Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) cements have been used for bone repair due to its excellent biocompatibility and resorbability. However, DCPD cements are typically weak and brittle. To overcome these limitations, the sodium citrate used as a setting regulator and the coating of poly-L-lactide acid (PLLA) technique have been proposed in this study. The first purpose of this thesis is to develop composite PLLA/DCPD scaffolds with enhanced toughness by PLLA coating. The second purpose is to examine the biocompatibility of the scaffolds. The final purpose is to investigate the degradation behaviors of DCPD and PLLA/DCPD scaffolds. In this experiment, DCPD cements were synthesized from monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) and 𝛽-tricalcium phosphate (𝛽 –TCP) by using deionized water and sodium citrate as liquid components. The samples were prepared with powder to liquid ratio (P/L) at 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50. To fabricate the PLLA/DCPD composite samples, DCPD samples were coated with 5 % PLLA. The samples were characterized mechanical properties, such as porosity, diametral tensile strength, and fracture energy. The mechanical properties of DCPD scaffolds with and without PLLA coating after the in vitro static degradation (day 1, week1, 4, and 6) and in vitro dynamic degradation (day 1, week 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8) were investigated by measuring their weight loss, fracture energy, and pH of phosphate buffer solution. In addition, the dog bone marrow stromal stem cells (dBMSCs) adhesion on DCPD and PLLA/DCPD composite samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The cell proliferation and differentiation in the medium conditioned with DCPD and PLLA/DCPD composite samples were studied by XTT (2,3-Bis(2-methoxy-4- nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay, respectively. The addition of sodium citrate and PLLA coating played a crucial role in improving the mechanical properties of the samples by increasing the diametral tensile strength from 0.50 ± 0.15 MPa to 2.70 ± 0.54 MPa and increasing the fracture energy from 0.76 ± 0.18 N-mm to 12.67 ± 4.97 N-mm. The DCPD and PLLA/DCPD composite samples were compatible with dBMSCs and the cells were able to proliferate and differentiate in the conditioned medium. The degradation rate of DCPD and PLLA/DCPD samples were not significant different (p > 0.05). However, the DCPD and PLLA/DCPD composite samples those used sodium citrate as a liquid component was found to degrade faster than the groups that use deionized water as liquid component

This thesis work was conducted at Luleå University of Technology in collaboration with Sandvik Rock Tools. The aim of the work was to determine the influence of carbon content on the wear performance in carburized steel in the dry contact interface of threaded connections between drill rods. In order to investigate this, samples of drill rod steel were carburized to three different carbon concentrations and shot peened to replicate the production process of a drill rod. The samples were wear tested by utilizing a twin-disc wear tester with one disc rotating at 100 RPM and the other at 3000 RPM to mimic the operating conditions in the threaded connection between drill rods. The results was evaluated by wear rate, surface topography, hardness as well as optical analysis by light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that an increased surface carbon content provide a decrease in wear rate and an increase in hardness in the surface layer that undergo microstructural changes due to the frictional heat and contact pressure during wear testing. The primary wear mechanisms were identified as plastic deformation, adhesive scratching and material removal through delamination.

