A implantação de materiais vítreos e vitrocerâmicos bioativos representa estratégia terapêutica importante para se promover a formação de matriz extracelular mineralizada em defeitos ósseos críticos. Quando expostos a fluidos biológicos, estes biomateriais sofrem alterações químicas e topográficas de superfície que afetam as interações de células com sua superfície, reduzindo o espraiamento celular e alterando o padrão de marcação de proteínas do citoesqueleto. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se as alterações no padrão de marcação para as proteínas citoesqueléticas actina e tubulina observadas in vitro em células osteogênicas sobre superfícies do vidro Bioglass® 45S5 e da vitrocerâmica Biosilicato®, são decorrentes de redução quantitativa na expressão do RNAm e das proteínas correspondentes. Células osteogênicas foram obtidas a partir da digestão enzimática de calvárias de ratos Wistar recémnascidos e plaqueadas sobre superfícies de Bioglass® 45S5, Biosilicato® e borosilicato (controle bioinerte) para a avaliação dos seguintes parâmetros: 1) detecção de actina e tubulina por microscopia de fluorescência; 2) expressão de RNAm para actina e tubulina por reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real (Real time PCR); 3) quantificação de actina e tubulina por ensaio imunoenzimático direto (ELISA), e 4) análise da morfologia celular por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Aos 3 e 7 dias, células crescidas sobre borosilicato exibiam padrões de marcação para actina e tubulina típicos de células aderidas e espraiadas sobre substratos planos in vitro, enquanto que sobre Bioglass® 45S5 e Biosilicato® as células apresentavam áreas circulares destituídas de marcação para essas proteínas. Nos mesmos períodos, culturas crescidas sobre os materiais bioativos apresentavam alterações significantes da expressão de RNAm para actina e tubulina, embora fossem observadas apenas discretas variações na quantidade das proteínas correspondentes em relação ao borosilicato. Além disso, apenas para culturas crescidas sobre borosilicato observava-se correlação positiva entre RNAm e proteína e correspondência entre as observações por epifluorescência e os dados quantitativos. Aos 3 dias, imagens de MEV revelaram células aderidas e espraiadas sobre os materiais bioativos, parcial ou totalmente recobertas por acúmulos de material de aspecto semelhante ao da topografia do substrato, por vezes impedindo a visualização dos limites celulares. Com base nos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que as superfícies bioativas de Bioglass® 45S5 e Biosilicato® afetam a expressão de RNAm para actina e tubulina, mas não de proteína. Assim, as alterações nos padrões de marcação por fluorescência para essas proteínas devem ser atribuídas, pelo menos em parte, a acúmulos de material sobre as células, possivelmente decorrentes das reações de superfície a que estão submetidos Bioglass® 45S5 e Biosilicato® quando em contato com fluidos biológicos. / Bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics have been successfully applied in various therapeutic strategies to promote the formation of mineralized matrix in bone defects. The exposure of these materials to biological fluids results in chemical and topographical modifications that may affect the interactions of cells with the biomaterial surface, with potential effects on cytoskeletal protein expression and/or organization and cell spreading. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether changes in the labelling pattern for the cytoskeletal proteins actin and tubulin in osteogenic cells cultured on bioactive Bioglass® 45S5 and Biosilicate® are due to altered mRNA and protein expression levels. Osteogenic cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion of newborn Wistar rat calvarial bone and plated on Bioglass® 45S5, Biosilicate® and borosilicate (bioinert control) for periods of up to 7 days. The following parameters were assayed: i) qualitative epifluorescence analysis of actin and tubulin distribution; ii) quantitative mRNA expression for actin and tubulin by real time polymerase chain reaction (real time PCR); iii) quantitative actin and tubulin expression by enzymelinked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), and iv) qualitative analysis of cell morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At days 3 and 7, cells grown on borosilicate showed typical actin and tubulin labeling patterns of adherent and spread cells on flat, rigid substrates, whereas those on Bioglass® 45S5 and Biosilicate® showed dark areas devoid of fluorescent signals for the cytoskeletal proteins. At the same time points, cultures grown on the bioactive materials showed significant changes in mRNA expression for actin and tubulin, although only slight differences in the amount of actin and tubulin were detected compared with borosilicate. Moreover, a positive correlation between mRNA and protein expression levels as well as a correspondence between epifluorescence imaging and the quantitative data were only detected for cultures grown on borosilicate. SEM analysis revealed that cells cultured on bioactive surfaces were partly or totally covered with material accumulations, whose characteristics resembled the ones for the substrate topography, and which, in some cases, prevented the visualization of the cell limits. In conclusion, Bioglass® 45S5 and Biosilicate® affect actin and tubulin mRNA levels, but not the corresponding protein expression, in osteogenic cell cultures. Thus, the observed changes in the labeling pattern for these proteins should be attributed, at least in part, to the accumulation of materials on the cell surface, likely due to substrate reactions that take place on Bioglass® 45S5 and Biosilicate® when exposed to the cell culture medium.

