In this thesis, geometry is used as a basis for conducting experiments aimed at growing and arranging inorganic minerals on curved interfaces. Mineralisation is directed using crystalline and liquid-crystalline metallic soaps and surfactant/water systems as templates.¶ A review of the history, syntheses, structure and liquid crystallinity of metallic soaps and other amphiphiles is presented as a foundation to understanding the interfacial architectures in mesostructured template systems in general.¶ In this study, a range of metallic soaps of varying chain length and cation type are synthesised and characterised to find potentially useful templates for mineral growth. These include alkaline-earth, transition metal, heavy metal and lanthanide soaps. These are systematically characterised using a variety of analytical techniques, including chemical analyses, x-ray diffraction (XRD) infrared spectroscopy (IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Their molecular and crystal structures are studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cryo-TEM, electron diffraction (ED), electron paramagnetic spin resonance (EPR), absorption spectroscopy (UV-VIS), high resolution laser spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and magnetic measurements. Models for the molecular and crystal structures of metallic soaps are proposed. The soaps are predominantly lamellar crystalline or liquid crystalline lamellar rotor phases with tilted and/or untilted molecular constituents. These display evidence of varying degrees of headgroup organisation, including superstructuring and polymerisation. A single crystal structure is presented for a complex of pyridine with cobalt soap. Simple models for their structure are discussed in terms of their swelling properties in water and oils. Experiments are also presented to demonstrate the sorbent properties of aluminium soaps on oil spills.¶ The thermotropic liquid crystallinity of alkaline earth, transition metal, heavy metal and lanthanide soaps is investigated in detail. This is done to assess their suitability as templates, and to document their novel thermotropic behaviour, particularly the relatively unknown lanthanide soaps. Liquid crystalline behaviours are studied using high-temperature XRD (HTXRD), hot-stage optical microscopy and DSC. Models for a liquid crystalline phase progression from crystals to anisotropic liquids are discussed in terms of theories of self-assembly and interfacial curvature. The terminology required for this is drawn from various nomenclature systems for amphiphilic crystals and liquid crystals. General agreement with previous studies is reported for known soaps, while liquid crystallinity is demonstrated in the lanthanide and some non-lanthanide soaps for the first time. A general phase progression of crystalline lamellar through liquid crystalline lamellar to non-lamellar liquid crystalline is discussed in terms of models concerned with the molecular and crystal structures of the soaps and their phase transitions via headgroup and chain re-arrangements.¶ Experiments aimed at guiding growth of metal sulfides using metallic soaps as templates are described, and a model for this growth is discussed. Metal sulfides have been successfully grown by reacting crystalline and liquid crystalline transition metal and heavy metal soaps with H2S gas at room temperature and at elevated temperature. These have been characterised using XRD, TEM, ED and IR. Sulfide growth is demonstrated to be restricted and guided by the reacting soap template architecture. Zinc, cadmium, indium and lead soaps formed confined nanoparticles within the matrix of their reacting soap template. In contrast, curved and flat sheet-like structures, some resembling sponges were found in the products of sulfided iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, tin and bismuth soaps. A model to explain this behaviour is developed in terms of the crystal and liquid crystal structures of the soaps and the crystal structures of the metal sulfide particles.¶ Liquid crystalline iron soaps have been subjected to controlled thermal degradation yielding magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Some XRD and TEM evidence has been found for formation of magnetic mesostructures in heat-treated iron soaps. Models for the molecular and liquid crystalline structure of iron soaps, their thermotropic phase progression and eventual conversion to these magnetic products are discussed. Systematic syntheses of mesoporous silicates from sheeted clays are discussed.¶The templates that have been used are cationic surfactants and small, organic molecular salts. Experiments are reported where a cooperative self-assembly of surfactant/water/kanemite plus or minus salt and oils yields 'folded sheet materials' (FSM'S). Templating of kanemite has also been achieved using cobalt cage surfactants. A theoretical prediction of the specific surface areas and specific volumes of homologous sets of FSM's gave excellent agreement with measured values. The geometry and topology of the mesostructures are discussed. A theoretical model is also discussed regarding the curvature found in the sheets of natural clays , and results of templating clays and silica using metallic soaps are presented. Experiments and a model for low temperature nucleation and growth of microporous silicalite-1 are described in terms of silica templating by water clathrates.¶ Finally, the problem of finding minimal surface descriptions of crystal networks is addressed. Combinatoric methods are used to disprove the existence of possible embeddings of type I and II clathrate networks in non-self intersecting periodic minimal surfaces. The crystal network of the clathrate silicate, melanophlogite is successfully embedded in the WI-10 self-intersecting surface. Details of a previously unreported, genus-25 periodic surface with symmetry Im3m are discussed.

