This thesis summarizes the results concerning the manufacture of medical implants for bone replacement using electron beam melting (EBM) which is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology, and aims to satisfy the engineering needs for the medical functionality of manufacturing technology. This thesis has focused on some microscopic properties for surfaces and bone integration. The process parameters of EBM manufacturing were studied to ascertain whether they have impacts on surface appearance, as surface properties have impacts on bone integration and implant performance. EBM manufacturing uses an electron beam to melt metal powder onto each layer in a manner akin to welding. The electron beam is controlled by process parameters that may be altered to a certain extent by the operator. There are individual process parameters for every material, and new parameters are set when developing new materials. In this thesis, process parameters in default settings were altered to ascertain whether it was possible to specify process parameters for implant manufacturing. The blood chamber model was used for thromboinflammation validation, using human whole blood. The model is used to identify early reactions of coagulation and immunoreactions. The material used in this study was Ti6Al4V-ELI, which is corrosion resistant and has the same surface oxide layers as titanium, and CoCr-F75, which has high stiffness, is wear-resistant and is commonly used in articulating joints. The study shows that among the process parameters researched, a combination of speed and current have the most impact on surface roughness and an interaction of parameters were found using design of experiment (DOE). As-built EBM surfaces show thrombogenicity, which in previous studies has been associated with bone ingrowth. Surface structure of as-build EBM manufactured surfaces are similar to implants surfaces described by Pilliar (2005), but with superior material properties than those of implants with sintered metals beads. By altering the process parameters controlling the electron beam, surface roughness of as-build parts may be affected, and the rougher EBM manufactured surfaces tend to be more thrombogen than the finer EBM manufactured surfaces. As-build EBM manufactured surfaces in general show more thrombogenicity than conventional machined implants surfaces. / Denna avhandling behandlar tillverkning av medicinska implantat för integration i ben. I fokus är den additiva tillverkningstekniken ”elektronstrålesmältning” ( Electron Beam Melting –EBM), en av flera tekniker som populärt beskrivs med termen 3D-skrivare. Avhandlingen fokuserar på mikroskopiska ytegenskaper och dess inverkan på benintegration. Processparametrarna för EBM-tillverkning studerades för att fastställa hur de påverkar ytans utseende, efter som ytegenskaper har effekt på implantatens funktion. EBM-tillverkning använder en elektronstråle som likt svetsning smälter ihop metallpulver. Elektronstrålen styrs av processparametrar som till viss mån kan justeras av maskinoperatören. Det finns individuella processparametrar för varje material och nya parametrar utvecklas till varje ny legering. I denna avhandling har ”grundinställningarnas processparametrar” studerats för att ta reda på om det är möjligt att ställa in specifika parametrar till implantattillverkning. Med hjälp av blodkammarmetoden, som använder humant blod, har thromboinflammatoriska egenskaper undersökts. Metoden identifierar tidiga koagulations- och immunologiska reaktioner. Legeringarna som undersökts i denna studie var Ti6Al4V-ELI, som är korrosionsbeständigt med samma uppsättning oxider på ytan som titan har, och CoCr-F75, en legering som har hög styvhet, är slitstarkt och är vanligt förekommande i implantat för leder. Bland de undersökta processparametrarna visar en kombination av hastighet och ström ha mest inverkan på ytjämnhet och en interaktion mellan parametrar identifierades med hjälp av försöksplanering. EBM-tillverkade ytor visade på thrombogena egenskaper som i tidigare studier kan relateras till god integration i benvävnad. Ytstrukturen hos EBM-tillverkade ytor liknar de implantatytor som Pilliar (2005) beskriver, men materialegenskaperna är bättre än de materialegenskaper som implantat, med sintrad yta, har. Genom att ändra processparametrarna som styr elektronstrålen kan ytstrukturen påverkas. Grövre EBM-tillverkade ytor tenderar att vara mer thrombogena än de finare EBM-tillverkade ytorna är. Obehandlade EBM-tillverkade ytor i allmänhet är mer thrombogena än vad konventionellt framställda implantatytor är.

