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The structure-property relationships of epoxy nanocomposites with inorganic layer-structure nanofillers have been studied to obtain the fundamental understanding of the role of nanofillers and the physics of polymer nanocomposites in this dissertation. Several polymer nanocomposite systems with modified montmorillonite (MMT) or α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanofillers were prepared with epoxy matrices of different ductility and properties. The successful nanofiller's exfoliations were confirmed with X-ray diffraction and transmision electronic microscopy (TEM). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) on the prepared epoxy nanocomposites revealed the significant increase in rubbery plateau moduli of the epoxy nanocomposite systems above Tg, as high as 4.5 times, and tensile test results showed improved modulus by the nanofiller addition, while the fracture toughenss was not affected or slightly decreased by nanofillers. The brittle epoxy nanocomposite systems were toughened with core shell rubber (CSR) particles and showed remarkable increase in fracture toughness (KIC) value up to 270%. The CSR toughening is more effective at ductile matrices, and TEM observation indicates that major toughening mechanisms induced by the CSR addition involve a large scale CSR cavitation, followed by massive shear deformation of the matrix.

Self-oscillating reactions have been widely observed and studied since the last century because they exhibit unique behaviors different from the traditional chemical reactions. Self-oscillating systems, such as the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, oxidation reaction of CO on single crystal Pt, and calcium waves in the heart tissue, are of great interest in a variety of scientific areas. This thesis contributes to the understanding of wave transition in BZ reaction, and to possible applications of non-equilibrium behaviors of polymer systems. In BZ reaction, two types of wave patterns, target and spiral, are frequently observed. The transition from one to another is not fully understood. Hence, a systematic investigation has been performed here to investigate the mechanism by which heterogeneity affects the formation of wave patterns. A BZ reaction catalyst was immobilized in ion exchange polystyrene beads to form active beads. Then active and inactive beads with no catalyst loading were mixed together with various ratios to achieve various levels of heterogeneity. In the same reaction environment, different wave patterns were displayed for the bead mixtures. We observed a transition from target patterns to spiral patterns as the percentage of the active beads in the beads mixture decreased. The increase of the heterogeneity led to wave pattern transition. Heterogeneity hindered the propagation of target waves and broke them into wavelets that generated spiral waves. In an effort to develop practical applications based on non-equilibrium phenomena, we have established a novel drug delivery system. A proton generator Zirconium Phosphate (ZrP) was imbedded inside a pH sensitive polymer matrix, poly acrylic acid (PAA). Through the ion exchange with sodium cation (Na+), ZrP generates protons to control the swelling/shrinking behaviors of PAA. The drug encapsulated in the matrix can be released in a controlled manner by adjusting the supply of Na+. This system might be developed into vehicles to deliver drugs to specific targets and release at a proper time. This new delivery technique will be convenient and significantly increase the efficiency of medicines.

The structure-property relationships of epoxy nanocomposites with inorganic layer-structure nanofillers have been studied to obtain the fundamental understanding of the role of nanofillers and the physics of polymer nanocomposites in this dissertation. Several polymer nanocomposite systems with modified montmorillonite (MMT) or α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanofillers were prepared with epoxy matrices of different ductility and properties. The successful nanofiller's exfoliations were confirmed with X-ray diffraction and transmision electronic microscopy (TEM). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) on the prepared epoxy nanocomposites revealed the significant increase in rubbery plateau moduli of the epoxy nanocomposite systems above Tg, as high as 4.5 times, and tensile test results showed improved modulus by the nanofiller addition, while the fracture toughenss was not affected or slightly decreased by nanofillers. The brittle epoxy nanocomposite systems were toughened with core shell rubber (CSR) particles and showed remarkable increase in fracture toughness (KIC) value up to 270%. The CSR toughening is more effective at ductile matrices, and TEM observation indicates that major toughening mechanisms induced by the CSR addition involve a large scale CSR cavitation, followed by massive shear deformation of the matrix.

