Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In the present work strontium aluminate powders (Sr1-a-bAl2O4:EuaDyb) with different dopant concentrations were prepared by Pechini’s method. All compositions presented the expected crystalline phase when calcined at 800ºC. Three distinct methodologies were employed to obtain the luminescent ceramics. The first one was the laser sintering method, where a CO2 laser is the heating source for sintering. Translucent ceramics were obtained using this sintering method, with 40% of transmittance in visible region. Even without controlling atmosphere, it was possible to reduce the Eu ion from valence III to II during this process, a necessary condition to achieve the persistent luminescence property in strontium aluminate. The other sintering method was vacuum sintering. This method didn’t provide well defined a microstructure, and presenting high porosity been opaque. Nevertheless, XANES results showed a more efficient reduction process in this case. A third methodology used was a vacuum treatment of previously laser-sintered ceramics. These samples presented a well-defined microstructure and high Eu reduction rate. Performing MEV, EDS and XANES measurements it was possible study the reduction process of Eu in the strontium aluminate and suggest some defect equations that describe this process. It was also observed that this reduction process depends on the Dy content and the used method. To characterize the luminescent properties of the samples were used photoluminescence and lifetime measurements. Two main influences were investigated: i) the sintering method; ii) the dopant concentration. The results showed that the photoluminescence is highly influenced by the Eu2+ concentration, and the persistent luminescence is more influenced by the Dy concentration. Finally it was created an illustrative scheme that describes the persistent luminescence in the strontioum aluminate. / No presente trabalho pós de aluminato de estrôncio (Sr1-a-bAl2O4:EuaDyb) com diversas concentrações de dopantes foram preparados utilizando o método Pechini. Todas as composições apresentaram fase cristalina desejada quando calcinadas a 800ºC. Para a obtenção das cerâmicas luminescentes foram escolhidas três metodologias distintas de sinterização. Inicialmente foi utilizado o método de sinterização a laser, que tem como fonte de aquecimento um laser de CO2. Este método proporcionou a obtenção de cerâmicas densas com boa transmitância óptica, chegando a 40% na região visível. Também foi observado que durante o processamento a laser mesmo sem controle de atmosfera ocorreu a redução do európio III para a valência II, condição exigida para a obtenção da luminescência persistente no aluminato de estrôncio. Outro método de sinterização utilizado foi em forno resistivo com ambiente a vácuo. Durante esse processamento foram obtidas cerâmicas com propriedades microestruturais inferiores às anteriores, porém de acordo com os resultados de XANES foi observada uma redução mais eficiente do európio neste caso. Também foi realizado um tratamento em forno a vácuo de cerâmicas previamente sinterizadas a laser. Estas apresentaram uma microestrutura bem definida e elevada eficiência na redução do európio. Realizando medidas de XANES, EDS e MEV foi possível estudar o processo de redução do európio no sistema, apresentando as possíveis equações de defeitos que governam esse processo. Também foi encontrada uma dependência do processo de redução com a concentração dos dopantes, principalmente de Dy. As características luminescentes das cerâmicas foram estudadas através de medidas de fotoluminescência e tempo de luminescência, analisando principalmente dois fatores: i) Influência da metodologia de processamento; ii) influência da concentração de dopantes. Os resultados mostraram que a propriedade fotoluminescente apresenta forte influência da concentração de Eu2+ presente no material enquanto que a propriedade de luminescência persistente apresenta maior influência da concentração de Dy. Por fim foi montado um esquema ilustrativo que descreve o modelo de luminescência persistente para o aluminato de estrôncio.

Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / In the present work, Dy3+ co-doped SrAl2O4:Eu3+ was produced via proteic sol-gel method, a modified sol-gel route which allows the formation of oxides at lower temperatures than other methods. CO2 laser sintering was used as a method for heat treatment, effective in reducing trivalent europium ions in doped samples. Thermal analysis of the precursors, performed by TG and DTA, revealed that the crystallization of SrAl2O4 phase occurs at approximately 1060 °C. By X-ray diffractometry of the samples characterized before and after sintering was verified monoclinic and hexagonal phases formation. DLS technique revealed the presence of nanosized and micrometric particles, and particle agglomerates, result which was confirmed by SEM images before and after sintering. Micrographs of the fracture surface of a sintered pellet revealed a high degree of densification caused by heat treatment. Photoluminescence measurements showed that the samples after synthesis and before the heat treatment with laser have reddish emission, composed of characteristic narrow emission lines from Eu3+ and more intense emission when the samples are excited at 265 nm. The laser treatment promotes the reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ and this effect is confirmed by the presence of a wide emission band in the green region of the spectrum with a maximum emission obtained after excitation at 350 nm. The luminescent decay time of the thermally treated sample was approximately 100 minutes. Via XRF measurements of acquired frits, DTA and TG of the frits, of the pigment and of mixtures of both, and via applications of the mixtures on ceramic plates it was noticed good compatibility in terms of thermal processes, that indicates that the pigment have a potential to be used in ceramic floor tiles. / No presente trabalho, pós cerâmicos de SrAl2O4:Eu3+, Dy3+ foram produzidos pelo método solgel proteico, uma rota de sol-gel modificada, que permite a formação do óxido em temperaturas mais baixas comparativamente a outros métodos. A sinterização a laser de CO2 foi utilizada como método para tratamento térmico, eficiente na redução dos íons trivalentes de európio das amostras dopadas. A análise térmica dos precursores, realizada por meio de DTA e TG, revelou que a cristalização da fase SrAl2O4 acontece em aproximadamente 1060 °C. Por difratometria de raios X verificou-se a formação de fase monoclínica e hexagonal nas amostras caracterizadas antes e após a sinterização. A técnica de EDL revelou a presença de partículas nanométricas, micrométricas e aglomerados de partículas, resultado este que foi confirmado por imagens de MEV de amostras antes e após a sinterização. Micrografias da superfície de fratura de uma pastilha sinterizada a laser revelaram o alto grau de densificação possibilitado pelo tratamento térmico. Medidas de fotoluminescência revelaram que as amostras após a síntese e antes do tratamento térmico a laser apresentam emissão com coloração avermelhada, composta de picos estreitos de emissão característicos do Eu3+ e com emissão mais intensa quando as amostras são excitadas em 265 nm. O tratamento a laser promove a redução do Eu3+ para Eu2+ e este efeito é confirmado pela presença de uma banda larga de emissão na região verde do espectro, com máximo de emissão obtido após excitação em 350 nm. O tempo de decaimento luminescente da amostra tratada termicamente chegou a alcançar aproximadamente 100 minutos. Por meio de medidas de FRX de fritas adquiridas, de DTA e TG de fritas, do pigmento e de misturas entre os dois, e da aplicação das misturas em placas cerâmicas foi possível observar boa compatibilidade em termos dos processos térmicos, o que aponta para um potencial uso do pigmento em placas de revestimento cerâmico.

Ce travail de thèse a porté sur de nouveaux implants intervertébraux en céramique. Au cours du projet dans son ensemble (projet européen Longlife), un nouveau matériau et de nouveaux designs d’implants ont été développés, ainsi qu’un nouveau test destiné à simuler les sollicitations subies in vivo par les implants afin d’estimer leur durée de vie. Le nouveau matériau développé est un composite triphasé composé d’une matrice de zircone dopée à l’oxyde de cérium (pour sa résistance au vieillissement), d’une phase globulaire d’alumine α (pour affiner la microstructure) et d’une phase allongée composée d’aluminates de strontium (pour augmenter la ténacité). La première partie du travail a consisté à caractériser ce matériau afin de connaître son comportement en termes de résistance mécanique, stabilité thermique, et de résistance à la stérilisation. Une deuxième partie a été consacrée au développement d’un test multiphysique regroupant les différentes sollicitations attendues par une prothèse in vivo (fatigue axiale, micro-séparation, vieillissement et usure). Il a fallu pour cela s’appuyer sur des simulations numériques qui ont permis de développer le système. Les données de la littérature ont été utilisées afin de choisir les paramètres du test (durée, fréquence, milieu d’essai). Enfin, la dernière partie de ce travail a été la mise à l’épreuve de différents prototypes à travers le test multiphysique et leur caractérisation en cours d’essai. Les principaux résultats de ce travail de thèse sont les suivants : le composite montre un comportement pseudo-plastique sous charge, avec une nette transformation de phase avant rupture, ce qui est positif dans le cadre de son utilisation. De plus, il ne semble pas affecté par la stérilisation. Du point de vue des implants développés, peu passent le test multiphysique. Le design, ainsi que la géométrie (notamment la clearance des échantillons) sont des leviers d’amélioration qui permettront d’augmenter la fiabilité des implants. / This work deals with the development of new intervertebral prostheses, made with ceramics. A whole European project, Longlife, was dedicated to the development of such implants. To achieve this goal, several axes have been followed: the synthesis of a new material, the development of new designs of intervertebral bodies, and the set-up of a new test aimed at reproducing in vitro the different solicitations undergone by an intervertebral implant in vivo. The new material developed is a triphasic composite composed of a matrix of ceria-doped zirconia (insensitive to ageing), a secondary globular phase of α-alumina (to reduce the grain size), and a third, elongated phase composed of strontium aluminates platelets (in order to improve fracture toughness). The first part of this work was to characterize this new material in order to forecast its behaviour under mechanical solicitation, thermal stability and resistance to sterilization. Secondly, the set-up of the new test is exposed. Different steps were chosen (axial fatigue, micro-separation, ageing and wear) in order to reproduce the “real-life” solicitations. To achieve this goal, Finite Elements simulations were performed, allowing the development of specific specimen holders that mimic the fixation of the implants in the vertebrae. The parameters of the test (duration, frequency, medium) were chosen after a details survey of the literature and of standards. At the end, we tested different prototypes trough this new multiphysic assessment set up. As a main result of this thesis, the chosen ceramic composite exhibits a pseudo-plastic behaviour, with a large deformation due to phase transformation before fracture, which is a positive result in the framework of the forecast applications. Moreover, the material doesn’t seem degraded by the sterilization processes. Concerning the multiphysic test, only a few implants resisted it. The design of the implants is a key-point, as well as the geometry (in particular, clearance seems to be critical).

