This dissertation is focused on the effects of both artificially produced and real roughness features on mixed lubrication film formation during start-up and reversal of non-conformal contacts operated under rolling/sliding conditions. The start-up operation of mixed lubricated contacts represents one of the transient conditions that bring the risk of the surface damage because of asperities interactions. Chromatic interferograms captured by CMOS high-speed camera during start up of the motion enabled to observe the detailed changes in lubrication film caused by surface features. The observation of the effects of surface dents artificially produced on the ball surface helped to understand better the behaviour of real surface topography. It was found that the presence of shallow surface features can help to separate mixed lubricated rubbing surfaces more efficiently than it could be suggested from the results obtained with smooth surfaces. It can be suggested from the obtain results that properly designed topography of the rubbing surfaces can help to reduce the asperities interactions under transient operational conditions.

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No / This article describes how an insight into the chemical and physical cues that affect bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation can provide ideas for creating successful antifouling or antimicrobial surfaces. To facilitate the design of new materials, the role of physical and chemical properties on bacterial adhesion is reviewed. The current approaches to reduce bacterial adhesion to various polymeric surfaces are discussed, as well as how multidisciplinary research on surface design and engineering may have an impact on both fundamental and applied microbiological science and technology.

No / This chapter describes the current approaches to reduce bacterial adhesion to various biomaterial surfaces, focusing on nonfouling surfaces through patterning and hydrophobicity plasma-assisted surface treatment and deposition; incorporation of antimicrobials, antibiotics, antibiofilms, and natural extracts that are either immobilized or released; dual function antimicrobial surfaces; incorporation of nonpathogenic bacteria, bacteriophages, and biofilm dispersal agents but also reduced bacterial adhesion through tissue integration. To facilitate the design of new materials, the role of physical, chemical, and biological surface properties on bacterial adhesion is reviewed in each case, as an insight into the chemical and physical cues that affect bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation can provide ideas for creating successful antifouling or antimicrobial surfaces. The application of these surfaces is explored based on the clinical needs and the market gaps. How multidisciplinary research on surface design and engineering may have an impact on both fundamental understanding of bacterial adhesion to biomaterials and applied biomaterial science and technology is finally discussed.

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have been used for artificial muscles for years. Recently the DEA-based deformable surfaces have demonstrated controllable microscale roughness, ease of operation, fast response, and possibilities for programmable control. DEA muscles used in bioinspired robotic arms for large deformation and strong force also become desirable for their efficiency, low manufacturing cost, high force-to-weight ratio, and noiseless operation. The DEA-based responsive surfaces in microscale roughness control, however, exhibit limited durability due to irreversible dielectric breakdown. Lowering device voltage to avoid this issue is hindered by an inadequate understanding of the electrically-induced wrinkling deformation as a function of the deformable dielectric film thickness. Also, the programmable control and geometric analysis of the structured surface deformation have not yet been fully explored. Current methods to generate anisotropic wrinkles rely on mechanical pre-loading such as stretching or bending, which complicates the fabrication and operation of the devices. With a fixed mechanical pre-loading, the device can only switch between the flat state and the preset wrinkling state. In this thesis, we overcome these shortcomings by demonstrating a simple method for fabricating fault-tolerant electro-responsive surfaces and for controlling surface wrinkling patterns. The DEA-based system can produce different reversible surface topographies (craters, irregular wrinkles, structured wrinkles) upon the geometrical design of electrode and application of voltage. It remains functional due to its ability to self-insulate breakdown faults even after multiple high voltage breakdowns, and the induced breakdown punctures can be used for amplification of local electric fields for wrinkle formation at lower applied voltages. We enhance fundamental understanding of the system by using different analytical models combined with numerical simulation to discuss the mechanism and critical conditions for wrinkle formation, and compare it with the experimental results from surface topography, critical field to induce wrinkles in films of different thickness, and wrinkling patterns quantitatively analysed by different disorder metrics. Based on the results, we demonstrate its wide applicability in adjustable transparency films, dynamic light-grating filter, molding for static surface patterns, and multi-stable mirror-diffusor-diffraction grating device. For DEAs used for macroscopic-scale deformation in robotic arms, the main issue that undermines the performance of DEA muscles is the trade-off between strong force and large displacement, which limits the durability and range of potential robotic and automation applications of DEA-driven devices. In this thesis, this challenge is tackled by using DEAs in loudspeaker configuration for independent scaling-up of force and displacement, developing a theoretical prediction to optimise the operation of such DEAs in bioinspired antagonistic system to maximise speed and power of the robotic arm, and designing a clutch-gear-shaft mechanical system collaborating with the muscles to decouple the displacement and output force. Therefore, the trade-off between force and displacement in traditional DEA muscles can be resolved. The mechanical system can also convert the short linear spurt to an unlimited rotary motion. Combining these advantages, continuous movement with high output force can be accomplished.