La crise de l’énergie ainsi que les problèmes écologiques sont considérés comme les défis les plus importants de demain. Cependant, les sources d’énergies renouvelables et respectueuses de l’environnement ne sont pas suffisamment développées, ce qui entraîne une contribution faible à la production d’énergie. Les cellules solaires font partie des sources d’énergies renouvelables les plus attractives et prometteuses. Cependant, les panneaux solaires existants ont toujours un facteur de qualité négatif, c’est-à-dire que leur production et leur entretien demandent plus d’énergie qu’ils ne sont capables de produire pendant leur cycle de fonctionnement. Malgré la réduction exponentielle du prix des panneaux solaires, leur efficacité de conversion n’est pas suffisante. Les succès récents dans la science des matériaux ont beaucoup contribué à son amélioration, néanmoins des études sur les nouveaux matériaux photovoltaïques sont nécessaires. Les travaux de recherche présentés dans ce manuscrit concernent les vitrocéramiques de chalcogénures dans le système GeSe2-Sb2Se3-CuI. De nombreuses compositions chimiques différentes ont été préparées et analysées du point de vue structural et électrique dans le cadre de ce système. Il a été démontré que la phase Sb2Se3, responsable des propriétés photoélectriques dans les vitrocéramiques, possède un grand potentiel pour les applications photovoltaïques grâce à ses propriétés optiques bien adaptées. L’influence des modifications de la composition des cristaux de Sb2Se3 sur la structure et les propriétés électriques a été étudiée. La flexibilité du type de conductivité et la résistivité des cristaux massifs de Sb2Se3 ont été montrées. Enfin, les couches minces à base de vitrocéramiques et cristaux massifs étudiés ont été préparées par la pulvérisation cathodique RF magnétron. Leur structure et les propriétés électriques sont également décrites dans cette thèse. Une cellule solaire complètement fonctionnelle, basée sur Sb2Se3 dopé iode et sur la vitrocéramique de 40GeSe2-40Sb2Se3-20CuI, a été préparée et caractérisée. / Energy crisis and global ecological problems are considered as important challenges of nearest future. Eco-friendly and renewable sources of energy are still severely undeveloped and contribute weakly to the energy production. One of the most attractive and promising domains of renewable energy is a solar light harvesting. However, existing solar panels still possess negative quality factor, i.e. their fabrication and maintenance require more energy that they are capable to produce during their life cycle. Despite exponential reduction of the price, solar cells are not efficient enough in terms of light to energy conversion. Recent breakthroughs in material science contributed a lot to the increase of efficiency, however further investigation of novel materials are needed. Here, chalcogenide glassceramics of GeSe2-Sb2Se3-CuI system were studied in details. Within this system various chemical compositions were prepared and analyzed for their structure and photoelectric properties. We found that Sb2Se3 phase, responsible for the appearance of photoelectric effect in glass-ceramics, have a great potential for light harvesting due to its suitable optical properties. In the present work we demonstrated the influence of various dopants on photoelectric properties of Sb2Se3 crystals. We showed a possibility of conductivity type and resistivity tuning of bulk Sb2Se3 crystals in a wide range of values. Thin film devices based on studied bulk compositions were prepared by RF sputtering and characterized structurally and electrically as well. We demonstrated a fully functional thin film solar device based on iodine doped Sb2Se3 and 40GeSe2-40Sb2Se3-20CuI glass-ceramic.