Mes travaux ont été consacrés à l'étude expérimentale d'un composé moléculaire de basse dimensionnalité, le (TMTSF)2ClO4. C'est un supraconducteur aux températures inférieures à 1,2 K, mais un champ magnétique induit à basse température une cascade de phases Ondes de Densité de Spin (ODSIC) quantifiées, au-dessus d'environ 3 teslas. J'ai développé plusieurs appareillages et techniques expérimentales, notamment la mesure simultanée de la chaleur spécifique et de la conductibilité thermique (en champ magnétique fixe), ou de l'effet magnétocalorique (en champ magnétique variable). Mes investigations calorimétriques ont débouché sur toute une série de découvertes surprenantes qui ont suscité nombre de travaux théoriques. -1- Dans l'état supraconducteur, à champ nul, un dépairage est induit par le désordre d'anion, très similaire à l'effet analogue induit par les impuretés magnétiques dans un supraconducteur conventionnel. -2- A bas champ (B<8T), la transition métal-ODSIC présente un caractère couplage faible. -3- Certaines transitions sont partiellement réentrantes. -4- Le saut de la chaleur spécifique à la transition ?c?est-à-dire la force du couplage !-? oscille en fonction du champ magnétique, et sa valeur présente des discontinuités aux limites entre phases ODS quantifiées. -5- A fort champ, le système entre dans un régime de couplage fort (voire très fort). -6- Le comportement semble évoluer de 3D vers 2D à la traversée de la frontière. -7- La conductivité thermique semble dominée par les vibrations de réseau, mais le comportement critique est associé à la transition électronique. -8- Près de la fin de la cascade de transitions, celles-ci deviennent exothermiques quel que soit le sens de traversée de la dernière ligne de transition, le signe d?un comportement hautement irréversible. -9- Pour un échantillon refroidi assez lentement à travers la transition de mise en ordre des anions, ces lignes de transition se séparent au cours d'un processus itératif, conduisant à l'observation d'un diagramme de phases arborescent. -10- Nous avons révélé l?existence d?un point tétracritique, qui correspond à la rencontre de quatre lignes de transition en un seul point. -11- Lorsque le désordre d'anions augmente, le comportement tétracritique évolue vers un comportement bicritique, l'arborescence des lignes de transition disparaît, et nous observons un effet de dépairage similaire à celui présenté par la phase supraconductrice du même composé, mais d'amplitude beaucoup plus forte.

