In this work the electrical insulating properties of the nanocomposite materials based on poly(ethylene-co-butyl acrylate) filled with alumina nanoparticles are studied. The dielectric properties chosen for the evaluation are the dielectric permittivity and loss as well as the breakdown strength and the pre-breakdown currents. The reason for choosing these particular properties is partly due to the importance of these for the general electrical applications and partly due to the uncertainties involved for these particular properties of the nanocomposite materials. The importance of moisture absorption for the dielectric properties is outlined in this work. All measurements were performed in both dry conditions and after conditioning of the materials in humid environment until saturation. The data for moisture absorption was taken from the water absorption study performed at the Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH. The dielectric spectroscopy in frequency domain was employed for measuring dielectric permittivity and loss. Havriliak-Negami approximation was used for characterization of the measurement data and at the same time ensuring the fulfillment of the Kramers-Kronig relations. Results from the dielectric spectroscopy study in dry conditions suggest that dielectric spectroscopy can be used for evaluating nanoparticle dispersion in the host matrix, based on correlation between the morphology data obtained from SEM investigation and the scatter in the dielectric loss. The dielectric spectroscopy study performed on the nanocomposites after conditioning in humid environment showed that absorbed moisture has a distinct impact on the dielectric loss. Especially pronounced is its’ influence on the frequency behavior, when the dielectric loss peaks are shifted towards higher frequencies with increased moisture content. The nanocomposite materials characterized by higher specific surface area generally exhibit higher dielectric losses. Surface functionalization of the nanoparticles does not seem to have much influence on the dielectric loss in dry conditions. After conditioning in humid environment, however, the surface modification was shown to have a significant impact. Temperature is another significant factor for the frequency behavior of the dielectric loss: it was found that the studied nanocomposites can be characterized by Arrhenius activation. The breakdown strength and pre-breakdown currents study outlined the influence of moisture as well. The study indicated that surface treatment of the nanoparticles can enhance properties of the nanocomposite materials, namely aminopropyltriethoxy silane was an especially successful choice: • The highest breakdown strength was determined by the study for NDA6 material formulation in dry conditions. • After conditioning in humid environment the NDA6 material continued showing the best breakdown strength among the nanocomposite mate rials, as well as this value was close to the breakdown strength of the reference unfilled material. This study confirms the existence of the optimal nanofiller content or rather optimal specific surface area of the dispersed nanoparticles in the host matrix. The latter is supported by the comparison between the nanocomposites based on nanoparticles with two different specific surface areas, which shows that the dielectric properties worsen, i.e. the dielectric losses increase and the influence of absorbed moisture on the breakdown strength becomes more pronounced, for nanomaterials with larger specific surface area. The pre-breakdown currents were found to follow space-charge limited conduction mechanism reasonably well. The following conduction regimes were identified: constant region (likely due to measurement difficulties at low field strengths), Ohm’s regime, trap-filled-limit regime and trapfree dielectric regime. The breakdown usually occurred either during the trap-filled-limit regime, when the current increased dramatically for the small change in electric field, or during the trapfree dielectric regime. The threshold values between different conduction regimes seem to correlate well with the oxidation induction times (OIT), which in turn depend on the total specific surface area. The pre-breakdown currents tend to be highest for the materials filled with the untreated nanoparticles. Increased absorbed moisture content causes higher pre-breakdown currents for the nanocomposite materials, while for the reference unfilled material the pre-breakdown currents do not show such tendency. Generally it can be said that the repeatability in the measured data is higher for the nanocomposite materials in comparison to the unfilled host material, as was demonstrated by both dielectric spectroscopy and breakdown studies. / <p>QC 20130207</p>