Ce travail porte sur l’immobilisation du plomb dans les verres et les vitrocéramiques. Le premier volet de cette étude porte sur l’effet de l’incorporation du plomb sur la structure et les propriétés des verres silicatés. Il a été réalisé à partir de compositions de verre simples dans le binaire PbO-SiO2 et les deux ternaires PbO-CaO-SiO2 et PbO-Al2O3-SiO2. Le choix de ces compositions a permis de clarifier le rôle (Modificateur/formateur) du plomb dans ces verres. Des mesures de viscosité, de densité et de la température de transition vitreuse ont été effectuées sur les trois systèmes. Les résultats de ces analyses ont été complétés par des études spectroscopiques (spectroscopies Raman & d’absorption des rayons X) afin de lier les propriétés macroscopiques aux informations structurales dans un ordre à courte- et moyenne-distance. Le deuxième volet de cette étude porte sur la mise en œuvre et la caractérisation de vitrocéramiques obtenues par dévitrification. Les tests de dévitrification ont été effectués principalement sur quelques compositions issues des deux systèmes ternaires PbO-Al2O3-SiO2 et PbO-CaO-SiO2 / This thesis deals with the immobilization of lead in glasses and glass-ceramics. The first part of this study deals with the effect of the incorporation of lead on the structure and properties of silicate glass. It was conducted on simple glass compositions, in the binary PbO-SiO2 and the two ternaries PbO-CaO-SiO2 and PbO-Al2O3-SiO2. The choice of these compositions made it possible to clarify the role of lead (modifier / former) in these glasses. Measurements of viscosity, density and glass transition temperature were carried out on the three systems. The results of these analysis have been supplemented by spectroscopic studies (Raman and X-ray absorption spectroscopy) in order to link macroscopic properties to structural information in a short- and medium-range order. The second part of this study concerns the implementation and characterization of glass-ceramics obtained by devitrification. The devitrification tests were carried out mainly on some compositions resulting from the two ternary systems PbO-Al2O3-SiO2 and PbO-CaO-SiO2

O desenho planar para as células a Combustível de Óxido Sólido (SOFC) é melhor do que o tubular devido a sua maior densidade de corrente e menor custo de fabricação. No entanto, o projeto de SOFC planar requer selantes para evitar o vazamento de combustível e a mistura de gases em altas temperaturas. Os vidros e os vitrocerâmicos têm demonstrado serem os mais adequados por apresentarem boa compatibilidade com outros componentes da célula nas temperaturas de trabalho das SOFCs (700-1000°C). No presente estudo, uma série de composições pertencentes ao sistema BaO-Al2O3-SiO2 (BAS) com a adição de B2O3 foram sintetizados tomando as proporções apropriadas de cada óxido constituinte. Propôs-se melhorar este sistema utilizando-se formadores e teores relevantes de modificadores estruturais, de forma a compatibilizar tanto o desempenho térmico por meio do coeficiente de expansão térmica (CET) como a compatibilidade química com os demais componentes da célula. A originalidade deste estudo está na busca destas características em regiões de composições ainda não exploradas, localizadas dentro do triangulo de compatibilidade BS-B2S-BAS2 na região rica em bário do sistema ternário. Entre estes vidros sintetizados quatro composições (BAS-4, BAS-5, BAS-6 e BAS-7) foram escolhidas porque são as mais adequadas às solicitações termomecânicas exigidas para um material vítreo atuar como selante em SOFC. / The design for planar cells Fuel Solid Oxide (SOFC) is better than the tubular due to its higher current density and lower manufacturing cost. However, the design of planar SOFC requires sealant to prevent leakage of fuel and the mixture of gases at high temperatures. Glasses and glass-ceramics have proven to be the most suitable because they have good compatibility with the other components of the cell at working temperature (700-1000°C). In the present study, a series of compositions belonging to the BaO-Al2O3-SiO2 (BAS) system with the addition of B2O3 were synthesized having the appropriate proportions of each component oxide. It was proposed to improve this system using relevant levels of formers and structural modifiers oxides, in order to match both the thermal performance of thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) and chemical compatibility with other components of the cell. The originality of this study is to search for these characteristics in regions of compositions not yet explored, located inside the compatibility triangle BS-B2S-BAS2 at the barium rich part of the ternary diagram. Among the synthesized glasses four batch compositions (BAS-4, BAS-5, 6-BAS, BAS-7) were chosen because best matched the thermo-mechanical required for a glassy material to act as SOFCs sealant.

