published_or_final_version / Applied Geosciences / Master / Master of Science

M. Tech. Metallurgical Engineering / Ti6Al4V alloy is the leading material for hip replacement because of its biocompatibility, elastic modulus and good yield strength, but shows poor corrosion and wear properties in simulated body fluid. Thin coatings were fabricated on Ti6Al4V alloy using Zirconium, Niobium and Titanium reinforcements with the aid of Nd:YAG Rofin Sinar laser system. Niobium reinforcement produced the best coating that displayed the best corrosion resistance and percentage increase in wear resistance in simulated body fluid as compared to the substrate. Therefore, this coating will perform best as orthopaedic implant material.

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Depuis son origine le microcalorimètre a été essentiellement utilisé pour la mesure des enthalpies de réaction. Cependant, à partir de 1950 environ, l'analyse cinétique des réactions par l'évaluation de la chaleur mise en jeu en fonction du temps a fait son apparition. Des études ont été effectuées en particulier en cinétique homogène, en catalyse hétérogène et pour les cinétiques d'adsorption. De grandes précautions doivent être prises pour l'utilisation du microcalorimètre CALVET lors des études de thermogénèse par suite de l'inertie de l'appareil due au caractère diffusif de la chaleur. Cette inertie retarde les échanges thermiques et déforme les courbes de thermogénèse. Nous nous proposons dans ce qui suit d'étendre le champ d'application de la microcalorimétrie à l'étude des cinétiques de réactions hétérogènes. En particulier dans le cas de l'oxydation des métaux. Il convient de remarquer que la microcalorimétrie se distingue des autres techniques habituellement employées pour ces études, à savoir essentiellement la thermogravimétrie et la manométrie. En effet, si dans ces dernières on obtient directement les courbes cinétiques intégrales. Nous verrons que le microcalorimètre fournit comme résultat primaire la courbe donnant la vitesse de réaction en fonction du temps. Dans une première partie, nous analyserons la technique microcalorimétrique et son adaptation à notre problème. La deuxième partie sera consacrée à l'étude d'un exemple expérimental : L'oxydation du niobium par l'oxygène.

Lorsque le produit de la réaction d'un gaz sur un solide métallique est un composée solide stable dans les conditions expérimentales, sa présence à la surface du métal ne permet plus un contact direct entre les deux réactants. Dans certains cas, le produit formé assure un effet protecteur complet et la réaction s'arrête. Mais il en est rarement ainsi et généralement le gaz ou le métal diffusé à travers le produit formé; ce qui permet à la réaction de se poursuivre. La cinétique du processus est alors réglée par la vitesse des étapes successives, qui décrivent cette diffusion, chacune d'elles peut être schématisée par le saut d'une particule dans le réseau cristallin. On peut alors distinguer deux cas : L'élément gazeux a un coefficient de diffusion supérieur à celui de l'élément métallique. Le produit formé croît au détriment de la matrice métallique et la zone diffusionnelle se limite à la couche formée. L'élément gazeux a un coefficient de diffusion inférieur à celui de l'élément métallique. Le produit formé croît par l'extérieur de l'oxyde et il est naturel d'envisager une diffusion dans le produit formé et dans la matrice métallique alors constituée par des atomes métalliques et des lacunes. Cette diffusion sans la matrice métallique permet de rendre compte de la consommation du métal. Si la diffusion dans la matrice joue un rôle important sur la vitesse du processus, elle peut également intervenir sur la nature et la localisation des produits formés à partir d'un alliage. La réactivité des différents éléments alliés avec le gaz est en effet déterminée par les conditions thermodynamiques de l'expérience. Ces conditions font intervenir la fraction atomique de chaque élément dans l'alliage. Il s'ensuit que la diffusion d'un ou plusieurs éléments dans la matrice métallique, modifiant le profil des concentrations, peut faire varier les conditions thermodynamiques et par suite la nature des produits formés. On conçoit ainsi l'importance de la nature des milieux diffusionnels sur les processus cinétiques, cela nous a conduits à élaborer un modèle de diffusion mixte dans les deux milieux en tenant compte de la consommation du métal au cœur de l'échantillon où se créé un évidement Ce modèle valable pour les métaux purs s'applique à des alliages binaires monophasés qui subissent une oxydation sélective des éléments. Du point de vue expérimental, nous nous sommes attachés à obtenir le maximum de renseignements relatifs d'une part à la composition et à la localisation des produits formée et d'autre part à l'influence de la teneur en éléments de la matrice métallique.

