Dans le cadre général de la simulation du procédé de frittage en phase solide, ce travail propose une approche numérique, à l'échelle des particules, de la consolidation d'un compact pulvérulent céramique. Le frittage est un procédé mettant en jeu plusieurs chemins de diffusion activés thermiquement. Parmi ces chemins de diffusion, les plus importants sont : la diffusion surfacique, la diffusion aux joints des grains et la diffusion volumique. La mise en place de cette physique dans un cadre de calcul intensif doit permettre de mieux comprendre ces mécanismes de diffusion ainsi que leur influence sur l'évolution de la microstructure. Le but de ce travail consiste à développer un modèle ainsi qu'une stratégie numérique capable d'intégrer les différents mécanismes de diffusion dans un cadre de calcul intensif. Le flux de matière est calculé en fonction du Laplacien de la courbure dans les cas de la diffusion surfacique, tandis que pour la diffusion volumique ce flux est proportionnel au gradient de la pression hydrostatique. Le modèle physique est tout d'abord présenté dans le cadre de la mécanique des milieux continus. Ensuite, la stratégie numérique développée pour la simulation du frittage d'un empilement granulaire est détaillée. Cette stratégie est basée sur une discrétisation du problème par des éléments finis stabilisés couplée avec une méthode Level-set pour décrire la surface libre des particules. Cette stratégie nous permet de faire des simulations avec un "grand" nombre de particules. Plusieurs simulations en 3D, menées dans un cadre de calcul parallèle, montrent l'évolution qui a lieu sur un empilement granulaire réaliste. / Within the general context of solid-state sintering process, this work presents a numerical modeling approach, at the particle scale, of ceramic particle packing consolidation. Typically, the sintering process triggers several mass transport paths that are thermally activated. Among those diffusion paths, the most important ones are: surface diffusion, grain boundary diffusion and volume diffusion. Including this physics into a high-performance computing framework would permit to gain precious insights about the driving mechanisms. The aim of the present work is to develop a model and a numerical strategy able to integrate the different diffusion mechanisms into continuum mechanics framework. In the cases of surface diffusion and volume diffusion, the mass flux is calculated as a function of the surface curvature Laplacian and the hydrostatic pressure gradient, respectively. The physical model describing these two transport mechanisms is first presented within the framework of continuum mechanics. Then the numerical strategy developed for the simulation of the sintering of many particles is detailed. This strategy is based on a discretization of the problem by using a finite element approach coupled with a Level-Set method used to describe the particles free surface. This versatile strategy allows us to perform simulations involving a relatively large number of particles. Furthermore, a mesh adaptation technique allows the particles surface description to be improved, while the number of mesh elements is kept reasonable. Several 3D simulations, performed in a parallel computing framework, show the changes occurring in the structure of 3D granular stacks.

Procédé de moulage par injection de poudres est constitué de quatre étapes principales: la préparation des matières premières, moulage par injection, le déliantage et le frittage. Cette thèse présente les recherches sur deux aspects principaux: la micro-injection et frittage par micro -ondes. Les contributions principaux peuvent être conclues dans les quatre aspects suivants: Modification et complément de l'algorithme précédent pour la simulation du procédé de moulage par injection; L'évaluation et la mise en œuvre de l'effet de tension de surface en simulation pour micro-injection; Micro-ondes expériences de frittage de compacts basés sur l'acier inoxydable 17-4PH; Réalisation de la simulation de frittage à micro-ondes avec couplage de la multi-physique, y compris le chauffage à micro-ondes classique, le transfert de chaleur, et le supplément de modèle pour la densification de frittage de la poudre compacté / Powder Injection molding process consists off our main stages: feedstock preparation, injection molding, debinding and sintering. The thesis presents the research on two main aspects: micro injectionmolding and microwave sintering. The main contributions can be concluded in thefollowing four aspects: Modification and supplement of previous algorithm for the simulation ofinjection molding process; Evaluation and implementation of surface tension effect in simulation for micro injection; Microwave sintering experiments of compacts based on 17-4PH stainles ssteel; Realization of the microwave sintering simulation with the coupling of multi-physics,including the classic microwave heating, heat transfer, and the supplement of model for sintering densification of powder impacts