Optical properties of bismuth borate are measured for the composition range x Bi2O3 (1-x) B2O3, 0.25 < x < 0.65. The refractive indices increase as the bismuth content is increasing. Also the ultraviolet absorption edge was shown to shift to longer wavelengths. From these measurements a generalized Sellmeier formula was derived. Applying heat treatments to the prepared bismuth borate glasses in order to obtain glass ceramics leads in most cases to surface nucleation. It was proved that dopants increase the number of nucleating sites on the surfaces. On erbium-doped samples absorption and luminescence measurements were made. The Judd-Ofelt analysis revealed comparably high Judd-Ofelt coefficients. All coefficients were shown to decrease as the Bi2O3 content increases. The luminescence at 1550 nm reveals a broad and flat band which is narrowing with the increase in Bi2O3 content. The green upconversion was observed and the temporal behavior of the emission at 550 nm was investigated. The absorption and emission spectra of chromium-doped bismuth borate glasses were measured. On surface crystallized glasses, for x = 0.5 Bi2O3 and high chromium content, luminescence of chromate (CrO2-4) ion doped BiBO3 microcrystals was observed. Strontium barium niobate microcrystals embedded in strontium barium borate matrix were obtained by spontaneous nucleation in the melt and rapid quenching. Optical properties of Pb2B5O9Br based glass were also investigated. The heat treatment applied leads to the formation of small nanocrystals inside the glass.

L'objectif principal de ce travail est de développer une nouvelle vitrocéramique structurée par NASICON avec une conductivité Li-ion élevée. Par conséquent, ce travail présente une nouvelle série de compositions de type NASICON sur la base du système Li1+xCrx(GeyTi1-y)2-x(PO4)3. Dans un premier temps, une composition spécifique de ce système a été synthétisée par la méthode de fusion et refroidissement rapide, suivie d'une cristallisation. Le comportement de cristallisation du verre précurseur a été examiné par calorimétrie différentielle à balayage et spectroscopie infrarouge. Les principaux résultats indiquent que le verre précurseur présente une nucléation homogène, a une stabilité de verre considérable et cristallise une phase de type NASICON, qui permet d'obtenir des électrolytes solides par voie vitrocéramique. Dans une deuxième étape, on examine l'effet de la substitution de Ti par Cr et Ge sur la stabilité de verre du verre précurseur, sur les paramètres structuraux de la phase cristalline NASICON et sur les propriétés électriques des vitrocéramiques. Par conséquent, un ensemble de seize compositions de ce système est synthétisé. Les principaux résultats indiquent que la stabilité de verre augmente lorsque Ti est remplacé par Ge et Cr. Après cristallisation, toutes les vitrocéramiques présentent une phase de type NASICON, et leurs paramètres de maille décroissent avec Ge et augmentent avec la teneur en Cr, ce qui permet de régler le volume de la cellule unitaire de la structure de type NASICON. De plus, la conductivité ionique et l'énergie d'activation pour la conduction du lithium dans les vitrocéramiques dépendent notamment du volume de la cellule unitaire de la structure de type NASICON. Enfin, la fenêtre de stabilité électrochimique de la vitrocéramique à structure NASICON de conductivité ionique la plus élevée est étudiée. Les mesures de voltampérométrie cyclique sont suivies par spectroscopie d'impédance électrochimique in situ, permettant de déterminer l'effet des réactions d'oxydation et de réduction sur les propriétés électriques des vitrocéramiques en question. La spectroscopie photoélectronique par rayons X, à son tour, est appliquée pour déterminer quelles espèces chimiques subissent une réduction/oxydation. Nos résultats révèlent que la stabilité électrochimique de ce matériau est limitée par la réduction des cations Ti+4 dans les faibles potentiels et par l'oxydation des anions O-2 dans les hauts potentiels. Aux hauts potentiels, un comportement similaire a également été rencontré pour d'autres