B4C is an important engineering ceramic used in a number of different applications. One of the promising applications of B4C is in the nuclear industry. B4C has a high neutron absorption cross-section (600 barns) and that is why it can absorb neutrons without forming long lived radio nuclides. As a result, B4C is extensively used as control rods, shielding material and as neutron detectors in nuclear reactors. During the reactor’s operation, the B4C undergoes severe neutron radiation and defects, such as vacancies and helium bubbles, are generated in the structure. These defects are responsible for the degradation of mechanical performance of B4C and can make this material unsuitable for further exploitation. Therefore, both crystal structure and mechanical properties of B4C were studied before and after radiation, as well as for the case when irradiated by neutrons B4C samples has been annealed in order to heal the defects introduced by the radiation. Fully dense B4C ceramics were produced by hot pressing at 2100ºC, 30MPa, and 45 minutes dwell time. 120 small bars of 2×2.5×25mm were machined according to the MOR bar standard. 40 bars after machining were tested as they were, 80 bars were irradiated with neutrons in neutron source for 3.5 months. 40 out of the 80 irradiated bars were annealed at 400ºC for 1 hour with an attempt to heal the defects possibly introduced by the irradiation. iv 4-point bending strength, SEVNB fracture toughness, and Vickers hardness have been measured on as received B4C, B4C after radiation, and B4C after radiation and annealing. The Weibull parameters were determined for each set of the conditions. The fracture surfaces of the B4C samples before and after radiation as well as after radiation and annealing have also been analyzed using SEM. X-ray diffractometer was used to collect diffraction pattern of the B4C, and Raman spectrometer was used to evaluate the vibrational response of B4C. Thus the effect of neutron radiation and annealing on the mechanical performance and structure of B4C has been analyzed.

No / We have studied the tensile behaviour of polycarbonate at large strains below the glass transition temperature. Experiments have been carried out at a series of constant temperatures and also under conditions of falling temperature. The specimens neck with a natural draw ratio of ~2, and the study focuses mainly on the necked material. Isothermal experiments reveal an elastic mechanism that initiates beyond the natural draw ratio. A model consisting of an Eyring process and two Gaussian elastic mechanisms is shown to be applicable to both the isothermal and anisothermal stress relaxation and stress-strain results. The same model also produces reasonable estimates of the stresses generated during the necking process. In addition, a simple relationship between isothermal and anisothermal stress relaxation is demonstrated.

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Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene has been commonly used as a biomaterial for hip and knee implants. This thesis concerns optical and three phase morphology of nano composites of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with Mg0.15Ni0.15Zn0.70Fe2O3 using analytical techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Muller matrix spectro-polarimeter has been used to study the absorption behavior over the visible spectral range i.e. 400-800 nm. The results show significant changes in the absorption behavior of UHMWPE/Zn nano ferrite samples. To analyze these changes in pure and UHMWPE/Zn-nano ferrite composites, the Urbach edge method was used for the calculation of optical activation energy. Moreover, direct and indirect energy band gaps, and the number of carbon atoms in C=C unsaturation have been evaluated by using the modified Urbach formula and Tauc’s equation, respectively. The results show that the optical activation energy decreases more with the addition of 2wt% Mg0.15Ni0.15Zn0.70Fe2O3 than 1wt% of Mg0.15Ni0.15Zn0.70Fe2O3. The values of direct and indirect energy band gaps are also found to decrease more with 2wt% of Mg0.15Ni0.15Zn0.70Fe2O3. Furthermore, indirect energy gaps are found to have lower values as compared to direct energy gaps. The numbers of carbon atoms in clusters determined from modified Tauc’s equation were approximately the same for 1wt% and 2 wt% of Mg0.15Ni0.15Zn0.70Fe2O3 but differ for pure UHMWPE. The degree of crystallinity obtained from Raman spectroscopy was 42%, 43%, and 42% for UHMWPE, UHMWPE+1% of Mg0.15Ni0.15Zn0.70Fe2O3, and UHMWPE+2% of Mg0.15Ni0.15Zn0.70Fe2O3, respectively, i.e. about the same, but the relative amount of interphase and amorphous regions varied. Optical activation and sub band gap energies can be estimated for utilization of this composite in applications such as optical sensors, solar cells etc.

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published_or_final_version / abstract / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Physics / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy