No description available.

The sintering of (Ca_0.6,Mg_0.4)Zr₄(PO₄)₆ powder (CMZP) synthesized via a new solid-state reaction method was investigated for application as a thermal barrier in next generation internal combustion engines. Specifically, CMZP is being considered as a potential material for the manufacture of exhaust port liners to increase the overall performance of diesel engines. The effects of firing time, firing temperature, and amount of ZnO sintering aid on modulus of rupture (MOR), bulk density, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were determined for both dry pressed and slip cast samples to optimize the physical properties for this application. For both processing methods, suppressing the formation of secondary interparticle phases (grain boundaries) was found to be the controlling factor for obtaining high strength and positive thermal expansion. For a given ZnO level, increases in firing time and/or temperature resulted in improved density but a degradation in microstructure (undesirable grain growth, formation of a liquid phase, and intra-/trans- granular microcracking), accompanied by a reduction in MOR and negative CTE values. Therefore, optimizing bulk density was determined to be counter-productive for improving strength when ZnO is used as a sintering aid. / Master of Science

LOW TEMPERATURE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME LOW POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THERMAL EXPANSION MATERIALS Kathleen Madara White 151 pages Directed by Dr. Angus P. Wilkinson Low temperature non-hydrolytic sol-gel synthesis was used to explore the possibility of lowering the crystallization temperatures of some known AIVMV2O7 compounds. Crystallization temperatures for ZrP2O7 and ZrP2O7 were unaffected by the use of non-hydrolytic sol-gel methods; however, successful synthesis of these compounds broadens the range of materials that can be produced using this method and suggests the possibility of synthesizing solid solutions (or composites) including ZrP2O7 or ZrV2O7. This research presents for the first time the direct synthesis of ZrP2O7 from separate zirconium and phosphorus starting materials using mild autoclave methods. Characterization of some AIVMV2O7 compounds, using lab and high resolution synchrotron powder XRD, led to the assignment of a new symmetry for CeP2O7 and to the suggestion that the reported structure for PbP2O7 was inadequate. Studies using in situ high temperature lab and synchrotron powder XRD for PbP2O7 and CeP2O7 provided the opportunity to report their thermal properties for the first time, and to compare their behavior to that of some other AIVMV2O7. High pressure diffraction measurements on CeP2O7 provided data for the estimation of bulk moduli and suggested two possible pressure-induced phase transitions. A broad range of MIIIMVP4O14 compounds were prepared using low temperature hydrolytic sol-gel synthesis. Thermal studies revealed nearly linear trends in CTEs and lattice constants with respect to the sizes of MIIIMV cations. Some lower ionic radii compounds had CTEs comparable to that of ZrP2O7 at low temperature, suggesting a similar superstructure. Three compounds were found to exhibit temperature-induced phase transitions.

No description available.

Microactuators are needed to convert energy into mechanical work at the microscale. Thermal microactuators can be used to produce this needed mechanical work. The purpose of this research was to design, fabricate, and test thermal microactuators for use at the microscale in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The microactuators developed were tested to determine the magnitude of their deflection and estimate their force. Five groups of thermal microactuators were designed and tested. All of the groups used the geometrically constrained expansion of various segments to produce their deflection. The first group, Thermal Expansion Devices (TEDs), produced a rotational displacement and had deflections up to 20 µm. The second group, Bi-directional Thermal Expansion Devices (Bi-TEDs) were similar to the TEDs. The difference, as the name implies, was that the Bi-TEDs deflected up to 6 µm in two directions. Thermomechanical In-plane Micromechanisms (TIMs) were the third group tested. They produced a linear motion up to 20 µm. The fourth group was the Rapid Expansion Bi-directional Actuators (REBAs). These microactuators were bi-directional and produced up to 12 µm deflection in each direction. The final group of thermal microactuators was the Joint Actuating Micro-mechanical Expansion Systems (JAMESs). These thermal microactuators rotated pin joints up to 8 degrees. The thermal microactuators studied can be used in a wide variety of applications. They can move ratchets, position valves, move switches, change devices, or make connections. The thermal microactuator groups have their own unique advantages. The TIMS can be tailored for the amount of deflection and output force they produce. This will allow them to replace some microactuator arrays and decrease the space used for actuation. The Bi-TEDs and REBAs are bi-directional and can possibly replace two single direction micro-actuators. The JAMESs can be attached directly to a pin joint of an existing mechanism. These advantages allow these thermal microactuator groups to be used for a wide variety of applications.

No description available.

No description available.

The following investigations have been carried out in this thesis 1)Cordierite is already well known for its low thermal expansion behaviour. Chemical substitutions at various octahedral and tetrahedral sites have been done and their thermal expansion characteristics have been studied Synthesis of cordierite in more reactive environment provided by AlF3 used as sintering aid has been attempted 2) Diffuse ferroelectric phase transition of lead based perovskite materials leads to low expansion region. Solid solutions of lead iron niobate with lead titanate is investigated to increase the structural distortion and see it this low expansion region can be extended to wider temperature Preparation of materials with higher tetragonal distortion In PbTi03- BlFeO3 system is undertaken to study the thermal expansion anisotropy. 3) Composites between lead iron niobate(+(x) and lead titanate (-(x below Tc) has been undertaken to prepare low expansion hulk over a wide temperature range 4) Acoustic emission has been employed as a tool to detect the microcracking in solid solutions between PFN1-x, PTx, and PT1-x, ,BFx, It is hoped to understand relation between magnitude of lattice distortion transition temperature and microcracking in ceramics of the class of materials.

