High-k/metal gate stacks have been introduced in CMOS technology during the last decade in order to sustain continued device scaling and ever-improving circuit performance. Starting from the 45 nm technology node, the stringent requirements in terms of equivalent oxide thickness and gate current density have rendered the replacement of the conventional SiON/poly-Si stack unavoidable. Although Hf-based technology has become the de facto industry standard for high-k/metal gate MOSFETs, problematic long-term scalability has motivated the research of novel materials and solutions to fulfill the target performances expected of gate stacks in future technology nodes. In this work, integration of a high-k interfacial layer has been identified as the most promising approach to improve gate dielectric scalability, since this technology presents the advantage of potential compatibility with both current Hf-based and plausible future higher-k materials. Thulium silicate has been selected as candidate material for integration as interfacial layer, thanks to its unique properties which enabled the development of a straightforward integration process achieving well-controlled and repeatable growth in the sub-nm thickness regime, a contribution of 0.25+-0.15 nm to the total EOT, and high quality of the interface with Si. Compatibility with industry-standard CMOS integration flows has been kept as a top priority in the development of the new technology. To this aim, a novel ALD process has been developed and characterized, and a manufacturable process flow for integration of thulium silicate in a generic gate stack has been designed. The thulium silicate interfacial layer technology has been verified to be compatible with standard integration flows, and fabrication of high-k/metal gate MOSFETs with excellent electrical characteristics has been demonstrated. The possibility to achieve high performance devices by integration of thulium silicate in current Hf-based technology has been specifically demonstrated, and the TmSiO/HfO2 dielectric stack has been shown to be compatible with the industrial requirements of operation in the sub-nm EOT range (down to 0.6 nm), reliable device operation over a 10 year expected lifetime, and compatibility with common threshold voltage control techniques. The thulium silicate interfacial layer technology has been especially demonstrated to be superior to conventional chemical oxidation in terms of channel mobility at sub-nm EOT, since the TmSiO/HfO2 dielectric stack achieved ~20% higher electron and hole mobility compared to state-of-the-art SiOx/HfO2 devices at the same EOT. Such performance enhancement can provide a strong advantage in the EOT-mobility trade-off which is commonly observed in scaled gate stacks, and has been linked by temperature and stress analyses to the higher physical thickness of the high-k interfacial layer, which results in attenuated remote phonon scattering compared to a SiOx interfacial layer achieving the same EOT. / <p>QC 20140512</p>

Protein adsorption at the solid/liquid interface is of wide ranging importance in many different areas of science such as biomaterial design, the fate of nanoparticles and in the food industry. As a result, many studies have been undertaken with varying foci but there still remains a lack of agreement between many working in this field and fundamental questions regarding the adsorption of proteins at the solid/liquid interface. Neutron reflectivity is a powerful technique for probing the properties of adsorbed layers at interfaces due to its high structural resolution and the possibility of using isotopic substitution to distinguish between components of a mixture. In this work, neutron reflectivity has been used as the primary technique for the investigation of proteins adsorbed sequentially or from a binary mixture. Initially, the adsorption of four proteins (carbonic anhydrase II, lysozyme, human serum albumin and maltose binding protein) onto a clean silica surface was investigated which revealed the importance of electrostatic interactions and entropic contributions to the driving forces for adsorption. Most of the adsorbed layers were described by a 2-layer model with a thinner, denser layer adjacent to the surface and a thick, diffuse layer extending into the bulk solution. The presence of impurities is also shown to have a significant impact on the adsorption of HSA. A study of the HSA/myristic acid system shows that the presence of small amphiphiles can inhibit HSA adsorption and also remove a pre-adsorbed layer. A comparison was made between the protonated and deuterated forms of two proteins, HSA & MBP, showing the deuterated proteins to have a higher affinity for the surface with adsorption occurring in a 3:1 ratio when from a 1:1 mixture. Likewise, d-MBP displaced h-MBP more readily than vice versa in an investigation into the effect of incubation time on the properties of the protein layer. The extent of desorption into protein free buffer is not affected by incubation time but the extent to which d-MBP was displaced by h-MBP showed a clear trend of decreased exchange with increasing incubation time indicating an active exchange process was occurring. This was also observed to a lesser extent for the sequential adsorption of binary protein systems, HSA & LYS and HSA & MBP. When investigating binary protein mixtures the higher propensity for deuterated proteins to adsorb is observed. LYS dominates when adsorbed from a mixture with h-HSA but from a d-HSA & LYS mix both proteins were adsorbed. The marked difference between the adsorption characteristics of perdeuterated proteins and their protonated counterparts provides a good case study for testing the neutron reflectivity technique when investigating systems with more than one component. This thesis assesses the limitations of the methodology of contrast variation for investigating mixtures as well as using different solvent contrasts. A comparison of neutron reflectivity and dual polarisation interferometry (DPI) shows that the two techniques are similar and any small differences can be attributed to the small change in surface chemistry. This comparison also highlights the advantages of DPI; high throughput of samples and detailed information but the restriction to using a 1-layer model limits its use.