Nous proposons dans cette thèse une étude sur la stabilisation de bulles de gaz dispersées en solution aqueuse par des nanocapsules lipidiques (NCL). L’objectif est le développement d’un système de libération d’actifs pharmaceutiques provoquée par l’application d’un champ ultrasonore adéquat. Préalablement, est évaluée la potentialité des NCL à se comporter comme de vrais agents de stabilisation interfaciale air/eau. Les NCL sont capables de diminuer la tension de surface plus que le Solutol®, principal surfactif pégylé rentrant dans leur composition.La méthode d’agitation mécanique s’est révélée la mieux adaptée pour formuler des microbulles d’air stabilisées.Les microbulles générées ont une taille moyenne inférieure à 2μm avec une concentration de 2,72.1012/mL. La distribution de taille est assez homogène avec un indice de polydispersité acceptable. Le ratio d’incorporation d’air dans les bulles est de 0,17. Les microbulles sont entourées d’un film constitué principalement de Solutol® et de Lipoïd®. En dispersion aqueuse, la stabilité des bulles à température ambiante(20°C±2°C) est maintenue jusqu’à 7 jours au moins. Le fusidate sodique utilisé comme actif pharmaceutique modèle et comme traceur est encapsulé avec un taux de27-35%. Un taux de libération de 40-50% est obtenu dans des conditions normales de libération. Ce pourcentage atteint 50-55% après application d’ultrasons. / This work deals with the stabilization of gaz microbubbles dispersed in aqueous solutions by using LipidNanoCapsules (LNC). The main objective is the development of a Drug Delivery System where the release is triggered by ultrasonation. Firstly, we investigated the ability of LNC to behave as real air/water interfacial stabilization agents. It is shown that LNC can decrease the surface tension at the air/water interface more than the Solutol®, main pegylated surfactant of the LNC. Usual stirring method seems the more efficient to produce stabilized air microbubbles. Microbubbles are characterized by a mean size below 2μm and are concentrated at 2.72x1012 /mL. The size distribution ishomogeneous with a convenient polydispersity index.The gas holdup inherent to the microbubbles was estimated to 0.17. Microbubbles are surrounded by a film constituted by Solutol® and Lipoïd®. Their stability at room temperature was kept up to 7 days. Sodium Fusidate was chosen as a drug model with an encapsulation rate in a 27-35% range. The drug release upon ultrasound was between 50-55 % in comparison with 40-50 % without ultrasounds focusing.

Pigmentary titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most important white pigment used in several industries, including those that manufacture plastic, coatings and paper. To achieve maximum efficiency in light scattering and to deliver the required opacity to the medium in which the TiO2 is present, the TiO2 particles must be fully dispersed throughout this medium. The particle dispersion in a cured, dry, or solid medium depends on the dispersion efficiency in the wet state, which depends on the effectiveness of the deagglomeration process. Based on the existing technical knowledge, the objective of this study is to investigate fundamental aspects in the dispersion process and to understand the effect of these processes on the required energy to deagglomerate pigmentary TiO2 particles in water. The fundamental aspects of particle wetting, dispersion and stability are reviewed as well as the theories of the tensile strength of agglomerates, particle roughness and liquid surface tension and viscosity. Although liquid surface tension and viscosity are the main factors that influence deagglomeration, some particle-related properties (particle radius, particle shape factor, agglomerate pore volume and specific surface area) play an important role in wetting behavior. The maximum mass of water adsorbed by the agglomerates is proportional to the liquid surface tension. The liquid adsorption rate is a function of the ratio between the liquid and solid surface tensions as well as the shape factor. In the present study, for any shape factor value, the lower the liquid surface energy is in relation to the solid surface tension, the larger the water adsorption rate. After characterizing the particles, the agglomerates and the liquid medium, and obtaining correlations between all properties and the energy to achieve maximum dispersion, a predictive model is proposed to describe the influence of liquid surface tension and the particle roughness on the energy required to produce liquid dispersions with minimum particle size. This model applies to different particles with similar surfaces and to particles with different surfaces but similar sizes. / Dióxido de titânio é o pigmento branco mais importante de diversas indústrias incluindo as de tintas, plásticos e papel. Para atingir sua máxima eficiência no espalhamento de luz, prover a opacidade requerida ao meio em que se encontra presente, as partículas devem estar completamente dispersas neste meio. A dispersão no meio sólido, seco ou curado dependerá da eficiência de dispersão no estado úmido, a eficiência da dispersão no estado úmido dependerá de quão efetivo foi o processo de desaglomeração. O objetivo deste trabalho é compreender como as propriedades do líquido e do sólido impactam a energia requerida para desaglomerar às partículas de dióxido de titânio pigmentário em um meio líquido. As teorias de umectação de partículas, dispersão e estabilidade foram revisadas assim como as teorias de tensão de coesão de aglomerados, rugosidade da partícula e viscosidade e tensão superficial de líquidos. O objetivo destas revisões foi determinar os fatores que influenciam o processo de desaglomeração e a energia requerida para que isso ocorra. Apesar das propriedades do líquido serem os principais fatores que influenciam o processo de desaglomeração (viscosidade e tensão superficial do líquido), as propriedades da partícula, ainda que sempre associadas a propriedades do líquido, desempenham um papel importante no comportamento de umectação (raio da partícula, rugosidade, volume dos poros do aglomerado e área superficial específica). Após a caracterização das propriedades das partículas, dos aglomerados e do meio, e analisar as correlações entre as propriedades e a energia necessária para atingir o máximo da dispersão um modelo preditivo foi desenvolvido para descrever a influencia da tensão superficial e da rugosidade na energia necessária para atingir o tamanho de partícula mínimo. Este modelo se aplica a diferentes partículas com superfícies similares e partículas com superfícies diferentes com tamanhos similares.

