Ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTC) are candidate materials for high temperature applications such as leading edges for hypersonic flight vehicles, thermal protection systems for spacecraft, and rocket nozzle throat inserts due to their extremely high melting points. Tantalum and Niobium Carbide (TaC and NbC), with melting points of 3950°C and 3600°C, respectively, have high resistivity to chemical attack, making them ideal candidates for the harsh environments UHTCs are to be used in. The major setbacks to the implementation of UHTC materials for these applications are the difficulty in consolidating to full density as well as their low fracture toughness. In this study, small amounts of sintering additive were used to enhance the densification and Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNP) were dispersed in the ceramic composites to enhance the fracture toughness. While the mechanisms of toughening of GNP addition to ceramics have been previously documented, this study focused on the anisotropy of the mechanisms. Spark plasma sintering was used to consolidate both bulk GNP pellets and near full relative density TaC-NbC ceramic composites with the addition of both sintering aid and GNP and resulted in an aligned GNP orientation perpendicular to the SPS pressing axis that allowed the anisotropy to be studied. In situ high load indentation was performed that allowed real time viewing of the deformation mechanisms for enhanced analysis. The total energy dissipation when indenting the bulk GNP pellet in the in-plane GNP direction was found to be 270% greater than in the out-of-plane orientation due to the resulting deformation mechanisms that occurred. In GNP reinforced TaC-NbC composites, the projected residual damaged area as a result of indentation was 89% greater when indenting on the surface of the sintered compact (out-of-plane GNP orientation) than when indenting in the orthogonal direction (in-plane GNP orientation) which is further evidence to the anisotropy of the GNP reinforcement.

Les batteries au lithium tout solide présentent un grand intérêt pour le développement de systèmes de stockage de grande densité (volumique) d'énergie et sûrs notamment en raison de leur excellente stabilité thermique par rapport aux technologies lithium-ions à électrolyte liquide. Cependant, avec l'épaisseur de la batterie, de fortes limitations cinétiques sont observées, en raison i/ de la relativement faible mobilité des ions dans les matériaux inorganiques et ii/ de la présence de joints de grains généralement bloquants aux interfaces solide/solide. De plus au cours de la charge/décharge de la batterie, les matériaux actifs (réservoir de l'énergie) changent de volume ce qui induit des contraintes mécaniques interfaciales qui provoquent la formation de micro-fractures très dommageables à la cyclabilité de ces systèmes. Cette thèse concerne la réalisation et la caractérisation de batteries inorganiques monolithiques (avec les électrodes composites) en utilisant une méthode de frittage: Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). La formulation des électrodes composites est fondamentale car ce sont de multi-matériaux qui doivent présenter de nombreuses fonctionnalités: 1) une grande densité d'énergie 2) une bonne percolation électronique (resp. ionique) enfin 3) une bonne tenue mécanique avec des interfaces électrodes/electrolyte stables afin d'assurer la durée de vie des cellules.Le principal objectif est de trouver des relations, pour des matériaux donnés, entre la texture des poudres initiales, la microstructure des céramiques obtenues par frittage SPS et les propriétés électriques (électronique et ionique) ainsi que les performances électrochimiques. / All-solid batteries with inorganic solid electrolytes are attractive candidates in electrochemical energy storage since they offer high safety, reliability and energy density. Aiming to increase the surface capacity strong efforts have been made to increase the thickness of the electrode. However, the thicker electrode, the more stress is generated at the solid/solid interfaces because of the volume change of the active material during lithium insertion/desinsertion upon cycling, which leads to formation of micro-cracks between the components and finally a bad cycling life. The possible answer to this issue is to build in place of a dense phase pure electrode, a composite electrode which is a multifunctional material. This composite electrode should contain a lot of electrochemically active material, the reservoir of energy; together with electronic and ionic conductor additives, to ensure efficient and homogeneous transfer of electrons and ions in the electrode volume.The main scope of this thesis was to develop all-solid-state batteries prepared by SPS method for applications at elevated temperatures. These batteries consist of a two composite electrodes separated by the NASICON-type solid electrolyte Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3. The main objective was to find relationships, for given materials, between the initial powder granulometry (grain size, size distribution, agglomeration), the microstructure of ceramics obtained by SPS sintering, and the electrochemical performances of the final batteries. By creating electrodes with novel materials and better composition, the trade-off of power density and energy density can be minimized.

