Dans cette thèse, on a étudié les effets provoqués par des changements de composition et de température sur la structure et les propriétés des verres des systèmes TiO₂-SiO₂ et Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂. On a également examiné la réponse des verres du système Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ à la déformation plastique. On a fabriqué des verres (x)TiO₂-(1-x)SiO₂ par le procédé sol-gel avec des compositions de 0 ≤ x ≤ 10 mol%, puis on les a comparés avec des verres commerciaux fabriqués par la déposition provoquée par l'hydrolyse à la flamme x = 0 ; 5,4 ; et 8,3 mol%. On a fabriqué des verres (x) Na₂O - (y) TiO₂ - (1-x-y) SiO₂ avec x = 10, 15, 20, et 25 mol% et y = 4, 7, and 10 mol% par trempage depuis l'état fondu. On a mesuré la densité des verres en utilisant le principe d'Archimède et on a mesuré l'indice de réfraction des verres par prisme coupleur. On a évalué la température de transition vitreuse des verres Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ par analyse thermique différentielle. On a étudié la structure et les modules d'élasticité par spectroscopie Raman et par diffusion Brillouin, respectivement, à température ambiante et in situ jusqu'à 1 200 °C pour les verres TiO₂-SiO₂ et jusqu'à 800 °C pour les verres Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂. On a constaté que le module de Young des verres TiO₂-SiO₂ a diminué de 72GPa à 66 GPa avec l'addition de 8,3 mol% TiO₂, et que le module de Young des verres 10 Na₂O - (0-10) TiO₂-SiO₂ a augmenté de 65 GPa à 73 GPa avec l'addition de 10 mol% TiO₂. On a vu que l'addition de TiO₂ aux verres TiO₂-SiO₂ a décalé les sommets du spectre Raman de 460, 490, et 600 cm-1 aux fréquences plus basses, ce qui suggère un réseau structural plus ouverte et flexible ; et que l'addition de TiO₂ aux verres Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ a décalé les sommets du spectre Raman 720, 800, et 840 cm-1 aux fréquences plus élevées, ce qui suggère une réduction de volume libre et un réseau structural plus rigide. L'addition de TiO₂ n'a que peu d'effet sur la réponse thermique des modules élastiques des deux systèmes, mais elle diminue l'expansion thermique et augmente les décalages de fréquences des sommets Raman de 950 and 1100 cm-1 du système TiO₂-SiO₂, alors que l'expansion thermique du système Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ augmente avec les premières additions de TiO₂ et puis reste constante. Les changements de structure et de propriétés liés à la composition sont examinés, et des modèles structuraux sont proposés. La réduction d'expansion thermique et des modules d'élasticité des verres TiO₂-SiO₂ se produit par la promotion des rotations coopératives inter-tétraèdres facilitées par les liaisons Ti-O plus longues et plus faibles. L'augmentation des modules d'élasticité des verres Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ est due à la formation de petits groupes avec des concentrations élevées de Na et Ti, produit par l'adoption de Ti d'une coordination quintuple d'une géométrie de pyramide à base carrée. Ces petites « globules » protègent le réseau silice des oxygènes non-pontants tout en augmentant la densité des liaisons du verre. On a étudié la réponse des verres Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ au dommage mécanique et la déformation plastique par des essais d'indentation Vickers de charges de 10 mN to 49 N. La dureté de fracture a été mesurée sur éprouvette préfissurée sur une seule face (méthode SEPB). On a examiné les volumes de déformation permanente auprès des indentations Vickers par microscopie à force atomique. Les indentations Vickers ont changé d'un mélange de radial/médian et des fissures coniques à un mélange de radial/médian et des fissures latérales, suivant l'augmentation du coefficient de Poisson. Avec la croissance du coefficient de Poisson, la dureté de verre diminue de 5,5 GPa à 4,5 GPa ; la longueur moyenne de fissure radial/médian double, à peu près ; et la dureté de fracture reste constante. Le volume de verre déformé par l'écoulement de cisaillement augmente petit à petit avec l'augmentation du coefficient de Poisson et devient plus grand que le volume