Submitted by TAYLA FERNANDA SERANTONI DA SILVEIRA null (taylaserantoni@hotmail.com) on 2016-09-20T13:07:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese.pdf: 3776119 bytes, checksum: f41033634a5f96850f7c666ece861568 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-09-22T19:25:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silveira_tfs_dr_ilha.pdf: 3776119 bytes, checksum: f41033634a5f96850f7c666ece861568 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-22T19:25:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silveira_tfs_dr_ilha.pdf: 3776119 bytes, checksum: f41033634a5f96850f7c666ece861568 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-16 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O presente trabalho descreve as propriedades espectroscópicas e eletroanalíticas de um composto formado entre o Zr (IV) e ácido fosfórico (ZrP), bem como um espongilito inorganofuncionalizado com Zr (IV) (EZr). Em uma primeira etapa, os materiais foram preparados e caracterizados empregando diferentes técnicas, tais como: Espectroscopia de fotoelétrons excitados por raios-X (XPS), Espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), Ressonância magnética nuclear no estado sólido (RMN), Microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Energia dispersiva de raios-X (EDS), Difração de raios-X (DRX), Análise termogravimétrica (TGA) e Análise de área superficial e porosidade. Em uma segunda etapa, realizou-se um estudo sobre as propriedades eletroquímicas desses materiais após a formação de compósitos com complexos metálicos de hexacianoferrato (ZrPAgH e EZrCuH), utilizando um eletrodo de pasta de grafite. O eletrodo de pasta de grafite contendo ZrPAgH mostrou-se sensível a concentrações de hidrazina e também a compostos sulfidrílicos, tais como: N-acetilcisteína, L-cisteína e L-glutationa. O eletrodo de pasta de grafite contendo EZrCuH foi aplicado na detecção de N-acetilcisteína, L-cisteína, nitrito, piridoxina e hidrazina, com sucesso. / The present work describes the electroanalytical and spectroscopic properties of a compound formed from Zr (IV) and phosphoric acid (ZrP), as well as a inorganofunctionalized spongolite with Zr (IV) (EZr). On a first stage, the materials were prepared and characterized using different techniques such as: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Analysis of surface area and porosity. On a second stage, it was carried out a study on the electrochemical properties of these materials after forming composites with metal complexes hexacyanoferrate (ZrPAgH and EZrCuH), using a graphite paste electrode. The graphite paste electrode containing ZrPAgH was sensitive to hydrazine concentrations as well as sulfhydryl compounds, such as: N-acetylcysteine, L-cysteine and L-glutathione. The graphite paste electrode containing EZrCuH was applied to the detection of N-acetylcysteine, L-cysteine, nitrite, pyridoxine and hydrazine, with success. / FAPESP: 2013/08495-9

Orientador: Devaney Ribeiro do Carmo / Resumo: O presente trabalho descreve as propriedades espectroscópicas e eletroanalíticas de um composto formado entre o Zr (IV) e ácido fosfórico (ZrP), bem como um espongilito inorganofuncionalizado com Zr (IV) (EZr). Em uma primeira etapa, os materiais foram preparados e caracterizados empregando diferentes técnicas, tais como: Espectroscopia de fotoelétrons excitados por raios-X (XPS), Espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), Ressonância magnética nuclear no estado sólido (RMN), Microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Energia dispersiva de raios-X (EDS), Difração de raios-X (DRX), Análise termogravimétrica (TGA) e Análise de área superficial e porosidade. Em uma segunda etapa, realizou-se um estudo sobre as propriedades eletroquímicas desses materiais após a formação de compósitos com complexos metálicos de hexacianoferrato (ZrPAgH e EZrCuH), utilizando um eletrodo de pasta de grafite. O eletrodo de pasta de grafite contendo ZrPAgH mostrou-se sensível a concentrações de hidrazina e também a compostos sulfidrílicos, tais como: N-acetilcisteína, L-cisteína e L-glutationa. O eletrodo de pasta de grafite contendo EZrCuH foi aplicado na detecção de N-acetilcisteína, L-cisteína, nitrito, piridoxina e hidrazina, com sucesso. / Doutor