conduites Li-ion de type NASICON bien connues, suggérant que le comportement électrochimique dans les potentiels oxydatifs pourrait être généralisé pour les phosphates à structure NASICON. / The primary goal of this work is to develop a new NASICON-structured glass-ceramic with high Li-ion conductivity. Therefore, this work introduces a new series of NASICON-type compositions based on the Li1+xCrx(GeyTi1-y)2-x(PO4)3 system. At first, a specific composition of this system is synthesized by the melt-quenching method, followed by crystallization. The crystallization behavior of the precursor glass is examined by differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy. The main results indicate that the precursor glass presents homogeneous nucleation, has considerable glass stability and crystallizes a NASICON-like phase, which allows solid electrolytes to be obtained by the glass-ceramic route. As a second step, we examine the effect of substituting Ti by Cr and Ge on the glass stability of the precursor glass, on the structural parameters of NASICON-like phase and the electrical properties of the glass-ceramics. Hence, a set of sixteen compositions of this system is synthesized. The main results indicate that the glass stability increases when Ti is replaced by Ge and Cr. After crystallization, all the glass-ceramics present NASICON-like phase, and their lattice parameters decrease with Ge and increase with Cr content, making it possible to adjust the unit cell volume of the NASICON-type structure. Furthermore, the ionic conductivity and activation energy for lithium conduction in the glass-ceramics are notably dependent on the unit cell volume of the NASICON-type structure. Finally, the electrochemical stability window of the NASICON-structured glass-ceramics of highest ionic conductivity is investigated. Cyclic voltammetry measurements are followed by in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, enabling the effect of oxidation and reduction reactions on the electrical properties of the glass-ceramics in question to be determined. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, in turn, is applied to determine which chemical species undergo reduction/oxidation. Our findings reveal that the electrochemical stability of this material is limited by the reduction of Ti+4 cations in low potentials and by the oxidation of O-2 anions in high potentials. At high potentials, similar behavior is also encountered for other well-known NASICON-like Li-ion conducting suggesting that the electrochemical behavior in oxidative potentials could be generalized for NASICON-structured phosphates.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) in a flat-plate configuration require a hermetic seal between the fuel and air sides of the electrodes, and this seal must withstand a variety of thermally-induced stresses over the lifetime of the cell. In this study, quantitative microstructure-property relationships are developed to predict optimum seal structures for mechanical properties and thermal expansion coefficient criteria. These relationships are used to create an inverse approach to characterizing the processing method from the desired microstructure. The main focus of the work concentrates on providing tools to enable macroscopic property predictions from the constituent properties using homogenization techniques based on the individual phase properties and microstructure morphology. The microstructure is represented by two-point correlation functions. Statistical continuum mechanics models were then employed and developed to predict the mechanical and thermal properties of the material. The models enable the prediction of elastic modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion of the multi-phase material. The inelastic mechanical behavior was also studied, indicating microstructure dependence. These models will aid in predicting the a proper seal microstructure (with desired elastic stiffness, coefficient of thermal expansion, and viscoelastic behaviors) based on a desired level of crystallization glass-ceramic materials.