The goal of this study is to quantify the transient performance of microfabricated superhydrophobic surfaces when used in underwater applications. A mathematical framework is developed and used to predict the stability, longevity, and drag reduction benefits of submerged superhydrophobic surfaces with two- or three-dimensional micro-textures. In addition, a novel design is proposed to improve the drag-reduction benefits of lubricant-infused surfaces, by placing a layer of trapped air underneath the lubricant layer. The new design is referred to as lubricant–infused surfaces with trapped air, and it is designed to eliminate the long-lasting longevity problem of submerged superhydrophobic surfaces. The effectiveness of liquid-infused surface with trapped air design was examined via numerical simulation, and it was found to outperform its liquid-infused surface counterpart by about 37%.

Surfactant coated microbubbles are widely used as contrast agents (UCA) in medical ultrasound imaging, due to their high echogenicity and non-linear response to acoustic excitation. Controlling the stability of microbubbles in vivo represents a considerable challenge. Understanding the characteristics of the bubble surface and how they change with production method, composition and environment is key to addressing this problem. The aim of this thesis is to investigate viscosity, bubble dissolution, and acoustic response as functions of their composition, manufacturing method and environment. Bubbles were made using combinations of phospholipid and an emulsifier in different molar ratios. Adding the emulsifier decreased both the size and the surface viscosity of the bubbles and caused changes in the scattered pressure amplitude of bubbles under ultrasound. To increase microbubble stability, solid inorganic nanoparticles were adsorbed on to the microbubble surface. These particles behaved as Pickering stabilisers, and deterred Ostwald ripening. The nanoparticles also enhanced the nonlinear behaviour of bubbles at low acoustic pressures. Three manufacturing methods (sonication, cross-flow and flow focusing) were investigated in order to verify stability differences. Sonication produced bubbles with surface viscosities hundreds of centipoise greater than those produced by microfluidics. Both pressure amplitude and harmonic content for sonicated bubbles were found to be much larger due to a higher liposomal adhesion rate at the surface. Solution temperature and bubble age were also investigated. When the solutions were heated above the phospholipid gelling temperature, microfluidic bubbles showed an increased surface viscosity, due to increased liposome adhesion caused by the increased temperature. Bubble composition, manufacturing method and environment were found to vary the surface characteristics of the microbubbles. Further investigations into the affects of the filling gas, in vitro studies, and low temperature TEM characterisation should be conducted to produce a microbubble with the full range of desired characteristics.

Cette thèse, de nature expérimentale, porte sur l'étude du couplage fluide / interface de croissance en solidification dirigée en lames minces. En solidification naturelle, les écoulements de nature convective ou solutale engendrent un transport de soluté devant le front et modifient la dynamique des microstructures. Ils sont modélisés ici en lames minces par un écoulement de Poiseuille induit par un thermosiphon. Au-delà des effets d'inclinaison de microstructures et d'asymétrie du développement des branchements, un nouveau phénomène est mis en évidence : des ondes progressives interfaciales modifiant fortement les microstructures. Trois types d'ondes sont observés. Leur diagramme d'existence est déterminé en fonction des vitesses de solidification et d'écoulement, et leurs caractéristiques principales en vitesse de phase, amplitude et asymétrie sont identifiées. Elles apparaissent quasi-insensibles à l'épaisseur de l'échantillon et à la longueur thermique. La cohérence de leur mécanisme de propagation est explicitée en tenant compte de la concentration et de la vitesse de l'interface, ainsi que de la forme des microstructures et de leur rejet de soluté. Ces ondes interfaciales créent des modulations de concentration, dont l'échelle caractéristique ne dépend pas de la nature des ondes ou du gradient thermique, mais seulement du rapport entre vitesse de l'écoulement et vitesse de solidification. La microségrégation et donc les propriétés résultantes des matériaux en sont alors directement influencées. / This thesis addresses the experimental study of the coupling between a flow and a growth interface in directional solidification in a thin sample. In natural solidification, the convective or solutal flows both generate a transport of solute along the front and modify the microstructure dynamics. They are modelled here in a thin sample by a Poiseuille flow induced by a thermosiphon. Beyond the effects of microstructure inclination and of asymmetry of sidebranch development, a new phenomenon is evidenced : the existence of the interfacial travelling waves that strongly affect microstructures. Three kinds of waves are observed. Their diagram of existence is determined as a function of both the pulling velocity and the flow velocity, and their main characteristics in phase velocity, amplitude and asymmetry are identified. They appear almost insensitive to the thickness of the sample and to the thermal length. The coherence of their propagation mechanism is made explicit when involving the concentration and the velocity of interface together with the form and the solute rejection of microstructures. These interfacial waves create concentration modulations whose characteristic scale does not depend on the wave type or the thermal gradient, but on the ratio of flow velocity to solidification velocity only. They then directly influence the microsegregation and thus, the resulting material properties.