The oceanic lithosphere forms as a residue of partial melting of the mantle beneath the mid-ocean ridge axis. Subduction of this residual layer has a profound impact on the Earth’s thermal and geochemical cycles as the recycling of this layer facilitates heat loss from the Earth’s interior and induces geochemical heterogeneities in the mantle. The goal of this study is to understand the thermal and geochemical evolution of the oceanic lithospheric mantle from a petrological perspective. An empirical geobarometer is calibrated for ocean island xenoliths in order to understand the thermal structure of the oceanic lithospheric mantle. The results of 0.1 MPa experiments from this study and high-pressure experiments from previous studies are used in the calibration. The uncertainties on pressures derived using the above geobarometer are high and hence could not be tested against thermal models for the oceanic lithosphere. The geochemical evolution of the oceanic lithospheric mantle involves post-melting geochemical modifications such as metasomatism. The geochemical evolution of the uppermost oceanic lithospheric mantle is studied using harzburgites from Hess Deep ODP Site 895, which are depleted in moderately incompatible elements relative to the global suite of abyssal peridotites. A comparison between Yb-abundances in Hess Deep harzburgites iii iv and those of a model depleted MORB mantle (DMM) residue reveals that the harzburgites have undergone up to 25% melting, assuming 0.5% melt porosity. Higher light and middle rare earth elements in the Hess Deep harzburgites than the model DMM melting residue are interpreted as the result of plagioclase crystallisation from melts being extracted by diffuse porous flow through the upper mantle. The effect of plagioclase crystallisation does not affect the chemistry of residual mineral phases as evidenced from the depleted light rare earth element abundances in clinopyroxene relative to the bulk rock. Ocean island xenoliths are studied to understand when and where metasomatism occurs in the deeper portion of the oceanic lithosphere. The median values of measured and reconstructed bulk concentration of Al2O3 in most ocean island xenoliths is lower than in abyssal peridotites, which generally would be interpreted as indicating a higher extent of melting in the former. However, a comparison between Yb- abundances in ocean island xenoliths and abyssal peridotites with a model DMM melting residue suggests that the extents of melting in the suites of rocks are broadly similar. Although fewer in number than ocean island xenoliths, abyssal peridotites from several locations have low concentrations of moderately incompatible elements. Metasomatism is observed in both, ocean island xenoliths and abyssal peridotites in the form of higher bulk rock Ce and Nd concentration than the model DMM melting residue but the extent of metasomatism is higher in ocean island xenoliths. There is no correlation between the concentrations of bulk rock Ce, Nd, Sm and Eu of ocean island xenoliths and age of the oceanic lithosphere from which the xenoliths originate. It is interpreted that metasomatism in the lower oceanic lithospheric mantle occurs near the ridge axis above the wings of the melting column. / Graduate / 0996 / 0372

Ice accretion on various surfaces can cause destructive effect of our lives, from cars, aircrafts, to infrastructure, power line, cooling and transportation systems. There are plenty of methods to overcome the icing problems including electrical, thermal and mechanical process to remove already accumulated ice on the surfaces and to reduce the risk of further operation. But all these process required substantial amount of energy and high cost of operation. To save the global energy and to improvement the safety issue in many infrastructure and transportation systems we have to introduce some passive anti-icing coating known as ice-phobic coating to reduce the ice-formation and ice adhesion onto the surface. Ice-phobic coatings mostly devoted to utilizing lotus-leaf-inspired superhydrophobic coatings. These surfaces show promising behavior due to the low contact area between the impacting water droplets and the surface. In this present study we investigate systematically the influence of chemical composition and functionality as well as structure of surfaces on wetting properties and later on icing behavior of surfaces. Robust anti-icing coating has been prepared by using modified silica particles as a particles film. Polymer brushes were synthesized on flat, particle surfaces by using Surface initiated ATRP. We have also investigated the effect of anti-icing behavior on the surfaces by varying surface chemistry and textures by using different sizes of particles. This approach is based on the reducing ice accumulation on the surfaces by reducing contact angle hysteresis. This is achieved by introducing nano to micro structured rough surfaces with varying surface chemistry on different substrates. Freezing and melting dynamics of water has been investigated on different surfaces by water vapour condensation in a high humidity (80%) condition ranging from super hydrophilic to super hydrophobic surfaces below the freezing point of water. Kinetics of frost formation and ice adhesion strength measurements were also performed for all samples. All these experiments were carried out in a custom humidity and temperature controlled chamber. We prepared a superhydrophobic surface by using Poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) modified fumed silica which display very low ice-adhesion strength almost 10 times lower than the unmodified surface. Also it has self-cleaning behavior after melting of ice since whole ice layer was folded out from the surface to remove the ice during melting. Systematic investigation of the effect of three parameters as surface energy, surface textures (structure, geometry and roughness) and mechanical properties of polymers (soft and stiff) on icing behavior has also been reported.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: static density and magnetic structure functions of a melt of flexible polymers whose monomers possess bond-directed dipoles which interact with each other. In order to observe the effect of screening of the dipolar interaction on the structure functions we obtain results for cases with and without steric interactions and also for cases with and without Debye-H¨uckel screening of the dipole moments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Approximation” RPA) om die statiese digtheids- en magnetiese struktuurfunksies te bereken vir ’n smelt van hoogsbuigsame polimere, waarvan die monomere dipole langs die verbindings besit wat met mekaar in wisselwerking tree. Om die effek van afskerming op die dipolare wisselwerking en die struktuurfunksies te kan waarneem, bepaal ons resultate vir die gevalle met en sonder steriese wisselwerkings en ook vir gevalle met en sonder die Debye-H¨uckel afskerming van die dipoolmomente.