En Europe, suite à la fermeture de nombreux sites sidérurgiques, une utilisation croissante de laitiers de haut-fourneau d’origine et d’âge variés voit le jour depuis plusieurs années. Cette évolution conduit à une diversification de la composition chimique et minéralogique des laitiers. Connaître l’influence de ces caractéristiques sur la réactivité des laitiers utilisés en substitution du clinker dans les ciments de haut-fourneau (CEM III) devient, dès lors, primordial pour assurer les performances de tels ciments. Dans ce contexte, le présent travail a pour but d’investiguer l’influence de la composition chimique et de l’âge des laitiers sur leur réactivité tant par des essais physico-mécaniques que par une caractérisation physico-chimique et minéralogique de CEM III/B à différentes échéances d’hydratation. L’effet néfaste du vieillissement des laitiers est clairement mis en exergue et son impact diffère selon la composition chimique de départ du laitier. Les ions aluminium engendrent une accélération de l’hydratation et une amélioration des résistances physico-mécaniques à jeune âge mais, à long terme, ils conduisent à une perte de ces dernières. Concernant l’influence des ions titane dans les laitiers, la tendance générale observée est une diminution des performances physico-mécaniques. Sur base de ces résultats, une évaluation de la représentativité de moyens accélérés d’estimation de la réactivité des laitiers est effectuée. Il est mis en évidence que seules les mesures de résistances physico-mécaniques classiques permettent d’évaluer correctement la réactivité des différents laitiers. Une évaluation de la détermination de la teneur en constituants de CEM III/B par la méthode Rietveld est menée par comparaison avec la méthode de dissolution sélective de la norme EN 196-4 et le dosage des constituants par pesée. Moyennant une utilisation adaptée de cette méthode, les résultats obtenus à l’aide de celle-ci sont très encourageants. In Europe, following the closure of many steel plants, an increased use of blast furnace slag (BFS) of various age and origin was born for several years. This evolution leads to a diversification of the chemical and mineralogical composition of the BFS. Knowing the influence of these characteristics on the reactivity of slag used in substitution of clinker in blast-furnace cement (CEM III) becomes, therefore, crucial to ensure the performance of such cements. In this context, this work aims to investigate the influence of chemical composition and age of BFS on their reactivity by both physico-mechanical and physico-chemical and mineralogical characterization of CEM III/B at different times of hydration. The adverse effect of ageing of BFS is clearly highlighted and its impact varies depending on the chemical composition of the BFS. Aluminum ions generate an acceleration of the hydration and improve mechanical strength at early age, but at long term, they lead to a loss of the strength. Regarding the influence of titanium ions in the BFS, the general trend is a decrease of the physical and mechanical performance. Based on these results, an assessment of the representativeness of accelerated means of estimating, the BFS reactivity is done. It is emphasized that only measures of physical and conventional mechanical strength can accurately assess the reactivity of different BFS. An evaluation of the determination of the amount of CEM III/B components by the Rietveld method is based upon comparison with the selective dissolution method from the EN 196-4 norm and components determination by weight. Through appropriate use of this method, the results obtained are very encouraging.

In this work, the solubility of butyl paraben in 7 pure solvents and in 5 different ethanol-water mixtures has been determined from 1 ˚C to 50 ˚C. The solubility of ethyl paraben and propyl paraben in various solvents has been determined at 10 ˚C. The molar solubility of butyl paraben in pure solvents and its thermodynamic properties, measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, have been used to estimate the activity of the pure solid phase, and solution activity coefficients. More than 5000 nucleation experiments of ethyl paraben, propyl paraben and butyl paraben in ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, ethanol, propanol and 70%, 90% ethanol aqueous solution have been performed. The induction time of each paraben has been determined at three different supersaturation levels in various solvents. The wide variation in induction time reveals the stochastic nature of nucleation. The solid-liquid interfacial energy, free energy of nucleation, nuclei critical radius and pre-exponential factor of parabens in these solvents have been determined according to the classical nucleation theory, and different methods of evaluation are compared. The interfacial energy