The first part of this dissertation focuses on self-assembled composites. Self-assembled composites composed of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanofibers (VA-MWCNF) combined with a graphitic layer (GL) arranged perpendicular to MWCNF axes‘ have been produced at low temperature (445 °C) using low pressure thermal chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). Electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to analyze composite morphology, structure and quality. It is found that different composite morphologies and modification of the GL structure can be obtained by varying the nickel (Ni) catalyst underlayer materials, the catalyst pre-treatment method, the gas recipe, the gas flow rates and the pressure conditions of the LPCVD process. Pre-treatment of the catalyst with H2 plasma or NH₃ gas was also investigated. It is found that even a short, one minute H2 plasma pre-treatment of the catalyst results in a significant break-down of the VA-MWCNF/GL composite structure. On the other hand, a one or ten minute catalyst pre-treatment with NH₃ gas results in a structural modification of the GL but retains the VA-MWCNF/GL composite structure. An increase in time of NH₃ gas pre-treatment leads to reduced VA-MWCNF/GL composite height. A growth mechanism for VA-MWCNF/GL composites was proposed. The focus, of the second part of this dissertation, is on the analysis of natural chalks used in traditional old master drawings. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis were performed on bulk samples of natural black chalk, steatite and calcite natural white chalks and on samples of these chalks applied to paper using various techniques. Critical information was obtained about the morphology and sub-micron features of the chalk particles, the chalk/paper interaction of each application technique and elemental composition of the bulk chalk samples. It was found that the particle size and morphology of the natural white chalks reduced their ability to hold to the paper. This information provides insight as to why black chalk is more resistant to abrasion than the natural white chalks which is important for the conservation of extant chalk drawings.

Corrosion is a major issue in applications involving materials in normal and severe environments, especially when it involves corrosive fluids, high temperatures, and radiation. Left unaddressed, corrosion can lead to catastrophic failures, resulting in economic and environmental liabilities. In nuclear applications, where metals and alloys, such as steel and zirconium, are extensively em- ployed inside and outside of the nuclear reactor, corrosion accelerated by high temperatures, neu- tron radiation, and corrosive atmospheres, corrosion becomes even more concerning. The objec- tives of this research are to study and develop surface modification techniques to protect zirconium cladding by the incorporation of a specific barrier coating, and to understand the issues related to the compatibility of the coatings examined in this work. The final goal of this study is to recommend a coating and process that can be scaled-up for the consideration of manufacturing and economic limits. This dissertation study builds on previous accident tolerant fuel cladding research, but is unique in that advanced corrosion methods are tested and considerations for implementation by industry are practiced and discussed. This work will introduce unique studies involving the materials and methods for accident tolerant fuel cladding research by developing, demonstrating, and consid- ering materials and processes for modifying the surface of zircaloy fuel cladding. This innova- tive research suggests that improvements in the technique to modify the surface of zirconium fuel cladding are likely. Three elements selected for the investigation of their compatibility on zircaloy fuel cladding are aluminum, silicon, and chromium. These materials are also currently being investigated at other labs as alternate alloys and coatings for accident tolerant fuel cladding. This dissertation also investigates the compatibility of these three elements as surface modifiers, by comparing their mi- crostructural and mechanical properties. To test their application for use in corrosive atmospheres, the corrosion behaviors are also compared in steam, water, and boric-acid environments. Various methods of surface modification were attempted in this investigation, including dip coating, diffu- sion bonding, casting, sputtering, and evaporation. The benefits and drawbacks of each method are discussed with respect to manufacturing and economic limits. Characterization techniques utilized in this work include optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spec- troscopy, X-ray diffraction, nanoindentation, adhesion testing, and atomic force microscopy. The composition, microstructure, hardness, modulus, and coating adhesion were studied to provide en- compassing properties to determine suitable comparisons and to choose an ideal method to scale to industrial applications. The experiments, results, and detailed discussions are presented in the following chapters of this dissertation research.

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2018 / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 171-185). / The M13 bacteriophage had been shown to be a highly versatile toolkit for growing and assembling nanomaterials with technological importance. Inspired by the natural biomineralization process, much of the existing literature focused on genetically engineering the M13 viral capsid for interaction with inorganic materials, such as metals and oxides. In this thesis, the utility of the M13 toolkit was extended to the synthesis of organic and carbonaceous materials. Biotemplating of phenolic resins was extensively studied, with a particular focus on colloidal assembly and materials chemistry. Genetically engineered M13 bacteriophage was shown to be particularly apt at controlling the morphology and selfassembly of phenolic resin nanofibers. The properties of these nanomaterials could be simultaneously controlled by introducing additional molecular moieties using simple aqueous, organic chemistry, to enable their application as catalyst scaffolds and carbon dioxide sorbents. / Modification of the phenolic resin nanofibers with organosilicon moieties offered a direct route to nanoporous carbon nanofibers upon carbonization. The properties of these biotemplated carbon nanofibers could be tailored for specific applications by independently controlling morphology and carbon texture. Their practical utility was demonstrated by the rapid adsorption of small molecules with uptake values comparable to some highest values reported for carbon materials. High conductivity nanofibers could also be incorporated into lithium-sulfur batteries as interlayers to significantly improve electrochemical performance. New biotemplating approaches to the synthesis of some other inorganic nanomaterials such as zinc sulfide and noble metal nanomaterials were also demonstrated. Biotemplated zinc sulfide nanofibers were shown to be promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries, with potential for further study. / The facile synthesis of a range of noble metal nanowires opens up potential applications in catalysis and energy storage. / by Geran Zhang. / Ph. D. / Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 1985. / Bibliography: leaves 83-85. / by Masayuki Nakada. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 1987. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 183-185. / by Lee Arnold Silverman. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 1987. / Bibliography: leaves 89-92. / by Yukio Kuroda. / M.S.

Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2001. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 37-38). / A three-dimensional finite element model was created to analyze the mechanical interactions between the various substructures within the human eye. During certain activities, mechanical interactions may lead to a resultant distribution of stresses within the eye that may in turn produce various retinal diseases. The entire eye was modeled using dynamic finite element analysis to incorporate the mechanical effects of all of the substructures on the retina. A set of mechanical properties for each substructure was determined from previously published studies. Saccadic motion was modeled in the normal human eye to determine the location and magnitude of peak stresses in the retina and optic nerve head during initial loading. After 0.6125 ms, stresses as high as 5.4 x 10⁷ Pa were reached. The peak stresses occurred in the portions of the retina and the optic nerve head close to the boundary between these two substructures. / by Venetia Chan. / S.B.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 1987. / Bibliography: leaves 97-98. / by Se-Yong Oh. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 1987. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 71-75. / by Peter Gerard Schunemann. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 1987. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Vita. / Includes bibliographies. / by G. William Tasker. / Ph.D.