Esta tese apresenta um estudo experimental em sistemas eletrônicos multicamadas formados em diversas heteroestruturas semicondutoras de alta qualidade crescidas por epitaxia de feixes moleculares. Especificamente, poços quânticos isolados baseados em InGaAs/InP e super-redes baseadas em GaAs/AlGaAs foram caraterizados por meio de medidas de fotoluminescência (PL) em função da temperatura, potência de excitação e do campo magnético. O estudo de efeitos na dinâmica de processos de recombinação destes sistemas eletrônicos é a base principal deste trabalho. Além disso, exploramos os efeitos da desordem sobre os processos de recombinação e demonstramos que o espalhamento por rugosidade interfacial é responsável pela resposta óptica destes sistemas. Nas amostras de InGaAs/InP com maior largura do espaçador observamos um novo efeito, o tempo de recombinação Auger aumenta notavelmente com a potência de excitação. Atribuímos este novo efeito à distribuição de elétrons fotoexcitados em diferentes vales da banda de condução. E em amostras de menor largura do espaçador, o relaxamento da regra de seleção do momento induzido pela desordem faz que o tempo de recombinação Auger diminua com o aumento da potência. Por outro lado, nas amostras de GaAs/AlGaAs, evidenciamos que a desordem gerada pela rugosidade interfacial afeta consideravelmente o transporte dos elétrons da banda de condução, e em poços quânticos de largura apropriada resulta em uma transição metal-isolante. A borda de mobilidade Ec, energia crítica que separa os estados estendidos dos estados localizados, foi determinada a partir das medidas do tempo de recombinação em função da energia de emissão de PL. Para uma desordem crítica, a Ec mostra uma interseção com a energia do nível de Fermi, a qual corresponde à transição metal-isolante. Além disso, realizamos medidas de PL resolvida no tempo em função do campo magnético. Observamos que a redistribuição espacial de elétrons causada pelo campo magnético afeta os tempos de recombinação. Nas amostras metálicas, os resultados mostraram deslocamento da Ec para altas energias, devido à quantização da energia dos elétrons provocada pelo campo magnético. No entanto, nas amostras isolantes, o campo magnético foi responsável pelo relaxamento significativo da regra de seleção do momento, que aumenta a probabilidade de recombinação dos elétrons localizados com os buracos fotoexcitados da banda de valência e, por consequência, diminui o tempo de recombinação. / This thesis presents an experimental study in multilayer electronic systems formed in several high quality semiconductor heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Specifically, GaAs/AlGaAs based superlattices and isolated quantum wells based on InGaAs/InP were characterized by photoluminescence (PL) measurements as a function of temperature, pump power and magnetic field. The study of effects on the dynamics of the recombination processes of these electronic systems is the principal goal of this work. In addition, we explore the effects of the disorder on the recombination processes and show that the interfacial roughness scattering is responsible for the optical response in these systems. In the small spacer InGaAs/InP samples, we observed a new effect, the Auger recombination time becomes larger with the increasing the pump power. We propose that the distribution of photoexcited electrons over different conduction band valleys might account for this effect. In large spacer quantum wells, the non-radiative recombination time is reduced with the increasing pump power, as a consequence the disorder-induced relaxation of the momentum rule. On the other hand, in GaAs/AlGaAs samples, we showed that the disorder generated by interfacial roughness considerably affects transport of the conduction band electrons and at appropriate quantum wells width results in a metal-to-insulator transition. The mobility edge energy Ec was determined from the measurements of the recombination time as a function of energy allowed. At a critical disorder, the mobility edge energy demonstrates intersection with the Fermi level energy which correspond to the metal-insulator transition. In addition, we perform time-resolved PL measurements as a function of the magnetic field. We observed that the spatial distribution of electrons caused by the magnetic field influence on the recombination time. In the metallic samples was observed a shift of the mobility edge to higher energy due to the magnetic field quantization of conduction band electron energy. However, in the insulating samples, the magnetic field was responsible to cause a significant relaxation of the momentum selection rule which enhances the probability of recombination of the localized electrons with the photoexcited holes of the valence band, and consequently the recombination time is reduced.