<p dir="ltr">The recent global pandemic, COVID-19, has revealed to all the importance of understanding the complex relationship between viruses and hosts. Before COVID-19, I started my study of viral protein-host lipid interactions in the hemorrhagic fevers Ebola and Marburg viruses. These viruses contain a matrix protein that interacts with the plasma membrane to facilitate the formation of both authentic viruses and virus-like particles. My goal was to understand the limitations of their specific host lipid interactions. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, so to be our swift response in the development of a biosafety level 2 compatible model. This model can be used for studying severe acute respiratory distress syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) assembly, egress, and entry. This model enabled exponentially greater access to more facilities to study the intricacies of SARS-CoV-2 assembly. With more access to studying the virus in a safe model, our goal is to push the understanding of viral assembly faster. I then began to take apart the individual pieces of the model and started to look at understanding the roles that they play independently. The membrane protein is the most abundant structural protein and I studied the specific lipid interactions of the soluble fraction of the protein. Physicians observed nucleocapsid protein mutations in the clinic with the increasing number of SARS-CoV-2 variants that are on the rise. The microscopy data collected can give us more insight into perhaps how the nucleocapsid protein induces the formation of filopodia structures at the plasma membrane. The envelope protein proved to be a challenge, but I determined a specific envelope and ceramide interaction in cells. The envelope protein was also causing the formation of microvesicles for an undefined function. I was able to determine the subcellular localization of the protein to the mitochondria. The localization to the mitochondria appears to induce depolarization of the mitochondria membrane action potential and induces the increase in mitochondria dysfunction signal, cytochrome c. Although the mitochondria were dysfunctional, there was no increase in apoptosis signal in the presence of the protein alone.</p>

Nickel und Nickel (II) -oxid werden in großem Umfang in fortgeschrittenen elektronischen Geräten verwendet. In der Mikroelektronik-Industrie wird Nickel verwendet werden, um Nickelsilizid bilden. Die Nickelmono Silizid (NiSi) wurde als ausgezeichnetes Material für Source-Drain-Kontaktanwendungen unter 45 nm-CMOS-Technologie entwickelt. Im Vergleich zu anderen Siliziden für die Kontaktanwendungen verwendet wird NiSi wegen seines niedrigen spezifischen Widerstand, niedrigen Kontaktwiderstand, relativ niedrigen Bildungstemperatur und niedrigem Siliziumverbrauchs bevorzugt. Nickel in Nickelbasis-Akkus und ferromagnetischen Direktzugriffsspeicher (RAMs) verwendet. Nickel (II) oxid wird als Transistor-Gate-Oxid und Oxid in resistive RAM genutzt wird. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) ist eine spezielle Art der Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), das verwendet wird, um sehr glatte sowie homogene Dünnfilme mit hervorragenden Treue auch bei hohen Seitenverhältnissen abzuscheiden. Es basiert auf selbstabschließenden sequentielle Gas-Feststoff-Reaktionen, die eine präzise Steuerung der Filmdicke auf wenige Angström lassen sich auf der Basis. Zur Herstellung der heutigen 3D-elektronische Geräte, sind Technologien wie ALD erforderlich. Trotz der Vielzahl von praktischen Anwendungen von Nickel und Nickel (II) -oxid, sind einige Nickelvorstufen zur thermischen basierend ALD erhältlich. Darüber hinaus haben diese Vorstufen bei schlechten Filmeigenschaften führte und die Prozesseigenschaften wurden ebenfalls begrenzt. Daher in dieser Masterarbeit mussten die Eigenschaften verschiedener neuartiger Nickelvorstufen zu bewerten. Alle neuen Vorstufen heteroleptische (verschiedene Arten von Liganden) und Komplexe wurden vom Hersteller speziell zur thermischen basierend ALD aus reinem Nickel mit H 2 als ein Co-Reaktionsmittel gestaltet. Um die neuartige Vorläufer zu untersuchen, wurde eine neue Methode entwickelt, um kleine Mengen in einer sehr zeitsparend (bis zu 2 g) von Ausgangsstoffen zu testen. Diese Methodologie beinhaltet: TGA / DTA-Kurve analysiert der Vorstufen, thermische Stabilitätstests