Les matrices céramiques autocicatrisantes sont constituées d’une alternance de couches de SiC, B-C et Si-B-C, déposées par voie gazeuse (CVD). Les couches borées (Si)-B-C sont amorphes après élaboration et leur structure évolue à haute température (T ≥ 1000 °C). Diverses caractérisations (XRD, spectroscopie Raman, NMR, diffusion des neutrons, XANES) ont permis de préciser la structure locale des céramiques brutes d'élaboration. Celle-ci a par la suite été validée par des simulations par dynamique moléculaire ab initio. Elle est constituée de motifs icosaédriques, similaires à ceux de B4C, mais fautés et reliés entre eux par des environnements tétravalents CB4-xCx et trivalents BC3. Dans le cas des matériaux Si-B-C, cette même phase amorphe forme un continuum incluant des clusters de SiC. L’évolution structurale de ces céramiques sous atmosphère inerte a été étudiée en fonction de la température (1100°C ≤ T ≤ 1400 °C) et du temps (t ≤ 1 h). Le caractère métastable des matériaux induit une cinétique de réorganisation rapide. L'évolution structurale se traduit successivement, à T et t croissants, par l’apparition de carbone libre sp2, la cristallisation de B4C, ainsi que la croissance de nanocristallites de SiC dans les matériaux Si-B-C. Les propriétés mécaniques ont également été caractérisées à haute température à l’aide d’essais sur microcomposites Cf/(Si)-B-Cm. Les matériaux font preuve d’un comportement transitoire complexe et fortement dépendant de la température du fait de leur évolution structurale. / Self-healing matrices are composed of SiC, B-C and Si-B-C multilayers deposited by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The boron-rich layers (Si)-B-C are amorphous in their as-deposited state but crystallize at high temperature (T ≥ 1000 °C). Various analyses (XRD, Raman spectroscopy, NMR, neutron diffraction, XANES) were used to characterize the local structure of the as-processed and heat-treated ceramics. The local structure of heat-treated ceramics was also confirmed by molecular dynamic ab initio simulations. The structure consists of icosahedral units as in B4C but faulted and connected with each other through tetrahedral CB4-XCX and trigonal BC3 sites. In Si-B-C ceramics, the same amorphous phase forms a continuum embedding SiC clusters. The structural evolution of the ceramics in inert atmosphere were studied as a function of temperature (1100°C ≤ T ≤ 1400 °C) and time (t ≤ 1 h). The metastability of the materials leads to fast kinetics of reorganization. When T and t increase, one observes successively the formation free-sp2 carbon, the crystallization of B4C and, in Si-B-C ceramics, the coarsening of the SiC nanocrystallites. The high temperature mechanical properties have also been assessed by tensile tests on Cf/(Si)-B-Cm microcomposites. The materials undergo a complex transient behaviour which is strongly temperature dependent due to the structural changes.

Neste trabalho, a estrutura local e média de nanopartículas foi estudada utilizando-se métodos de espalhamento e difração de raios X. Os métodos utilizados foram: Análise da Função de Distribuição de Pares Atômicos (Atomic Pair Distribution Function Analysis, em inglês) para o estudo do ordenamento estrutural de curto alcance, Refinamento de Rietveld e Modelamento Total do Perfil de Difração de Pó para o estudo do ordenamento médio. Os materiais estudados foram: nanopartículas de KY3F10 dopadas com Tb, nanocubos núcleo-camada (core-shell, em inglês) de FeO-Fe3O4 e nanopartículas de ferritas de Mn-Zn. O trabalho teve como objetivo demonstrar como os métodos mencionados podem ser utilizados de forma complementar para fornecer informações de curto, médio e longo alcance usando-se dados de espalhamento e difração de raios X. Neste trabalho, ressalta-se a importância de cada método no estudo da estrutura cristalina e demonstra avanço e desenvolvimento de metodologias para a sua aplicação. / In this work, local and average structure of nanoparticles were studied using X-ray scattering and diffraction methods. The methods used were: Atomic Pair Distribution Function Analysis to study the short-range ordering, Rietveld refinement and Whole Powder Pattern Modelling to study the long-range ordering. The studied materials were: Tb-doped KY3F10 nanoparticles, core-shell FeO-Fe3O4 nanocubes and Mn-Zn ferrite nanoparticles. The objective of this work was to demonstrate how the methods mentioned can be used in a complementary way to provide short, average and long range information about the structure using X-ray scattering and diffraction data. The importance of each method to study the crystalline structure is highlighted demonstrating progress and development of methodologies for its application.

Neste trabalho, a estrutura local e média de nanopartículas foi estudada utilizando-se métodos de espalhamento e difração de raios X. Os métodos utilizados foram: Análise da Função de Distribuição de Pares Atômicos (Atomic Pair Distribution Function Analysis, em inglês) para o estudo do ordenamento estrutural de curto alcance, Refinamento de Rietveld e Modelamento Total do Perfil de Difração de Pó para o estudo do ordenamento médio. Os materiais estudados foram: nanopartículas de KY3F10 dopadas com Tb, nanocubos núcleo-camada (core-shell, em inglês) de FeO-Fe3O4 e nanopartículas de ferritas de Mn-Zn. O trabalho teve como objetivo demonstrar como os métodos mencionados podem ser utilizados de forma complementar para fornecer informações de curto, médio e longo alcance usando-se dados de espalhamento e difração de raios X. Neste trabalho, ressalta-se a importância de cada método no estudo da estrutura cristalina e demonstra avanço e desenvolvimento de metodologias para a sua aplicação. / In this work, local and average structure of nanoparticles were studied using X-ray scattering and diffraction methods. The methods used were: Atomic Pair Distribution Function Analysis to study the short-range ordering, Rietveld refinement and Whole Powder Pattern Modelling to study the long-range ordering. The studied materials were: Tb-doped KY3F10 nanoparticles, core-shell FeO-Fe3O4 nanocubes and Mn-Zn ferrite nanoparticles. The objective of this work was to demonstrate how the methods mentioned can be used in a complementary way to provide short, average and long range information about the structure using X-ray scattering and diffraction data. The importance of each method to study the crystalline structure is highlighted demonstrating progress and development of methodologies for its application.