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Inflatable space-based devices have become popular over the past three decades, as they offer minimized launch-mass and launch-volume. Since some satellites have mirror sections over fifty feet in diameter and struts with lengths over ninety feet, inflation while in orbit has become a necessary procedure. Once inflated, these space structures are subject to two types of vibrations: those induced mechanically by guidance systems and space debris and those induced thermally from variable amounts of direct sunlight as they orbit about earth. Controlling vibrations of spaced-based structures is critical to ensuring optimal performance. The focus of this research is derived from an Air Force program to develop and model an active control system using smart materials to suppress the vibrations of inflatable communication satellites. When small piezoceramic devices are attached to an aluminum or steel structure, the effects of the piezo on the dynamic properties of the host are typically ignored. However, the inflatable satellites of interest to this project are manufactured from Kapton®, a thin, light polyimide film. Therefore, even a piezopolymer film actuator, such as PVDF, could greatly change the mass and stiffness values in the area under and around the patch, altering the dynamic behavior of the satellite. Thin-walled pressure vessel theory was employed to assess the state of stress at any location on an inflated torus. A flat, rectangular coupon was selected at a general point on the structure and modeled as a membrane. The equation of motion for this membrane with clamped edges was derived and a closed-form solution for the natural frequencies and mode shapes was presented. The Rayleigh-Ritz and finite element methods were then seen to numerically approximate the natural frequencies and mode shapes for the bare membrane with a high degree of accuracy. A passive PVDF patch was then attached to the base membrane and the equation of motion derived using an energy approach. Since a closed-form solution was not readily available, the Rayleigh-Ritz and finite element methods were again employed to obtain approximate results that agreed remarkably well. Trends in natural frequencies for various patch areas and thicknesses were explored. It was shown, that membrane theory represented the added mass of the patch but was unable to account for the added stiffness of the PVDF attachment. Traditional membrane theory was also unable to model an active PVDF patch as a sensor for out of plane vibrations, but the ability of the patch to alter the tension in the base layer was predicted. / Master of Science

La croissance d’une tumeur requiert la formation de son propre réseau vasculaire par angiogenèse. Ce processus est orchestré par une multitude de médiateurs dont le VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) qui interagit avec des récepteurs surexprimés à la surface des cellules endothéliales des vaisseaux avoisinant la tumeur. Les thérapies ciblées anticancéreuses jouent sur cette surexpression pour concevoir de nouvelles molécules spécifiques de la zone tumorale. Un nouvel agent de ciblage a ainsi vu le jour au sein du laboratoire. Il s’agit d’un cyclopeptide de 17 acides aminés, nommé CBO-P11 qui présente une haute affinité pour les récepteurs du VEGF. Afin de prolonger le temps de circulation du peptide dans le sang, des nanoparticules de poly(fluorure de vinylidène) (PVDF), polymère biocompatible, ont été utilisées comme vecteur. Les nanoparticules ont tout d’abord été synthétisées par une polymérisation radicalaire en émulsion dans l’eau, puis radio-greffées avec de l’acide acrylique (AA) pour obtenir du PVDF-g-PAA, ce qui a permis par la suite de les fonctionnaliser avec le CBO-P11 et un agent d’imagerie par « click » chemistry via un bras espaceur de type oligo(éthylène glycol). Différents marqueurs ont été étudiés à savoir deux sondes fluorescentes pour l’imagerie optique et un agent de contraste pour l’imagerie par résonance magnétique à bas champ. Chaque étape de synthèse a été caractérisée par de nombreuses techniques telles que la diffusion statique et dynamique de la lumière, la diffusion de neutrons aux petits angles, la spectrométrie photoélectronique de rayons X, la spectrométrie infrarouge, la spectrométrie de fluorescence et la polarisation dynamique nucléaire. Des études in vitro sur des cellules endothéliales ont permis de montrer que les nanoparticules