Nanocrystalline, nanoporous, and heterogeneous functional materials have a range of unique physical and chemical properties at the nanoscale that make them useful in various fields such as gas storage, sensing, catalysis, and construction. However, these materials have complex and varied internal structures make them difficult to analyze using traditional methods. In this work, advanced tools were presented that combine several existing algorithms and techniques to enable efficient and accurate analysis of the structures of these materials. The tools were tested on well-studied systems (TiO2 nanoparticles) and novel materials (multiple metal organic frameworks), and the results showed that they produced accurate and reliable results. These results have contributed to important scientific discoveries, some of which are highlighted in this thesis. First, an automated platform for x-ray scattering experiments and a streaming data pipeline were developed to determine pair distribution functions, which were used to study nanocrystalline, nanoporous, and heterogeneous functional materials. A systematic workflow was then proposed and tested to analyze the phases and morphologies of metal oxide nanoparticles. Using the data pipeline and workflow, the effects of temperature on phases, morphologies, and structure order during the synthesis of titanium oxide (bronze) nanoparticles were demonstrated. Specific tools were then designed to analyze the structures of nanoporous materials based on the disorder in their complex structures. The turbostratic disorder in zirconium phosphates was analyzed, and the potential to tune disorders using phosphoric acid concentration was demonstrated. In addition, the glass transition in metal-organic frameworks was detected, and a reminiscent correlation between metal sites in the glass state was discovered. Furthermore, evidence of polar solvent-induced lattice arrangement in an aluminum metal-organic framework was found using the analysis of pair distribution functions. Finally, a simple but effective algorithm was proposed to study the grain distribution and mosaicity in heterogeneous crystalline materials, moving beyond the study of homogeneous systems. Overall, these studies aim to enable faster and more comprehensive analysis of the disordered structures in nanocrystalline, nanoporous, and heterogeneous materials, which could have applications in fields including photocatalysis, optical or gas sensing, radioactive waste storage, and metallurgical industry.

Several types of novel proton exchange membranes which could be used for both direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) and hydrogen/air fuel cells were investigated in this work. One of the main challenges for DMFC membranes is high methanol crossover. Nafion, the current perfluorosulfonic acid copolymer benchmark membrane for both DMFCs and hydrogen/air fuel cells, shows very high methanol crossover. Directly copolymerized disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s copolymers doped with zirconium phosphates and phenyl phosphonates were synthesized and showed a significant reduction in methanol permeability. These copolymer/inorganic nanocomposite hybrid membranes show lower water uptake and conductivity than Nafion and neat poly(arylene ether sulfone)s copolymers, but in some cases have similar or even slightly improved DMFC performance due to the lower methanol permeability. These membranes also show advantages for high temperature applications because of the reinforcing effect of the filler, which helps to maintain the modulus of the membrane, allowing the membrane to maintain proton conductivity even above the hydrated glass transition temperature (Tg) of the copolymer. Sulfonated zirconium phenyl phosphonate additives were also synthesized, and membranes incorporating these materials and disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s showed promising proton conductivity over a wide range of relative humidities. Single-Tg polymer blend membranes were studied, which incorporated disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) with varied amounts of polybenzimidazole. The polybenzimidazole served to decrease the water uptake and methanol permeability of the membranes, resulting in promising DMFC and hydrogen/air fuel cell performance. / Ph. D.

