La minéralogie physique a permis d'élucider de nombreuses énigmes relatives aux phases minérales du manteau terrestre, leur nature, leur changement de phase. L'expérimentation à haute pression et haute température dans la seconde moitié du 20ème siècle a permis d'apporter des données essentielles sur les matériaux du globe : on a pu alors faire le lien entre ces matériaux et les données obtenues par la sismologie, la géochimie et la géodynamique notamment. Les phases silicatées riches en calcium et aluminium se révèlent avoir des caractéristiques particulièrement intéressantes, avec de grandes implications géodynamiques. L'intérêt majeur de la combinaison de ces deux éléments est que le calcium peut être substitué par des cations volumineux tandis que l'aluminium permet d'assurer les compensations de charges en se substituant au silicium. D'autre part, la minéralogie de Ca et Al est caractérisée par de nombreuses nouvelles phases aux propriétés et structures tout à fait originales. Nous présentons ici les principaux résultats obtenus sur la perovskite calcique alumineuse Al-CaSiO3 : cette phase est capable d'incorporer de très grandes quantités d'actinides uranium et thorium, qui sont les principales sources d'énergie du globe. Ainsi cette phase minérale peut être le véritable moteur thermique du manteau inférieur terrestre. Ces résultats sont énoncés dans la perspective de mieux contraindre les modèles géodynamiques récents : ainsi cette phase pourrait à elle seule contribuer au chauffage par le bas de gros dômes observés dans les coupes du manteau obtenues par tomographie sismique. La relation possible entre nos résultats de minéralogie physique et le volume de matériaux chauds dans le bas du manteau terrestre est également discutée. La deuxième phase alumino-calcique présentée ici est la nouvelle phase appelée CAS et de composition CaAl4Si2O11. Il est maintenant acquis que ce minéral est essentiel dans les basaltes en subduction, notamment lorsqu'ils sont partiellement fondus. Mais plus intéressant, nous montrons que cette phase est caractérisée par une transition isosymétrique permettant à des atomes de silicium d'adopter une coordinence 5 au sein d'une bipyramide trigonale (2 tétraèdres partageant une face). L'importance d'une telle coordinence pour Si, intermédiaire entre les coordinences 4 et 6, est discutée, notamment en termes de processus de diffusion, de déformation par fluage diffusionnel, de viscosité : il apparaît clairement que des espèces telles que les groupes SiO5 favorisent grandement la déformation des matériaux qui les contiennent, et contribuent donc à améliorer leurs propriétés de transport. Ainsi la coordinence du silicium a un effet direct sur les processus dynamiques se produisant dans le manteau profond. A travers ces deux grandes études, on s'aperçoit à quel point les résultats de minéralogie physique peuvent apporter des données essentielles permettant d'alimenter des modèles géodynamiques, des modèles de fonctionnement thermique ou des modèles sismologiques. La sismologie ausculte le globe dans sa totalité, les expériences de géodynamique en laboratoire simulent le comportement rhéologiques du manteau avec des fluides et un chauffage par le bas : il est important d'apporter à ces modèles des informations précises sur les matériaux traversés par les ondes sismiques, ou que l'on essaie de modéliser en dynamique. D'autre part, l'étude de la phase CAS montre que des propriétés macroscopiques observées dans le manteau terrestre peuvent trouver leur origine dans la structure microscopique des phases minérales du manteau.

Thèse de doctorat : Sciences appliquées : Nancy 1 : 1998. / 1998NAN10211. Titre provenant de l'écran-titre.

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Chimie organique et macromoléculaire : Lille 1 : 2006. / N° d'ordre (Lille 1) : 3870. Résumé en français et en anglais. Titre provenant de la page de titre du document numérisé. Bibliogr. à la suite de chaque chapitre. Liste des publications et des communications.

