Ever since the discovery of the giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE) in the Gd5(Si,Ge)4 phases, magnetic cooling has gained significant interest because of its potential environmental benefits and increased efficiency compared to vapour-based refrigeration. This current work is focused on one of the most promising GMCE systems, the (Mn,Fe)2(Si,P) materials. An alternative synthetic route has been explored for the Mn2-xFexSi0.5P0.5 and MnFeSiyP1-y series which is capable of producing phase-pure samples. The new preparation technique eliminates common impurities that arise from established methods thus providing a more accurate description of the structural and physical properties. The low cost, non-toxicity, abundance of starting materials and easy tuning of the magnetic properties make these materials desirable for potential applications. Phase-pure magnetocaloric Mn2-xFexSi0.5P0.5 materials (x = 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9) were synthesized through arc-melting followed by high temperature sintering. Structural features of samples with x = 0.6, 0.9 were studied through temperature dependent synchrotron powder x-ray diffraction. Magnetic measurements established the Curie temperature, thermal hysteresis, and magnetic entropy change of this system. According to the diffraction and magnetization data, all of the samples were shown to have a first-order magnetostructural transition which becomes less pronounced for Mn-richer samples. The MnFeSixP1-x phases (x = 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.48, 0.52, 0.54, 0.56) have also been synthesized by the same method. For the first time, single crystals of x = 0.30, 0.40 were successfully grown. Variable temperature x-ray diffraction experiments for x = 0.30 were completed which show the structural changes across the phase transition. This structural data was complemented with magnetization data providing Curie temperatures and thermal hysteresis. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

La maîtrise de l’additivation est l’un des enjeux majeurs de la formulation des lubrifiants, notamment pour l’industrie automobile. La formulation d’une huile est toutefois très complexe en raison du nombre important d’additifs et des nombreuses interactions possibles entre additifs, notamment entre les additifs de surface. Les phosphites organiques et les polysulfures organiques ont déjà montré leur efficacité en tant qu’additifs de surface. Toutefois malgré leur usage répandu dans les formulations des lubrifiants automobiles, peu d’études traitent des interactions pouvant avoir lieu entre ces deux types de composés. Ce travail de thèse a pour objectif la compréhension des mécanismes d’interaction (antagonisme/synergie) pouvant exister entre les phosphites organiques et les polysulfures organiques. Pour cela, une approche originale sur la lubrification par la phase gazeuse s’est avérée très pertinente. Le couplage du Tribomètre à Environnement Contrôlé (TEC) avec les systèmes d’analyses de surface XPS/Auger a permis d’analyser les tribofilms générés in situ et d’éviter ainsi toute contamination et/ou oxydation du tribofilm avant analyse. Les molécules choisies sont les additifs de lubrification industriels (polysulfures tertaires) à faibles poids moléculaires ou alors des molécules à faible poids moléculaires ayant les mêmes fonctions chimiques que les additifs usuels : trimethyl phosphite (TMPi), dimethyl phosphite (DMPi). L’étude des réactions des tribochimiques des molécules phosphorés a permis de mettre en évidence le rôle ambivalent du DMPi qui se comporte à la fois comme un phosphite pour former un phosphure de fer et comme un phosphate. Le mécanisme formation du phosphure de fer a peu être étayé par la réalisation de calculs ab initio sur l’adsorption dissociative du TMPi sur une surface de fer. Les TPS étudiés génèrent quant à eux des tribofilms à base disulfure de fer. Les mélanges binaires réalisés en phase gazeuse ont permis de mettre en évidence l’importance des rapports de concentrations des vapeurs introduites et du mode d’introduction des molécules dans le tribomètre. Les résultats obtenus en tribologie en phase gazeuse ont été corroborés par des essais complémentaires en phase liquide. / Mastering the addivation is one of the biggest issues for the lubricants formulation, especially in the automobile industry. However automotive lubricants are very complex systems due to the numerous additives mixed with base oils. Many interactions can occur between additives, especially between surface additives. Organic phosphites and organic polysulphides have already demonstrated their effectiveness as surface additives. However, despite their widespread use in the formulations of automotive lubricants, few studies deal with the interactions taking place between these two types of compounds. The aim of this study is to understand the interactions, antagonistic or synergetic effect between these kinds of additives using Gas Phase Lubrication (GPL) approach. A Environmental Controlled Tribometer (TEC) was used as a tool to simulate the interaction between organophosphate additives and polysulfurous additives. In situ surface analysis was performed in the tribofilm formed during friction using of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger Electron Spectroscopy(AES) in order to avoid any oxidation or air contamination. The molecules selected for the study can be same as the additive like the TPS molecules which are widely used as lubricant additives. Howeverto simulate the phosphite chemical function of phosphite additives, we need to select smaller molecule having the same chemical function. These molecules are dimethyl phosphite (DMPi), trimethylphosphate (TMPi) for simulating the phosphite chemical function and organic polysulphides (TPS44and TPS32). The study of the tribochemical reactions of organic phopshites allowed to clearly characterise the ambivalence of DMPi, which can react like a phosphite and induce iron phosphide formation or react like a phosphate. Ab initio numerical simulation on TMPi dissociative adsorption was carried out to identify the reactions pathways leading to iron phosphide formation. The tribochemical reaction of TPS44 on metallic iron surface leads to the formation of iron disulphidebased tribofilm. The binary vapours mixtures studied by GPL allowed to clearly identify the importance of the vapour concentration ratio between phosphite and polysulphide. Liquid phase experiments were also carried out to confirm the trend observed in GPL approach.