Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is nowadays extensively used in civil engineering throughout the world due to the composites of FRC can improve the toughness, flexural strength, tensile strength, and impact strength as well as the failure mode of the concrete. It is an easy crazed material compared to others materials in civil engineering. Concrete, like glass, is brittle, and hence has a low tensile strength and shear capacity. At present, there are different materials that have been employed to reinforce concrete. In our experiment, nanostructures iron oxide was prepared by electrodepostion in an electrolyte containing 0.2 mol/L sodium acetate (CH3COONa), 0.01 mol/L sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and 0.01 mol/L ammonium ferrous sulfate (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.6H2O under magnetic stirring. The resulted showed that pristine Fe2O3 particles, Fe2O3 nanorods and nanosheets were synthesized under current intensity of 1, 3, 5 mA, respectively. And the pull-out tests were performed by Autograph AGS-X Series. It is discovering that the load force potential of nanostructure fibers is almost 2 times as strong as the control sample.

O lodo gerado em processos de galvanoplastia é classificado pela ABNT NBR 10.004/04 como perigoso (classe I). Na literatura encontram-se poucos estudos referentes à recuperação do cromo presente no lodo gerado em sistemas de tratamento de efluentes de indústrias de galvanoplastia. Neste sentido, o presente estudo avaliou a remoção do cromo presente no lodo de galvanoplastia por meio de dois processos, visando avaliar à eficiência técnica e a viabilidade econômica de ambos. O Processo 1 consistiu na remoção do cálcio utilizando o ácido cítrico, seguida de lixiviação ácida. Na etapa de oxidação, variou-se a temperatura em 40ºC, 60ºC e 80ºC e no tempo de 30, 60 e 90 minutos, tendo em vista que a eficiência do processo de oxidação depende da temperatura e tempo. Nesta etapa do processo as concentrações de peroxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) utilizadas foram de 1,50, 3,00 e 4,50 mol.L-1. O Processo 2 realizou a oxidação do cromo sem efetuar as etapas de extração do cálcio e a lixiviação ácida. A oxidação do cromo ocorreu pelo mesmo método apresentado no Processo 1. A caracterização elementar da amostra determinou que o principal elemento constituinte do lodo é o cálcio (20,05% em massa), e que dentre os metais pesados destacam-se o cromo e o níquel (6,52% e 4,33% em massa, respectivamente). A maior eficiência de remoção do cálcio foi obtida na razão mássica de 8,00 (ácido cítrico/hidróxido de cálcio), com 51,76% em massa, seguida pela razão mássica de 5,50 com 36,75% em massa e 2,50 com 24,83% em massa. O melhor resultado de oxidação do cromo no Processo 1 foi obtido com tempo de 30 minutos, temperatura de 60ºC e concentração de peroxido de hidrogênio de 3,00 mol.L-1, com eficiência de 41,09% em massa. No Processo 2, obteve-se a remoção de 37,96% em massa de cromo a temperatura de 80ºC, por uma hora e 3,00 mol.L-1 de peróxido de hidrogênio. Avaliando os custos para remoção do cromo dos dois processos, determinou-se que o Processo 1 foi mais oneroso que o 2, porém ambos não apresentaram viabilidade econômica para aplicação em escala industrial. Nos dois processos efetuou-se a oxidação do cromo presente no lodo de galvanoplastia, permitindo a sua remoção parcial neste resíduo. Com isso obtiveram-se ganhos ambientais, pela diminuição deste elemento no resíduo de galvanoplastia, que na maioria das vezes é disposto em aterros classe I, gerando um passivo ambiental. / The sludge generated in electroplating processes is classified by NBR 10.004/04 as a hazardous material (class I). In the literature, few studies report the recovery of chromium present in the electroplating sludge generated in the industries. In this sense, the present study conducted the removal of chromium in the electroplating sludge through two different processes, aiming to evaluate their efficiency and economic viability. The first process removed calcium through the use of citric acid being performed by varying the ratio of citric acid/calcium hydroxide (2.5, 5.5 and 8.0). Then, were performed the leaching of the samples. According to the literature, the efficiency of the oxidation process varies depending on the reaction temperature, time and concentration of hydrogen peroxide. For this reason, samples were heated to a temperature ranging from 40°C, 60°C and 80°C. Also, were conducted variations in the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mol.L-1) and reaction time (30, 60 and 90 minutes). The second Process consisted in the chrome recovery by using the galvanic sludge without removal of the calcium and acid leaching. The chrome oxidation occurred by the same method shown in Process 1. Elemental characterization of the samples determined that the primary sludge constituent was calcium (20.05% by weight), and in terms of heavy metals, the chromium and the nickel (6.52% and 4.33% by mass, respectively). Most of calcium removal efficiency was obtained at a rate of 8 with 51.76% by mass, then the ratio of 5.50 to 36.75% by mass and 2.50 to 24.83% by mass. The best oxidation result of chromium in Process 1 was obtained using a time of 30 minutes, 60°C and hydrogen peroxide concentration of 3 mol.l-1, with 41.09 wt% efficiency. In Process 2 was obtained the removal of 37.96% by mass of chromium temperature of 80°C, for one hour and 3,00 mol.l-1 of hydrogen peroxide. Evaluating the costs for chrome removal of the two processes was determined that the Process 1 was more costly than 2, but both showed no economic feasibility for implementation on an industrial scale. However, in both cases occurred the oxidation of chromium present in the electroplating sludge, allowing its removal from the residue. Thus, environmental gains have been achieved by the reduction of this element in electroplating waste, which mostly is intended for landfill class I, generating an environmental liability.