Ionic Liquids (ILs) has been attracting attention, both from academia and industry, given the numerous applications of these systems. ILs are salts, usually composed by an organic ion, and a counterion which could be organic or inorganic, and, interestingly they are found at liquid state at room temperature. Our interest in studying ILs comes from its low toxicity. Some recent studies have shown that the toxicity of the ILs ishigher than believed, in particular for biologically relevant systems. The main goal of this research is to study the influence of the ionic liquid 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C14MIM][Cl]) with membrane systems. To do so, we made use of different lipids: POPC, Sphingomyelin, Cholesterol, POPG, DPPC, DPPG and DMPC. For each of these systems, the influence of ILs concentration were elucidated by means of a systematic study through different experimental techniques: Small Angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence anisotropy, optical microscopy and z-potential. Since [C14MIM][Cl] has a positive charge on the imidazolium group, the superficial charge of all vesicles increased. For zwitterionic vesicles no significant change in size and melting temperature were noticed. The imidazolium-based ionic liquid diminished the gel-fluid transition temperature for negatively charged lipids. For DPPC:DPPG (1:1), for instance, the transition temperature decreased from 42.50±0.13oC to 25.27±0.33oC and for DPPG from 46.12±0.22 oC to 36.6±0.38 oC. For DPPG, the vesicle hydrodynamic diameter increased from 84±0.1nm to 176±0.1nm, whereas for DPPC:DPPG it increased from 95±0.1nm to 196±0.1nm. The electronic density profile, obtained by SAXS, supported the penetration of the [C14MIM][Cl] into the negative bilayer structure. 15 mol% of [C14MIM][Cl] increased the polar head thickness of DPPC vesicles from 11.1±0.6 Å to 18.0±0.7 Å, without alter significantly the inner region of the membrane.Qualitative results obtained with optical microscopy showed that the IL incorporation destabilize the membrane asymmetry (between the leaflets) leading to the formation of pores (evidenced by optical contrast lost) and the presence of buds. We believe that this work could improve the understanding of the effects of ILs in the presence of biological relevant systems / Os líquidos iônicos (LI) tem atraído grande atenção, tanto da academia quanto da indústria, devido às suas numerosas aplicações. LI são sais, normalmente compostos por um íon orgânico, e um contra-íon que pode ser orgânico ou inorgânico, mas que tem como característica ser encontrado no estado líquido à temperaturas próximas a ambiente. Nosso interesse em estudar LIs vem de sua baixa toxicidade, atribuída a sua baixa volatilidade. Entretanto, alguns estudos recentes mostraram que a toxicidade dos LI é maior do que se acreditava, em particular com sistemas de relevância biológica.O objetivo principal desta dissertação é estudar a influência do líquido iônico 1-tetradecil-3-metilimidazólio cloreto ([C14MIM][Cl]) com sistemas de membrana. Para isso, utilizamos diferentes lipídios, como o POPC, esfingomielina, colesterol, POPG, DPPC,DPPG e o DMPC. Para cada um destes sistemas, a influência da concentração de LI foi elucidada por meio de um estudo sistemático através de diferentes técnicas experimentais, tais como: espalhamento de raio-X a baixos ângulos (SAXS), espalhamento dinâmico de luz (DLS), anisotropia de fluorescência, microscopia óptica e potencial-z. Uma vez que o componente iônico de [C14MIM][Cl] tem uma carga positiva no grupo imidazólio, a carga superficial de todas as vesículas estudadas aqui aumentou. Entretanto, para asvesículas compostas pelos lipídeos zwitteriónicos, não tenha sido observada qualquer alteração significativa no tamanho e na temperatura de transição de fase gel-fluido. O [C14MIM][Cl] altera a organização interna entre as moléculas de lipídio com carga negativa. Consequentemente, à medida que a quantidade de LI aumenta, a temperatura de transição de fase diminui e o tamanho médio das vesículas aumenta. Para o sistema DPPC:DPPG (1:1) a temperatura de transição de fase caiu de 42.50 ± 0.13 oC para 25.27 ± 0.33 oC e para as vesículas de DPPG de 46.12±0.22 oC para 36.6±0.38 