abstract: Flame retardants (FRs) are applied to variety of consumer products such as textiles and polymers for fire prevention and fire safety. Substantial research is ongoing to replace traditional FRs with alternative materials that are less toxic, present higher flame retardancy and result in lower overall exposure as there are potential health concerns in case of exposure to popular FRs. Carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs) such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) have been studied and applied to polymer composites and electronics extensively due to their remarkable properties. Hence CNMs are considered as potential alternative materials that present high flame retardancy. In this research, different kinds of CNMs coatings on polyester fabric are produced and evaluated for their use as flame retardants. To monitor the mass loading of CNMs coated on the fabric, a two-step analytical method for quantifying CNMs embedded in polymer composites was developed. This method consisted of polymer dissolution process using organic solvents followed by subsequent programmed thermal analysis (PTA). This quantification technique was applicable to CNTs with and without high metal impurities in a broad range of polymers. Various types of CNMs were coated on polyester fabric and the efficacy of coatings as flame retardant was evaluated. The oxygen content of CNMs emerged as a critical parameter impacting flame retardancy with higher oxygen content resulting in less FR efficacy. The most performant nanomaterials, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and amine functionalized multi-walled carbon nantoubes (NH2-MWCNT) showed similar FR properties to current flame retardants with low mass loading (0.18 g/m2) and hence are promising alternatives that warrant further investigation. Chemical/physical modification of MWCNTs was conducted to produce well-dispersed MWCNT solutions without involving oxygen for uniform FR coating. The MWCNTs coating was studied to evaluate the durability of the coating and the impact on the efficacy during use phase by conducting mechanical abrasion and washing test. Approximately 50% and 40% of MWCNTs were released from 1 set of mechanical abrasion and washing test respectively. The losses during simulated usage impacted the flame retardancy negatively. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Materials Science and Engineering 2018

Ce manuscrit est consacré à l’étude et au développement de microsystèmes capteurs de gaz sélectifs au dioxyde d’azote, destinés au contrôle de la qualité de l’air atmosphérique. La stratégie que nous avons développée consiste à associer une structure sensible à base de matériaux semi-conducteurs partiellement sélectifs aux gaz oxydants et des filtres sélectifs à l’ozone. L’objectif premier est la mise en oeuvre et la caractérisation de matériaux chimiques strictement imperméables à l’ozone (O3) et non-réactifs vis-à-vis du dioxyde d’azote (NO2). Notre choix s’est focalisé sur un matériau moléculaire, l’indigo, connu pour sa réactivité vis-à-vis de O3, et plusieurs nanomatériaux carbonés. Pour ces derniers, la possibilité de conformer leurs textures, leurs morphologies et leurs chimies de surface par traitements thermiques, chimiques et mécaniques, permet d’étendre le panel de matériaux potentiels et d’identifier les facteurs d’influence de leur réactivité avec les espèces gazeuses. La caractérisation de l’ensemble de ces matériaux a nécessité l’utilisation de techniques adaptées et complémentaires (adsorption de N2 à 77 K, spectroscopies Raman, XPS, IR en mode ATR, RPE et NEXAFS). Les filtres chimiques les plus efficaces (hauts rendements de filtration et grande durabilité) ont été sélectionnés d’après des tests de soumission aux gaz selon une méthodologie adaptée. Enfin, l’association de ces meilleurs filtres et de la structure capteur a conduit à l’élaboration de prototypes microsystèmes capteurs de gaz optimisés. De plus, une contribution à la compréhension des mécanismes d’interaction de l’indigo et de certains nanocarbones avec O3 et NO2 a aussi permis d’améliorer le microsystème en développant des méthodologies pertinentes et innovantes mais également en réalisant la synthèse de nouveaux filtres indigo / nanocarbone. / This work is devoted to the study and the development of gas sensors microsystems highly selective to nitrogen dioxide, dedicated to the air quality control. The strategy developed consists in the implementation of a sensitive structure based on semiconductor materials partially selective to oxidizing gases associated to an ozone selective filter. The first objective is the development of chemical filters strictly impervious to ozone (O3) and non-reactive towards the nitrogen dioxide (NO2). We have chosen a molecular material, indigo, well-known for its reactivity towards O3, and several carbonaceous nanomaterials. For these one, the possibility to modify their textures, their morphologies and their surface chemistries by chemical, mechanical and thermic treatments, enables us to extend the range of potential materials and to identify the factors of influence on their reactivity with gaseous species. The characterization of all these materials required the use of appropriate and complementary techniques (N2 adsorption at 77 K, Raman, XPS, IR in ATR mode, EPR and NEXAFS). The more efficient filters (high filtering yield and life-time) have been selected by means of specific tests of gas exposure. Finally, the association of the best filter and the sensitive structure has led to the development of optimized gas sensors microsystems prototypes.