densifié à ν =0,237. / The responses of structure and properties to composition and temperature have been investigated for glasses in TiO₂-SiO₂ and Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ systems. Additionally, the response of Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses to plastic deformation has been studied. (x)TiO₂-(1-x)SiO₂ glasses were prepared through the sol-gel process with compositions 0 ≤ x ≤ 10 mol% and compared to commercial glasses prepared through flame hydrolysis deposition with x = 0, 5.4, and 8.3 mol%. (x) Na₂O - (y) TiO₂ - (1-x-y) SiO₂ glasses were prepared with x = 10, 15, 20, and 25 mol% and y = 4, 7, and 10 mol% through a melt-quench process. Density and index of refraction of glasses was measured through the Archimedes's method and using a prism coupler, respectively. The glass transition temperature of Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses was measured through differential thermal analysis. The structure and elastic moduli have been studied through Raman spectroscopy and Brillouin light scattering, respectively, at room temperature and in-situ up to 1200 °C for TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses and up to 800 °C for Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses. Young's modulus was observed to decrease from 72 GPa to 66 GPa with the addition of 8.3 mol% TiO₂ in TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses and to increase from 65 GPa to 73 GPa with the addition of 10 mol% TiO₂ in 10 Na₂O - (0-10) TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses. The addition of TiO₂ was observed to shift the 460, 490, and 600 cm-1 Raman peaks to lower frequencies in TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses, suggesting a more open and flexible network, and the 720, 800, and 840 cm-1 Raman peaks to higher frequencies in Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses, suggesting a lower free volume and stiffer network. The addition of TiO₂ has little effect on the temperature response of the elastic moduli in either system, but decreases the thermal expansion and increases the frequency shifts in the 950 and 1100 cm-1 Raman peaks in the TiO₂-SiO₂ system while the thermal expansion increases with initial additions of TiO₂ and then remains constant in the Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ system. Changes in structure and property with composition have been discussed, and structural models were proposed. The reduction of thermal expansion and elastic moduli in TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses occurs through the promotion of cooperative, inter-tetrahedral rotations facilitated by the longer and weaker Ti-O bonds. The increase in elastic moduli in the Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses occurs through the formation of small clusters with local, relatively high Ti and Na concentrations, promoted by Ti adopting a five-fold coordination in a square-pyramidal geometry. These clusters work to shield the silica network from non-bridging oxygens from the presence of Na while simultaneously increasing the volume bond density of the glass. For Na₂O-TiO₂-SiO₂ glasses, the response to mechanical damage and plastic deformation has been examined through Vickers indentation experiments at loads from 10 mN to 49 N. Fracture toughness was measured through the single-edge precracked beam method. The permanent deformation volumes around Vickers indents were investigated through atomic force microscopy. Critical loads for crack initiation and cracking patterns were systematically investigated and correlated with the elastic properties of glass. Vickers indents were observed to change from a mixture of radial/median and cone cracks to radial/median and lateral cracks as Poisson's ratio increases. As Poisson's ratio increases hardness decreases from 5.5 GPa to 4.5 GPa, the average radial/median crack length roughly doubles, and fracture toughness remains constant. A minimum in the critical crack initiation load was observed at ν = 0.21-0.22. The volume of glass deformed through shear flow increases gradually with increasing Poisson's ratio, becomes larger than the densified volume at ν =0.237.