oC. Quanto ao diâmetro hidrodinâmico médio, no caso do DPPG este valor aumentou de 84±0.1 nm para 176±0.1 nm, enquanto que para a mistura DPPC:DPPG (1:1) ele passou de 95±0.1nm para 196±0.1nm. Indicando assim que o LI incorpora na bicamada lipídica negativamente carregada. O perfil de densidade eletrônica, obtido por SAXS, confirma a penetração do [C14MIM][Cl] na bicamada lipídica. Diferentemente, para a membrana lipídica zwitteriónica o LI tende a se situar perto da região da cabeça polar sem afetar significativamente a região do interior da bicamada lipídica. Por outro lado, a presença de15 mol% de [C14MIM][Cl] aumenta a espessura da região polar das bicamadas das vesículas de DPPC de ~ 11.1±0.6 Å para ~ 18.0±0.7 Å. Os resultados qualitativos da microscopia óptica mostraram que a incorporação da LI desestabiliza a assimetria da membrana entre as camadas interna e externa, além de sugerir o aparecimento de poros (evidenciado pela perda do contraste ótico das vesículas) e estruturas chamadas de buds. Esperamos que este trabalho melhore a compreensão dos efeitos do LI na presença de organismos biológicos.

Determinações de tensão superficial (γ) na interface ar-água e espessuras médias elipsométricas in situ (d), foram usadas para estudar as interações entre dispersões de lípides (em forma de bicamadas) e filmes de poliestireno sulfato produzidos por revestimento rotacional sobre placas de óxido de silício. A adição de NaCl para uma concentração final de 50 mM em uma dispersão de 0.2 mM de lípide catiônico sintético produziu instantaneamente uma camada de 6 nm de espessura que permaneceu estável com o tempo, indicando uma cinética de adsorção muito rápida, determinada possivelmente, pela atração hidrofóbica entre defeitos sobre a bicamada, induzidos pelo sal, e a superfície do filme. Contudo, em água a adsorção de DODAB cresceu monotonicamente alcançando no máximo uma espessura de 1.6-1.8 nm (após 15 horas de interação) em função do tempo, a qual não foi consistente com deposição de bicamada. Nos estágios iniciais em água pura, a adsorção do anfifílico aumentou linearmente com a raiz quadrada do tempo, mostrando um processo controlado por difusão de vesículas, com coeficiente de difusão(D), aproximadamente igual a 1.0 x 10-11 m22s-1 em boa aproximação com valores determinados para vesículas de outros lípides por outros autores. Medidas elipsométricas sob o ar (ex- situ) de adsorção de DODAB, DHP e PC foram difíceis de realizar devido ao aumento da espessura média do filme polimérico durante o ciclo de lavagem e secagem. Na faixa de concentração de 0.1- 1.0 mM o filme adsorvido de DODAB em ar foi mais hidrofóbico (ângulo de contato de avanço ΘA= 84° ± 3°) do que aquele para o filme puro de polímero (ΘA=71 ° ± 4°). Nenhum efeito do filme de DHP sobre a molhabilidade do filme de PSA foi observado, apenas um aumento de rugosidade revelado pela mudança em ΔΘ de 2° para 11° (tabela 3). Filmes planos de PSA são hidrofóbicos(ΘA= 86° ± 5°). Após interação com PC, as superfícies tornam-se menos hidrofóbicas (ΘA= 75° ± 3°). A tensão superficial em ar-água para uma dispersão lipídica em água pura diminuiu rapidamente sob adição de sal (7-50 mM de NaCl), sugerindo a ocorrência de fusão de vesículas, induzida por sal, com a interface ar-água.O estudo da interação entre sais de DODA e partículas poliméricas por medidas de tamanho e potencial-zeta das partículas permitiu observar deposição de bicamadas optimizada por adição de sal a baixas concentrações (0.05-5.0 mM NaCl). / Determinations of surface tension (γ) at the air--water interface, contact angles (Θ), and in and ex-situ ellipsometric mean thickness (d) were used to study the interaction between dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) small vesicles and spin-coated polystyrene sulfate (PSS) films on silicon wafers. Upon the adition of NaCl (50 mM final concentration) to a 0.2 mM DODAB dispersion, adsorption from vesicles on PSS films immediatly yielded a DODAB layer 6.0 nm thick which remained stable as a function of time. However, in water, in situ DODAB adsorption monotonically increased reaching at most 1.6--1.8 nm as a function of time (from 15 mm of interaction), which were not values consistent with bilayer