Propriétés interfaciales des virus, concept de particules molles multicouches, corrélation avec les capacités d'agrégation Hors de leur cellule hôte, les virus se comportent comme des particules biologiques inertes dont le comportement est principalement guidé par les propriétés physico-chimiques dites de surface, en particulier la charge et la balance hydrophile/hydrophobe. A l'heure actuelle, il est impossible de prédire le comportement de virus en arguant uniquement de leur charge de surface. Très récemment, des auteurs proposent que les virus devraient plutôt être assimilés à des particules molles perméables et fortement hétérogènes (Biophysical Journal 94, 2008, 3293) et non de simples sphères dures. L'objectif de ce travail est de caractériser les propriétés interfaciales des bactériophages selon le concept de particules molles multicouches afin de pouvoir les classer/hiérarchiser selon leur réactivité en terme de capacités d'adhésion sur des surfaces abiotiques ou leur agrégation. Les phages ARN F-spécifiques tout comme les virus entériques pathogènes sont constitués d'une capside protéique à l'intérieur de laquelle se trouve un génome à ARN. Dans un premier temps, il a été démontré que les éléments situés à l'intérieur de la capside ont une influence majeure sur les propriétés physico-chimiques en particulier électrocinétiques. En effet, nous avons comparé pour la première fois les propriétés électrohydrodynamiques de phages MS2 avec celles de Virus Like Particles correspondantes (VLPs, particules virales dépourvues de génome) dans différentes conditions de pH et de force ionique. Selon des principes précédemment établis et basés sur un formalisme pour l'électrophorèse de particules molles multicouches, on démontre entre autre que les phages complets portent une charge volumique plus importante que les VLPs. Les profils d'agrégation pour chaque type de particules sont différents avec une survenue de l'agrégation uniquement au point isoélectrique et à faible force ionique pour les VLPs, montrant ainsi l'impact du génome sur les propriétés de stabilité de suspensions virales. Nous avons ensuite caractérisé l'influence de la méthode de purification sur les différences observées de propriétés électrocinétiques et d'agrégation. La confrontation de trois méthodes distinctes révèle que les purifications par dialyse et par gradient de chlorure de césium maintiennent les différences de comportement entre les deux types de particules tandis que la précipitation au polyéthylène glycol atténue ces différences pour ce qui est des caractéristiques électrocinétiques mais les différences persistent au niveau du comportement d'agrégation. Dans une seconde partie nous avons d'une part étudié les propriétés interfaciales de différents virus ARN F-spécifiques (MS2, GA et Qbêta) à structures similaires. Au moyen du concept de particules molles multicouches, nous avons montré que les trois phages présentent une charge électrostatique similaire et leur degré d'hydrophobicité respectif est établi selon la séquence MS2 < Qbêta < GA, GA étant le plus hydrophobe. Ces propriétés ont ensuite été corrélées aux capacités d'adhésion sur des supports industriels (verre, inox, polypropylène) dont les propriétés de surface ont été caractérisées par AFM. L'étude met en évidence l'impact de la rugosité et de l'hydrophobicité des surfaces de dépôt qui tendent à augmenter l'adhésion virale. Des virus à structures multicouches différentes (Phi X 174, PRD1, MS2) ont également fait l'objet d'investigation en termes de propriétés électrocinétiques, d'agrégation et d'adhésion. Les résultats montrent la séquence suivante concernant la charge électrostatique Phi X 174 < PRD1 < MS2 (MS2 étant le plus chargé négativement). Par ailleurs, une corrélation positive entre ces propriétés et les capacités d'adhésion des phages sur des surfaces chargées et des supports strictement hydrophiles ou hydrophobes a été établie. / The aim of this work is to characterize the interfacial properties of phages using the soft multilayer particles concept in order to interrelate appropriately their reactivity and their physico-chemical features. It was demonstrated that the RNA inside the capsid do have a major impact on the physico-chemical properties of the virus, in particular its electrophoretic mobility. We further compared electrohydrodynamic features of MS2 phage with those of the corresponding VLPs (virus particles without RNA). In line with theoretical predictions based on the soft particles concept, it is shown that MS2 are more negative than VLPs. The aggregation profiles of both particles significantly differ demonstrating the major influence of the genome on stability of viral suspensions. We then analyzed the influence of the virus purification method on the observed differences in terms of stability and electrohydrodynamics. We