Avaliação ambiental, biológica e médica foram realizadas em 17 cromadores de 9 galvânicas do Estado de São Paulo, sendo cinco de cromo decorativo e quatro de cromo duro. O ar do ambiente de trabalho foi coletado individual e estacionariamente durante a semana de trabalho. Amostras de urina dos cromadores, foram coletadas no início e final do período de trabalho, encontrando-se uma correlação entre cromo urinário final e cromo no ar de 0,5. Usou-se a Absorção Atômica com Forno de Grafite GFAAS para determinar-se a concentração de cromo no ar ( Cr-ar) e cromo urinário ( Cr-U). O cromo hexavalente Cr (VI) foi extraído dos filtros de membrana de PVC com porosidade 5 µm com o tampão ácido acético/acetato de sódio, com a complexação do Cr (VI) feita por APDC. O complexo foi extraído com MIK. O limite de detecção foi de 1,1 µg/L. O Cr-U foi analisado diretamente por GFAAS com o limite de detecção 0,50 µg/L utilizando-se como modificador de matriz, nitrato de magnésio hexahidratado. Sem o modificador de matriz o limite de detecção foi de 0,14 µg/L. As concentrações de Cr (VI) no ar nas galvânicas de cromo decorativo variaram de 0,3 a 64,6 µg/m3 e nas de cromo duro variaram de 4,1 a 72,8 µg/m3 , mostrando a inadequação de alguns sistemas de exaustão. 60% dos cromadores das galvânicas de cromo duro tinham o septo nasal perfurado e todos os cromadores avaliados clinicamente tinham alterações nas vias aéreas superiores. O Cr-Uf que é utilizado como indicador biológico para compostos solúveis de cromo hexavalente, em muitos casos seus valores deram menores que o Cr-Ui, necessitando-se de estudos mais aprofundados quanto a esse aspecto, para evitar que o trabalhador possa ser prejudicado com resultados nem sempre condizentes com sua exposição. / Environmental, biological and medical evaluations was made in 17th workers of 9 chrome plating plants of the State of Sao Paulo, being 5 of decorative chrome plating and 4 of hard chrome plating. Environmental air samples were individual and stationarily collected during are week. Worker\'s urine samples were collected in the starting and in the end of the working period and it was obtained a correlation of 0,5 between the final urine chromium content and chromium air content. Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry GFAAS was used for the determination of the chromium levels in the air (Cr-air) and in the urine(Cr-U). The Cr (VI) was extrated of the PVC membrane filters with an acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer and the Cr (VI) was isolated with APDC/MIBK. The detection limit obtained was 1,1 µg/L. The Cr-U was analised directly by GFAAS and the detection limit obtained was 0,50 µg/L, using magnesium Nitrate as matrix modifier and 0,14 µg/L without matrix modifier. The Cr (VI) concentration in the air was in the range of 0,3 to 64,6 µg/m3 in the decorative chrome plating and of 4,1 to 72,8 µg/m3 in the hard chrome plating, showing that the exhaust systems were inadequate. 60% of the workers of the hard chrome plating had perforation in the nasal cartilage and alI workers clinically evaluated presented alterations in the upper respiratory airway. The Cr-Uf that is used as biological indicator for the Cr(VI) soluble compounds, in many cases presented lower levels that the Cr-Ui showing that it is necessary more studies about this subject. In order to present inadequated results concerning the worker\'s exposition.