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Endosseous implants have notably high success rates, yet a small percentage of implants still fail for unidentified reasons. Recent literature points to hyperglycemia, resulting from untreated or undiagnosed diabetes, as a possible contraindication in an otherwise apparently healthy population. To investigate the effect of surface design on peri-implant healing in the presence of hyperglycemia, STZ-treated rats were implanted with custom rectangular implants of two surface topographies: grit blasted (GB) and grit-blast with a calcium phosphate nanotopography (GB-DCD). Tensile testing was conducted at 5, 7, and 9 days post-operative. Results demonstrated hyperglycemia to delay early stages of the peri-implant healing. Contact osteogenesis was increased along the GB-DCD surface, even in an environment of uncontrolled hyperglycemia, and the GB-DCD surface outperformed the GB surface in both healthy and hyperglycemic animals, showing peri-implant bone matured more rapidly on nanotopographically complex surfaces, even in the presence of uncontrolled hyperglycemia.

CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O trabalho tem como objetivo contribuir ao entendimento do efeito das caraterísticas superficiais no desgaste abrasivo com e sem efeito corrosivo. Utilizou-se o equipamento de micro-abrasão-corrosão desenvolvido no Laboratório de Tribologia e Materiais (LTM). Foi utilizado nos testes: amostras de aço inoxidável austenítico AISI 304, partículas abrasivas de sílica e velocidade de rotação de 150 rpm. Para a parte corrosiva foi usada solução eletrolítica com 1N de H2SO4. Para a influência da topografia de superfície do corpo de prova o aço AISI 304 foi preparado em lixas de carbeto de silício de granulometria #80 e #4000, e com disposições de lixamento perpendicular e paralelo com respeito ao sentido de rotação da esfera. Esferas de zircônia (Ø 25,4 mm) foram usadas como contra-corpos. Para avaliar a influência da natureza e evolução topográfica da superfície do contra-corpo usaram-se cinco contra-corpos esféricos (Ø 25,4 mm): um cerâmico (nitreto de silício, Si3N4), um metálico (aço AISI 52100) e três polímeros termoplásticos (polipropileno, PP, poliacetal, POM, e poliamida 6,6, PA 6,6); para os testes de micro-abrasão-corrosão foram usados um cerâmico (Si3N4) e um polímero termoplástico (PP). Foi acompanhada a evolução topográfica ao longo dos testes nos contra-corpos por meio de interferometria e perfilometría. O deslizamento das partículas abrasivas foi predominante nas calotas geradas em todos os testes realizados. A topografia de superfície do corpo e contra-corpo mostrou ter relação com a taxa de desgaste na micro-abrasão e micro-abrasão-corrosão. Topografia de superfície com parâmetros de rugosidade maiores apresentam maiores taxas de desgaste, tendo maior sensibilidade na micro-abrasão-corrosão. Atribuiu-se que, com maiores valores dos parâmetros de rugosidade, consegue-se maior efetividade no arraste e participação de partículas abrasivas no contato. / The aim of this work is to contribute to the understanding of the effect of surface characteristics on abrasive wear with and without corrosive effect. The micro-abrasion-corrosion apparatus developed at the Tribology and Materials Laboratory (LTM) was used. The following tests were used: AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel test specimens (body), silica abrasive particles and rotational speed of 150 rpm. For the corrosive analysis, an 1N H2SO4 electrolytic solution was used. For the influence of the surface topography of the specimen, the AISI 304 steel was grinded using silicon carbide (SiC) (#80 and # 4000), and tested with perpendicular and parallel arrangements with respect to the direction of rotation of the sphere. Zirconia balls (Ø 25.4 mm) were used as counter bodies. In order to analyze the influence of the nature and topographic evolution of the counter-body surface, five spherical counter bodies (Ø 25.4 mm) were used in the micro-abrasion tests: one ceramic (silicon nitride, Si3N4), one metal (AISI steel 52100) and three thermoplastic polymers (polypropylene, PP, polyacetal, POM and polyamide 6.6, PA 6.6); For the micro-abrasion-corrosion tests one ceramic (silicon nitride) and one thermoplastic polymer (PP) were used. The topographic evolution of the counter bodies was monitored along the tests through interferometry and profilometry. The grooving of the abrasive particles was predominant in the wear scars generated in all tests performed. The surface topographies of the body and counter-body showed to have relation with the wear rate in the micro-abrasion and micro-abrasion-corrosion tests. Higher roughness parameters induced higher wear rates, and show greater sensitivity in micro-abrasion-corrosion. It was attributed that higher values of the roughness parameters achieved greater effectiveness in the drag and participation of abrasive particles in the contact. / Tese (Doutorado)