also studied the interfacial properties of phages exhibiting similar structures. It appeared that the phages display similar electrostatic charge while their hydrophobicity degree follows the sequence MS2<Qbeta<GA. These properties were then correlated to adhesion capacities onto industrial substrates whose surface characteristics were addressed by AFM. The results highlight the impact of roughness and hydrophobicity of the deposition surfaces which tend to increase viral adhesion. Viruses with different soft multilayered structures were then investigated with as result the following sequence for the electrostatic charge: Phi X 174<PRD1<MS2. A positive correlation between these properties and adhesion capacities onto charged surfaces and onto hydrophilic or hydrophobic materials has further been established

<div><div><div><p>Interfacial rheology describes the functional relationship between the deformation of an interface, the stresses exerted in and on it, and the resulting flows in the adjacent fluid phases. These interfacial properties are purported to influence emulsion stability. Protein emulsifiers tend to adsorb to the interface of immiscible phases, reduce interfacial tension as well as generate repulsive interactions. A magnetic interfacial shear rheometer was used to characterize the surface pressure-area isotherms as well as interfacial rheological properties of two proteins- sodium caseinate and b-lactoglobulin. Then, sodium caseinate was used as a carrier for b-carotene encapsulation.</p><p>b-carotene is a carotenoid that exhibits pro-vitamin A activity, antioxidant capacity and is widely used as a food colorant. It is however, highly hydrophobic and sensitive to heat, oxygen and light exposure. Thus b-carotene as food ingredient is mainly available as purified crystals or as oil-in-water emulsions. In this study, b-carotene stability, and solubility in water for application as a natural colorant was improved by preparation of a sodium caseinate/ b-carotene powder using high pressure homogenization, solvent evaporation and spray drying. The powders thus prepared showed good solubility in water and yielded an orange coloration from b-carotene. The effect of medium chain triglyceride concentration (1%, 10%) and incorporation of a natural antioxidant (Duralox, Kalsec) on powder stability was studied as a function of storage time and temperature.b-carotene stability was reduced at higher storage temperature (4oC> 21oC> 50oC) over 60 days and followed first order degradation kinetics at all temperatures. Incorporation of natural antioxidant improved b-carotene stability and resulted in a second first order degradation period at 50oC. As b-carotene content decreased, Hunter Lab color values denoting lightness increased, while those for redness and yellowness of the powder decreased. This sodium caseinate based b-carotene powder could be used as a food ingredient to deliver natural b-carotene to primarily aqueous food formulations.</p><div><div><div><p>In the last part of this work, an engagement workshop was developed as a means to educate young consumers about the function of emulsifiers in foods. Food additives are important for food product development, however to consumers, a discord between their objective purpose and subjective quality has led to confusion. Food emulsifiers, in particular, are associated with lower healthiness perception due to their unfamiliar names. In collaboration with the 4H Academy at Purdue, a workshop high school student was conducted to develop an increased understanding of emulsions and emulsifiers. A survey was conducted with the participants who self-evaluated their gain in knowledge and tendency to perform certain behaviors with regards to food ingredient labels. The participants reported a gain in knowledge in response to four key questions on emulsions and emulsifiers, as well as an increased likelihood to read ingredients on a food label and look up information on unfamiliar ingredients.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Este trabalho descreve um método para expandir a aplicabilidade do sistema FreeFlow-2D para problemas de escoamentos de fluidos multifásicos. Este método permite a simulação de escoamento de fluido multifásico, incompressível e com superfície livre. Um número arbitrário de fases com propriedades diferentes pode ser utilizado. Tensões superficial e interfacial são também consideradas. A técnica numérica utilizada baseia-se no GENSMAC (Generalized-Simplified-Marker-and-Cell) e consideram-se propriedades variáveis de acordo com a posição da interface durante o escoamento. O campo de velocidade é computado utilizando-se às equações de Navier-Stokes discretizadas por esquema de diferença finita numa malha deslocada. O método foi implementado em três módulos: Modelador, Simulador e Visualizador. A