n’étaient pas cytotoxiques et que le CBO-P11 lié au vecteur conservait sa spécificité pour les récepteurs du VEGF. Ces outils multifonctionnels présentent un grand potentiel pour cibler et imager les zones tumorales. / Tumor growth requires the formation of its own vascular network by angiogenesis. This process is mediated through numerous factors including VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) which interacts with receptors overexpressed on endothelial cells of blood vessels neighboring tumor. Targeted anticancer therapies take advantage of this overexpression to design tumor-specific molecules. A new targeting agent, CBO-P11 was synthesized in the laboratory. It is a 17-mer cyclopeptide with a high affinity for VEGF receptors. In order to increase the blood circulation time of this peptide, nanoparticles of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), biocompatible polymer, were used as carrier. Nanoparticles were synthesized by radical polymerization in aqueous emulsion, then radio-grafted with acrylic acid (AA) to obtain PVDF-g-PAA. Nanoparticles were functionalized with CBO-P11 and an imaging agent by “click” chemistry via an oligo(ethylene glycol)-like spacer arm. Different dyes were used: two fluorescent probes for optical imaging and a contrast agent for low-field magnetic resonance imaging. Each step of the nanoparticles preparation was monitored and successfully characterized by numerous techniques such as dynamic and static light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic nuclear polarization. In vitro studies were performed on endothelial cells and have shown that nanoparticles were not cytotoxic and that CBO-P11 conjugated to nanoparticles kept its specificity for VEGF receptors. Those multifunctional tools offer a great potential to target and image tumor.

Foi desenvolvido um novo método para a determinação da polarização ferroelétrica de polímeros ferroelétricos, em particular do PVDF estirado biaxialmente. A técnica consiste em manter constante a corrente através da amostra e medir a evolução da tensão (V versus t) entre os eletrodos da mesma. As medidas foram realizadas em ambiente com atmosfera de ar superseco o que permite desprezar a condução elétrica das amostras, simplificando sobremaneira as equações do problema. Considera-se a existência de dois tipos de polarização: a ferroelétrica, com tempo de chavamento desprezível, e uma polarização elétrica foram realizados em duas situações distintas: com chaveamento e sem chaveamento ferroelétrico. O procedimento permite avaliar a dependência da polarização ferroelétrica com o campo, determinada a partir da equação geral da corrente. Para se descrever a resposta da polarização elétrica dependente do tempo, usa-se o princípio da superposição e assume-se que ela está em fase com o campo elétrico aplicado (processo lento). Será mostrado que é possível determinar a polarização ferroelétrica do polímero PVDF estirado biaxialmente sem a necessidade de determinar a formas funcionais da polarização dependente do tempo e de se conhecer o valor da capacitância da amostra. / In this work a novel method was developed for the determination of the ferroelectric polarization of ferroelectric polymers, in particular of biaxially stretched PVDF. The technique consists of maintaining constant the current through the sample and to measure the evolution of the bias voltage (V versus t) on the electrodes. Measurements were performed in super-dry air, which allows one to neglect the electric surface and volumetric conduction of the samples, simplifying the equations of the problem. It is considered the existence of two polarization types: the ferroelectric, with a very short switching time, and a another polarization dependent of the time. The processes for studying the electric polarization were accomplished in two different situations: with switching and without ferroelectric switching. The procedure allows evaluating the dependence of the ferroelectric polarization on the electric field, determined starting from the general equation of the current. To describe the time dependent polarization it is used the principle of superposition and the polarization value assumed to be in phase with the applied electric field (slow process). It will be shown that it is possible to determine the ferroelectric polarization of the material without the need of the functional form of the polarization and the value of the capacitance of the sample.

