Experimental evidence is presented that supports the theory that beats between transverse modes are responsible for the fast modulation carried on occasions by laser relaxation oscillations. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

Clad alloys feature one or more different alloys bonded to the outside of a core alloy, with non-equilibrium, interalloy interfaces. There is limited understanding of the recovery and recrystallization behaviour of cold rolled clad aluminum alloys. In order to optimize the properties of such alloys, new heat treatment processes may be required that differ from what is used for the monolithic alloys. This study examines the recovery behaviour of a cold rolled Novelis FusionTM alloy containing an AA6XXX core with an AA3003 cladding on one side. The bond between alloys appears microscopically discrete and continuous, but has a 30 m wide chemical gradient. The as-deformed structure at the interalloy region consists of pancaked sub-grains with dislocations at the misorientation boundaries and a lower density organized within the more open interiors. X-ray line broadening was used to extract the dislocation density from the interalloy region and an equivalently deformed AA6XXX following static annealing using a modified Williamson-Hall analysis. This analysis assumed that Gaussian broadening contributions in a pseudo-Voigt function corresponded only to strain from dislocations. The kinetics of the dislocation density evolution to recrystallization were studied isothermally at 2 minute intervals, and isochronally at 175 and 205°C. The data fit the Nes model, in which the interalloy region recovered faster than AA6XXX at 175°C, but was slower at 205°C. This was most likely caused by change in texture and chemistry within this region such as over-aging of AA6XXX . Simulation of a continuous annealing and self homogenization process both with and without pre-recovery indicates a detectable, though small change in the texture and grain size in the interalloy region. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-10-02 10:19:10.279

O fungo entomopatogênico Beauveria felina produz as destruxinas, hexadepsipeptídeos cíclicos que apresentam diversas atividades biológicas, como por exemplo: atividade inseticida, fitotóxica, citotóxica contra células tumorais, atividade antiviral contra o vírus da hepatite B, dentre outras. Devido à atividade inseticida das destruxinas, os fungos que as produzem têm grande importância econômica. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a otimização das condições de crescimento e produção das destruxinas pelo fungo Beauveria felina utilizando diferentes meios de cultivo, a fim de se isolar destruxinas em maiores quantidades para a avaliação de seu potencial tóxico. Foram utilizados métodos de planejamento experimental e análise multivariada para a otimização das condições de crescimento, resultando em três condições ótimas de cultivo para cada um dos meios de cultura MF, PDB e SBD. Em todas as condições ótimas de cultivo foram observadas destruxinas conhecidas, desconhecidas e destruxinas que não foram isoladas anteriormente de Beauveria felina. O cultivo de Beauveria felina no meio PDB foi o que mais apresentou destruxinas desconhecidas (5). Em seguida foi realizada uma otimização das condições de análise cromatográfica de destruxinas por CLAD-DAD-DELE-EM e a validação deste método. Uma das frações obtidas do meio de cultura de Beauveria felina apresentou atividade vermífuga contra Haemonchus contortus. Duas de suas frações purificadas, P1 (destruxina Ed1 - m/z 625 e pseudodestruxina B ou pseudodestruxina C - isobáricas, m/z 669) e P7 (destruxina D ou hidroxihomodestruxina B ou roseotoxina C - isobáricas, m/z 623), foram ativas contra o carrapato bovino Rhipicephalus microplus. / The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria felina produces destruxins, cyclic hexadepsipeptides which have several biological activities, such as insecticidal, phytotoxic, cytotoxic against tumor cells, antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus, among others. Because of the insecticidal activity of destruxins, fungi that produce them have a considerable economic importance. Therefore the aim of this study was to optimize the conditions for the growth of Beauveria felina and its production of destruxins by using different culture media, in order to isolate larger quantities for the evaluation of their toxic potential. Experimental design and multivariate analysis were used for the optimization of growth conditions, resulting in three conditions for optimum growth for each of the culture media MF, PDB and SBD. Both known and unknown destruxins were observed in each of the optimal conditions, along with destruxins that were not previously isolated from Beauveria felina. The cultivation of Beauveria felina in PDB was the one that showed the largest amount of unknown destruxins (5). We then carried out an optimization of the chromatographic analysis of destruxins by HPLC-PDA-ELSD-MS and the validation of this method. One of the fractions obtained from the culture medium of Beauveria felina showed anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus, while two of its purified fractions, P1 (destruxin Ed1 - m/z 625 and pseudodestruxin B or pseudodestruxin C - isobaric m/z 669) and P7 (destruxin D or hydroxyhomodestruxin B or roseotoxin C - isobaric m/z 623), were active against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus.