in dem die Vorläufer (<0,1 g) wurden bei erhöhter Temperatur in einer abgedichteten Umgebung für mehrere Stunden wurde die Abscheidung Experimenten und Film Charakterisierungen erhitzt. Die Abscheidungen wurden mit Hilfe der in situ Quarzmikrowaage überwacht, während die anwendungsbezogenen Filmeigenschaften, wie chemische Zusammensetzung, physikalische Phase, Dicke, Dichte, Härte und Schichtwiderstand wurden mit Hilfe von ex situ Messverfahren untersucht. Vor der Evaluierung neuartiger Nickelvorstufen ein Benchmark ALD-Prozess war vom Referenznickelvorläufer (Ni (AMD)) und Luft als Reaktionspartner entwickelt. Das Hauptziel der Entwicklung und Optimierung von solchen Benchmark-ALD-Prozess war es, Standard-Prozessparameter wie zweite Reaktionspartner Belichtungszeiten, Argonspülung Zeiten, gesamtprozessdruck, beginnend Abscheidungstemperatur und Gasströme zu extrahieren. Diese Standard-Prozessparameter mussten verwendet, um die Prozessentwicklung Aufgabe (das spart Vorläufer Verbrauch) zu verkürzen und die Sublimationstemperatur Optimierung für jede neuartige Vorstufe werden. Die ALD Verhalten wurde in Bezug auf die Wachstumsrate durch Variation des Nickelvorläuferbelichtungszeit, Vorläufer Temperatur und Niederschlagstemperatur überprüft. / Nickel and nickel(II) oxide are widely used in advanced electronic devices . In microelectronic industry, nickel is used to form nickel silicide. The nickel mono-silicide (NiSi) has emerged as an excellent material of choice for source-drain contact applications below 45 nm node CMOS technology. As compared to other silicides used for the contact applications, NiSi is preferred because of its low resistivity, low contact resistance, relatively low formation temperature and low silicon consumption. Nickel is used in nickel-based rechargeable batteries and ferromagnetic random access memories (RAMs). Nickel(II) oxide is utilized as transistor gate-oxide and oxide in resistive RAMs. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is a special type of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique, that is used to deposit very smooth as well as homogeneous thin films with excellent conformality even at high aspect ratios. It is based on self-terminating sequential gas-solid reactions that allow a precise control of film thickness down to few Angstroms. In order to fabricate todays 3D electronic devices, technologies like ALD are required. In spite of huge number of practical applications of nickel and nickel(II) oxide, a few nickel precursors are available for thermal based ALD. Moreover, these precursors have resulted in poor film qualities and the process properties were also limited. Therefore in this master thesis, the properties of various novel nickel precursors had to be evaluated. All novel precursors are heteroleptic (different types of ligands) complexes and were specially designed by the manufacturer for thermal based ALD of pure nickel with H 2 as a co-reactant. In order to evaluate the novel precursors, a new methodology was designed to test small amounts (down to 2 g) of precursors in a very time efficient way. This methodology includes: TGA/DTA curve analyses of the precursors, thermal stability tests in which the precursors (< 0.1 g) were heated at elevated temperatures in a sealed environment for several hours, deposition experiments, and film characterizations. The depositions were monitored with the help of in situ quartz crystal microbalance, while application related film properties like chemical composition, physical phase, thickness, density, roughness and sheet resistance were investigated with the help of ex situ measurement techniques. Prior to the evaluation of novel nickel precursors, a benchmark ALD process was developed from the reference nickel precursor (Ni(amd)) and air as a co-reactant. The main goal of developing and optimizing such benchmark ALD process was to extract standard process parameters like second-reactant exposure times, Argon purge times, total process pressure, starting deposition temperature and gas flows. These standard process parameters had to be utilized to shorten the process development task (thus saving precursor consumption) and optimize the sublimation temperature for each novel precursor. The ALD behaviour was checked in terms of growth rate by varying the nickel precursor exposure time, precursor temperature and deposition temperature.