A técnica do triodo de corona com corrente constante foi utilizada para carregar amostras de PVDF na fase &#945, acompanhando a evolução do potencial de superfície durante o carregamento. Com essa técnica foi possível não só obter a fase &#945p a partir da fase &#945 como também analisar o comportamento elétrico de ambas as fases. Os resultados obtidos em ambiente úmido mostram que a forma geral das curvas de potencial nas amostras carregadas com corona positiva e negativa são similares, ou seja, no início do carregamento tem-se um salto inicial, continua crescendo numa taxa mais lenta até alcançar um valor máximo de potencial e a partir deste valor decai para um regime estacionário. Os valores de potenciais alcançados na superfície da amostra não foram suficientes para gerar campos elétricos da ordem 1.5MV/cm, requeridos para induzir uma transição para a fase &#945p. Apesar de ocorrerem mudanças no comportamento elétrico durante os carregamentos, nenhuma mudança na estrutura das amostras foi detectada, usando a técnica de difratometria de raios-X. Em ambiente seco foi verificado que, durante o carregamento, o potencial na superfície da amostra alcançava valores altos quando comparado aos obtidos em ambiente úmido. Verificou-se também, que as amostras apresentavam enrugamento, característicos de materiais poliméricos. As mudanças ocorridas devido ao carregamento foram detectadas pela técnica de raios-X, confirmando a mudança de estrutura para &#945p. O comportamento ferroelétrico das amostras na fase &#945p, foi identificado pela curva de evolução do potencial de superfície, onde se avalia a quantidade de polarização ferroelétrica adquirida. As mudanças de estrutura e das propriedades elétricas em ambiente seco foram irreversíveis. / The constant current corona triode was used for charging &#945-PVDF samples and monitoring their surface potential buildup during poling. It is shown that the method allows one to obtain the polar &#945p form of PVDF from the non-polar &#945-form and also to analuse electrical characteristics of both forms. The experimental results obtained with samples under humid conditions show a similar behavior for positive and negative corona. There is na initial steep increase in the surface potential which then increases passing through a maximum value, and decreases until a steady state is reached. The maximum values attained are not sufficiently high to attain electric fields of around 1.5MV/cm required for causing a phase change from &#945 to &#945p. Furthermore, no change in the structure of the samples is noted in X-ray diffractograms. For measurments carried out under dry conditions, on the other hand, the sample surface potential attain much higher values. The samples become wrinkled after being submitted to these high electric fields (&#62 1.5MV/cm), and this is characteristic of ferroelectric materials. The change to &#945p from samples is confirmed by the structural changes exhibited in X-ray diffractograms. The ferroelectric behavior of the &#945p samples is further identified by the surface potential buildup, from which the remanent polarization can be inferred. The structural as well as the electric changes caused by the corona charging are found to be irreversible.

O uso de biomateriais para acelerar reparos de fraturas ósseas tem aumentado nos últimos anos. Neste estudo, as propriedades piezelétricas do fluoreto de polivinilideno foram utilizadas com a finalidade de mimetizar os potenciais bioelétricos associados à deformação óssea, que são diminuídos quando ocorre fratura óssea. Estudos histomorfométricos foram efetuados para verificar a influência do polímero. Testes de biocompatibilidade e de esterilização permitiram avaliar os riscos da utilização do polímero como material de implante. O polímero piezelétrico associado à placa de osteossíntese resultou em uma maior quantidade de matriz óssea mineralizada na lesão quando comparado ao implante da placa sem o polímero. / The use of biomaterials to promote accelerated bone fracture repair has been improved in the recent years. In the present study, the piezoelectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) were used with the aim of mimetizing bioelectrical potentials associated to bone strain which decrease when a bone fracture occurs. Histomorphometric studies were accomplished to verify the influence of the polymer. Biocompatibility and sterilization tests assessed any risk related to the use of a polymer as an implantable material. The piezoelectric polymer associated to an osteosynthesis plate resulted in a larger amount of mineralized bone matrix in the lesion when compared to a plate implanted without the polymer.