The process of laser cladding consists of depositing successive layers of molten metallic powder to create a near-net shape. A high-power laser is used to melt incoming metallic powder, which forms a melt pool on the surface. As the latter moves beneath the laser, this newly created melt pool solidifies. By properly controlling the trajectory of deposition tracks, one can create a diverse range of shapes with varying complexities. However, the process is very sensitive to parameters, requiring constant attention from technicians. This lends itself perfectly to the addition of automatic controllers whereby supervision is minimal. <br /><br /> In this thesis, an optical sensor is developed to monitor the process zone. The sensor will output a measurement of the height of solidified clad, which in turn can be used by a controller to adjust this geometrical feature. The thesis is divided into three main parts, each contributing to the final algorithm. <br /><br /> First, in Chapter 3 an analysis is performed on the light irradiating from the interaction zone (or melt pool). It is stated that the dominating source of light is governed by blackbody radiation from this molten metal. This is confirmed by analyzing a series of images captured through a digital camera, where various narrow bandpass filters were utilized to selectively view a portion of the CCD-sensor's spectrum. This investigation also leads to the selection of bandpass filter such that a stable, relatively intense melt pool is captured through the digital camera's CCD-sensor. <br /><br /> Second, in Chapter 4 the captured images are taken through a pair of image processing techniques, outputting a series of coordinates representating the melt pool's boundary. The image is first analyzed to calculate an optimal threshold level based on the minimization of fuzzy entropy. With this threshold selected, the grayscale image is converted into black-and-white, where the white pixels represent the melt pool. After this step, the melt pool's boundary is extracted through an 8-connectivity border tracing algorithm. This technique outputs a series of coordinates (in pixels) as though one were traveling along the melt pool in a clockwise rotation. <br /><br /> Last, Chapter 5 analyzes these pixel coordinates to extract the melt pool's height. The coordinates are first transformed into real-world coordinates, by use of a perspective transformation. This transformation essentially yields the melt pool's shadow, as created by a light-source coincident with the camera. As a result, the melt pool's height is estimated based upon a right-angle triangle, where the camera's angle is known, and the projected coordinates represent the shadow length (triangle's base). <br /><br /> The result of applying this series of steps to the estimation of clad heights is found at the end of Chapter 5. Results varied dramatically, from 4% error to 393%. Although the errors are large at times, they are mainly caused by a bias in the estimate. That is, the dynamics of the true clad formation are very well predicted by the algorithm, however, shifting by a certain amount. This amount varies both with substrate velocity, and the clad's direction of travel, relative to the camera. A partial explanation is given such that the clad's height is offset from the laser center-point, which is a function of both these parameters. However, the specific relationship requires further experimentation.

The process of laser cladding consists of depositing successive layers of molten metallic powder to create a near-net shape. A high-power laser is used to melt incoming metallic powder, which forms a melt pool on the surface. As the latter moves beneath the laser, this newly created melt pool solidifies. By properly controlling the trajectory of deposition tracks, one can create a diverse range of shapes with varying complexities. However, the process is very sensitive to parameters, requiring constant attention from technicians. This lends itself perfectly to the addition of automatic controllers whereby supervision is minimal. <br /><br /> In this thesis, an optical sensor is developed to monitor the process zone. The sensor will output a measurement of the height of solidified clad, which in turn can be used by a controller to adjust this geometrical feature. The thesis is divided into three main parts, each contributing to the final algorithm. <br /><br /> First, in Chapter 3 an analysis is performed on the light irradiating from the interaction zone (or melt pool). It is stated that the dominating source of light is governed by blackbody radiation from this molten metal. This is confirmed by analyzing a series of images captured through a digital camera, where various narrow bandpass filters were utilized to selectively view a portion of the CCD-sensor's spectrum. This investigation also leads to the selection of bandpass filter such that a stable, relatively intense melt pool is captured through the digital camera's CCD-sensor. <br /><br /> Second, in Chapter 4 the captured images are taken through a pair of image processing techniques, outputting a series of coordinates representating the melt pool's boundary. The image is first analyzed to calculate an optimal threshold level based on the minimization of fuzzy entropy. With this threshold selected, the grayscale image is converted into black-and-white, where the white pixels represent the melt pool. After this step, the melt pool's boundary is extracted through an 8-connectivity border tracing algorithm. This technique outputs a series of coordinates (in pixels) as though one were traveling along the melt pool in a clockwise rotation. <br /><br /> Last, Chapter 5 analyzes these pixel coordinates to extract the melt pool's height. The coordinates are first transformed into real-world coordinates, by use of a perspective transformation. This transformation essentially yields the melt pool's shadow, as created by a light-source coincident with the camera. As a result, the melt pool's height is estimated based upon a right-angle triangle, where the camera's angle is known, and the projected coordinates represent the shadow length (triangle's base). <br /><br /> The result of applying this series of steps to the estimation of clad heights is found at the end of Chapter 5. Results varied dramatically, from 4% error to 393%. Although the errors are large at times, they are mainly caused by a bias in the estimate. That is, the dynamics of the true clad formation are very well predicted by the algorithm, however, shifting by a certain amount. This amount varies both with substrate velocity, and the clad's direction of travel, relative to the camera. A partial explanation is given such that the clad's height is offset from the laser center-point, which is a function of both these parameters. However, the specific relationship requires further experimentation.

