Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the ongomg search for better and faster ways to characterize complex polymer systems, it is often necessary to couple different analytical techniques in order to obtain information on more than one distributed property. In this study, the coupling of chromatography and spectroscopy to atomic force microscopy (AFM) was attempted for the first time, and thus the term "LC-FTIR-AFM" was coined. This new hyphenated technique combines the separation power of liquid chromatography (LC) and the ability of infrared spectroscopy (IR) to identify almost any organic compound, with the AFM's ability to be used for thermal analysis of individual phases in polymer mixtures. The first two steps of this new technique comprise (i) the separation of compounds in a mixture via gradient polymer elution chromatography (GPEC) and (ii) the identification of each compound by means of LC-FTIR analysis. In the final step, LC-FTIR analysis is coupled to AFM through the use of the LC-FTIR interface. A number of polymer mixtures were analysed by means of the novel technique that was developed, in order to establish its validity and value as a characterization technique of the future. The influence of fllm thickness and molar mass on the thermal parameters of individual components in mixtures, measured by this technique, were also investigated. This technique adds a new dimension to conventional thermal analysis methods, since it allows the thermal transitions of individual polymer phases in multiphase polymers to be resolved directly after separation and identification. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die voortdurende soektog na beter en vinniger maniere om komplekse polimeersisteme te karakteriseer, is dit soms nodig om verskillende analitiese tegnieke met mekaar te koppel ten einde inligting aangaande twee of meer verspreide eienskappe te bekom. Gedurende hierdie studie is daar gepoog om chromatografie en spektroskopie met atoominteraksie-mikroskopie (atomic force microscopy, AFM) te koppel. Gevolglik het die term "LC-FTIR-AFM" ontstaan. Hierdie nuwe koppelingstegniek kombineer die kragtige skeidingspotensiaal van vloeistofchromatografie en die vermoë van infrarooispektroskopie om byna enige organiese verbinding positief te identifiseer, met die atoominteraksie-mikroskoop se potensiaal om as 'n termiese analise metode vir individuele fases in polimeermengsels te dien. Die eerste twee stappe van die tegniek behels (i) die skeiding van verbindings in 'n mengsel deur middel van gradient-hoë-druk-vloeistofchromatografie en (ii) die identifisering van afsonderlike verbindings deur vloeistofchromatografie gekoppel aan infrarooispektroskopie. Gedurende die finale stap word vloeistofchromatografie en infrarooispektroskopie aan die atoominteraksie-mikroskoop gekoppel deur gebruik te maak van die LC-FTIR koppelingsapparaat. 'n Aantal polimeermengsels is geanaliseer deur die nuwe tegniek hierbo beskryf, ten einde die geldigheid en waarde daarvan as 'n analitiese metode vir die toekoms vas te stel. Die invloed van film diktes en molekulêre massa op die termiese oorgange van individuele komponente in mengsels, soos gemeet deur hierdie metode, is ook ondersoek. Hierdie tegniek voeg 'n nuwe dimensie tot konvensionele termiese analise metodes deurdat dit die bepaling van termiese oorgange van individuele polimeerfases III multifase polimere, direk na afloop van skeiding en identifikasie moontlik maak.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:43:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz Cezar Lima Junior.pdf: 4959123 bytes, checksum: 8ba169401ed3c8565f7d14d0d74e19c1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-29 / Geopolymers, or ‘inorganic polymers’, considered an alternative cementing system to the convention Portland cement, are formed due to the dissolution, under a high alkali solution, of natural raw materials containing aluminosilicate species. The product of this reaction is the obtainment of a synthetic aluminosilicate product, manufactured under low temperature or even at room temperature. A wide range of materials can be used as precursors as well as alkali activators. The present work focuses on the obtainment of inorganic polymers with innovative precursors, based on different residues of several industrial sectors, such as glass manufacturing, ceramic claddings, and also with local minerals found in abundance on the region of the Campos Gerais. The development of an alternative cementing system will be directly applied on materials to be used as external cladding of steel/wood-based modular structures for residential/commercial buildings, replacing similar materials made from ordinary Portland cement, aiming and industrial application for this product. The obtained product presented similar/superior physical-mechanical properties when compared to its opponent products, with an average flexural strength of 11,73 MPa and a water absorption of 13,50%, being the first value intermediate and the second the best in comparison with commercial products. The use of temperature during curing cycle for increasing the properties of the geopolymeric cement was successfully tested, resulting on more dense and stable structures. Samples showed an increase in flexural strength from 1,83 MPa to 10,15MPa comparing curing cycles at room temperature and at 65ºC, which indicates that temperature works as a setting accelerator for the tested recipe of geopolymers. / Geopolímeros, ou ‘polímeros inorgânicos’, considerados um sistema cimentante alternativo ao cimento Portland convencional, são materiais formados a partir da dissolução de matérias-primas naturais à base de aluminossilicatos em uma solução alcalina. O resultado desta reação é a formação de um aluminossilicato sintético, produzido a baixas temperaturas ou mesmo sob temperatura ambiente. Diferentes matérias-primas naturais e sintéticas podem ser utilizadas como precursores e fonte de álcalis. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo o desenvolvimento de polímeros inorgânicos a partir de precursores inovadores, utilizando-se de resíduos de diversos setores da indústria, tais como da fabricação de vidro, da indústria de revestimentos cerâmicos, e também de insumos locais disponíveis em abundância na região dos Campos Gerais. O sistema cimentante obtido foi utilizado para a obtenção de placas de revestimento em construções em estrutura modular de aço ou madeira, substituindo produtos similares produzidos a partir de cimento Portland convencional, e visando uma aplicação industrial deste. O produto obtido apresentou propriedades físico-mecânicas semelhantes e até superiores às dos produtos concorrentes, com uma resistência à flexão média de 11,73 MPa e uma absorção de umidade média de 13,50%, sendo o primeiro valor intermediário e o segundo o melhor dentre os produtos comerciais. O uso de temperatura para aumento das propriedades físico-mecânicas do cimento geopolimérico foi testado com sucesso, resultando em estruturas mais compactas e estáveis. Houve um aumento de resistência mecânica de 1,83 MPa para 10,15 MPa comparando-se ciclos de cura sob temperatura ambiente e a 65ºC, indicando que a temperatura funciona como um acelerador de cura dos geopolímeros testados.