THz and mm-wave technology has become increasingly significant in a very diverse range of applications such as spectroscopy, imaging, and communication as a consequence of a plethora of significant advances in this field. However to achieve a mass production of THz systems, all the commercial aspects should be considered. The main concerns are attributed to the robustness, compactness, and a low cost device. In this regard, research efforts should be focused on the elimination of obstacles standing in the way of commercializing the THz technology. To this end, in this study, low cost fabrication technologies for various parts of mm-wave/THz systems are investigated and explored to realize compact, integrated, and rugged components. This task is divided into four phases. In the first phase, a robust fiber-based beam delivery configuration is deployed instead of the free beam optics which is essential to operate the low cost THz photomixers and photoconductive antennas. The compensation of different effects on propagation of the optical pulse along the optical fiber is achieved through all-fiber system to eliminate any bulky and unstable optical components from the system. THz measurements on fiber-coupled systems exhibit the same performance and even better compared to the free beam system. In the next phase, the generated THz wave is coupled to a rectangular dielectric waveguide through design of a novel transition with low insertion loss. The structure dimensions are reported for various range of frequencies up to 650GHz with insertion loss less than 1dB. The structure is fabricated through a standard recipe. In third phase, as consequence of the advent of high performance active device at mm-wave and THz frequency, a transition is proposed for coupling the electromagnetic wave to the active devices with CPW ports. Different approaches are devised for different frequencies as at higher frequencies any kind of metallic structure can introduce a considerable amount of loss to the system. The optimized structures show minimum insertion loss as low as 1dB and operate over 10% bandwidth. The various configurations are fabricated for lower frequencies to verify the transition performance. The last phase focuses on the design, optimization, fabrication and measurements of a new dielectric side-grating antenna for frequency scanning applications. The radiation mechanism is extensively studied using two different commercial full-wave solvers as well as the measured data from the fabricated samples. The optimized antenna achieves a radiation efficiency of 90% and a gain of 18dB. The measured return loss and radiation pattern show a good agreement with the simulation results.

Les mémoires flash sont intégrées dans presque tous les aspects de la vie moderne car leurs uns et zéros représentent les données stockées sur les cartes à puce et dans les capteurs qui nous entourent. Dans les mémoires flash à grille flottante ces données sont représentées par la quantité de charge stockée sur une grille en poly-Si, isolée par un oxyde tunnel et un diélectrique entre grilles (IGD). Au fur et à mesure que les chercheurs et les ingénieurs de l'industrie microélectronique poussent continuellement les limites de mise à l'échelle, la capacité des dispositifs à contenir leurs informations risque de devenir compromise. Même la perte d'un électron par jour est trop élevée et entraînerait l'absence de conservation des données pendant dix ans. Étant trop faibles, les courants de fuite sont impossible à mesurer directement. Cette thèse présente une nouvelle méthode, la séparation du stress aux oxydes (OSS), pour mesurer ces courants en suivant les changements de la tension de seuil de la cellule flash. La nouveauté de la technique est que les conditions de polarisation sont sélectionnées afin que le stress se produise entièrement dans l'IGD, permettant la reconstruction d'une courbe IV de l'IGD à des tensions faibles. Cette thèse décrit également les changements de processus nécessaires pour intégrer la première mémoire flash embarquée de 40 nm basée sur un IGD d'alumine, en remplacement du SiO2/ Si3N4/SiO2 standard. L'intérêt pour les matériaux high-k vient de la motivation de créer un IGD qui est électriquement mince pour augmenter le couplage tout en étant physiquement épais pour bloquer le transport de charge. Comme la flash intégrée au noeud de 40 nm se rapproche de la production, l'approche à prendre dans les nœuds futurs doit également être discutée. Cela fournit la motivation pour le chapitre final de la thèse qui traite de la co-intégration des différents IGD avec des dispositifs logiques ayant les gilles « high-k metal » nécessaires à 28 nm et au-delà. / Flash memory circuits are embedded in almost every aspect of modern life as their ones and zeros represent the data that is stored on smart cards and in the sensors around us. In floating gate flash memories this data is represented by the amount of charge stored on a poly-Si gate, isolated by a tunneling oxide and an Inter Gate Dielectric (IGD). As the microelectronics industry’s researchers and engineering continuously push the scaling limits, the ability of the devices to hold their information may become compromised. Even the loss of one electron per day is too much and would result in the failure to retain the data for ten years. At such low current densities, the direct measurement of the leakage current is impossible. This thesis presents a new way, Oxide Stress Separation, to measure these currents by following the changes in the threshold voltage of the flash cell. The novelty of the technique is that the biasing conditions are selected such that the stress occurs entirely in the IGD, allowing for the reconstruction of an IV curve of the IGD at low biases. This thesis also describes the process changes necessary to integrate the world’s first 40 nm embedded flash based on an alumina IGD, in replacement of the standard SiO2/Si3N4/SiO2. The interest in high-k materials comes from the motivation to make an IGD that is electrically thin to increase coupling while being physically thick to block charge transport. As embedded flash at the 40 nm node nears production, the approach to be taken in future nodes must also be discussed. This provides the motivation for the final chapter of the thesis which discusses the co-integration of the different IGDs with logic devices having the high-k metal gates necessary at 28 nm and beyond.