Woven glass composites have been used for many years in commercial applications due to their light weight, competitive price and good engineering properties. Absorption of energy by laminated composite material results in damage in various forms, the most common of which is delamination. Inter-laminar fracture causes the layers of composite to separate, resulting in a reduction in stiffness and strength of the composite structure, matrix cracking and in some cases fibre breakage takes place. The aim of this project was to improve the inter-laminar bond strength between woven glass fabric and resin. Air jet texturing was selected to provide a small amount of bulk to the glass yarn. The purpose was to provide more surface contact between the fibres and resin and also to increase the adhesion between the neighbouring layers. These were expected to enhance the resistance to delamination in the woven glass composites.Glass yarns were textured by a Stähle air jet texturing machine. Core-and-effect yarn was produced instead of a simple air textured yarn. Hand loom and vacuum bagging techniques were used for making the fabric and composite panels from both textured and non-textured yarns. Density and fibre volume content were established for physical characterisation. Breaking strength (tenacity) of the yarns and tensile, flexure, inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) and fracture toughness (mode 1) properties of the composites were determined. Projection microscopy and SEM imaging techniques were used to assess the fractured surfaces of the composite specimens. The yarn tenacity and the tensile properties of the composites were significantly reduced after the texturing process, whereas flexure properties were unchanged. However, significant improvement was observed in the ILSS and fracture toughness of the composites after the texturing process. It was also observed that the composites made from the fabrics with textured yarns in only the weft direction are the most advantageous as they maintained the tensile and flexure properties but have significantly higher inter-laminar shear strength.

Metallic glasses possess attractive properties, such as high strength, good corrosion resistance, and superior soft magnetic performance. They also serve as precursors for synthesizing nanocrystalline materials. In addition, a new class of composites having crystalline phases embedded in amorphous matrix is evolving based on selective crystallization of metallic glasses. Therefore, crystallization of metallic glasses and its effects on properties has been a subject of interest. Previous investigations from our research group related to laser assisted crystallization of Fe-Si-B metallic glass (an excellent soft magnetic material by itself) showed a further improvement in soft magnetic performance. However, a fundamental understanding of crystallization and mechanical performance of laser treated metallic glass was essential from application point of view. In light of this, the current work employed an integrated experimental and computational approach to understand crystallization and its effects on tensile behavior of laser treated Fe-Si-B metallic glass. The time temperature cycles during laser treatments were predicted using a finite element thermal model. Structural changes in laser treated Fe-Si-B metallic glass including crystallization and phase evolution were investigated with the aid of X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, resistivity measurements, and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical behavior was evaluated by uniaxial tensile tests with an InstronTM universal testing machine. Fracture surfaces of the metallic glass were observed using scanning electron microscopy and site specific transmission electron microscopy. Fe-Si-B metallic glass samples treated with lower laser fluence (<0.49 J/mm2) underwent structural relaxation while higher laser flounces led to partial crystallization. The crystallization temperature experienced an upward shift due to rapid heating rates of the order of 104 K/s during laser treatments. The heating cycle was followed by termination of laser upon treatment attainment of peak temperature and rapid cooling of the similar order. Such dynamic effects resulted in premature arrest of the crystallite growth leading to formation of fine crystallites/grain (~32 nm) of α-(Fe,Si) as the major component and Fe2B as the minor component. The structural relaxation, crystallization fractions of 5.6–8.6 Vol% with α-(Fe,Si) as the main component, and crystallite/grain size of the order of 12 nm obtained in laser fluence range of 0.39-0.49 J/mm2 had minimal/no influence on tensile behavior of the laser treated Fe-Si-B metallic glass foils. An increase in laser fluence led to progressive increase in crystallization fractions with considerable amounts of Fe2B (2-6 Vol%) and increase in grain size to ~30 nm. Such a microstructural evolution severely reduced the strength of Fe-Si-B metallic glass. Moreover, there was a transition in fracture surface morphology of laser treated Fe-Si-B metallic glass from vein pattern to chevron pattern. Tensile loading lacked any marked influence on the crystallization behavior of as-cast and structurally relaxed laser-treated metallic glass foils. However, a significant crystallite/grain growth/coarsening of the order of two and half times was observed in the fractured region compared to the region around it for the laser-treated partially crystallized metallic glass foils. The simultaneous effects of stress generation and temperature rise during tensile loading were considered to play a key role in crystallite/grain growth/coarsening.