Thesis (M. S.)--Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005. / Committee Chair: Kenneth Sandhage; Committee Members: Joe Cochran, Robert Snyder and Tom Sanders. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites based on a variety of polymer matrices and several organoclays were prepared by melt processing. A detailed characterization of the thermal degradation of several commercial and experimental organoclays often used to form polymer nanocomposites was reported. The surfactant type, loading, and purification level of organoclay significantly affect their thermal stability; however, broadly speaking, the results suggest that these differences in thermal stability do not appear to have much effect on the morphology and properties of the nanocomposites formed from them. It seems that the thermal stability of organoclays is not the key factor in organoclay exfoliation in melt processed polymer nanocomposites, since the exfoliation/dispersion process may have been completed on a time scale before the degradation of surfactant progresses to a detrimental level. Polymer nanocomposites have been made from a variety of polymers; however, few matrices have demonstrated the ability to readily exfoliate the organoclay as well as nylon 6, especially for highly hydrophobic materials like polyolefins. Hence, a significant part of this research work was devoted to explore various routes to improve polyolefinorganoclay interactions, and thus, organoclay exfoliation in these systems. Amine grafted polypropylenes and a conventionally used maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene were used as compatibilizers for polypropylene based nanocomposites to improve the organoclay exfoliation. A series of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, the polarity of which can be adjusted by varying their vinyl acetate contents, based nanocomposites were prepared as the model system to address the relationship between the polarity of the polymers and their preferences over various organoclay structures. Attempts were made to explore the effect of degree of neutralization of acid groups in ionomers on the morphology and properties of nanocomposites, and it seems that the ionic units on the polymer chain provide a more favorable interaction between the polymer matrix and the organoclay compared to acid units and, thus, lead to better dispersion of the clay particles. It was determined that surfactants whose structure lead to more shielding of the silicate surface result in improved levels of exfoliation in all the above mentioned unmodified and modified polyolefin based nanocomposites. / text

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A range of porous solid adsorbents were synthesised and their ability to separate and capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from gas mixtures was examined. CO2 separation from flue gas – a type of exhaust gas from fossil fuel combustion that consists of CO2 mixed with mainly nitrogen and biogas (consists of CO2 mixed with mainly methane) were explicitly considered. The selected adsorbents were chosen partly due to their narrow pore sizes. Narrow pores can differentiate gas molecules of different sizes via a kinetic separation mechanism: a large gas molecule should find it more difficult to enter a narrow pore. CO2 has the smallest kinetic diameter in zeolites when compared with the other two gases in this study. Narrow pore adsorbents can therefore, show enhanced kinetic selectivity to adsorb CO2 from a gas mixture. The adsorbents tested in this study included mixed cation zeolite A, zeolite ZK-4, a range of aluminophosphates and silicoaluminophosphates, as well as two types of titanium silicates (ETS-4, CTS-1). These adsorbents were compared with one another from different aspects such as CO2 capacity, CO2 selectivity, cyclic performance, working capacity, cost of synthesis, etc. Each of the tested adsorbents has its advantages and disadvantages. Serval phosphates were identified as potentially good CO2 adsorbents, but the high cost of their synthesis must be addressed in order to develop these adsorbents for applications. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defence the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Papers 4-8: Manuscripts.</p>

No description available.

Homogeneous single C-S-H gels have been prepared for the investigation of alkali binding potential and crystallisation. A distribution coefficient, R_d, was introduced to express the partition of alkali between solid and aqueous phases at 25°C. R_d is independent of alkali hydroxide concentration and depends only on Ca:Si ratio over wide ranges of alkali concentration. The trend of numerical values of R_d indicates that alkali bonding into the solid improves as its Ca:Si ratio decreases. Reversibility is demonstrated, indicating a possibility of constant R_d value of the material. Al has been introduced to form C-A-S-H gels and their alkali sorption properties also determined. Al substituted into C-S-H markedly increases R_d, indicating enhancement of alkali binding. However, the dependence of R_d on alkali concentration is non-ideal with composition. A two-site model for bonding is presented. Crystallisation both under saturated steam and 1 bar vapour pressure has been investigated. It has been shown that heat treatment by saturated steam causes crystallisation of gels. The principal minerals obtained were (i) C-S-H gel and Ca(OH)₂ at ~55°C, (ii) 1.1 nm tobermorite, jennite and afwillite at 85-130°C, and (iii) xonotlite, foshagite and hillebrandite at 150-180°C. Properties of crystalline C-S-H were also reported for reversible phase transformation, pH conditioning ability, seeding effect and solubility. At 1 bar pressure, crystallisation is slower than in saturated steam due to lower water activity. Tobermorite-like nanodomains develop during reaction at low Ca/Si ratios. In some Ca-rich compositions, Ca(OH)₂ is exsolved and occurs as nano-sized crystallites.

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Western Sdyney, 2001. / "A thesis presented in accordance with the regulations governing the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Sydney" "November 2001" Bibliography: leaves 249 - 254.