This study aimed to develop a biofilter packed only with fern chips for the removal of air-borne low concentration VOCs (volatile organic compounds) emitted from various industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and electronic ones. The fern chip biofilters could avoid the shortcomings of traditional media, such as compaction, drying, and breakdown, which lead to the performance failure of the biofilters. The study contains two topics. The first is a performance test on the elimination of mixed VOCs used in semiconductor manufacturing industries in an air stream. The second is the one on the elimination of a single VOC (methyl ethyl ketone) in a waste gas drawn from a CCL (copper clad laminate) plant. Two pilot-scale biofilters consisted of two columns (0.40 mW¡Ñ0.40 mL¡Ñ0.70 mH acrylic column) arranged in series were used for the performance tests. Each of the two columns was packed with fern chips to a packing volume of around 56 L (0.40 mW¡Ñ0.40 mL¡Ñ0.35 mH). A sprinkler was set over the packed fern chips for providing them with water and nutrition solutions. Liquid leached from both layers of chips were collected in the bottom container of the column. In the first topic, tests were performed for biofiltration removal of VOCs in simulated semiconductor manufacturing emitted gases which consisted of IPA (isopropyl alcohol), acetone, HMDS (hexamethylene disilazane), PGME (propylene glycol monomethyl ether), and PGMEA (propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate). From the results, it could be proposed that for achieving over 94% of the VOC removal, appropriate operation conditions are media moisture content = 52-68%, media pH = 7-8, influent VOC concentration = 150-450 mg/Am3, empty bed residence time (EBRT) = 0.75 min, and volumetric organic loading L to the whole media = 11.4-34.1 g/m3.h. In the second topic, performances of biofiltration for the removal of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) in a gas stream from a copper clad laminate (CCL) manufacturing process were tested. Experimental results indicate that with L of <115 g /m3.h., EBRT = 0.5-1.28 min , media pH = 5.3-6.8, influent MEK concentration = 215-1,670 mg/Am3, MEK removal efficiencies of over 91% were obtained. Instant milk powder was essential to the good and stable performance of the biofilter for MEK removal.

Rapid development of fiber-optic communications network requirements increasing in recent years, The WDM technology and invention of anhydrous optical fiber open the possibility for optical fiber transmission bands broaden form 1.3 £gm to 1.6 £gm. Chromium doped yttrium aluminum garnet crystal fiber has characteristic of 300 nm broadband. Therefore, it¡¦s strongly desirable to develop a broadband fiber amplifier, laser or other active components for extending the flexibility of system architecture design in optical fiber communication. A few-mode chromium doped yttrium aluminum garnet double-clad crystalline fibers has been demonstrated by employing a modified version of LHPG technique, means using silica-YAG crystal co-drawing and multiple core-tuning process by precisely controlled inter-diffusion between YAG core and silica tube. In this thesis, electron probe x-ray micro-analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to confirm this fiber structure and composition. This fiber has gross gain about 2.3 dB with dual pumped by few hundred mini Watt. Significantly reduce the pump power threshold. Compared with the last large core size, few-mode (small core size) chromium doped yttrium aluminum garnet double-clad crystalline fibers has lower heat effect and higher power efficiency. To enhance the optical properties towards few modes or even single mode, not only reduce the transmission loss, but improve the device efficiency. Key words: Laser heated pedestal growth, Cr4+:YAG, Double-clad Crystal Fiber, gain