Cette thèse a consisté en la fabrication d’électrodes de charbon actif frittées par SPS destinées aux supercondensateurs à double couche électrochimique. L’influence des paramètres de frittage (température, pression, durée du palier isotherme et vitesses de chauffe et de refroidissement) sur les propriétés structurales et microstructurales des pastilles de charbon actif a été évaluée par diffraction des rayons X, microscopie électronique à balayage et en transmission, spectrométrie de photoélectrons X, mesures de surface spécifique et de volume microporeux et détermination des propriétés mécaniques. Les performances électrochimiques des pastilles de charbon actif frittées sélectionnées pour leurs bonnes propriétés de volume microporeux, de résistance mécanique à l’électrolyte et de masse volumique élevée ont été déterminées par mesures galvanostatiques et de spectrométrie d’impédance. Un gain en capacité volumique de 31% a été obtenu pour un supercondensateur composé d’électrodes de charbon actif pur de 200 μm d’épaisseur frittées à 1100°C – 50 MPa par rapport à un supercondensateur composé d’électrodes de production de Blue Solutions. Cependant sa résistance série est deux fois supérieure à celle d’un supercondensateur de production de volume identique. Des résultats prometteurs de frittage multi-pastilles, possédant des propriétés microstructurales proches, indiquent une voie possible d’industrialisation du procédé SPS pour la fabrication d’électrodes frittées de charbon actif destinées aux supercondensateurs. / This thesis has consisted in the manufacturing of activated carbon electrodes sintered by SPS for Electric Double-Layer Capacitors (EDLCs). The influence of sintering parameters (temperature, pressure, isothermal dwell duration, heating and cooling rates) on structural and microstructural properties of sintered activated carbon pellets has been evaluated by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, specific area and microporous volume measurements and determination of mechanical properties. The electrochemical performances of sintered activated carbon pellets selected for their good properties in terms of microporous volume, mechanical resistance in the electrolyte and high density were determined by galvanostatic and impedance spectrometry measurements. A 31% increase of the volumetric capacity was obtained for a supercapacitor composed of 200 μm thick electrodes of pure activated carbon sintered at 1100°C – 50 MPa, relative to a supercapacitor composed of industrial electrodes from Blue Solutions company. However, its serial resistance is twice larger than that of an industrial of identical volume. Promising results of multi-pellet sintering, possessing close microstructural properties, indicate a possible way of industrialization of SPS process for the manufacturing of sintered activated carbon electrodes for supercapacitors.