L'utilisation extensive des combustibles fossiles, l'émission de gaz à effet de serre dans l'atmosphère et les difficultés de recyclage des résidus de consommation incitent au recours accru aux polymères biodégradables. Dans le domaine du génie électrique, de nombreux polymères trouvent des applications dans les systèmes d'isolation des matériels électriques. Ces polymères sont issus du pétrole, peu respectueux de l'environnement et la plupart d'entre eux ne sont pas biodégradables. Dans le but de les remplacer, des polymères biodégradables ont été explorés.Une revue des travaux de recherche sur les polymères biodégradables dans le domaine du génie électrique a été réalisée. Les propriétés thermiques et électriques de polymères biodégradables et conventionnels sont rapportées et comparées.Les polymères biodégradables et / ou biosourcés sélectionnés et mis en œuvre sont le Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), le polycaprolactone (PCL) et l’acide polylactique PLA. Un matériau nanocomposite basé sur PLA a également été préparé. Les propriétés diélectriques pour une large gamme de température et de fréquence ont été mesurées par spectroscopie diélectrique et analysées en s’appuyant sur les propriétés thermiques obtenues par DSC et DMA. La résistivité volumique et la tenue diélectrique ont pu également être mesurées. Ces polyesters biodégradables sont comparés aux polymères conventionnels. / The declining resources of fossil fuels, increase in wide-spread pollution, emission of green-house gases and difficulties in recycling waste materials are pushing biodegradable polymers into prominence. In the domain of electrical engineering, many polymers find applications in various electrical insulation systems. These polymers are petro-based, not eco-friendly and most of them are not biodegradable. With an objective to replace conventional products, biodegradable polymers are explored for their dielectric properties.In this work, a detailed study on the present status in the research work on biodegradable polymers in the electrical engineering domain is presented. Thermal and electrical properties of both biodegradable and classical polymers are compiled and compared.The polymers processed and studied were Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), Polycaprolactone (PCL), Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and PLA based nanocomposite. Dielectric properties for a wide range of temperature and frequency were measured by dielectric spectroscopy and analyzed with the help of DSC and DMA experiments. Volume resistivity and electrical breakdown were measured on few polymers. These biodegradable polyesters were compared with conventional polymers.

Avec l’augmentation de la température, certains composés oxydes, transparents dans le proche infrarouge, deviennent progressivement opaques à l’approche de la fusion. Un tel comportement est inhabituel et impacte profondément leurs propriétés radiatives. Afin de comprendre ce phénomène, des mesures par spectroscopie d’émission infrarouge ont été effectuées depuis la température ambiante jusqu’à la fusion sur plusieurs oxydes cristallins (Mg2SiO4, LiAlO2, LiGaO2, ZnO, YAlO3, LaAlO3, LiNbO3, MgO). Ces données ont été complétées ponctuellement par des mesures de conductivité électriques, de RMN et de diffraction des rayons X en température. L’analyse des données expérimentales du facteur d’émission menée à l’aide d’un modèle de fonction diélectrique semi-quantique et incluant un terme de Drude étendu, a permis de caractériser finement la réponse de ces matériaux et de proposer une origine physique pour le mécanisme responsable de l’opacification. Le phénomène est thermiquement activé et peut être expliqué par la formation et la mobilité de polarons. Ce travail a également montré l’existence d’un lien étroit entre la microstructure des composés et les caractéristiques de l’opacification. / With increasing temperature, some oxide compounds that are transparent in the near infrared range become progressively opaque when approaching the liquid phase. Such a behavior is unusual and deeply impacts their thermal radiative properties. To understand this phenomenon, infrared emittance spectra were acquired from room temperature up to the liquid state on several crystalline oxides (Mg2SiO4, LiAlO2, LiGaO2, ZnO, YAlO3, LaAlO3, LiNbO3, MgO). These data have been selectively completed by electrical conductivity measurements, NMR and X-ray diffraction experiments versus temperature. The analysis of the experimental emittance data with a semi-quantum dielectric function model including an extended Drude term, allowed to characterize finely the material responses and to suggest a physical origin for the opacification mechanism. The phenomenon is thermally activated and can be explained by the formation and the mobility of polarons. This work also showed the existence of a close link between the material microstructure and the characteristics of the opacification.