Les polymères fluorés sont des macromolécules intéressantes qui, en raison de leurs propriétés uniques, sont souvent utilisées dans des applications spéciales dans les industries du bâtiment, de l'aérospatiale, du génie chimique, du traitement des textiles, optiques et de la microélectronique. Cette thèse se concentre sur le développement de polymères fluorés fonctionnels à base de phosphore et de silane par la co/terpolymérisation radicalaire conventionnelle de monomères fonctionnels avec le fluorure de vinylidène (VDF). Ces monomères fonctionnels ont été préparés à partir de la modification de l'acide 2- (trifluorométhyl) acrylique (MAF) pour préparer des MAF-ester avec le groupement fonctionnel souhaité. Tout d'abord, une étude fondamentale concernant la cinétique de polymérisation du VDF avec MAF-TBE a montré que ces paires de monomères ont une tendance à se propager de manière croisée, ce qui donne des copolymères alternés. On a ensuite préparé du MAF avec une fonction phosphonate (MAF-DMP) et sa copolymérisation avec du VDF a permis d'obtenir du PVDF à fonctionnalité phosphonate qui, après l'hydrolyse consécutive du groupe phosphonate en acide phosphonique, avait des propriétés anticorrosion sur l'acier. De façon similaire, un monomère de MAF porteur une fonction carbonate cyclique (MAF-cyCB) a également été copolymérisé avec du VDF. Les groupes carbonate cycliques dans le copolymère de PVDF obtenu ont ensuite été ouverts par 1'aminopropyltriéthoxysilane pour introduire un groupe silane, qui, par son hydrolyse, a permis au copolymère d'adhérer fortement sur les substrats. Enfin, un terpolymère à base de PVDF fonctionnel porteur à la fois un groupe phosphonate et un groupe triéthoxysilane a été préparé. Le groupe silane a ensuite été hydrolyse et réticulé pour obtenir un réseau 3D de polymères. Enfin, l'hydrolyse du groupe phosphonate en acide phosphonique a conduit à une matière pouvant être utilisée dans l'extraction des ions Eu (III) de l'eau. / Fluorinated polymers are intresting macromolecules which due to their unique properties are often used in special applications in building industries, aerospace, chemical engineering, optics, textile treatment and microelectronics. This thesis focusses on the development of phosphorous and silane functional fluorinated polymers through the conventional radical co/terpolymerization of functional monomers with vinylidene difluoride (VDF). These functional monomers were prepared from the modification of 2-(Trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid (MAF) to prepare MAF-esters with the desired functional group. First a fundamental study regarding the kinetics of polymerization of VDF with MAF-TBE revealed that these monomer pair tends to cross propagate resulting in an alternating copolymer. Phosphonate functional MAF (MAF-DMP) was then prepared and its copolymerization with VDF led to phophonate functional PVDF, that after the consequent hydrolysis of the phosphonate group into phosphonic acid showed anticorrosion properties to steel. Following the same concept, a cyclic carbonate functional MAF monomer (MAF-cyCB) was also copolymerized with VDF. The cyclic carbonate groups in the obtained PVDF copolymer was then opened by aminopropyltriethoxysilane to introduce a silane group, that by its hydrolysis allowed the copolymer to adhere strongly onto substrates. Finally, a terpolymer based on PVDF functional with both a phosphonate and a triethoxysilane group is prepared. The silane group was then hydrolyzed and crosslinked to obtain a 3D network of polymers. Finally, the hydrolysis of the phosphonate group into phosphonic acid led to material that can be employed in Eu(III) ion extraction from water.

Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die Entwicklung eines Sensors zur gleichzeitigen Bestimmung von Spannungsintensitätsfaktoren (K-Faktoren) und der Risslage. Im Gegensatz zum Stand der Technik werden zwei Aufgaben zur Charakterisierung der Risse (Detektierung von Risslage und Größe und Quantifizierung des Beanspruchungszustandes an der Rissspitze) mit Hilfe nur eines Sensors ermöglicht. Es wurde effiziente, kostengünstige und leicht zu applizierende Technik zur experimentellen bruchmechanischen Beanspruchungsanalyse entwickelt. Eine Struktur mit Riss wird großflächig mit einer piezoelektrischen Polyvinylidenfluorid-Folie (PVDF-Folie) beklebt und eine ausreichende Anzahl von Elektroden befindet sich im Bereich des möglichen/vorhandenen Risses. Die an den Elektroden abgegriffenen elektrischen Potentiale bzw. Ladungen sind ein Maß für die Verzerrungen an der Oberfläche des Bauteils und ermöglichen die Berechnung der bruchmechanischen Größen am Riss. Dabei beschränkte man sich auf die Anwendung des Sensorkonzeptes im Rahmen der Scheiben- und Plattentheorie.