In order to increase the waste loading efficiency of nuclear waste glasses, alternative composite structures are sought that trap molybdenum in a water-durable CaMoO4 phase. In this thesis, the formation and stability of CaMoO4 in a borosilicate glass against the attack of internal radiation was investigated. It is a fundamental study that simplified the composition to known contributors of molybdate speciation, and further splits the com- ponents of α and β-decay into integral parts that replicated both nuclear and electronic interactions. Irradiation experiments using 2.5 MeV β, 7 MeV Au, and 92 MeV Xe ions were enlisted to test the hypotheses of whether 100−1000 years of radiation damage given current waste loading standards would: (i) induce phase separation in homogeneous re- gions, (ii) increase the extent of existing phase separation, (iii) induce local annealing that could cause amorphisation of crystalline phases or increase mixing between amorphous phases, or (iv) cause some combination of the above. Results from XRD, SEM, EPR, and Raman spectroscopy suggest that powellite is stable against replicated radiation damage with only minor modifications observed. The main mechanisms of alteration involved: (i) thermal and defect-assisted diffusion, (ii) relaxation from the added ion’s energy, (iii) localised damage recovery from ion tracks, and (iv) the accumulation of point defects or the formation of voids that created significant strain, and led to longer-range modifications. It can be further concluded that no precip- itation or increased phase separation was observed in single-phased glasses. In isolated cases, radiation-induced precipitation of CaMoO4 occurred, but these crystallites were reamorphised at higher doses. At high SHI fluences, minor amorphisation of powellite was also observed, but this occurred alongside bulk-to-surface reprecipitation of CaMo- species. Overall, the components of internal radiation were often found to have opposing effects on the alteration of Si−O−B mixing in the glass, ion migration, and crystallite size. This led to the prediction that a steady-state damage structure could form from cumulative decay processes. These results suggest that CaMoO4 containing borosilicate GCs are resistant to radiation, and that excess molybdenum from increased waste loading can be successfully incorporated into these structures without altering the overall dura- bility of the wasteform. Furthermore, the identified saturation in modifications occurring around 8 x 10¹⁴ Xe ions/cm² can be used as a benchmark in future investigations on more complex systems where the maximum damage state is required.

Cette thèse porte sur l’étude du processus de cristallisation de verres et l’élaboration de vitrocéramiques transparentes dans le visible. Ce travail a permis d’élaborer plusieurs vitrocéramiques complètement cristallisées et transparentes, ce qui constitue un résultat exceptionnel pour ce type de matériaux qui perd habituellement la transparence lors de la cristallisation. Ces matériaux originaux et novateurs ont fait l’objet d’un brevet sur des "Céramiques transparentes" (dépôt en France N° 1161025 et extension internationale PCT N° EP2012/074171) et de plusieurs articles (cf. page 162). Plusieurs verres dans les systèmes oxydes de terres rares-oxydes d’alcalino-terreux-Al2O3-SiO2 ont été élaborés au moyen d’un lévitateur aérodynamique couple a un chauffage par laser puis étudiés. Une recherche de la composition optimale du verre d’aluminosilicate d’yttrium parent qui permettrait d’avoir un maximum de cristaux de YAG sans formation d’impuretés lors de la cristallisation a été menée. L’étude de la cristallisation du YAG a partir des verres d’aluminosilicates d’yttrium choisis, réalisée principalement par RMN et diffraction des rayons X, a montré que les ions de silicium initialement présents dans la matrice vitreuse se trouvent incorporés dans les cristaux de YAG formes, en substitution des ions d’aluminium des sites tétraédriques. Les conséquences structurales de cette incorporation dans le YAG ont été étudiées. En particulier, la réduction de la maille cubique du YAG et des liaisons des sites tétraédriques a été mise en évidence par DRX et affinement Rietveld. Par RMN, la présence d’aluminium en coordinence IV, V et VI a été détectée dans le verre parent. Pour ce système, il est remarquable que la cristallisation du verre d’aluminate d’yttrium puisse avoir lieu au-dessous de sa