deposition. At early stages in pure water, DODAB adsorption linearly increased with the square root of time, indicating a vesicle difision controlled process with ca. 1.0 x 10-11 m2s-1 as the vesicle diffusion coeficient (D) in nice agreement with reported D for similar vesicles. In contrast, adding 50 mM salt, resulted in a very fast adsorption kinetics determined by the hydrophobic atraction between salt-induced defects on lhe bilayer and the film surface. Ex situ measurements of DODAB, DHP e PC adsorption were difficult because wetting/drying cycles of the polimeric fiIms increased its mean thickness. From 0.1 up to 1.0 mM DODAB, the adsorbed film in air was more hydrophobic (advancing contact angle, ΘA = 84 ± 3°) than the bare PSS film (ΘA = 71 ± 4°). No effect of DHP film on the wettability of PSA film could be observed, just a increase of rougness revealed by the change of ΔΘ from2° to 11°( table 3). Pure PSA films are hydrophobic, as revealed by the mean advancing angle ΘA = 86 ± 5°. After interaction with PC, the surfaces turn less hydrophobic with a mean ΘA = 75 ± 3°. Air-water surface tension for a DODAB dispersion in pure water rapidly decreased upon salt addition (7-50 mM NaCI), suggesting salt-induced vesicle fusion wilh the air--water interface occurred, in nice agreement with saIt-induced vesicle fusion at the hydrophobic polymer-water surface.The investigation of the interaction between DODA salts and polymeric particles from diameter and zeta- potential measurements, allowed us to detect bilayer deposition optimized by salt adition in low concentration(0.05-5.0 mM NaCl).

Les nanoparticules d’oxyde de fer ont récemment été envisagées comme outils pour l’ingénierie tissulaire. Elles sont internalisées par les cellules qui deviennent alors magnétiques. Des forces magnétiques peuvent ainsi être appliquées à distance sur ces cellules pour contrôler leur organisation spatiale et temporelle, et former un tissu. Ces applications posent la question du devenir des nanoparticules, qui conditionne in fine leur utilisation clinique. Ce travail s’inscrit dans ce cadre et comporte deux axes.La première partie traite de l’étude des propriétés mécaniques et rhéologiques de tissus biologiques modèles, les agrégats multicellulaires. Une combinaison de méthodes magnétiques est proposée pour fabriquer et stimuler des tissus magnétiques de taille et de forme contrôlées. Ces agrégats magnétiques sont soumis à distance à des contraintes magnétiques d’écrasement. L’étude de leur déformation permet d’explorer des caractéristiques statiques et dynamiques rarement étudiées à l’échelle tissulaire (tension de surface, loi puissance, non linéarité). La deuxième partie se concentre sur l'évolution à moyen terme des nanoparticules dans leur environnement tissulaire, au cœur des agrégats. En combinant ce tissu modèle avec des méthodes de quantification magnétique, nous avons pu mettre en évidence une dégradation massive d’origine endosomale, sans pour autant impacter de manière importante l’homéostasie du fer. De plus, le modèle tissulaire mis en place permet d’étudier la biodégradation intracellulaire de n’importe quel type de nanoparticules. Nous l'avons testé avec des nano-architectures plus complexes: nanocubes, nanodimers, ou nanoparticules magnéto-plasmoniques / Iron oxide nanoparticles are promising candidates for applications in nanomedecine (contrast agents, vectors). They were also recently considered as a powerful tool for tissue engineering. Cells, magnetized through nanoparticules internalization, can be organized in space and time thanks to remote magnetic forces. For all those applications the nanoparticles fate inside the cells remains a key issue concerning the final clinical use. The first part of this work focuses on the study of the mechanical and rheological properties of biological tissue models, the multicellular aggregates. An original magnetic molding method and two different experimental setups were developed to produce aggregates with controlled shapes and sizes, to measure their surface tension and to evidence their power law and non linear behavior.In the second part, we investigate the medium term fate of iron oxide nanoparticles in stem cells forming a spheroid as a model tissue. We reveal a massive endosomal degradation. The set of methods and spheroid model we propose allow a comprehensive and quantitative follow up of the biodegradation of any nanomaterials. This was illustrated by investigating the degradation of nanomaterials with more complex nano-architectures (nanocubes, nanodimers) and assessing the efficiency of a protection strategy to modulate the biodegradation