Este trabalho de pesquisa apresenta uma nova abordagem para calibrar uma sonda helicoidal TDR, usada para medir o teor de umidade do solo. Foi empregada uma aproximação tomando em consideração a interpretação física dos valores de constantes dielétricas. As equações de calibração foram determinadas mediante um modelo dielétrico misto, quais relacionam a constante dielétrica da mistura multifase com a constante dielétrica e frações de volumes dessas componentes. Ensaios realizados em laboratório permitirem o desenvolvimento de duas equações de calibração para a avaliação de teor de umidade volumétrico e gravimétrico dos solos. A calibração foi executada com medições de constante dielétrica em diferentes líquidos e solos, usando uma sonda convencional TDR e a sonda helicoidal TDR. As leituras realizadas com as duas sondas foram depois comparadas. O modelo dielétrico das duas fases permitiu descrever a contribuição dos materiais dielétricos do corpo da sonda helicoidal e os materiais investigados. Mostrou-se que o conhecimento das características físicas e geométricas da sonda TDR usada nos ensaios é de crucial para garantir a qualidade das constantes dielétricas lidas, e conseqüentemente a determinação do teor de umidade in situ. / The objective of this work was to calibrate a coiled TDR probe used to measure the water content of soil. It was used an approach that takes into account a physical interpretation of the values of the dielectric constants. The calibration equations were determined by means of a mixed dielectric model, which relates the dielectric constant of a multi-phase mixture with the dielectric constants and volume fractions of its components. Tests carried out in the laboratory allowed development of two calibration equations for the assessment of the volumetric and gravimetric soil water content. Calibration was performed with measurements of dielectric constants in different liquids and soils, using a conventional TDR probe and a coiled TDR. The readings performed with the two probes were then compared. The dielectric model of two phases permitted describing the contribution of the dielectric material of the body of the probe coil and the materials investigated. It has been shown that knowledge of the physical and geometrical characteristics of the TDR probe used in the tests is crucial for the quality of the dielectric constant readings, and consequently the determination of water content in situ.