of parabens in these solvents tends to increase with decreasing mole fraction solubility but the correlation is not very strong. The influence of solvent on nucleation of each paraben and nucleation behavior of parabens in each solvent is discussed. There is a trend in the data that the higher the boiling point of the solvent and the higher the melting point of the solute, the more difficult is the nucleation. This observation is paralleled by the fact that a metastable polymorph has a lower interfacial energy than the stable form, and that a solid compound with a higher melting point appears to have a higher solid-melt and solid-aqueous solution interfacial energy. It has been found that when a paraben is added to aqueous solutions with a certain proportion of ethanol, the solution separates into two immiscible liquid phases in equilibrium. The top layer is water-rich and the bottom layer is paraben-rich. The area in the ternary phase diagram of the liquid-liquid-phase separation region increases with increasing temperature. The area of the liquid-liquid-phase separation region decreases from butyl paraben, propyl paraben to ethyl paraben at the constant temperature. Cooling crystallization of solutions of different proportions of butyl paraben, water and ethanol have been carried out and recorded using the Focused Beam Reflectance Method, Particle Vision and Measurement, and in-situ Infrared Spectroscopy. The FBRM and IR curves and the PVM photos track the appearance of liquid-liquid phase separation and crystallization. The results suggest that the liquid-liquid phase separation has a negative influence on the crystal size distribution. The work illustrates how Process Analytical Technology (PAT) can be used to increase the understanding of complex crystallizations. By cooling crystallization of butyl paraben under conditions of liquid-liquid-phase separation, crystals consisting of a porous layer in between two solid layers have been produced. The outer layers are transparent and compact while the middle layer is full of pores. The thickness of the porous layer can reach more than half of the whole crystal. These sandwich crystals contain only one polymorph as determined by Confocal Raman Microscopy and single crystal X-Ray Diffraction. However, the middle layer material melts at lower temperature than outer layer material. / <p>QC 20130515</p> / investigate nucleation and crystallization of drug-like organic molecules

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Wechselwirkungen im System Bakterium –Tensid – Schadstoff mittels kalorimetrischer Untersuchungen (ITC, DSC) sowie mit XPS-Analysen und durch Zeta-Potential-Messungen an Bakterienoberflächen charakterisiert. Für die Untersuchungen wurden zwei Gram-positive Rhodococcus-Stämme und ein Gram-negativer Pseudomonas putida-Stamm verwendet. Als Biotenside wurden das Rhamnolipid JBR 425 und der von Rhodococcus erythropolis B7g produzierte Trehalosetetraester (THL-4) ausgewählt. Das synthetische Tensid SDS diente als Referenzsubstanz. Aus den kalorimetrischen Experimenten konnte eine starke Wechselwirkung zwischen den Tensiden und den aktiven Bakterienkulturen abgeleitet werden. THL-4 führte beim Wachstum der Rhodococcen auf n-Hexadecan zur Verkürzung der lag-Phase. SDS wies hingegen eine toxische Wirkung für die Bakterienstämme auf. Thermodynamische Betrachtungen ergaben, dass Wechselwirkungen des SDS mit den Bakterienzellen gegenüber der Mizellbildung bevorzugt werden.

Im Fokus dieser Arbeit stand die Methode Zwillingspolymerisation zur Synthese organisch-anorganischer Hybridmaterialien. Die simultane Zwillingspolymerisation wird als neues Konzept zur gezielten Herstellung homogener, nanostrukturierter Hybridmaterialien unterschiedlicher Zusammensetzung vorgestellt. Hierfür wurden die Zwillingsmonomere 2,2’-Spirobi[4H-1,3,2-benzodioxasilin] und 2,2 Dimethyl-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxasilin in einem Arbeitsschritt gemeinsam polymerisiert. Die erhaltenen Phenolharz-Siliciumdioxid/Dimethylsiloxan-Hybridmaterialien weisen aufgrund einstellbarer Syntheseparameter unterschiedliche Eigenschaftsprofile auf, die systematisch analysiert wurden. Die Charakterisierung der Produkte erfolgte mit Hilfe der Festkörper-NMR-Spektroskopie, Elektronenmikroskopie, DSC, TGA-MS, sowie durch Extraktionsversuche und die Erzeugung und Analyse poröser Materialien. Neben der simultanen Zwillingspolymerisation wird die Synthese, Charakterisierung und thermisch induzierte Polymerisation literaturunbekannter Silicium-Spiroverbindungen mit einfach- oder zweifach substituierter Salicylalkohol-Einheit beschrieben. Hierbei wurden nanostrukturierte Hybridmaterialien mit teils hohem löslichen Anteil erhalten. Die Produktbildung wird in Abhängigkeit von der Entstehung und Weiterreaktion gefundener Chinonmethid-Strukturen diskutiert.