validação foi efetuada comparando-se os resultados numéricos com resultados analíticos e experimentais. O método mostrou-se robusto e computacionalmente eficiente para os problemas considerados. / This work describes a method to expand the applicability of the system FreeFlow-2D in multi-phase flows problems. This method allows the simulation of incompressible free surface multi-phase flows. An arbitrary number of phases having different properties can be used. Surface and interface tension effects are also considered. The numerical technique is based on the GENSMAC (Generalized-Simplified-Marker-and-Cell) and it considers the properties varying according to the position of the interfaces in the flow. The velocity field is computed using the Navier-Stokes equations discretized by finite-difference on stagered grid. The method was implemented in three modules: the modeling module, the simulation module, and the visualization module. The validation was effected by comparing numerical results with analytical and experimental results. The method shown to be robust and computationally efficient in the problems considered.

Neste trabalho enfoca-se o efeito da variação térmica na degradação da aderência de revestimentos de argamassa. Dentre os diversos fatores que condicionam a aderência dos revestimentos de argamassa, destaca-se aqui o cenário crítico definido pela presença de macrodefeitos na interface revestimento-base e também pela intensidade com que ocorre a variação de temperatura, encontrando-se uma situação extrema quando da ocorrência do choque térmico. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar, de maneira experimental, o efeito de sucessivos ciclos de choque térmico na resistência de aderência de revestimentos de argamassa, em duas situações limites de taxa de macro-defeitos no contato entre o revestimento e a base e para duas distintas argamassas. Para dar suporte ao trabalho experimental foi elaborado um modelo computacional paramétrico, utilizando modelagem com elementos finitos. Com ele foi possível obter a distribuição de temperaturas, bem como as deformações e tensões geradas no revestimento, variando-se a intensidade do contato revestimento-base e alterandose as características da argamassa de revestimento. A partir de então, definiram-se as variáveis de maior influência e a geometria dos corpos prova, bem como as condições de contorno a serem utilizadas no programa experimental. O programa experimental foi desenvolvido em duas etapas: uma etapa piloto e outra definitiva. Para sua realização foram desenvolvidos e construídos os equipamentos para execução e controle dos ensaios cíclicos de choque térmico. Finalmente, foram realizados ensaios de resistência de aderência do revestimento e avaliados os efeitos de cada uma das variáveis estudadas, empregando-se suporte estatístico. Pelos resultados pode-se comprovar que os macro-defeitos na interface revestimento-base provocam diminuição na resistência de aderência a qual é agravada quando da ocorrência de cíclicos choques térmicos, ocorrendo a situação mais crítica para os revestimentos com maior módulo de elasticidade. / The present study focus on thermal variation effects on mortar rendering bonding degradation. Among the variety of factors that condition the bonding of mortar renderings, a critic scenario can be defined by the existence of interface macro-flaws between mortar rendering and substrate, and by the thermal variation intensity in the extreme situation of thermal shock. This research aims to experimentally evaluate the effects of continuous thermal shock cycles on the bonding strength of mortar renderings in two macro-flaw rate extreme situations in the contact surface between mortar rendering and substrate for two types of mortar. A parametric model based on finite element analysis has been developed to support the experimental work, which allowed ascertaining temperature profile as well as stress and strain distribution in the mortar rendering by changing the macro-flaws rate and mortar rendering properties. As a result, one could define the variables with higher influence and test panel geometry, as well as the boundary conditions to be used in the experimental program. The experimental program has been performed first in pilot scale and then in a definite stage, which required designing and building of equipment for the execution and control of cyclic thermal shock laboratory tests. Furthermore, bond strength tests have been performed on the mortar rendering samples, and effects of variables have been analyzed by using statistical help. Results have shown that the existence of interfacial macro-flaws decreases bond strength values between mortar rendering and substrate, and this scenario worsens under thermal shock. Mortar renderings with higher Youngs modulus (E) are more affected.