L'objet de ce travail concernait la compréhension de l'évolution des propriétés hydrauliques des membranes céramiques d'UF/NF durant l'étape du conditionnement, et suite à un traitement alcalin. Dans un premier temps, une étude expérimentale a été réalisée par des tests de flux à l'eau pure avec 6 membranes minérales asymétriques (Na-mordenite et TiO2). Ensuite, l'évolution de la perméabilité hydraulique de ces membranes a été modélisée précisément par une fonction mathématique, mettant en évidence deux phases distinctes au cours du conditionnement : une hydratation rapide de la surface des cristaux de Na-mordenite (mésoporosité intercristalline) suivie d'une hydratation lente des pores de la Na-mordenite (microporosité intracristalline). Cette étude a également permis de montrer que la cinétique d'hydratation des micropores est proportionnelle au volume microporeux des couches actives. Dans un deuxième temps, des caractérisations physico-chimiques (DRX, MEB, DFX, adsorption N2), des mesures de propriétés électriques ainsi que des tests de mouillabilité ont été réalisés sur la phase active des membranes de Na-mordenite avant et après un traitement alcalin (filtration d'une solution de carbonate de sodium) dans le but de pouvoir comprendre/expliquer la diminution de la perméabilité hydraulique observée à la suite du traitement alcalin. Les composantes de la tension de surface (polaires et apolaires) et l'énergie d'interaction entre la surface des membranes et les molécules d'eau ont été déterminées via l'équation de Young-Dupré (théorie de Lifshitz-van der Waals des états condensés). L'ensemble des résultats obtenus a montré que la modification des propriétés hydrauliques des membranes est due à une augmentation de l'hydrophilicité de surface de la zéolithe (par la présence des micro-défauts à la surface : extraction des atomes de silicium) provoquant la formation d'une couche ultra-polaire à la surface des cristaux de Na-mordenite. / The aim of this work was to understand hydraulic properties evolution of mineral UF/NF membranes during the conditioning step and after a mild alkaline treatment. First, experimental tests by filtration of pure water were carried out to determine the membrane permeation flux. Six tubular asymetric ceramic membranes were studied (Na-mordenite and TiO2) and a mathematical modelling of the hydraulic permeability (during the conditioning step) was performed. Two separate phases were identified: a fast decrease of the permeability that was attributed to the hydration of the crystal surface of Na-mordenite (inter-crystalline mesoporosity) and then a slow decrease until the stabilization of the permeability that was attributed to the hydration of the Na-mordenite internal pores (intra-crystalline microposity). During this study, it was also shown that the kinetic of micropore hydration is directly proportional to the microporous volume of the membrane active layer. Secondly, physicochemical characterizations, electric properties and contact angle measurements were carried out on the Na-mordenite active phase before and after a mild alkaline treatment (filtration of a sodium carbonate-water solution) to understand/explain the decrease of the hydraulic permeability after the alkaline treatment. The surface tension components (polar and apolar) and the energy of interaction between water molecules and the surface of the active layer were determined via the Young-Dupré equation according to the Lifshitz-van der Waals theory of the condensed states. The whole of these results showed that the modification of the hydraulic properties of the zeolite membranes is due to an increase of the surface hydrophilicity of the surface (surface defaults: extraction of the silicon atoms), leading to the formation of an ultra-polar layer on the surface of the zeolite crystals.