Submitted by Gabriela Lopes (gmachadolopesufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-07-17T18:53:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese - Ádamo Araújo.pdf: 1178543 bytes, checksum: 202c2d206529085740d4a2fd31f87d53 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-07-17T21:43:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese - Ádamo Araújo.pdf: 1178543 bytes, checksum: 202c2d206529085740d4a2fd31f87d53 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-07-17T21:46:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese - Ádamo Araújo.pdf: 1178543 bytes, checksum: 202c2d206529085740d4a2fd31f87d53 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-17T21:49:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese - Ádamo Araújo.pdf: 1178543 bytes, checksum: 202c2d206529085740d4a2fd31f87d53 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-01 / A automação das operações unitárias de beneficiamento de sementes é uma necessidade real para aperfeiçoar o funcionamento, a operação e o ajuste das máquinas. A massa específica das sementes pode apresentar associação com o vigor, pois sementes com problema de enchimento, atacadas por insetos ou até mesmo quebradas, sofrem redução da massa específica, consequentemente decréscimo de qualidade fisiológica do lote de sementes. O objetivo do trabalho foi desenvolver um sensor capacitivo para medição da massa específica de sementes e analisar a associação entre a permissividade dielétrica relativa e a qualidade fisiológica de sementes beneficiadas em mesa de gravidade. No experimento empregaram-se sementes de soja e de coentro. Foi utilizado a correlação de Pearson para analisar as variáveis de massa específica (), teor de água () e temperatura () com a permissividade dielétrica relativa total (), real (′) e imaginária (′′) nas frequências de 1 kHz, 10 kHz e 100 kHz. A correlação de Pearson foi utilizada para análise da associação entre a permissividade relativa e os atributos fisiológicos e físicos das sementes. A permissividade dielétrica relativa, atributos fisiológicos e físicos foram submetidos a análise de variância e, se significativos, as variáveis foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Houve alta correlação entre as variáveis com as permissividades relativas analisadas em quase todas as frequências, contudo, há uma melhora na estabilidade dos dados com ao aumento da frequência. O sensor mostrou-se eficiente para a determinação da massa específica das sementes, conhecendo previamente o teor de água e a temperatura das sementes. Pelo do teste de Tukey a permissividade relativa permitiu o ranqueamento das bicas de descarga, semelhante aos atributos fisiológicos e físicos exceto a emergência. A regressão linear indicou que com aumento da frequência melhora na conformidade de valores de permissividade. O sensor mostrou-se relativamente eficiente para a determinação da massa específica. / The automation of unit operations for seed processing is a real necessity to improve the operation, operation and adjustment of the machines. The specific gravity of the seeds may be associated with vigor, because seeds with problems of filling, attacked by insects or even broken, suffer a reduction of the specific gravity, consequently a decrease in the physiological quality of the seed lot. The objective of this work was to develop a capacitive sensor to measure the specific gravity of seeds and analyze the association between the relative dielectric permittivity and the physiological quality of seeds benefited in a gravity table. In the experiment soybean and coriander seeds were used. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the variables of specific gravity (ρ), water content () and temperature () with the total relative (), real (′) and imaginary (ε'') In the frequencies of 1 kHz, 10 kHz and 100 kHz. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the association between relative permittivity and the physiological and physical attributes of the seeds. Relative dielectric permissiveness, physiological and physical attributes were submitted to analysis of variance and, if significant, the variables were compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability. There was a high correlation between the variables with the relative permissivity analyzed at almost all frequencies, however, there is an improvement in the stability of the data with increasing frequency. The sensor was efficient for the determination of the specific gravity of the seeds, previously knowing the water content and the temperature of the seeds. By the Tukey's test the relative permissiveness allowed the rank of discharge nozzles, similar to the physiological and physical attributes except emergency. The linear regression indicated that with increasing frequency, the compliance of permissiveness values improved. The sensor was relatively efficient for determining the specific gravity.

Abstract This PhD thesis is composed of a synopsis and five published papers that are focused on both the research results of studies on electrical properties of road materials and subgrade soils and their seasonal changes and the use of Ground Penetrating Radar technique in traffic infrastructure surveys. The data for this survey was collected mainly in Finland, Texas, Scotland and Sweden and thus presents many kinds of road materials, subgrade soils and climate conditions. The synopsis of this work begins with a presentation of the theory and basic principles of GPR techniques. Special attention is given to the dielectric properties and seasonal changes of unbound road materials and subgrade soils. The synopsis also presents different kinds of GPR hardware systems as well as recommendations and experiences from different data collection, processing and interpretation techniques. Special attention is given to a method whereby GPR data is integrated with other road survey data and then analysed using a number of structural diagnostic methods. Finally, the synopsis provides an overview of of the various GPR applications on roads and streets, bridges, railways and airports. The laboratory test results presented in this work show that the relationship between dielectric value and increasing water content is not linear or exponential but more likely a series of logarithmic functions. Laboratory results also showed that dielectric dispersion, which can be related to poorly performing subgrade soils and road aggregates, takes place mainly in loosely bound adsorption water and capillary water layer. As such these moisture sensitive problem materials can also be identified during the dry summer seasons when they are stiff. Dielectric value and electrical conductivity can also be related to other technical properties of road materials and subgrade soils such as frost susceptibility, shear strength, plastic limit, compaction degree and voids content. Laboratory tests and field data collected using the Percostation technique also demonstrate that a knowledge of seasonal changes and thermodynamics is very important in understanding and modelling the mechanical behaviour of road structures. Finally, laboratory and field tests indicate that colloids have an important role in the failure mechanism of the road materials. This research demonstrates that the GPR technique not only gives valuable structural information on the different types of structures and subgrade soils but it provides a wide range of information of the electrical properties of the materials under survey which can be further related to their mechanical performance. The best information will be gained if GPR data is analysed together with other non destructive testing data collected form the roads, railways and airports.