The preparation of polymeric hybrid composite consisting of organic and inorganic fillers is of interest for industries like automotive, construction and packaging. In order to understand and predict the physical and chemical properties of these hybrid composites, it is necessary to fully understand the nature and properties of the employed fillers. In this study, the preparation of polypropylene hybrid composite consisting of wheat straw and clay was investigated. A detailed study was performed on wheat straw from South Western Ontario region. The effect of grinding the straw and compounding it with polypropylene was investigated. Experiments were carried out to identify the thermal stability of the ground wheat straw with respect to their size and composition. It was important to identify a correlation between these properties in order to minimize the straw degradation by processing and also to improve the final properties of the hybrid composite. The composite samples were prepared through melt blending method using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. Sample test bars were prepared by injection moulding. The composition of the constituents of the hybrid composite; percentages of wheat straw, clay and coupling agent, were varied in order to investigate their influence on thermal stability, water resistance and mechanical properties. The results of the study indicated that grinding the wheat straw with a hammer mill produced particles with different sizes and shapes. It was found that through the grinding system all particles, regardless of their size, had a multi-layered structure similar to the plant structure. Further hammer milling did not produce plant particles with long aspect ratios that would be expected in a defibrillation process. Analysis of the chemical composition of wheat straw particles of different sizes and shapes was used to measure the ratio of hemicelluloses: lignin and the ash content. It was found that the large particles contained more amount of lignin whereas smaller particles had larger amount of ash content. The thermal stability of the particles was found to be a function of particle size rather than the lignin content. Particle size analysis on the wheat straw particles after the extrusion process indicated a reduction in the particle length and aspect ratio. The thermal stability of the composites was found to be enhanced by the addition of clay particles at higher temperature and the addition of coupling agent at lower temperatures. Increasing the amount of wheat straw and clay content increased the flexural modulus and reduced the resistance for water absorption. Increasing the amount of coupling agent also increased the flexural modulus and resistance for water absorption. The morphological study by scanning electron microscopy revealed that coupling agent increased the interfacial interaction between the particles and the polymer matrix.

The preparation of polymeric hybrid composite consisting of organic and inorganic fillers is of interest for industries like automotive, construction and packaging. In order to understand and predict the physical and chemical properties of these hybrid composites, it is necessary to fully understand the nature and properties of the employed fillers. In this study, the preparation of polypropylene hybrid composite consisting of wheat straw and clay was investigated. A detailed study was performed on wheat straw from South Western Ontario region. The effect of grinding the straw and compounding it with polypropylene was investigated. Experiments were carried out to identify the thermal stability of the ground wheat straw with respect to their size and composition. It was important to identify a correlation between these properties in order to minimize the straw degradation by processing and also to improve the final properties of the hybrid composite. The composite samples were prepared through melt blending method using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. Sample test bars were prepared by injection moulding. The composition of the constituents of the hybrid composite; percentages of wheat straw, clay and coupling agent, were varied in order to investigate their influence on thermal stability, water resistance and mechanical properties. The results of the study indicated that grinding the wheat straw with a hammer mill produced particles with different sizes and shapes. It was found that through the grinding system all particles, regardless of their size, had a multi-layered structure similar to the plant structure. Further hammer milling did not produce plant particles with long aspect ratios that would be expected in a defibrillation process. Analysis of the chemical composition of wheat straw particles of different sizes and shapes was used to measure the ratio of hemicelluloses: lignin and the ash content. It was found that the large particles contained more amount of lignin whereas smaller particles had larger amount of ash content. The thermal stability of the particles was found to be a function of particle size rather than the lignin content. Particle size analysis on the wheat straw particles after the extrusion process indicated a reduction in the particle length and aspect ratio. The thermal stability of the composites was found to be enhanced by the addition of clay particles at higher temperature and the addition of coupling agent at lower temperatures. Increasing the amount of wheat straw and clay content increased the flexural modulus and reduced the resistance for water absorption. Increasing the amount of coupling agent also increased the flexural modulus and resistance for water absorption. The morphological study by scanning electron microscopy revealed that coupling agent increased the interfacial interaction between the particles and the polymer matrix.