La présente étude porte sur le comportement mécanique de deux types de supports de catalyseurs utilisés industriellement en hydrotraitement des résidus. Ces supports extrudés, fabriqués par IFPEN, sont constitués d’alumine de transition γ avec un taux de porosité proche de 70%. La porosité du premier matériau est uniquement constituée de mésopores (< 50 nm). La porosité du second matériau est constituée de mésopores et de macropores (jusqu’à 20 µm). Les niveaux de sollicitation en service étant très peu connus, cette étude s’attache à décrire de manière précise et exhaustive le comportement mécanique de ces supports sous une large gamme de sollicitations, et à identifier les différents mécanismes de ruine possibles. L’objectif final est de mieux comprendre les relations entre les paramètres microstructuraux et les propriétés mécaniques afin d’identifier des leviers d’amélioration de la tenue mécanique des supports. Dans un premier temps, une méthodologie adaptée de caractérisation mécanique est établie. Le comportement des supports est étudié d’une part en traction, à l’aide d’essais de flexion trois points et d’écrasement diamétral, et d’autre part, en compression sous différents taux de triaxialité, à l’aide d’essais de compression uniaxiale et hydrostatique et d’essais de micro-indentation sphérique. Les différents mécanismes responsables de la ruine des supports sont identifiés au moyen de techniques d’imagerie telles que la microscopie électronique à balayage et la micro-tomographie à rayons X. En traction, le comportement est fragile avec l’amorçage de la rupture sur un défaut critique. En compression, une transition fragile / quasi-plastique du comportement est observée avec l’augmentation du taux de confinement. Cette quasi-plasticité s’exprime en particulier à travers un phénomène de densification de la macroporosité. Dans un deuxième temps, un critère de rupture est identifié pour chaque type de matériau en vue de représenter sur une même surface de charge les différents types de comportement et phénomènes physiques observés. Cette identification est réalisée en couplant les essais d’indentation sphérique à une analyse numérique. Des critères faisant intervenir la pression hydrostatique permettent de rendre compte de la forte dissymétrie du comportement des matériaux en traction et en compression. Enfin, dans un souci de se rapprocher des sollicitations subies par les supports de catalyseurs dans un réacteur en service, le comportement d’un empilement de supports est étudié en compression œdométrique. L’analyse de cet essai par tomographie à rayons X permet de déterminer les différents mécanismes de ruine intervenant au sein d’un empilement, en particulier ceux responsables de la génération de fines. Les résultats illustrent la pertinence de la caractérisation en flexion et en indentation des supports de catalyseurs seuls pour prévoir leur comportement au sein d’un empilement en compression. / In this work, we study the mechanical behaviour of two types of catalysts supports produced by IFPEN and industrially used in residues hydrotreating. Those extruded supports are made of transition γ-alumina with about 70% of porous volume. The first material’s porosity is exclusively composed of mesopores (< 50 nm). The porosity of the second material is composed of both mesopores and macropores (up to 20 µm). Because of the limited knowledge of the stress fields in embedded catalysts supports in use in a reactor, this study aims at precisely and exhaustively describing the mechanical behaviour of those supports under a wide range of stresses, and identifying the possible damage mechanisms. The final objective is to better understand the influence of microstructural parameters on the mechanical properties of the supports in order to propose some leads about how to improve their mechanical strength. First, an adequate mechanical characterization methodology is set. On one hand, the tensile mechanical behaviour of the supports is studied with three-point bending and diametrical crushing tests. On the other hand, their compressive behaviour under various triaxiality rates is characterized in uniaxial and hydrostatic compression, and by spherical micro-indentation. The different damaging mechanisms are identified by imaging techniques such as scanning electronic microscopy and X-ray micro-tomography. Under tensile stresses, the supports exhibit a brittle behaviour and fracture initiates at a critical flaw. Under compressive stresses, a brittle/quasi-plastic transition is observed with increasing the triaxiality rate. The quasi-plasticity is mainly due to the densification of the macroporosity. The second part of the study consists in identifying, for each material, a fracture criterion able to represent every types of behaviour and physical phenomena observed on the same yield surface. This identification is achieved by coupling the spherical indentation tests to a numerical analysis. Fracture criteria involving hydrostatic pressure are well suited to describe the highly dissymmetric mechanical behaviour of the materials in tension and in compression. The last part of this work aims at studying the mechanical behaviour of a stack of supports under œdometric compression in order to produce stress fields more representative of those existing within the supports stacked in a reactor. This test is analysed by X-ray tomography, which allows us to determine/acknowledge the different damaging mechanisms involved in fragments and fines generation. The results illustrate the suitability of the bending and indentation tests to characterize the mechanical properties of a single support and relate them to its mechanical behaviour in a stack of supports under compression.