[pt] Embora a grande maioria dos materiais dilate quando aquecida e contraia quando resfriada, existe uma classe de materiais que se contrai, ou não muda de dimensões, ao aquecida, apresentando um coeficiente de expansão térmico negativo (ETN) ou próximo à zero (ETZ), respectivamente. A possibilidade de reduzir significativamente o coeficiente de expansão térmica, e ao mesmo tempo, incrementar suas propriedades físicas tem sido a principal força motriz na busca por fases cristalinas dentro da família A(2)M(3)O(12) e suas subfamílias. Tendo isso em vista, a proposta deste estudo foi sintetizar dois sistemas novos, ZrMg(1- x)Zn(x)Mo(3)O(12) (x=0,1; 0,3; 0,35; 0,4) e ZrMg(1-x)Ni(x)Mo(3)O(12) (x=0,05; 0,1; 0,15; 0,2), para tentar reduzir o coeficiente de expansão térmica da fase mãe, a ZrMgMo(3)O(12). O limite de solubilidade de Zn(2+) e Ni(2+) no sistema ZrMgMo(3)O(12) se encontra no intervalo de 0,35 menor ou igual à x menor ou igual à 0,4 e 0,1 menor ou igual à x menor ou igual à 0,2, respectivamente. O menor coeficiente de expansão térmica (alfa l =2,82x10(-7)K (-1)) foi obtido para a composição x=0,1 no sistema ZrMg(1-x)Zn(x)Mo(3)O(12) na faixa de temperatura de 213 K a 298 K. Neste sistema, a transição de fase de monoclínica para ortorrômbica foi observada, ocorrendo abaixo da temperatura ambiente para todas as composições de x=0,1 a x=0,4. Esta temperatura de transição aumenta conforme aumenta a composição de Zn(2+). As análises de termogravimetria indicaram que as fases dos dois sistemas não são higroscópicas. Aplicando a equação de Kubelka-Munk, e considerando uma transição indireta para o ZrMg(1-x)ZnxMo3O12, concluiu-se que não existem diferenças significativas na energia de banda proibida das fases analisadas. No entanto, para uma transição indireta para o ZrMg(1-x)Ni(x)Mo(3)O(12) existe um decréscimo da energia da banda de energia, conforme o conteúdo de Ni(2+) aumenta na composição, além do surgimento da absorção no espectro visível devido à transição d-d. Por fim, os resultados deste estudo mostraram que é possível obter um material cerâmico, dentro dos sistemas estudados, que apresente um comportamento de expansão térmica próxima à zero. / [en] Although the vast majority of materials dilates when heated and contract when cooled, there is a class of materials that contracts or does not change their dimensions when heated, presenting a negative thermal expansion coefficient (NTE) or close to zero (ZTE), respectively. The possibility of reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion while increasing its physical properties has been the main driving force in the search for crystalline phases within the A(2)M(3)O(12) family and its subfamilies. In the present study, we propose to synthesize two new systems, ZrMg(1-x)Zn(x)Mo(3)O(12) (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4) and ZrMg(1-x)Ni(x)Mo(3)O(12) (x = 0.05; 0.1, 0.15, 0.2), to try to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion of the ZrMgMo(3)O(12) phase. The solubility limit of Zn(2+) and Ni(2+) in the ZrMgMo(3)O(12) system is in the range of 0.35 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.4 and 0.1 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.2, respectively. The lowest coefficient of thermal expansion (alfa l=2.82x10(-7)K (-1)) was obtained for the composition x = 0.1 in the ZrMg(1-x)Zn(x)Mo(3)O(12)system in the temperature range of 213 K to 298 K. In this system, the phase transition from monoclinic to orthorhombic was observed, occurring below the room temperature for all compositions from x = 0.1 to x = 0.4. This transition temperature increases as the Zn(2+) composition increases. Analyzes of thermogravimetry indicated that the phases of the two systems are not hygroscopic. Applying the Kubelka-Munk equation, and considering an indirect transition to ZrMg(1-x)Zn(x)Mo(3)O(12), it was concluded that there are no significant differences in the band gap energy of the analyzed phases. However, for an indirect transition to ZrMg1-xNixMo3O12 there is a decrease in energy of the band energy, as Ni2+ content increases in composition, in addition to the appearance of absorption in the visible spectrum due to d-d transition. Finally, the results of this study showed that it is possible to obtain a ceramic material, within the systems studied, that presents a thermal expansion behavior close to zero.