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The furnace at Polokwane is designed to treat high chromium containing concentrates which requires higher smelting temperatures to prevent or limit the undesirable precipitation of chromium spinels. The furnace has therefore been designed to allow for deep electrode immersion with copper coolers around the furnace to permit the operation with the resulting higher heat fluxes. Deep electrode immersion has been noted to result in dangerously high matte temperatures. Matte temperatures however can be influenced by a number of furnace factors which emphasize the need to understand the energy distribution inside the furnace. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has therefore been identified to analyze the flow and heat profiles inside the furnace. The commercial CFD software code Fluent is used for the simulations. Attention has been given only to a slice of the six-in-line submerged arc furnace containing two electrodes or one pair while focusing on the current density profiles, slag and matte flow profiles and temperature distribution throughout the bath to ensure the model reflects reality. Boundary conditions were chosen and calculated from actual plant data and material specifications were derived from previous studies on slag and matte. Three dimensional results for the current, voltage and energy distributions have been developed. These results compare very well with the profiles developed by Sheng, Irons and Tisdale in their CFD modelling of a six-in-line furnace. It was found the current flow mainly takes place through the matte, even with an electrode depth of only 20% immersion in the slag, but the voltage drop and energy distribution still only take place in the slag. Temperature profiles through-out the entire modelling domain were established. The vertical temperature profile similar to Sheng et al. 1998b was obtained which shows a specifically good comparison to the measured temperature data from the Falconbridge operated six-in-line furnace. The temperature in the matte and the slag was found to be uniform, especially in the vertical direction. It has been found that similar results with Sheng et al. (1998b) are obtained for the slag and matte velocity vectors. Different results are, however, obtained with different boundary conditions for the slag/matte interface and matte region; these results are still under investigation to obtain an explanation for this behaviour. The impact of the bubble formation on the slag flow was investigated and found to be a significant contributor to the flow. With the bubble formation, it is shown that possible ‘dead zones’ in the flow with a distinctive V-shape can develop at the sidewalls of the furnace with the V pointing towards the centre of the electrode. This behaviour can have a significant impact on the point of feed to the furnace and indirectly affect the feed rate as well as the settling of the slag and matte. These results are not validated though. Different electrode immersions were modelled with a constant electrical current input to the different models and it was found that the electrode immersion depth greatly affects the stirring of the slag in the immediate vicinity of the electrode, but temperature (which determines the natural buoyancy) has a bigger influence on the stirring of the slag towards the middle and sidewall of the slag bath. The sensitivity of the model to a different electrode tip shape with current flow concentrated at the tip of the electrode was also modelled and it was found that the electrode shape and electrical current boundary conditions are very important factors which greatly affect the voltage, current density and temperature profiles through the matte and the slag. A detailed investigation to determine the electrode tip shape at different immersions, as well as the boundary conditions of the current density on the tip of the electrode is necessary as it was proven that the model is quite sensitive to these conditions. Several recommendations arose from this modelling work carried out in this investigation. Time constraints, however, did not allow for the additional work to be carried out and although valuable results were obtained, it is deemed to be a necessity if a more in-depth understanding of furnace behaviour is to be obtained. Future work will include the validation of the results, understanding the liquid matte model, investigating the MHD effects and modelling different furnace operating conditions.