Der hauptsächliche Bestandteil dieser Arbeit ist die Entwicklung einer kostengünstigen Methode zur Produktion von auf Silizium basierenden Dünnschicht-Solarzellen durch Sprühbeschichtung. Hier wird untersucht inwiefern sich diese Methode für die Herstellung großflächiger photovoltaische Anlagen eignet. Als Grundsubstanz für entsprechende Lacke werden Mischungen aus Organosilizium und nanokristallines Silizium verwendet. Eine Idee ist das Verwenden von Silizium-Kohlenstoff-Verbindungen als Si-Precursor (Cyclo-, Poly-, Oligo- und Monosilane). In jedem Fall, Organosilizium und Silizium- Nanopartikel, ist eine Umwandlung durch äußere Energiezufuhr nötig, um die Precursor-Substanz in photovoltaisch nutzbares Silizium umzuwandeln. Die Versuchsreihen werden mithilfe photothermischer Umwandlung (FLA-„flash lamp annealing“, einige 1 J/cm² bei Pulslängen von einigen 100 μs) unter N2-Atmosphäre durchgeführt. Zur Bereitstellung eines auf Laborgröße skalierten Produktionsprozesses wurden ein Spraycoater, eine Heizplatte, ein Blitzlampensystem und ein In-Line Ellipsometer in einem Aufbau innerhalb einer Glovebox unter N2-Atmosphäre kombiniert. Die Gewinnung von Proben und deren Charakterisierung fand in enger Zusammenarbeit mit den beiden Arbeitsgruppen der anorganischen Chemie und der Koordinationschemie an der TU-Chemnitz statt. Die eingesetzten Charakterisierungsmethoden sind Raman-Spektroskopie, Infrarotspektroskopie, Rasterelektronenmikroskopie, Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie, Elektronenbeugung, Röntgenbeugung, energiedispersive Röntgenspektroskopie, Rasterkraftmikroskopie und elektrische Charakterisierung wie die Aufnahme von Strom- Spannungs-Kennlinien und Widerstandsmessung per Vierpunktkontaktierung.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-05T19:46:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GINA MARA COELHO DE SOUZA CARDOSO - DISSERTAÇÃO PPG-CEMat 2014..pdf: 1501065 bytes, checksum: e02311753867e448c8a544a0dd42857f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-05T19:46:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GINA MARA COELHO DE SOUZA CARDOSO - DISSERTAÇÃO PPG-CEMat 2014..pdf: 1501065 bytes, checksum: e02311753867e448c8a544a0dd42857f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-17 / O uso clínico de géis de flúor para aplicação tópica por profissionais está indicado para prevenção e tratamento de cárie e erosão dental devido à capacidade de interação com o processo de desmineralização-remineralização da matriz mineral do dente. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi avaliar géis com flúor para remineralização dentária de uso tópico profissional quanto às características físico-químicas especificadas nos registros concedidos pela ANVISA. Foi verificada a existência de quinze (15) registros válidos na ANVISA, referentes a dezesseis (16) produtos de gel com flúor de uso tópico odontológico. Quanto a estes produtos, são oito (8) géis de flúor neutro e oito (8) géis de flúor acidulado. Todos os produtos possuem em sua composição fluoreto de sódio e o polímero mais utilizado para formação do gel é hidroxietil celulose, conforme declarado nos processos de registro na ANVISA. Em 60% dos processos de registro válidos há informação sobre o pH dos produtos. Com o levantamento realizado em março de 2014 nas dentais do Distrito Federal (DF), verificou-se a comercialização de dois produtos de um mesmo fabricante, sendo um gel de flúor neutro e um gel de flúor acidulado. Para a caracterização físico-química, foram adquiridos nove frascos de 200 mL de gel de flúor comercializados no DF: três de gel de flúor acidulado dentro da validade, três de gel flúor acidulado fora da validade e três de gel de flúor neutro. Estes produtos foram avaliados pelas seguintes técnicas: Microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Espectroscopia de energia dispersiva de raios X (EDS), espectroscopia na região de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise termogravimétrica (TGA) e avaliação do potencial hidrogeniônico (pH). Os elementos químicos identificados na análise por EDS estão condizentes com a composição química dos produtos declarados pelo fabricante à ANVISA. Os resultados de FTIR não demonstraram alterações significativas entre as amostras avaliadas. Foram verificados resultados diferentes entre as amostras, nos ensaios de TGA e DSC, isto provavelmente está relacionado com a desidratação das amostras e a formação de aglomerados. Os produtos avaliados a 25°C apresentaram resultados satisfatórios quanto ao pH. Mais pesquisas sobre a caracterização físico-química para o gel de flúor tópico de uso profissional odontológico são necessárias para embasar o desenvolvimento de normas técnicas específicas. / Clinical use of fluoride gels for topical application by professionals is indicated for prevention and treatment of dental caries and dental erosion due to the ability to interact with the process of demineralization - remineralization of tooth mineral matrix. The general objective of this work