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published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

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Bismuth-Strontium-Calcium-Copper-Oxide (BSCCO) compounds are an important family of compounds that have one of the highest transition temperatures among all high-temperature superconductors. The compound is known to exist in three distinct phases, commonly referred to as the 2201, 2212 and 2223 phases. Of these three phases, the 2212 and 2223 phases are the most important, as their transition temperature is higher than the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. It is desirable to produce the compound in thin film form, as the bulk samples are normally polycrystalline. This thesis compares thin films produced by two techniques for depositing BSCCO in order to understand the effect of various processing parameters on the final quality of the thin films. Thin films were grown by flash evaporation at Texas A&M University, and by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at the University of Wollongong, Australia. The latter of these techniques is widely used for growing thin films of various compounds. Single-phase 2212 films were grown on a MgO substrate using the pulsed laser deposition technique from commercially available 2212 powder. The effect of annealing on the thin films was also studied.

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<p> Digital Holography (DH) is an emerging tool for use in the structural investigation of temperature dependent material processes. DH is able to reveal deformations and topological details at ultrahigh sensitivity (a few tens of nanometers) for particular details such as point-like objects and interfacial structures, allowing for the investigation of a range of processes. However, while DH is able to provide high precision data, the height measurement range is limited by the probe wavelength. Therefore a 'synthetic' wavelength created from the superposition of two or more individual wavelengths is often required in order to increase the measurement range to a suitable value dependent upon the object dimensions. </p><p> The use of multiple wavelengths attached to one system thus allows for surface height measurements over a relatively long range. In addition as the complex wave-front of each wavelength can be captured simultaneously in one digital image, real-time performance is achievable. In this thesis a number of materials processes were investigated at differing temperatures. The structural changes associated with the martensite to austenite phase transformation were measured using dual-wavelength digital holography during thermal cycling of nickel-aluminum-platinum (NiAlPt) and single-crystal Fe-15Cr-15Ni alloys. Real-time in-situ measurements reveal the formation of striations within the NiPtAl alloy at &sim;70&deg;C, and the FeCrNi alloy at &sim;520&deg;C. The results demonstrate that digital holography is an effective technique for acquiring non-contact, high precision information of the 3D surface evolution of alloys at high temperatures.</p>

<p>Microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices are not capable of withstanding harsh operating environments, which may include high temperatures, pressures and corrosive agents. Ni-base superalloys have been used successfully in the hot stages of jet turbine engines despite the presence of these conditions. In my thesis work, I developed two techniques compatible with micro-processing methods to produce Ni-base superalloy micro-components for MEMS applications. The mechanical properties of these materials were accessed at room and elevated temperatures. Microstructural studies were performed, linking microstructural features to mechanical properties. </p><p> The first technique modified LIGA Ni (LIGA is a German acronym for lithography, electroplating and molding) microtensile specimens using a vapor phase aluminization process. A subsequent homogenization heat treatment produced a two phase Ni-Ni3A1 microstructure characteristic of modern Ni-base superalloys. Al composition was used to tailor both the precipitate size and volume fraction. Aluminized LIGA Ni micro-components exhibited room temperature yield and ultimate strengths 3 to 4 times LIGA Ni micro-components subject to the same heat treatment. </p><p> The second technique involved sputtering a commercial Ni-base superalloy, Haynes 718, to produce thick sputtered foils (up to 20 gam) on silicon and brass substrates. The as-deposited foils were nanocrystalline solid solutions with chemical compositions similar to the bulk material. Foils subject to ageing heat treatments exhibited unique precipitation mechanisms and good thermal stability. Strengths as high as 750 MPa at 700&deg;C were observed with several percent ductility. This is a significant improvement over state of the art metallic MEMS materials. </p><p> Furthermore, a new high temperature microtensile testing technique was developed. The technique embeds a displacement based force sensor into the hot zone of a furnace. This arrangement ensures temperature uniformity during testing, while permitting friction along the loading axis by measuring force locally. Load and displacement are measured simultaneously with a single camera using digital image correlation techniques. Initial results, using Al 6061-T6 as a reference material, were promising. </p>

Measurements of relative densities and relative massic heat capacities have been made for several aqueous rare earth chloride and perchlorate systems. Densities and relative massic heat capacities of acidified aqueous perchlorates of yttrium, ytterbium, dysprosium, and samarium as well as the chlorides of yttrium, ytterbium, dysprosium, samarium and gadolinium have been measured at the temperatures 288.15, 298.15, 313.5 and 328.15 K. Using the density and massic heat capacity data, apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities have been calculated. These data have been modeled using the Pitzer ion interaction approach as well as the Helgeson, Kirkham and Flowers equations of state. Apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities previously presented in the literature have been compared to the data presented here. single ion apparent molar volume and apparent molar heat capacity contributions were calculated. Infinite dilution properties have been compared to existing models used to predict infinite dilution properties. Densities of aqueous perchloric acid and ytterbium perchlorate at the temperatures from 348.15 to 423.15 K and at pressured from 10.00 to 30.00 MPa were measured. Apparante molar volumes were calculated from the density measurements. The apparent molar volume data were modeled using Pitzer ion interaction theory as well as HKF equations of state. Models presented are compared to existing models. / xi, 149 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Relative densities and relative massic heat capacities have been measured for aqueous solutions of triflic acid (CF3SO3H), sodium triflate (NaCF3SO3), gadolinium triflate (Gd(CF3SO3)3), dysprosium triflate (Dy(CF3SO3)3), neodymium triflate (Nd(CF3SO3)3), erbium triflate (Er(CF3SO3)3), ytterbium triflate (Yb(CF3SO3)3), and yttrium triflate (Y(CF3SO3)3) at T = (288.15, 298.15, 313.15, and 328.15) K and p = 0.1 MPa. The resulting densities and massic heat capacities have been used to calculate out apparent molar volume and apparent molar heat capacity data for each of the investigated aqueous systems. The concentration dependencies of the apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities have been modeled using Pitzer-ion interaction equations. Single ion volumes and heat capacities have been calculated using estimates of the apparent molar properties at infinite dilution obtained from the Pitzer-ion interaction equations. These single ion values have, where possible, been compared with those previously reported in the literature. Also, relative densities have been measured for aqueous solutions of CF3SO3H, Gd(CF3SO3)3, Nd(CF3SO3)3, and Yb(CF3SO3)3 at T = (323.15, 348.15, 373.15, and 423.15) K and p = (5.00, 10.00, and 15.00) MPa. The resulting densities have been used to calculate apparent molar volumes. The concentration dependences of these properties have also been modeled using Pitzer-ion interaction equations. The apparent molar volumes have been used to calculate single ion volumes which, in turn, have been compared with those previously reported in the literature. This thesis also attempts to model the temperature, pressure, and concentration dependencies of the reported apparent molar properties of each system investigated using an equation of state commonly referred to as the density model. Where possible, the results of this model have been compared with those results from models previously reported in the literature. / xiv, 148 leaves ; 29 cm.