Alumina (Al2O3) matrix nanocomposites reinforced with a second nanometric phase have better mechanical properties, especially of hardness, fracture toughness and wear resistance compared to the monolithic alumina material. On the other hand, niobium carbide (NbC), as a second phase reinforcement, has properties that make it an ideal material for Al2O3 matrix ceramics, such as high melting temperature, high hardness, low chemical reactivity and a coeffi-cient of thermal expansion similar to the material of Al2O3, thus avoiding the appearance of cracks that diminish the resistance of the material. Currently, the largest reserves of niobium are in Brazil and the study on their use is a very important milestone for the country. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to obtain and character-ize Al2O3 matrix nanocomposites with a second phase of 5% of vol-ume of NbC nanoparticles obtained by reactive high-energy milling, using conventional sintering, Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and Microwave. For this, the nanometric precursor powders of Al2O3-NbC were obtained reactive high-energy milling in SPEX mill, were sub-sequently deagglomerated, leached with hydrochloric acid, added to the Al2O3 matrix in the proportion of 5% of volume and dried under air flow. Powders of Al2O3-5vol.% NbC were sintered by different methods: conventional under an argon atmosphere, microwave and SPS using different temperatures. The precursor powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micros-copy (SEM) and particle size measurement. Conventional and SPS sintered nanocomposites were characterized microstructurally, the bulk density and hardness was studied by nanoindentation. SPS sintered nanocomposites were characterized with respect to Young's modulus by nanoindentation, fracture toughness and flex-ural strength. On the other hand, conventionally sintered and SPS nanocomposites were characterized with respect to wear resistance by the pin-on-disc technique, using WC-6% Co spheres with loads 30 and 60 N and Al2O3 spheres with loads 15 and 30 N. The results show that reactive high-energy milling has been complete and effi-cient in obtaining nanometric powders with crystallite sizes of 9.1 and 9.66 nm for Al2O3 and NbC, respectively. In addition, the deag-glomeration, after the reactive high-energy milling process, was ef-fective in the dispersion of the NbC inclusions in the Al2O3 matrix. However, it has not been possible to obtain high density Al2O3-5vol.% NbC nanocomposites using conventional sintering and mi-crowave sintering processes. In the sintering process by SPS, the nanocomposites presented high densities, close to the theoretical and, consequently, better hardness and resistance to wear com-pared to the materials obtained in a conventional furnace. The re-sults corresponding to the wear resistance have confirmed that this property is influenced by several factors such as the sintering meth-od and temperature, the spheres used as counter-material and the loads applied during the test. The final results indicated that the Al2O3-5vol.% NbC nanocomposites obtained by SPS have a great potential for the different industrial applications, which require mate-rials of high mechanical and wear performance. / Los nanocomposites de matriz alúmina (Al2O3) reforzados con una segunda fase nanométrica presentan mejores propiedades mecáni-cas, especialmente de dureza, tenacidad a la fractura y resistencia al desgaste, en comparación con el material monolítico de alúmina. Por otra parte, el carburo de niobio (NbC), como refuerzo de segun-da fase, presenta propiedades que lo convierten en un material ideal para las cerámicas de matriz Al2O3, tales como alta temperatura de fusión, alta dureza, baja reactividad química y un coeficiente de expansión térmica similar al material de Al2O3, evitando así la apari-ción de grietas que disminuyen la resistencia del material. Actual-mente, las mayores reservas de niobio se encuentran en Brasil y el estudio sobre su uso es un hito muy importante para el país. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de esta tesis es obtener y caracterizar nanocompo-sites de matriz de Al2O3 con una segunda fase del 5% en volumen de nanopartículas de NbC obtenidos por molienda reactiva de alta energía, y utilizando la sinterización convencional, Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) y microondas. Para ello, los nanométricos polvos precursores de Al2O3-NbC fueron obtenidos mediante molienda reactiva de alta energía en molino SPEX, desaglomerados, lixivia-dos con ácido clorhídrico, añadidos a la matriz de Al2O3 en la pro-porción de 5% en volumen y secado bajo flujo de aire. Los polvos de Al2O3-5vol.