Research on salts species formed by evaporation of aqueous solution of Na2 in the early 1930s. The thermodynamic, crystallographic and many other physical and chemical properties of most of the species formed from this solution has been known for decades. However, there was no complete information or reliable data to confirm the existence of a unique double salt that is rich in sodium carbonate, up until five years ago when a research identified the double salt (~2Na ₂ CO ₃ • Na ₂ SO ₄) from the ternary system Na₂CO ₃Na₂SO ₄ H₂O. Crystallization of this double salt so called sodium sulfate dicarbonate (~2Na ₂ CO ₃ • Na ₂ SO ₄) is known to be a primary contributor to fouling heat transfer equipment in spent-liquor concentrators used in the pulp and paper industry. Therefore, understanding the conditions leading to formation of this double salt is crucial to the elimination or reduction of an industrial scaling problem. In this work, double salts were generated in a batch crystallizer at close to industrial process conditions. X-ray diffraction, calorimetry, and microscopic observation were used to investigate the stability of the salts to in-process aging, isolation and storage, and exposure to high temperature. The results show that care must be taken during sampling on evaporative crystallization. Two apparent crystal habits were detected in the formation of sodium sulfate dicarbonate; the favored habit may be determined by calcium ion impurities in the system. The results also verify that sodium sulfate dicarbonate exists as a unique phase in this system and that remains stable at process conditions of 115-200℃

Die Arbeit befaßt sich mit der Messung und Analyse der spezifischen Wärme verschiedener stark korrelierter Elektronensysteme bei tiefen Temperaturen und hohen Magnetfeldern. Zunächst wird der im Rahmen dieser Arbeit verwendete, auf der Meßmethode der thermischen Relaxation beruhende Aufbau des Kalorimeters (Einsatzbereich 0.05K&amp;lt;T&amp;lt;4K und 0&amp;lt;B&amp;lt;12T) ausführlich erläutert. Danach werden die Ergebnisse von Messungen an den drei Schwere-Fermionen-Verbindungen CeCu2Si2, CeNi2Ge2 und YbRh2Si2 dargelegt. Wenngleich alle drei Systeme bei tiefen Temperaturen durch den für Schwere-Fermionen-Systeme charakteristischen, stark erhöhten elektronischen Beitrag zur spezifischen Wärme gekennzeichnet sind zeigen sich deutliche Unterschiede im beobachteten Grundzustandsverhalten. An CeCu2Si2 wird die für T&amp;lt;1K auftretende Konkurrenz zwischen einem supraleitenden und einem magnetischen Grundzustand ausführlich studiert. In YbRh2Si2 zeigt sich bei einer für 4f-Systeme bemerkenswert tiefen Temperatur von ca. 70mK ein Übergang in eine magnetische Phase, während der Grundzustand von CeNi2Ge2 wegen stark ausgeprägter Probenabhängigkeiten immer noch kontrovers diskutiert wird. Des weiteren zeigen alle drei Verbindungen deutliche Abweichungen vom Verhalten einer Fermi-Flüssigkeit. Die Theorie der Fermi-Flüssigkeit hat sich für metallische Verbindungen als sehr erfolgreich auch bei der Beschreibung des Verhaltens eines Systems aus stark wechselwirkenden Ladungsträgern erwiesen. Warum diese Theorie auf die untersuchten Verbindungen nicht anwendbar zu sein scheint, wird im Rahmen moderner Modellvorstellungen wie z. B. der Nähe zu einem quantenkritischen Punkt diskutiert. Die an Sr2RuO4, dem ersten Kupfer-freien Perowskit Supraleiter, durchgeführten Messungen der spezifischen Wärme dokumentieren das Auftreten von zwei Zusatzbeiträgen für T&amp;lt;Tc, die eine Interpretation der spezifischen Wärme des supraleitenden Zustands von Sr2RuO4 im Hinblick auf die Topologie des Ordnungsparameters deutlich erschweren.