In this thesis the structure and hydration of small organic and amphipilic compounds adsorbed at the air-liquid interface, have been studied using the nonlinear optical technique Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy (VSFS). The second order nature of the sum frequency process makes this technique particularly surface sensitive and very suitable for interfacial studies, as molecules at the surface can be distinguished even in the presence of a vast excess of the same molecules in the bulk. Particular emphasis was given to the surface water structure and how it is affected by the presence of small model compounds such as acetic acid and formic acid, and also non-ionic surfactants with sugar based and ethylene oxide based polar headgroups. Understanding the structure of water at these interfaces is of considerable fundamental importance, and here VSFS provided unique information. Upon addition of tiny amounts of these surface active compounds, the ordered surface structure of water was found to be significantly perturbed, as revealed by the changes observed in the characteristic spectroscopic signature of the dangling OH bond of water molecules, which vibrate free in air and are present in the top monolayer. Dramatic differences between the different compounds were also observed in the bonded OH region, providing a valuable insight into the hydration of polar groups at interfaces. Additionally, by employing different polarization combinations of the laser beams involved in the sum frequency process, information about the different water species present at the surface and their average orientation were extracted. In particular an unusual state of water was found with a preferred orientation in a non-donor configuration in close proximity to the hydrophobic region formed by the hydrocarbon tails of the surfactant molecules. The conformation and orientation of the different adsorbates were also characterized, targeting their specific vibrational frequencies. Noteworthy is the orientation of the fluorocarbon chain of ammonium perfluorononanoate (APFN), which in contrast to the hydrocarbon chains of the other surfactant molecules studied, remained constant over a wide range of surface densities. This behaviour was also observed for the anionic headgroup of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). Other interesting findings were the formation of a cyclic dimer bilayer at the surface of concentrated aqueous solutions of acetic acid and the water structuring effect induced by poly(ethylene-oxide) headgroups, in spite of being themselves disordered at the air-liquid interface.

The first part of this thesis is concerned with thestructure-property relationships in nonionic surfactantsystems. The main aim was to investigate how the surfactantstructure influences the adsorption at interfaces andinteractions between surfactant coated interfaces.Particularly, the effect of the structure of the surfactantheadgroups was investigated. These were sugar-based headgroupwith varying size and flexibility and poly(ethylene oxide)based headgroups with or without an additional amide or estergroup. The hydrophobic part of the surfactant consisted mostlyof straight alkyl chains, except for one type of poly(ethyleneoxide) based surfactant with a dehydroabietic hydrophobe. The main technique that was used is the surface forcetechnique, with which the forces acting between two adsorbedsurfactant layers on hydrophilic or hydrophobic surfaces can bemeasured. These forces are important for e.g. the stability ofdispersions. The hydrophilic surfaces employed were glass andmica, whereas the hydrophobic surfaces were silanized glass andhydrophobized mica. The adsorption behavior on hydrophilicsurfaces is highly dependent on the type of headgroup andsurface, whereas similar results were obtained on the two typesof hydrophobic surfaces. To better understand how the surfaceforces are affected by the surfactant structure, measurementsof adsorbed amount and theoretical mean-field latticecalculations were carried out. The results show that the sugarsurfactant layers and poly(ethylene oxide) surfactant layersgive rise to very different surface forces, but that the forcesare more similar within each group. The structure-propertyrelationships for many other physical properties have beenstudied as well. These include equilibrium and dynamicadsorption at the liquid-vapor interface, micelle size, micelledynamics, and wetting. The second part in this thesis is about the aggregationbetween cationic polyelectrolytes and an anionic surfactant.The surface force technique was used to study the adsorption ofa low charged cationic polyelectrolyte on mica, and theaggregation between the adsorbed polyelectrolyte with theanionic surfactant. The aggregation in bulk was studied withturbidimetry, small angle neutron scattering (SANS), and smallangle x-ray scattering (SAXS). An internal hexagonal aggregatestructure was found for some of the bulk aggregates. <b>Keywords:</b>nonionic surfactant, sugar surfactant,poly(ethylene oxide), amide, ester, polyelectrolyte, SDS,hydrophobic surface, glass surface, mica, adsorption,aggregation, micelle size, surface forces, wetting, dynamicsurface tension, NMR, TRFQ, SANS, SAXS, mean-field latticecalculations.