière étape de ce travail a porté sur l'interprétation quantitative de mesures d'analyse dispersive en énergie effectuées sur des nanofils de structure cœur-multicoquille. Un modèle géométrique a été proposé, permettant de retrouver la forme, les dimensions et la composition chimique des boîtes quantiques et des coquilles. Cette étude a été couplée à des mesures de caractérisation telles que la cathodo-luminescence, la micro-photo-luminescence et la spectroscopie magnéto-optique effectuées sur le même nanofil. / In this PhD work a novel type of magnetic semiconductor object has been developed: Cd(Mn)Te quantum dots embedded in ZnTe/ZnMgTe core-shell nanowires. The goal was to investigate the growth, by molecular beam epitaxy, and the fundamental properties of these complex heterostructures. For that purpose, two main issues were addressed: i) gaining control of the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of these quantum objects by mastering their growth; and ii) obtaining quantitative local knowledge on the chemical composition of those non-homogeneous nanostructures. To tackle these topics, our research was divided into four stages. The first stage was devoted to perform a quantitative study of the formation process of the Au particles that catalyze the growth of nanowires. The second stage involved the analysis of the mechanisms and parameters governing the growth of ZnTe nanowires. In particular, two different types of nanowires were found: cone-shaped nanowires with the zinc-blende crystal structure and cylinder-shaped nanowires with the hexagonal wurtzite structure. A diffusion-driven growth model is employed to fit some of the quantitative results presented in this part. The third stage focused on the insertion of pure CdTe quantum dots containing Mn ions in the core-shell nanowires. An initial study of the relevant parameters influencing the magneto-optical properties of these objects, such as the quantum dot confinement, the Mn incorporation, and the strain anisotropy, was performed. The four and last stage of this work concerned the quantitative interpretation of Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements performed on single core-multishell nanowires. A geometrical model was proposed to retrieve the shape, the size and the local composition of the quantum dot insertions and of the multiple layers of the heterostructures. This study was coupled to other complementary characterization measurements on the same nanowire, such as cathodo-luminescence, micro-photo-luminescence and magneto-optical spectroscopy.