Cette thèse s’intéresse à la caractérisation de couches diélectriques et magnétiques de structures multicouches par cavité résonante microonde. Les matériaux multicouches ont des propriétés électromagnétiques spécifiques et sont utilisés dans beaucoup de secteurs industriels, par exemple, dans les radiocommunications. La caractérisation électromagnétique reste une priorité pour la compréhension des caractéristiques de propagation des ondes électromagnétiques dans ces milieux. Dans ce travail de thèse nous proposons une nouvelle approche expérimentale pour déterminer les propriétés diélectriques effectives d’une structure multicouches en fonction des propriétés et de l’épaisseur de chacune des couches. En particulier, nous appliquons les expressions de permittivités issues de la méthode des perturbations utilisée en cavité résonante au cas d’un échantillon rectangulaire bicouche. L’analyse théorique établie a montré qu’une expression de simple proportionnalité reliant les propriétés diélectriques moyennes d’un matériau bicouche avec les propriétés diélectriques relatives et les épaisseurs des couches constituantes peut être obtenue. Cette méthode a été appliquée avec succès sur différents matériaux bicouches. En particulier, elle a permis la caractérisation d’une couche de YIG d’épaisseur très mince (19.6 μm) déposée par pulvérisation cathodique sur un substrat d’alumine en connaissant l’épaisseur et les propriétés diélectriques du substrat. La comparaison avec les résultats expérimentaux a révélé un bon accord entre théorie et mesure. L’analyse de l’incertitude associée au calcul de la permittivité par la méthode a montré une bonne sensibilité. Enfin, nous donnons les courbes de variation de la perméabilité effective mesurée pour un empilement bicouche avec une couche mince de YIG / This thesis aimed at characterizing the dielectric and magnetic layers of multilayer structures by using the technique of microwave resonant cavity. Multilayer structures have specific electromagnetic properties and are becoming increasingly important in many industrial domains, such as in radio-communication systems. The electromagnetic characterization remains a priority for understanding the characteristics of electromagnetic wave propagation in such environments. The thesis proposed a new experimental approach to determine the effective dielectric properties in a bilayer structure as a function of the characteristics and thickness of each specific layer. In particular, we apply the expressions of permittivities derived from the perturbations method which are used in resonant cavities in case of a bilayer rectangular sample. The established theoretical analysis leads us to propose a new expression of simple proportionality describing a relationship between the mean dielectric properties of a bilayer material and the relative dielectric properties and thickness of the constituent layers. The presented method has been successfully applied to different bilayer materials. Particularly, it allowed the characterization of a very thin layer (YIG layer) of thickness 19.6 microns deposited by cathodic sputtering on an alumina substrate by knowing the thickness and dielectric properties of this substrate. The comparison with the experimental results revealed good agreement between theory and measurement. The analysis of the uncertainty associated to the calculation of the permittivity by the presented method showed good sensitivity. Finally, we provide the curves of variation of the effective permeability measured for a bilayer stack

In it´s first part, this presented master´s thesis focuses on the problematics of actions taking place in dielectric materials and phenomenons on the surface of real insulators placed in electric field. This research is followed by selection and rating of appropriate ceramic materials for the actual design of the metal – ceramic assembly. The greatest emphasis is given to design of the optimal configuration of the insulator and electrode, which is supported by simulations from the software that implements finite element method. Eventually, the high voltage tests of the assembly used for measuring leakage currents are performed.