température de transition vitreuse. Ce phénomène rarement rapporté pourrait être expliqué par la tendance élevée du verre à cristalliser et par la capacité de Si4+ à s’incorporer dans les cristaux de YAG comme cette étude le démontre. L’avancement de la cristallisation par recuit du verre au-dessous de Tg a été suivi ainsi que l’absorbance et la diffusion de l’irradiation IR par les vitrocéramiques en se basant sur le modèle de Rayleigh-Guns-Debye. Cette étude a révélé l’influence de la différence de l’indice de réfraction entre le verre et les cristaux sur la diffusion de la lumière. Les images MET et MEB de ces vitrocéramiques montrent des cristaux de YAG de tailles comprises entre 500 nm et 1300 nm. La cristallisation d’une autre famille de verres de terres rares a été étudiée. Il s’agit de verres d’aluminate de lanthane et de borate de lanthane. Dans les deux cas, une cristallisation démarrant à partir de la surface a été observée et étudiée. La cristallisation des phases LaAlO3 et LaBO3 dans ces verres a été suivie par DRX (Haute Température). L’ajout de SiO2 à la composition La2O3-Al2O3 a été nécessaire pour élaborer un verre avec un four classique. Une étude de cristallisation poussée a été également menée sur de nouveaux verres d’aluminates d’alcalinoterreux. Cette étude a compris une caractérisation des vitrocéramiques formées ainsi que la résolution de la structure de deux nouveaux polymorphes de BaAl4O7 formés par cristallisation des verres en se servant de la diffraction électronique, neutronique et synchrotron. Une étude par RMN de l’évolution de l’environnement de l’oxygène durant le recuit a été réalisée et a permis de mettre en évidence la présence des entités d’oxygène tri-coordinées dans les verres d’aluminate de baryum. Ce travail nous a finalement permis d’élaborer plusieurs vitrocéramiques complètement cristallisées et transparentes, ce qui constitue un résultat exceptionnel. La luminescence de ces vitrocéramiques a été caractérisée et les raisons de leur transparence sont discutées à la lumière de leurs microstructures. / This thesis concerns the crystallization and the structural study of different alumino-silicate glasses. This study has led to several completely crystallized and transparent glass-ceramics, which is an original result for this type of material that usually loses transparency during crystallization. These innovative materials were the subject of a patent entitled “Transparent ceramics” (French deposit number: N° 1161025 and international extension number : PCT N° EP2012/074171) and different articles (cf. page 162). Numerous glasses in the systems rare earth oxides, alkaline earth oxides-Al2O3-SiO2 were prepared by an aerodynamic levitator coupled to a laser heating system and studied. The study of the YAG crystallization from the yttrium alumino-silicate glasses was achieved mainly by double resonance 27Al/29Si NMR spectroscopy and by (lab and synchrotron) X-ray diffraction. This study showed that the silicon ions that are initially present in the glassy matrix are incorporated during crystallization in the formed YAG crystals on the 4-fold coordination Al site. The structural consequences of this incorporation were studied. In particular, the reduction of the YAG cubic lattice and the bonds of the tetrahedral sites have been evidenced. Upon post synthesis annealing, the glass was observed to exhibit crystallization below the glass transition temperature. This unusual behaviour was examined using XRD and infrared spectroscopy to follow crystallinity and optical absorbance as a function of annealing treatment. This rarely reported phenomenon could be explained by the high tendency of our glass to crystallize compared to glasses elaborated by classical furnaces and by the ability of Si4+ to be accommodated into the YAG crystal structure as we have demonstrated. This study also revealed the influence of the refractive index difference between the glass and the crystals on the scattering of light. TEM and SEM images show that the YAG crystals sizes range between 500 nm and 1300 nm. Furthermore, the crystallization of a family of lanthanum aluminate and lanthanum borate glasses was studied. In both cases, the crystallization started from the surface. The formation of LaAlO3 LaBO3 phases in these glasses was followed by XRD (High Temperature). The addition of SiO2 to the Al2O3-La2O3 composition was found necessary for the vitrification with a conventional oven. Finally, a