%NbC fueron sinterizados por diferentes métodos: con-vencional bajo una atmósfera de argón, microondas y SPS usando diferentes temperaturas. Los polvos precursores se caracterizaron por difracción de rayos X (XRD), microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM) y la medición del tamaño de partícula. Los nanocomposites sinterizados convencionalmente y mediante SPS se caracterizaron microestructuralmente, se estudió la densidad aparente y la dureza por nanoindentación. Los nanocomposites sinterizados mediante SPS fueron caracterizados respecto el módulo de Young por nano-indentación, la tenacidad a la fractura y la resistencia a la flexión. Por otra parte, los nanocomposites sinterizados convencionalmente y mediante SPS fueron caracterizados respecto a resistencia al desgaste mediante la técnica de pin-on-disc, utilizando esferas de WC-6%Co con cargas 30 y 60 N y esferas de Al2O3 con cargas 15 y 30 N. Los resultados muestran que la molienda reactiva de alta energía ha sido completa y eficaz en la obtención de polvos nano-métricos con tamaños de cristalito de 9,1 y 9,66 nm para la Al2O3 y NbC, respectivamente. Además, la desaglomeración, después del proceso de molienda reactiva de alta energía, fue eficaz en la dis-persión de las inclusiones de NbC en la matriz de Al2O3. Sin embar-go, no ha sido posible obtener nanocomposites de Al2O3-5vol.%NbC con alta densidad usando procesos de sinterización convencional y microondas. En el proceso de sinterización mediante SPS, los nanocomposites presentaron altas densidades, cercanas a la teóri-ca y, en consecuencia, mejor dureza y resistencia al desgaste en comparación con los materiales obtenidos en un horno convencio-nal. Los resultados correspondientes a la resistencia al desgaste han confirmado que esta propiedad está influenciada por varios fac-tores tales como el método y temperatura de sinterización, las esfe-ras utilizadas como contramaterial y las cargas aplicadas durante el test. Los resultados finales indicaron que los nanocomposites de Al2O3-5vol.%NbC obtenidos mediante SPS tienen un gran potencial para las distintas aplicaciones industriales, las cuales requieren ma-teriales de alto rendimiento mecánico y al desgaste. / Els nanocomposites de matriu alúmina (Al2O3) reforçats amb una segona fase nanométrica presenten millors propietats mecàniques, especialment de duresa, tenacitat a la fractura i resistència al desgast, en comparació amb el material monolític d'alúmina. D'altra banda, el carbur de niobi (NbC), com a reforç de segona fase, presenta propietats que ho convertixen en un material ideal per a les ceràmiques de matriu Al2O3, com és l'alta temperatura de fusió, alta duresa, baixa reactivitat química i un coeficient d'expansió tèrmica semblant al material d'Al2O3, evitant així l'aparició de clavills que disminuïxen la resistència del material. Actualment, les majors reserves de niobi es troben a Brasil i l'estudi sobre el seu ús és una fita molt important per al país. Per tant, l'objectiu d'esta tesi és obtindre i caracteritzar nanocomposites de matriu d'Al2O3 amb una segona fase del 5% en volum de nanopartículas de NbC obtinguts per mòlta reactiva d'alta energia, i utilitzant la sinterització convencional, Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) i microones. Per a això, les pols precursores d'Al2O3-NbC van ser obtinguts per mitjà de mòlta reactiva d'alta energia en molí SPEX, desaglomerats, lixiviats amb àcid clorhídric, afegits a la matriu d'Al2O3 en la proporció de 5% en volum i assecat baix flux d'aire. Les pols d'Al2O3-5vol.%NbC van ser sinteritzats per diferents mètodes: convencional davall una atmosfera d'argó, microones i SPS usant diferents temperatures. Les pols precursores es van caracteritzar per difracció de rajos X (XRD), microscòpia electrònica d'agranat (SEM) i el mesurament de la grandària de partícula. Els nanocomposites sinteritzats convencionalment i per mitjà de SPS es van caracteritzar microestructuralment, es va estudiar la densitat aparent, i la duresa es van estudiar per nanoindentació. Els nanocomposites sinteritzats per mitjà de SPS es van caracteritzar el mòdul de Young es van estudiar per nanoindentació, la tenacitat a la fractura i la resistència a la flexió. D'altra banda, els nanocomposites sinteritzats convencionalment i per mitjà de SPS van ser caracteritzats respecte a resistència al desgast per mitjà de la tècnica de pin-on-disc, utilitzant esferes de WC-6%Co amb càrregues 30 i 60 N i esferes d'Al2O3 amb càrregues 15 i 30 N. Els resultats mostren que la mòlta reactiva d'alta energia ha sigut completa i eficaç en l'obtenció de pols nanométrics amb grandàries de cristalit de 9,1 i 9,66 nm per a l'Al2O3 i NbC, respectivament. A més, la desaglomeració, després del procés de mòlta reactiva d'alta energia, va ser eficaç en la dispersió de les inclusions de NbC en la matriu d'Al2O3. No obstant això, no ha sigut possible obtindre nanocomposites d'Al2O3-5vol.%NbC amb alta densitat usant processos de sinterització convencionals i microones. En el procés de sinterització per mitjà de SPS, els nanocomposites van presentar altes densitats, pròximes a la teòrica i, en conseqüència, millor duresa i resistència al desgast en comparació amb els materials obtinguts en un forn convencional. Els resultats corresponents a la resistència al desgast han confirmat que esta propietat està influenciada per diversos factors com ara el mètode i temperatura de sinterització, les esferes utilitzades com contramaterial i les càrregues aplicades durant el test. Els resultats finals van indicar que els nanocomposites d'Al2O3-5vol.%NbC obtinguts per mitjà de SPS tenen un gran potencial per a les distintes aplicacions industrials, les quals requerixen materials d'alt rendiment mecànic i al desgast. / Ribeiro Rodrigues Alecrim, L. (2017). DESENVOLVIMENTO DE NANOCOMPÓSITOS DE ALUMINA-CARBETO DE NIÓBIO POR SINTERIZAÇÃO NÃO-CONVENCIONAL [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90395 / TESIS