Ce travail décrit le développement de membranes réticulées et de membranes composites inorganique-organique basées sur des polymères perfluorosulfoniques (PFSA) à chaîne longue (LSC) et courte (SSC) et à faible masse équivalente, pour application dans une pile à combustible fonctionnant à moyenne température et à faible humidité relative. Des membranes (LSC-PFSA) réticulées par des groupements sulfonimide ont été préparées à partir de membranes fonctionnalisées par des groupements fluorure de sulfonyle. Les membranes réticulées de type SSC-PFSA ont été préparées à partir d'un polymère à chaînes 2-bromo-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroéthoxy pendantes et réticulables, par traitement thermique pour former des ponts perfluoro. Les membranes préparées ont été caractérisées par spectroscopies IR, Raman, RMN et XPS, par MEB-EDX et ATG. Les membranes de LSC-PFSA et SSC-PFSA réticulées présentent une stabilité dimensionnelle accrue et une meilleure performance en pile à combustible hydrogène-oxygène jusqu'à 110°C que celles des membranes de PFSA non modifiées. Une procédure d'échange ionique/précipitation a été utilisée pour la préparation de systèmes composites à partir de membranes de LSC-PFSA et SSC-PFSA. Plusieurs techniques ont été utilisées pour caractériser les matériaux préparés. Les membranes de type SSC-PFSA-ZrP présentent une morphologie distincte, et différente de celle des membranes LSC-PFSA-ZrP. En pile à combustible, ces membranes composites autorisent une température de fonctionnement plus élevée et une humidité relative plus faible, que les membranes non modifiées. / The objective of this research was to develop cross-linked and composite inorganic-organic membranes based on long and short side chain (LSC, SSC) perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers with low equivalent weight/high ion exchange capacity for operation at medium temperature and low relative humidity in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Covalently cross-linked LSC-PFSA membranes were prepared from sulfonyl fluoride form membranes by reaction with an ammonium base followed by thermal processing to give cross-linking through sulfonimide groups. Covalently cross-linked SSC-PFSA membranes were prepared by formation of perfluoro-cross-links under thermal treatment of solution cast polymers containing cross-linkable 2-bromo-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy side chains. Evidence for cross-linking was provided by IR, Raman, NMR and XPS spectroscopies, SEM-EDX, tensile testing and TGA. Cross-linked LSC and SSC-PFSA membranes have increased dimensional stability and improved performance in a single hydrogen-oxygen cell fuel up to 110°C compared with the corresponding non-cross-linked membranes. Composite PFSA-zirconium phosphate membranes, based on LSC and SSC PFSA (or cross-linked PFSA) membranes were prepared using an ion exchange/precipitation procedure. The physical properties of LSC-PFSA-ZrP and SSC-PFSA-ZrP have been compared and the morphology of the composite membranes shown to differ in SSC and LSC membranes. Composite membranes enabled fuel cell operation at higher temperature/lower RH than non-composite PFSA. Preliminary results indicated that association of cross-linking and composite membrane formation is a clear future perspective of this work.

Ce travail concerne l'étude des modifications de nanocharges lamellaires synthétiques (α-ZrP) et de leur influence sur les propriétés mécaniques et barrière aux gaz de nanocomposites à matrice élastomère (SBR). Cette étude s'inscrit dans le cadre de l'amélioration de l'étanchéité des pneumatiques. L'une des originalités de ce travail a résidé dans l'introduction des nanocharges hydrophiles par le biais d'une dispersion aqueuse (slurry), dans la matrice SBR hydrophobe. La première phase de ce travail a consisté à entreprendre plusieurs types de modification des nanocharges afin d'étudier les mécanismes d'intercalation et/ou d'exfoliation des ces dernières dans le slurry. Ces différentes familles de charges modifiées ont été utilisées pour réaliser des nanocomposites selon différentes voies de mise en oeuvre : principalement solvant et latex. Nous avons ensuite étudié l'influence, (i) de la nature des intercalants, (ii) des distances interfoliaires initiales des nanocharges et (iii) des procédés de mise en oeuvre des nanocomposites, sur la morphologie et les propriétés finales des matériaux. Cette étude a montré la synergie de ces trois paramètres et mis en évidence l'importance du contrôle des interactions charges modifiées/matrice sur les propriétés de transport de gaz. Parmi l'ensemble des matériaux synthétisés, nous avons pu mettre en avant une formulation, permettant d'atteindre des propriétés mécaniques et barrière intéressantes. Cette formulation, en voie latex, est basée sur l'utilisation de la charge modifiée aminosilane et de l'agent de couplage Si69 / This work concerns the study of the modification of synthetic lamellar nanofillers (α-ZrP) and their influence on mechanical and gas barrier properties of elastomeric nanocomposites (SBR). This study is part of improving the tire tightness. One of the originalities of this work is the introduction of hydrophilic nanofillers through an aqueous dispersion (slurry) in the hydrophobic SBR matrix. The first step of this work was to undertake several types of nanofiller modifications state in order to study their intercalation/exfoliation mechanisms in a slurry. These different families of modified fillers were then used to make nanocomposites with different ways of implementations: mainly solvent and latex ones. The influence of, (i) the nature of the intercalating agent, (ii) the initial nanofiller interlayer distance and (iii) the nanocomposite implementation processes, on the morphology and final properties of materials were studied. The synergy of these three parameters was demonstrated and the importance of controlling the modified filler/matrix interactions on the gas transport and mechanical properties was also proved. Among all the synthesized materials, a formulation was put forward which allowed to achieve interesting mechanical and barrier properties. This formulation, processed by the latex route, is based on the use of aminosilane modified nanofillers and the Si69 coupling agent