crystallization study was also conducted on new alkaline-earth aluminate glasses. This study included a characterization of the parent glasses with the formed glass-ceramics and the structure resolution of two new polymorphs of BaAl4O7 formed by crystallization, using electron neutron and synchrotron diffraction. An NMR study of the environment evolution of the oxygen during annealing was performed. This allowed to evidence the presence of tri-coordinated oxygen entities in the parent glasses. This work has finally allowed us to develop fully crystallized and transparent glass-ceramics, which is an exceptional result. The luminescence of these glass-ceramics was characterized and the reasons for their transparency were discussed in light of their microstructures.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Aesthetic and functional excellence in dental prosthetic rehabilitation has been achieved with the increase of advanced ceramics in dentistry. Processing techniques such as heat press injection moulding and CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer aided manufacturing) impart decreased porosity to the microstructure, as well as simplicity and automation of the process. In order to examine the machining surface finish of a leucite glass-ceramic produced using Brazilian raw materials, heat-pressed performs were obtained. These preforms had dimensions close to those of the final crown infrastructure in order to allow fast and easy final matching and finish-milling by using a Brazilian milling machine (MTC Robotica), supported by DentMILL (SEACAM) CAM software. As a control and reference manufacturing process, four crown infrastructures were milled by using CEREC®-3 machine. Aimed at achieving a machinable microstruture, two different heating schedule were tested for ceramizing the feldsphatic glass ingots. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation test and fracture toughness measurement by indentation method were used as characterization methods. Comparison of the properties of the experimental material with those published by other investigator on similar commercial materials conducted to the conclusion that it is a machinable glass-ceramic with acceptable features for application in dental prosthetic rehabilitation. Preforms milling simulation using MTC Robotica machine conducted to the prediction of very long milling time (18h), even considering preforms possessing dimensions similar to those of the desired milling end product, a manufacturing time much greater than those found in commercial CAD/CAM dental milling machines. / A reabilitação protética do elemento dentário com excelência estética e funcional tem sido alcançada através do amplo uso de cerâmicas avançadas na odontologia. Técnicas de processamento como moldagem por injeção a quente e usinagem por CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer aided manufacturing) conferem ao material uma microestrutura com menor porosidade, além de simplificar e permitir automação de sua execução. Com o objetivo de avaliar a superfície usinada de uma vitrocerâmica feldspática leucítica produzida a partir de matéria prima nacional, foram confeccionadas pré-formas deste material pela técnica de moldagem por injeção sob pressão a quente. Estas pré-formas têm dimensões aproximadas a da peça final com a finalidade de serem usinadas na fresadora CNC nacional de baixa rotação (MTC Robótica), auxiliada pelo software CAM DentMILL (SEACAM). Além disso, foram usinadas peças do mesmo material no sistema CEREC®, como forma de controle. Para a obtenção de uma microestrutura com melhor usinabilidade, foram testadas duas metodologias de ceramização das pastilhas de vidro feldspático. A caracterização do material foi realizada por meio da difração de raios X (DRX), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), microscopia de força atômica (AFM), ensaios de nanoindentação e de tenacidade à fratura pelo método da indentação. A partir da comparação das propriedades deste material aos dados obtidos na literatura sobre materiais similares existentes no mercado foi possível classificar o material como usinável e indicar sua aplicação na clínica odontológica reabilitadora. A simulação da usinagem das pré-formas na fresadora MTC Robótica, mesmo com dimensões aproximadas a da peça final, apresentou um tempo de usinagem muito longo (18h), o que a tornou inviável comparada aos sistemas CAD/CAM consolidados no mercado.