was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of topical gels for professional dental remineralization specified in the records granted by ANVISA. There were fifteen (15) valid records, relating to sixteen (16) products of fluoride gel use dental topic has been verified. As for these products, there were eight (8) neutral fluoride gels and eight (8) acidulated fluoride gels. All products contain in their composition sodium fluoride and the most used polymer for gel formation is hydroxyethyl cellulose. All acidulated fluoride gels have in their composition 1.23 % fluorine ions and all neutral fluoride gels contain 2 % NaF in its composition, as stated in the registration process at ANVISA. In 60 % of valid registration process there was information about the pH of the product. In the survey conducted in March 2014 in dental stores at Federal District (DF), it was observed the marketing of two products from the same manufacturer, being one neutral fluoride gel and one gel of acidulated fluoride. For physicochemical characterization, nine bottles of 200 ml of fluoride gel were acquired in DF: three of acidulated fluoride gel within the validity, three of acidulated fluoride gel out of date and three of neutral fluoride gel. These products were evaluated by the following techniques: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetry (TG) and evaluation of the hydrogen potential (pH). The chemical elements identified by EDS analysis, in regions without clusters and with clusters of dehydrated samples, are consistent with the chemical composition of the products declared by the manufacturer to ANVISA. The FTIR outcomes showed no significant changes among analyzed samples. Different results among samples were observed during DSC and TGA tests, this is probably related to dehydration of the samples and the formation of agglomerates. More studies about the physicochemical characteristics of topical gels for professional dental remineralization are needed to support the development of specific technical standards.

The majority of UK’s intermediate level radioactive waste is currently stored in 316L and 304L austenitic stainless steel containers in interim storage facilities for permanent disposal until a geological disposal facility has become available. The structural integrity of stainless steel canisters is required to persevere against environmental degradation for up to 500 years to assure a safe storage and disposal scheme. Hitherto existing severe localised corrosion observances on real waste storage containers after 10 years of exposure to an ambient atmosphere in an in-land warehouse in Culham at Oxfordshire, however, questioned the likelihood occurrence of stress corrosion cracking that may harm the canister’s functionality during long-term storage. The more corrosion resistant duplex stainless steel grade 2205, therefore, has been started to be manufactured as a replacement for the austenitic grades. Over decades, the threshold stress corrosion cracking temperature of austenitic stainless steels has been believed to be 50-60°C, but lab- and field-based research has shown that 304L and 316L may suffer from atmospheric stress corrosion cracking at ambient temperatures. Such an issue has not been reported to occur for the 2205 duplex steel, and its atmospheric stress corrosion cracking behaviour at low temperatures (40-50°C) has been sparsely studied which requires detailed investigations in this respect. Low temperature atmospheric stress corrosion cracking investigations on 2205 duplex stainless steel formed the framework of this PhD thesis with respect to the waste storage context. Long-term surface magnesium chloride deposition exposures at 50°C and 30% relative humidity for up to 15 months exhibited the occurrence of stress corrosion cracks, showing stress corrosion susceptibility of 2205 duplex stainless steel at 50°C.The amount of cold work increased the cracking susceptibility, with bending deformation being the most critical type of deformation mode among tensile and rolling type of cold work. The orientation of the microstructure deformation direction, i.e. whether the deformation occurred in transverse or rolling direction, played vital role in corrosion and cracking behaviour, as such that bending in transverse direction showed almost 3-times larger corrosion and stress corrosion cracking propensity. Welding simulation treatments by ageing processes at 750°C and 475°C exhibited substantial influences on the corrosion properties. It was shown that sensitisation ageing at 750°C can render the material enhanced susceptible to stress corrosion cracking at even low chloride deposition densities of ≤145 µm/cm². However, it could be shown that short-term heat treatments at 475°C can decrease corrosion and stress corrosion cracking susceptibility which may be used to improve the materials performance. Mechanistic understanding of stress corrosion cracking phenomena in light of a comprehensive microstructure characterisation was the main focus of this thesis.