The gradual depletion of and dependence on fossil fuels, air pollution and global warming have all accelerated the development of alternative energy systems which use hydrogen as an energy carrier. The hybrid sulphur cycle (HyS) is the foremost electrothermochemical process that can produce hydrogen as the energy carrier. The HyS cycle consists of two units, namely the sulphuric acid decomposition reactor and the sulphur dioxide electrolyser (SDE). The SDE is responsible for the SO2 electrooxidation to sulphuric acid and protons at the anode and the electro–reduction of protons to hydrogen at the cathode. This research study focuses on the kinetic data collected from the prepared catalysts for SO2 electro–oxidation at the anode. Platinum dispersed on carbon, niobium pentoxide, tantalum pentoxide and zirconium dioxide as electrocatalysts were prepared using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. These electrocatalysts were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and x–ray diffraction. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the electrochemical active surface area (EAS) and the results showed that Pt/ZrO2–C had a higher EAS area than Pt/Ta2O5–C, Pt/Nb2O5–C and Pt/C. The high EAS of Pt/ZrO2–C can be explained by the low crystal size however after a series of linear polarisation scans Pt/ZrO2–C experiences a much greater area loss than all the other catalysts. Linear polarisation scans for each of the catalysts revealed that the influence of increased temperature and sulphuric acid concentration were showed improved results. Levich and Koutecky–Levich plots revealed that the SO2 oxidation is a multistep reaction on all the prepared catalysts and that there are regions which are kinetic and diffusion controlled and diffusion–only controlled. Pt/Ta2O5–C catalysts exhibited superior catalytic activity and stability compared Pt/Nb2O5–C, Pt/ZrO2–C and Pt/C. The Pt/ZrO2–C exhibited the most inferior catalytic activity and stability. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The gradual depletion of and dependence on fossil fuels, air pollution and global warming have all accelerated the development of alternative energy systems which use hydrogen as an energy carrier. The hybrid sulphur cycle (HyS) is the foremost electrothermochemical process that can produce hydrogen as the energy carrier. The HyS cycle consists of two units, namely the sulphuric acid decomposition reactor and the sulphur dioxide electrolyser (SDE). The SDE is responsible for the SO2 electrooxidation to sulphuric acid and protons at the anode and the electro–reduction of protons to hydrogen at the cathode. This research study focuses on the kinetic data collected from the prepared catalysts for SO2 electro–oxidation at the anode. Platinum dispersed on carbon, niobium pentoxide, tantalum pentoxide and zirconium dioxide as electrocatalysts were prepared using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. These electrocatalysts were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and x–ray diffraction. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the electrochemical active surface area (EAS) and the results showed that Pt/ZrO2–C had a higher EAS area than Pt/Ta2O5–C, Pt/Nb2O5–C and Pt/C. The high EAS of Pt/ZrO2–C can be explained by the low crystal size however after a series of linear polarisation scans Pt/ZrO2–C experiences a much greater area loss than all the other catalysts. Linear polarisation scans for each of the catalysts revealed that the influence of increased temperature and sulphuric acid concentration were showed improved results. Levich and Koutecky–Levich plots revealed that the SO2 oxidation is a multistep reaction on all the prepared catalysts and that there are regions which are kinetic and diffusion controlled and diffusion–only controlled. Pt/Ta2O5–C catalysts exhibited superior catalytic activity and stability compared Pt/Nb2O5–C, Pt/ZrO2–C and Pt/C. The Pt/ZrO2–C exhibited the most inferior catalytic activity and stability. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the cryogenic process for cooling superconducting radio frequency accelerator test cavities in the LEP accelerator at CERN. A liquefaction cryoplant is analysed, including the production of liquid helium at 4.5 K, the systems for distribution and regulation of liquid helium, and the radio frequency field used for accelerating particles. After discussing regulation problems and modifications planned for a new cavity installation in 1992, different techniques for specifying the control programs for the new installation are evaluated. Various diagramming techniques, standards and methodologies, and Computer Aided Software Engineering-tools, are compared as to their practical usefulness in this kind of process control. Finally, in accordance with anticipated requirements, possible ways of making high and low level control program specifications are suggested.

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The present project has made a comprehensive assessment of the effect of Nb doping on various charge-transfer related properties of TiO2. Of particular focus, the electrical properties of Nb-doped TiO2 (0.65 at %) have been investigated using the simultaneous measurement of electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power. This investigation was undertaken at elevated temperatures (1073 K -- 1298 K) in equilibrium with a gas phase of controlled oxygen activity (10-10 Pa < p(O2) < 75 kPa). In addition, the effect of segregation on the surface versus bulk composition of Nb-doped TiO2 was also investigated at a function of temperature and oxygen activity. Specifically, the following determinations were undertaken: The effect of oxygen activity, p(O2) and temperature on both electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power The effect of Nb on the defect disorder and related electrical properties of TiO2 The determination of equilibration kinetics and the associated chemical diffusion data for Nb-doped TiO2 The determination of Nb bulk diffusion in TiO2 The effect of p(O2), temperature and dopant content on Nb segregation and the related surface composition of Nb-doped TiO2 The obtained electrical properties enable the determination of a defect disorder model for Nb-doped TiO2, which may be considered within the following p(O2) regimes: Strongly Reduced Regime. In this regime, the predominant ionic defect was anticipated to be oxygen vacancies compensated electronically by electrons. While the transition to this regime (from higher p(O2)) was clearly observed, the predominant defect disorder existing beyond this transition was not confirmed due to an inability to obtain sufficiently low oxygen activity. Metallic-type conductivity behaviour was observed within this transition region. Reduced Regime I. In this regime, the predominate defect disorder defined by the electronic compensation of incorporated Nb ions by electrons was clearly observed. Reduced Regime II. In this regime, the predominate defect disorder defined by the ionic compensation of incorporated Nb ions by quadruply-charged titanium vacancies, was clearly observed. The present project included the determination of diffusion data which included: Temperature dependence of 93Nb tracer diffusion in single crystal TiO2 over the temperature range 1073 K -- 1573 K Chemical diffusion coefficient over the temperature range 1073 K -- 1298 K and oxygen activity range, 10-10 Pa < p(O2) < 75 kPa These pioneering studies are significant as they enable the prediction of the processing conditions required to reliably 1) incorporate Nb into the TiO2 lattice, and 2) achieve equilibrium with the gas phase. Finally, the present project included investigations on the effect of Nb segregation on the surface composition of Nb-doped TiO2, with the following outcomes: Due to segregation, the surface can be significantly enriched in Nb compared to the bulk The extent of enrichment increases as the bulk Nb content or the oxygen activity is decreased Following enrichment, the surface Nb concentration could be sufficiently high to assume a unique surface phase The outcomes of the present project are significant as they can enable the processing of TiO2 with enhanced charge transport and controlled surface properties.