<p>Nickel based coatings were deposited on copper substrates by two different sputtering techniques from a nickel alloy based target. The substrates used were commercially available copper based substrates for low duty electrical contacts. The coatings were analyzed and evaluated as copper diffusion barriers for electrical contact applications. In addition two types of commercially available electroplated nickel coatings (referred to as type A electroplated coatings and type B electroplated coatings) were characterized for comparison. The Technique I sputtered coatings were deposited using three different substrate bias voltages and two different working gas pressures. The Technique II coatings were deposited using two different substrate bias voltages and two different working gas pressures. All sputtered coatings were deposited at a temperature of 200° C. The quality of the barriers was investigated by analyzing their composition, microstructure, stress, mechanical properties , and surface roughness. The results show that sputtered coatings have polycrystalline structures while the two plated films had (200) orientation and (111) orientation. Both plated coatings contained impurities that originate from chemicals used in the plating baths. The surface of the sputtered coatings reflects the substrate surface, while the electroplated samples on the same substrate (type A coatings) show a smooth mirror like surface and the type B electroplated coatings show a rough surface.</p><p>Technique II sputtered coatings showed the highest hardness in the amount of 13 GPa, followed by electroplated type A coatings with a hardness of about 9 GPa while the Technique I coatings showed hardness of 6-8 GPa. All sputtered coatings exhibited compressive stress while the electroplated type A coatings exhibited tensile stress of almost twice the magnitude.</p><p>In this study it is shown that sputtered nickel based coatings sputtered nickel based coatings are a promising more environmental friendly alternative to electroplated nickel coatings.</p>

We report on the process parameters of nanoimprint lithography (NIL) for the fabrication of two-dimensional (2-D) photonic crystals. The nickel mould with 2-D photonic crystal patterns covering the area up to 20mm² is produced by electron-beam lithography (EBL) and electroplating. Periodic pillars as high as 200nm to 250nm are produced on the mould with the diameters ranging from 180nm to 400nm. The mould is employed for nanoimprinting on the poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) layer spin-coated on the silicon substrate. Periodic air holes are formed in PMMA above its glass-transition temperature and the patterns on the mould are well transferred. This nanometer-size structure provided by NIL is subjective to further pattern transfer. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Nickel based coatings were deposited on copper substrates by two different sputtering techniques from a nickel alloy based target. The substrates used were commercially available copper based substrates for low duty electrical contacts. The coatings were analyzed and evaluated as copper diffusion barriers for electrical contact applications. In addition two types of commercially available electroplated nickel coatings (referred to as type A electroplated coatings and type B electroplated coatings) were characterized for comparison. The Technique I sputtered coatings were deposited using three different substrate bias voltages and two different working gas pressures. The Technique II coatings were deposited using two different substrate bias voltages and two different working gas pressures. All sputtered coatings were deposited at a temperature of 200° C. The quality of the barriers was investigated by analyzing their composition, microstructure, stress, mechanical properties , and surface roughness. The results show that sputtered coatings have polycrystalline structures while the two plated films had (200) orientation and (111) orientation. Both plated coatings contained impurities that originate from chemicals used in the plating baths. The surface of the sputtered coatings reflects the substrate surface, while the electroplated samples on the same substrate (type A coatings) show a smooth mirror like surface and the type B electroplated coatings show a rough surface. Technique II sputtered coatings showed the highest hardness in the amount of 13 GPa, followed by electroplated type A coatings with a hardness of about 9 GPa while the Technique I coatings showed hardness of 6-8 GPa. All sputtered coatings exhibited compressive stress while the electroplated type A coatings exhibited tensile stress of almost twice the magnitude. In this study it is shown that sputtered nickel based coatings sputtered nickel based coatings are a promising more environmental friendly alternative to electroplated nickel coatings.

The objective of the proposed research is to use MEMS technology to develop low profile power inductors with minimized eddy current losses to be used in high power density compact switching converters. Eddy currents arise in high-flux density metallic cores as increased switching frequencies of DC-DC converters cause the skin depth to be small compared with the core thickness. Laminations can reduce the eddy current losses but converters operating with switching frequencies in the MHz regime may require submicron laminations. Previous research has been done to fabricate inductors with micron-scale laminated cores for high frequency switching converters. To optimize the previous fabrication technique, an automated electroplating system was developed for the fabrication of thick magnetic cores comprising large number of submicron laminations without human intervention. Inductors with higher inductance, quality factor and power handling capacity have been realized compared to previously developed inductors. The inductors are characterized in terms of saturation behavior and power handling capability. A miniaturized DC-DC converter with power conversion capacity of 10 Watts has been demonstrated using the fabricated inductor.