Les céramiques transparentes élaborées par cristallisation complète du verre constituent une nouvelle famille de matériaux de qualité photonique en compétition avec la technologie des monocristaux pour les applications optiques. Cette approche verrière offre des avantages considérables par rapport aux monocristaux et aux céramiques polycristallines frittées : un coût réduit, la possibilité d’une production à grande échelle, une large gamme de compositions chimiques accessibles, une mise en forme plus souple et un taux de dopage élevé. Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous avons synthétisé des céramiques polycristallines transparentes de Sr3Al2O6 et Sr3Ga2O6 (structures cubiques) par cristallisation complète du verre de même composition. Les verres d'aluminate de strontium (75SrO-25Al2O3) et de gallate de strontium (75SrO-25Ga2O3) sont élaborés par lévitation aérodynamique couplée à un dispositif de chauffage laser. La transparence de la céramique de Sr3Al2O6 obtenue s’explique par son isotropie optique, ses joints de grains très fins et sa structure totalement dense (non poreuse). Nous avons également développé une nouvelle famille de céramiques transparentes Sr1+x/2Al2+xSi2-xO8 (0<x≤0.4) obtenues par cristallisation complète et congruente du verre. La transmission exceptionnelle de plus de 90% dans la gamme visible et proche infrarouge est expliquée grâce à des études microstructurales et structurales. Cette transparence qui atteint la limite théorique est associée à une biréfringence quasi nulle, des joints de grains très fins et une porosité nulle. Les études par RMN prouvent l'existence d'un désordre chimique qui est à l'origine de la valeur pratiquement nulle de la biréfringence calculée par DFT. Ces matériaux céramiques polycristallins évolutifs et hautement transparents sont des candidats prometteurs pour une large gamme d'applications optiques et photoniques dans les gammes IR et visible. Cette étude a donc conduit à de nouvelles céramiques transparentes, avec des valeurs de transmission jamais atteintes jusqu’à présent pour des oxydes. Elle propose également une nouvelle approche pour l'obtention de céramiques transparentes dans le cas de matériaux anisotropes : introduire un désordre chimique contrôlé au sein du matériau afin d’induire une isotropie optique. Ce concept ouvre la voie à de nouvelles compositions, étendant ainsi le domaine des céramiques transparentes et de leurs applications. / Transparent polycrystalline ceramics elaborated by full crystallization from glass are an emerging class of photonicquality materials competing with single crystal technology, especially for optical applications. This approach provides considerable advantages over single crystals and polycrystalline sintered ceramics represented by cost effectiveness, large scale production, wide range of accessible chemical compositions, easy shaping and high doping level hosting structure. In this work, we show the preparation of transparent cubic Sr3Al2O6 and Sr3Ga2O6 polycrystalline ceramics by full crystallization from the parent strontium aluminate (75SrO-25Al2O3) and strontium gallate (75SrO-25Ga2O3) glasses elaborated by aerodynamic levitation coupled to laser heating system. The transparency of the obtained Sr3Al2O6 ceramics is explained by their optical isotropy, thin grain boundaries and highly dense (non-porous) microstructure. We also show a series of novel Sr1+x/2Al2+xSi2-xO8 (0<x≤0.4) oxide compositions leading to highly transparent and readily scalable polycrystalline ceramics to be obtained by full congruent glass crystallization. The outstanding transparency exceeding 90% in the visible and near IR range is explained through different microstructural and structural (average and local) studies. This transparency, reaching the theoretical limit, is associated to the almost null birefringence, thin grain boundaries and non-porosity. NMR experiments prove the existence of chemical disorder which is at the origin of the relatively zero birefringence value calculated by DFT computations. These scalable and highly transparent polycrystalline ceramic materials are promising candidates for a wide range of optical and photonic applications in the IR and visible ranges. This study besides revealing new ceramic compositions with previously unreported transmission values for micro-scale polycrystalline materials, proposes a new approach for obtaining transparent ceramics in anisotropic materials. This approach consists in inducing a controlled chemical disorder within the material in order to induce optical isotropy. It is anticipated that this proposed concept will open the way to different composition candidates to be elaborated as transparent polycrystalline ceramics, thus extending the ceramic technology domain and its applications.