Superaustenitická korozivzdorná ocel typu 22Cr25NiWCoCu určená pro vysokoteplotní aplikace v energetickém průmyslu byla studována za podmínek nízkocyklové únavy při pokojové a zvýšené teplotě. Jednotlivé vzorky byly podrobeny různým zátěžným procedurám, což umožnilo studium materiálové odezvy spolu s mechanismem poškození. Křivky cyklického zpevnění/změkčení, cyklického napětí a Coffin-Mansonovy křivky byly vyhodnoceny. Únavová životnost materiálu byla diskutována s ohledem na uplatňované mechanismy poškození, které se vyvinuly za specifických zátěžných podmínek. Standardní izotermální únavové experimenty byly provedeny při pokojové a zvýšené teplotě. Hysterezní smyčky zaznamenané během cyklického zatěžování byly analyzovány pomocí zobecněné statistické teorie hysterezní smyčky. Pro různé amplitudy napětí byla určena jak distribuce hustoty pravděpodobnosti interních kritických napětí (dále PDF), tak rovněž zjištěn její vývoj během cyklického namáhání. Zjištěné průběhy PDF byly korelovány s vývojem povrchového reliéfu a vnitřního dislokačního uspořádání zdokumentované pro obě teploty pomocí rastrovací elektronové mikroskopie (SEM) vybavené technikou fokusovaného iontového svazku (FIB), která umožnila rovněž efektivní studium nukleace povrchových únavových trhlin. Při cyklickém zatížení při pokojové teplotě byla pozorována lokalizace cyklické plastické deformace do perzistentních skluzových pásů (PSP). V místech, kde tyto PSP vystupují na povrch materiálu byly pozorovány perzistentní skluzové stopy (PSS) tvořené extruzemi a intruzemi. Postupné prohlubování intruzí, zejména na čele nejhlubší intruze, vede k iniciaci únavové trhliny. Odlišný mechanismus tvorby trhlin byl zjištěn při únavové zkoušce při zvýšené teplotě, kde zásadní roli hrál vliv prostředí. Rychlá oxidace hranic zrn a jejich následné popraskání představuje dominantní mechanismus v I. stádiu nukleace trhlin. Aplikace desetiminutové prodlevy v tahové části zátěžného cyklu vedlo k vývoji vnitřního (kavitačního) poškozování. Mechanismy vnitřního poškozování byly studovány na podélných řezech rovnoběžných s napěťovou osou zkušebních vzorků. Trhliny a jejich vztah k hranicím zrn a dvojčat byly studovány pomocí difrakce zpětně odražených elektronů (EBSD). Vliv prodlevy na únavovou životnost byl korelován s vývojem povrchového reliéfu a vnitřního poškození. Vzorky z uvedené oceli byly rovněž podrobeny zkouškám termomechanické únavy (TMF), při nichž se v čase mění jak zátěžná síla tak i teplota. Termomechanické únavové zkoušky v režimu soufázném (in-phase) a protifázném (out-of-phase) byly provedeny jak s prodlevou, tak i bez ní. Ve všech případech bylo pozorováno rychlé cyklické zpevnění bez ohledu na použitou amplitudu deformace, u vzorků testovaných v out-of-phase režimu byla zjištěna tendence k saturaci. Zkoumáním povrchového reliéfu za pomocí technik SEM a FIB byla odhalena přednostní oxidace hranic zrn a následné praskání těchto hranic kolmo k ose zatížení. Prodlevy v cyklech při maximálním napětí vedly ke zvýšení amplitudy plastické deformace a následně ke creepovému poškození ve formě vnitřních kavit a trhlin. Interkrystalické šíření trhlin bylo pozorováno na vzorcích testovaných v režimu in-phase. Vývoj poškození v režimu out-of-phase nebyl principiálně ovlivněn zařazením prodlevy do zátěžného cyklu. Charakteristickým znakem namáhání v režimu out-of-phase je nukleace několika trhlin v homogenní oxidické vrstvě jdoucích napříč zrny kolmo k ose zatěžování.

The thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) of copper oxide films from the non-fluorinated yet liquid precursor bis(tri-<it>n</it>-butylphosphane)copper(I)acetylacetonate, [(^<it>n</it>Bu₃P)₂Cu(acac)], and wet O₂ on Ta, TaN, Ru and SiO₂ substrates at temperatures of < 160&deg;C is reported. Typical temperature-independent growth was observed at least up to 125&deg;C with a growth-per-cycle of ~ 0.1 &Aring; for the metallic substrates and an ALD window extending down to 100&deg;C for Ru. On SiO₂ and TaN the ALD window was observed between 110 and 125&deg;C, with saturated growth shown on TaN still at 135&deg;C. Precursor self-decomposition in a chemical vapor deposition mode led to bi-modal growth on Ta, resulting in the parallel formation of continuous films and isolated clusters. This effect was not observed on TaN up to about 130&deg;C and neither on Ru or SiO₂ for any processing temperature. The degree of nitridation of the tantalum nitride underlayers considerably influenced the film growth. With excellent adhesion of the ALD films on all substrates studied, the results are a promising basis for Cu seed layer ALD applicable to electrochemical Cu metallization in interconnects of ultralarge-scale integrated circuits.<br> &copy; 2009 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved. <br> / Es wird die thermische Atomlagenabscheidung (ALD) von Kupferoxidschichten, ausgehend von der unfluorierten, fl&uuml;ssigen Vorstufenverbindung Bis(tri-<it>n</it>-butylphosphan)kupfer(I)acetylacetonat, [(^<it>n</it>Bu₃P)₂Cu(acac)], sowie feuchtem Sauerstoff, auf Ta-, TaN-, Ru- und SiO₂-Substraten bei Temperaturen < 160&deg;C berichtet. Typisches temperaturunabh&auml;ngiges Wachstum wurde zumindest bis 125&deg;C beobachtet. Damit verbunden wurde f&uuml;r die metallischen Substrate ein Zyklenwachstum von ca. 0.1 &Aring; erzielt sowie ein ALD-Fenster, das f&uuml;r Ru bis zu einer Temperatur von 100&deg;C reicht. Auf SiO₂ und TaN wurde das ALD-Fenster zwischen 110 und 125&deg;C beobachtet, wobei auch bei 135&deg;C noch ges&auml;ttigtes Wachstum auf TaN gezeigt werden konnte. Die selbst&auml;ndige Zersetzung des Precursors &auml;hnlich der chemischen Gasphasenabscheidung f&uuml;hrte zu einem bimodalen Schichtwachstum auf Ta, wodurch gleichzeitig geschlossene Schichten und voneinander isolierte Cluster gebildet wurden. Dieser Effekt wurde auf TaN bis zu einer Temperatur von 130&deg;C nicht beobachtet. Ebensowenig trat er im untersuchten Temperaturbereich auf Ru oder SiO₂ auf. Der Nitrierungsgrad der TaN-Schichten beeinflusste hierbei das Schichtwachstum stark. Mit einer sehr guten Haftung der ALD-Schichten auf allen untersuchten Substratmaterialien erscheinen die Ergebnisse vielversprechend f&uuml;r die ALD von Kupferstartschichten, die f&uuml;r die elektrochemische Kupfermetallisierung in Leitbahnsystemen ultrahochintegrierter Schaltkreise anwendbar sind.