The aim of this thesis is to manufacture Ti/APC-2 hybrid composite laminates and obtain its mechanical properties and fatigue characteristics at elevated temperatures. Ti/APC-2 laminates were composed of two layers of APC-2 and three layers of titanium sheets. For superior bonding ability between titanium and APC-2, chromic anodic method was adopted to treat titanium sheets in manufacturing process and APC-2 was stacked according to cross-ply [0/90]s and quasi-isotropic [0/45/90/-45] sequences. Then, the modified curing process was adopted to fabricate Ti/APC-2 hybrid composite laminates. Tension and fatigue tests carried out with MTS 810 and MTS 651 environmental control chamber to lift and maintain experimental temperatures, such as 25¢XC, 75¢XC, 100¢XC, 125¢XC and 150¢XC. From static tensile tests, the mechanical properties of cross-ply and quasi-isotropic composite laminates, such as ultimate strength, longitudinal stiffness were gained and the stress-strain diagrams of laminates were also plotted from testing data at elevated temperature. From fatigue tests we obtained laminate¡¦s fatigue resistance properties and the experimental data of applied stress vs. cycles were plotted as S-N diagrams at elevated temperature. From the tensile and fatigue tests, the important remarks were summarized as follows. First, no matter what the APC-2 stacking sequence was, the ultimate strength and longitudinal stiffness decreased while temperature rising, especially at 150¢XC; second, a turning point appeared at each stress-strain diagram that kink angle caused the decrease of stiffness while temperature rising; third, combining fatigue data and stress-strain diagrams we analogized a presumption that the region before turning point was in elastic behavior and after turning point in plastic deformation; fourth, quasi-isotropic laminates had better fatigue resistance than that of cross-ply laminates; sixth, the longitudinal stiffness before turning point was in good agreement with the prediction by using the modified ROM, however, after turning point the errors became large.

In this thesis, manufacturing of microirradiators, electrodeposition of radioactive elements such as Ni-63, and applications of these radioactive sources are discussed. Ni-63 has a half life of 100 years and a low energy beta electron of 67 keV, ideal for low dose low linear energy transfer (LET) research. The main focus of the research is on the novel Ni-63 microirradiator. It contains a small amount of total activity of radiation but a large flux, allowing the user to safely handle the microirradiator without extensive shielding. This thesis is divided into nine chapters. Properties of microirradiators and various competing radioactive sources are compared in the introduction (chapter 1). Detailed description of manufacturing Ni-63 microirradiator using the microelectrode as the starting point is outlined in chapter 2. The microelectrode is a 25 µm in diameter Pt disk sealed in a pulled 1 mm diameter borosilicate capillary tube, as a protruding wire or recessed disk microelectrode. The electrochemically active surface area of each is verified by cyclic voltammetry. Electrodeposition of nickel with a detailed description of formulation of the electrochemical bath in a cold "non-radioactive setting" was optimized by using parameters as defined by pourbaix diagrams, radioactive electroplating of Ni-63, and incorporation of safety regulations into electrodeposition. Calibration and characterization of the Ni-63 microirradiators as protruding wire and recessed disk microirradiators is presented in chapter 3. In chapters 4 through 6, applications of the Ni-63 microirradiators and wire sources are presented. Chapter 4 provides a radiobiological application of the recessed disk microirradiator and a modified flush microirradiator with osteosarcoma cancer cells. Cells were irradiated with 2000 to 1 Bq, and real time observations of DNA double strand breaks were observed. A novel benchtop detection system for the microirradiators is presented in chapter 5. Ni-63 is most commonly measured by liquid scintillation counters, which are expensive and not easily accessible within a benchtop setting. Results show liquid scintillation measurements overestimates the amount of radiation coming from the recessed disk. A novel 10 µCi Ni-63 electrochemically deposited wire acting as an ambient chemical ionization source for pharmaceutical tablets in mass spectrometry is in chapter 6. Typically, larger radioactive sources (15 mCi) of Ni-63 have been used in an ambient ionization scenario. Additionally, this is the first application of using Ni-63 to ionize in atmosphere pharmaceutical tablets, leading to a possible field portable device. In the last chapters, chapters 7 through 8, previous microirradiator experiments and future work are summarized. Chapter 7 illustrates the prototype of the electrochemically deposited microirradiator, the Te-125 microirradiator. In conjunction with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Te-125m is a low dose x-ray emitting element determined to be the best first prototype of an electrochemically deposited microirradiator. Manufacturing, characterization, and experiments that were not successful leading to the development of the Ni-63 microirradiator are discussed. In chapter 8, future work is entailed in continuing on with this thesis project. The work presented in the thesis is concluded in chapter 9.

M. Tech. Engineering Metallurgy. / Aims to improve the mechanical and chemical properties of mild steel, by developing highly corrosion resistant surface coatings of zinc-aluminum using the electro-deposition techniques. Properties that are targeted are specifically hardness, wear and corrosion resistances.