Master‘s thesis deals with the preparation and evaluation single-phase high-entropy alloy based on cobalt, chromium, iron, nickel and manganese and its variants strengthened by dispersion of oxidic particles. High-entropy alloy was prepared in powder form by mechanical alloying from the equiatomic proportions of atomic powders. Obtained powder was subsequently compacted by spark plasma sintering. By the method of mechanical alloying were successfully prepared single-phase high-entropy alloy and its variant strengthened by dispersion of nanometric yttria oxides. It has been found that the oxide particles present in the microstructure of high-entropy alloy significantly block mobility of grain boundary and dislocation at elevated temperatures. As a result of this behavior were observed doubling of alloy strength and decreasing of creep rate at 800 °C.

The subject of this thesis is preparation of CoCrFeMnNiNx high entropy mixtures via the methods of mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Three series of specimens were fabricated in this thesis: samples milled in argon (benchmark materials), samples milled in nitrogen atmosphere (to observe their ability of nitrogen absorption) and samples microalloyed with CrN, FeN nitrides (to observe their dissociation into the solid solution potential). The fabricated powders and SPS compacts were subsequently observed by electron microscopy and their phase content by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and elemental composition by EDS analysis were carried out. A method of reduction melting in inert atmosphere was used to determine the exact oxygen and nitrogen content in powders, while the respective particle size distribution measured by laser diffraction method. The influence of nitrogen content on the hardness of the samples was studied via the microhardness measured. After completing the process of mechanical alloying under the Nitrogen atmosphere was the maximal concentration of nitrogen in the structure 0,208% after 24 hours of milling (dependency on time was linear), which means, the method of milling under the Nitrogen atmosphere was successful. XRD of milled samples showed the existence of the only FCC single solid solution phase, while samples milled under the Nitrogen atmosphere showed the trend of the growth of the lattice parameter with the increasing nitrogen content. There was observed the presence of the chromium nitrides precipitates on the grain boundaries of the FCC phase in microalloyed samples. All specimen were contaminated by a mixture of metallic oxides and manganeese sulphides, which were present in the default manganeese powder. The greatest value of microhardness showed the duplex sample. The increase in values of microhardness (344 HV 0,3) in comparison with the standard sample (262,9 HV 0,3) was recorded on the samples milled under the nitrogen atmosphere, which conforms the positive influence of the nitrogen content on strength characteristics of this alloy.

This thesis gives a comprehensive characterization of lightweight non-oxide ceramic materials for ballistic applications, an overview of production technologies and processing of boron carbide B4C and its ceramic-based composites. A framework for evaluating the ballistic resistance of the material based on mechanical properties is shown there. It can be used in experiments without normalized equipment. The experiments including B4C + Si, B4C + Ti composites, and application of Spark plasma sintering (SPS) were designed according to outputs from the theoretical part. The volume fractions of Si, Ti dopants were optimized based on ongoing chemical reactions during sintering. The obtained samples were subjects of mechanical testing which results were compared to identify the ideal ratio of matrix and reinforcement. As the best suited material for ballistic protection, B4C + 1,0 obj. % reaches these values of parameters; hardness = 3502 ± 122 HV1; fracture toughness KIC = 2,97 ± 0,03 MPam^0,5.

This diploma thesis deals with the processing of the magnesium-based powder materials with the addition of zinc by the spark plasma sintering. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate influence of sintering parameters and zinc content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the material. First part of the thesis is literary research which is divided into two main chapters. The first chapter describes magnesium-based materials and mentions their use as biomaterials. The second chapter discusses powder metallurgy, specifically magnesium powders and spark plasma sintering. In the experimental part the powders were sintered at temperatures 300 °C and 400 °C and an analysis was performed using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, then also EDS analysis and hardness, microhardness and three-point bending tests were performed. An increase in hardness was observed with increasing zinc content and with increasing sintering temperature. The flexural strength was higher for materials sintered at a temperature of 400 ° C.

Title: Materials for fusion applications and their interaction with tokamak plasma Author: Veronika Klevarová Department: Department of Physics of Materials Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Miloš Janeček, CSc., Department of Physics of Materials Abstract: Tungsten represents a perspective option in the context of fusion devices first-wall materials. In the first part of this work, set of tungsten samples with variable grain size was prepared by spark plasma sintering. Specimens were exposed to steady state deuterium plasma beam and high energy heat pulses, simulating thus the normal operation in the tokamak. As a consequence of the exposure, samples surfaces were roughened, as-prepared grains were recovered and in some cases cracks were formed. Moreover, post-irradiation analysis of the damaged samples revealed activation of in-grain slip systems within the loaded surfaces. Threshold grain diameter for this mechanism was determined to be between 5.5 - 6.6 μm at the particular loading conditions. However, damaged features showed to depend more on the fabrication parameters than on the grain diameter. Synergistic effects of simultaneous loading were proven to be important since those reduced the heat propagation within the volume of the tested samples. In the second part of this thesis, introduction to plasma-surface...

Bulk commercially pure titanium was prepared by powder metallurgy, namely by cryogenic milling and spark plasma sintering, with aim to produce ultra-fine grained material with enhanced strength. The microstructure of milled powders was investigated in detail by a novel method called transmission EBSD, which allowed the first direct observation of texture within the powder particles. This texture is similar to rolling texture, because of the similar nature of the defor- mation during milling. Microstructure observations revealed grains with the size under 100 nm. The influence of sintering parameters on material properties were studied by scan- ning electron microscopy including EBSD, X-ray diffraction and by microhardness measurements. The trade-off relationship between porosity and grain size was identified, fully dense material with ultra-fine grained microstructure could not be produced. Increased oxygen content was identified as a main strengthening factor, while porosity has significant deteriorating effect on mechanical properties. The texture of powder was retained in the bulk material. The possibility of stabilizing the microstructure by mechanical alloying of Ti with yttrium oxide nanoparticles was investigated with mixed results. The stabiliza- tion was successful, but several issues...