During last decade, the fast-growing communication need has promoted the development of 1.3 £gm~1.6 £gm laser light source. The Cr4+ doped YAG solid-state laser has potential to meet this broadband demand. In addition, diode-laser-pumped solid state laser has the merits of high laser beam quality, long lifetime, compact, and simple structure. In this thesis, crystal fiber was used as the laser gain medium, and coated with optical thin film at its end facets as the laser cavity. Using this configuration, the volume and cost of the laser can be appreciatively reduced, and the heat dissipation can be improved. The laser-heated-pedestal-growth method was used to grow crystal fiber, which can obtain small diameter at very fast rate. Outside the glass clad Cr4+:YAG crystal fiber, Al-Cu alloy was employed as the heat sink to improve heat dissipation. After grinding, polishing, and coating of this device, the Cr4+:YAG crystal fiber laser was fabricated. Some characteristics of Cr4+:YAG crystal fiber, such as the distribution of Cr2O3 and CaO doping concentration, fluorescence intensity, refraction index, propagation loss, and absorption coefficient were measured and analyzed. A record-low threshold of 0.75 mW was achieved. It is more than 500 times lower than any previously reported Cr4+:YAG lasers, and a slope efficiency of 6.9% was obtained. The ultralow-threshold lasing is made possible by the low propagation loss of 0.08 dB/cm and the high pump intensity of the core. Such a low-threshold operation makes the double-clad crystal fiber laser be compatible to present optical communication systems. In the meanwhile, some simulations of the laser output power have been developed to predict the experimental results.

O fungo entomopatogênico Beauveria felina produz as destruxinas, hexadepsipeptídeos cíclicos que apresentam diversas atividades biológicas, como por exemplo: atividade inseticida, fitotóxica, citotóxica contra células tumorais, atividade antiviral contra o vírus da hepatite B, dentre outras. Devido à atividade inseticida das destruxinas, os fungos que as produzem têm grande importância econômica. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a otimização das condições de crescimento e produção das destruxinas pelo fungo Beauveria felina utilizando diferentes meios de cultivo, a fim de se isolar destruxinas em maiores quantidades para a avaliação de seu potencial tóxico. Foram utilizados métodos de planejamento experimental e análise multivariada para a otimização das condições de crescimento, resultando em três condições ótimas de cultivo para cada um dos meios de cultura MF, PDB e SBD. Em todas as condições ótimas de cultivo foram observadas destruxinas conhecidas, desconhecidas e destruxinas que não foram isoladas anteriormente de Beauveria felina. O cultivo de Beauveria felina no meio PDB foi o que mais apresentou destruxinas desconhecidas (5). Em seguida foi realizada uma otimização das condições de análise cromatográfica de destruxinas por CLAD-DAD-DELE-EM e a validação deste método. Uma das frações obtidas do meio de cultura de Beauveria felina apresentou atividade vermífuga contra Haemonchus contortus. Duas de suas frações purificadas, P1 (destruxina Ed1 - m/z 625 e pseudodestruxina B ou pseudodestruxina C - isobáricas, m/z 669) e P7 (destruxina D ou hidroxihomodestruxina B ou roseotoxina C - isobáricas, m/z 623), foram ativas contra o carrapato bovino Rhipicephalus microplus. / The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria felina produces destruxins, cyclic hexadepsipeptides which have several biological activities, such as insecticidal, phytotoxic, cytotoxic against tumor cells, antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus, among others. Because of the insecticidal activity of destruxins, fungi that produce them have a considerable economic importance. Therefore the aim of this study was to optimize the conditions for the growth of Beauveria felina and its production of destruxins by using different culture media, in order to isolate larger quantities for the evaluation of their toxic potential. Experimental design and multivariate analysis were used for the optimization of growth conditions, resulting in three conditions for optimum growth for each of the culture media MF, PDB and SBD. Both known and unknown destruxins were observed in each of the optimal conditions, along with destruxins that were not previously isolated from Beauveria felina. The cultivation of Beauveria felina in PDB was the one that showed the largest amount of unknown destruxins (5). We then carried out an optimization of the chromatographic analysis of destruxins by HPLC-PDA-ELSD-MS and the validation of this method. One of the fractions obtained from the culture medium of Beauveria felina showed anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus, while two of its purified fractions, P1 (destruxin Ed1 - m/z 625 and pseudodestruxin B or pseudodestruxin C - isobaric m/z 669) and P7 (destruxin D or hydroxyhomodestruxin B or roseotoxin C - isobaric m/z 623), were active against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus.

Master’s thesis “Revovation of tools steels for cold forming“ characterizes wear resistant welds for tool steels. The thesis is dividend into two main chapters. The first chapter of the thesis is focused on the theory of wear for cold work steels. The theory is combined with an experimental chapter. The experimental part describes particular materials and technology for welding. The conclusion of the thesis is evaluated results of test for mentioned technology and welding conditions.