[pt] O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o sistema Al2-xGaxW3O12 (x = 0,2; 0,4; 0,5; 0,6; 0,7; 0,8; 1; 2) visando compreender os efeitos da substituição parcial de Al3+ (r = 0,67 Angstrom) por Ga3+ (r = 0,76 Angstrom) em relação ao coeficiente de expansão térmica da fase Al2W3O12. Foi determinado que o limite de solubilidade de Ga3+ no sistema é x = 0,5, as composições x maior ou igual 0,6 evidenciaram, por difração de raios-X (DRX), a presença de WO3 como fase secundária. Os difratogramas das composições 0,2 menor ou igual x menor ou igual 0,5, a temperatura ambiente, apresentaram exclusivamente linhas características do sistema monoclínico (P21/a). A transição para a fase ortorrômbica (Pbcn), foi evidenciada por DRX in situ e dilatometria e ocorre abaixo de 100 C em todos os casos. A temperatura de transição de fase, determinada por dilatometria, aumentou conforme foi aumentada a incorporação de Ga3+ na estrutura cristalina. A análise termogravimétrica das composições monofásicas revelou que essas fases não são higroscópicas. Embora Al1,5Ga0,5W3O12, seja a composição monofásica com maior teor de Ga, a fase Al1.6Ga0.4W3O12 foi a que apresentou o menor coeficiente de expansão térmica linear, alfa L= 1.14 K -1, uma redução de 25 por cento quando comparado ao coeficiente linear de expansão da fase Al2W3O12. O refinamento pelo método de Rietveld do padrão de difração de raios-X obtido a 100 C da Al1.6Ga0.4W3O12 ortorrômbica, confirmou que o Ga3+ substituiu o Al3+ na proporção descrita pela fórmula química nominal e evidenciou que as distorções poliédricas, Al(Ga)O6 e WO4, foram maiores do que as observadas em fases desta família. A espectroscopia de Raman corroborou as análises de DRX quanto ao limite de solubilidade, porém, evidenciando que quantidades mínimas, indetectáveis por DRX, de Al2O3 e WO3 podem estar presentes nas composições x menor ou igual 0,5, quando a síntese é realizada pelo método de reação no estado sólido. Os gráficos de Kubelka-Munk do sistema Al2- xGaxW3O12 indicaram que a substituição parcial de parcial de Ga3+ por Al3+ aumenta o intervalo de banda em x menor ou igual 0,4, no entanto, foi observada uma saliência de absorção dentro da região do visível presente em todas as amostras, interpretada como uma conseqüência da presença de WO3 monoclínica, observada na espectroscopia Raman. A síntese da fase Ga2W3O12, não foi bem sucedida, embora a entalpia de formação deste composto, calculada por meio da equação generalizada de Kapustinskii e pelo ciclo de Born-Haber, seja fortemente exotérmica, ΔHF= −10149,15 Kj. mol -1. / [en] The aim of this work was to study the Al2-xGaxW3O12 system (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 2) in order to investigate the relationship between the partial replacement of Al3+ (r = 67 Angstrom) by Ga3+ (r = 0.76 Angstrom) and the coefficient of thermal expansion on the Al2W3O12 phase. It was determined as limit of solubility of Ga3+ in Al2-xGaxW3O12 the sample 𝑥 = 0.5, once it was identified in the diffraction patter WO3 as a secondary phase in 𝑥 bigger or equal 0.6. Unlike Al2W3O12 which is orthorhombic (Pbcn) at room temperature, the phases 0.2 less or equal 𝑥 less or equal 0.5 in the Al2- xGaxW3O12 appeared, at room temperature, in the monoclinic system (P21/a). The transition to orthorhombic phase (Pbcn), determined by XRPD in situ and dilatometry, was observed below 100 C for all compositions. The phase transition temperature increases as the Ga3+ content was increased in the crystalline structure. The thermogravimetric analysis of the monophasic samples showed that they were not hygroscopic. Although the monophasic composition with the highest Ga3+ content was Al1.5Ga0.5W3O12, the phase Al1.6Ga0.4W3O12 presented the lowest linear coefficient of thermal expansion, alpha l = 1.14 K -1, a reduction of 25 percent comparing with the linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the phase Al2W3O12. The Rietveld fit to the orthorhombic Pbcn space group, of the Al1.6Ga0.4W3O12 diffraction pattern taken at 100 C, confirms that Ga3+ was replaced by Al3+ in the same proportion described in the nominal chemical formula, and showed that its polyhedral distortion , Al(Ga)O6 and WO4, is in a higher amount than generally noticed for other phases in this crystal family. The Raman spectroscopy corroborated the analyzes regarding the solubility limit, although it showed that the compositions 𝑥 less or equal 0,5 could have a minimum quantities, undetectable by XRPD, of Al2O3 and WO3, when synthesized by the solid state reaction method. Kubelka-Munk graphics of Al2-xGaxW3O12 suggest that the partial replacement of Al3+ by Ga3+ increases the band gap in x less or equal 0,4, however, the absorption of Al2-xGaxW3O12 in the visible region increase, this behavior is apparently caused by the presence of WO3, as deduced by Raman spectroscopy. Attempts to synthesize Ga2W3O12 was not successful, although the enthalpy of formation of this compound, calculated by Generalized Kapustinskii equation and the Born-Haber cycle, presented a high exothermic value, ΔHF = −10149,15 Kj. mol -1.