Thesis (DSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study has examined the 3 kbar partial melting behaviour of 4 metapelites collected from the highest grade rocks occurring below the anatectic zone of the Mt Stafford area, Arunta Inlier, central Australia. In this area, metasediments are interpreted to have undergone partial melting within the andalusite stability field, possibly as a result of a lowering of the metapelite solidus by the presence of boron in the rocks. Two of the samples were two mica metapelites (MTS70 and MTS71) that both contained significant quantities of tourmaline and were thus boron enriched. The other two samples were biotite metapelites. One of these rocks contains only a trace of tourmaline (MTS8) and the other is tourmaline free (MTS7). Despite expectations that muscovite in the two mica samples would break down via a subsolidus reaction, muscovite was stable to above 750 C due to the incorporation of Ti, phengitic and possibly F components into its structure. Between 750 and 800 C, muscovite melted out completely via a coupled muscovite + biotite fluid-absent incongruent reaction. In the most mica-rich sample this reaction produced ~ 60 % melt at 800 C. In the biotite metapelites, biotite melting began at a temperature below 800 C and was accompanied by very modest melt production at this low temperature. In contrast to the two mica metapelites, the main pulse of melt production in these samples occurred at a temperature between 850 and 950 C. In both these samples biotite + melt coexistence persisted for a temperature range in excess of 150 C, and in MTS8, biotite was still in the run products at 950 C. The very refractory nature of these evolved biotite compositions is most likely a consequence of both the presence of a Ti buffering phase in the assemblage (ilmenite) and the essentially plagioclase-free nature of the starting compositions. Under the fluid-absent conditions of this study tourmaline is clearly a reactant in the partial melting process, but does not appear to shift the fluid-absent incongruent melting reactions markedly. Neither quartz, nor andalusite was completely consumed in the melting reactions, indicating the metastable persistence of andalusite to higher than the wet solidus temperatures. The assemblages do not change much with increasing temperature and mimic the field relationships. The fluid-absent melting experiments indicated that the main pulse of melting occurred between 850 and 950 °C, significantly higher than indicated by the field evidence of 600 to 675 °C, therefor disequilibrium in the experiments can not be ruled out. The presence of a fluid during partial melting at Mt Stafford provides therefor an explanation of the low temperatures at which melting occurred. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die 3 Mpa vloeistof-vrye gedeeltelike smelting van 4 metapeliete, gekollekteer van die hoogste graad rotse net onder die anatektiese sone van die Mt Stafford area, Arunta inlêer, sentraal Australië, is bestudeer. Die metapeliete van hierdie area word geinterpreteer dat hulle gedeeltelike smelting in die andalusiet stabiliteitsveld ondergaan het, moontlik as 'n resultaat van die verlaging van die metapeliet solidus as gevolg van die teenwoordigheid van boor. Twee van die monsters bestudeer was twee-mika metapeliete (MTS70 en MTS71) met beduidende hoeveelhede toermalyn en is dus boor-verryk. Die ander twee monsters was biotiet metapeliete, waarvan een spoorhoeveelhede toermalyn (MTS8) bevat het en die ander toermalyn vry was (MTS7). Ten spyte van verwagtinge dat muskoviet in die twee mika monsters sou afbreek via 'n subsolidus reaksie, was dit stabiel tot bo 750°C as gevolg van die vervanging van Ti, fengitiese en moontlik F komponente in die muskoviet struktuur. Tussen 750 en 800°C het muskoviet heeltemal gesmelt deur die vloeistof-vrye gekoppelde muskoviet+biotiet reaksie. In die monster met die meeste mika het hierdie reaksie ~ 60 % gesmelt by 80°C en lae hoeveelhede smelt is by hierdie lae temperature geproduseer. In kontras met die twee-mika metapeliete het die hoof puls van smeltproduksie in hierdie monsters plaasgevind tussen 850 en 950°C. In beide hierdie monsters het biotiet+smelt 150°C. Biotiet was steeds ongesmelt in MTS8 by 950°. Die hoë refraktoriese natuur van hierdie biotiet samestellings is hoogs waarskynlik 'n gevolg van die teenwoordigheid van 'n Ti-bufferende fase (ilmenite) en die afwesigheid van plagioklaas in die begin samestellings. Toermalyn is duidelik 'n reaktant in hierdie vloeistof-vrye gedeeltelike smelting studie, maar dra nie beduidend by tot die verlaging van die inkongruente smeltingsreaksies nie. Nie kwarts of andalusiet het heeltemal gesmelt oor die temperatuurreeks nie, wat aandui dat die andalusiet stabiel is by temperature hoër as die nat solidus. Die mineraalverspreidings verander nie veel met verhoging in temperatuur nie en mimiek dus die veld verwantskappe. Die vloeistof-vrye smeltings eksperimente het aangedui dat die hoofpuls van smelting tussen 850 en 950°C geskied het, wat aansienlik hoër is soos aangedui uit die veldgetuienis van 600 tot 675°C, dus is die moontlikheid van disekwilibrium gedurende die eksperimente 'n moontlikheid. Die moontlikheid dat vloeistof teenwoordig was tydens die smeltproses by Mt Stafford verskaf dus 'n oplossing vir die lae temperature wat tydens smelting bereik is.

Thesis (PhD (Earth Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH SUMMARY: S-type granite intrusions are extremely common in the continental crust and form from the partial melting of metasediments. Compositions of S-type granite range from leucogranite to granodiorite and have trace element contents that globally increase with increasing maficity (Fe + Mg). Models proposed for the formation of S-type granite do not answer satisfactorily all petrological and compositional requirements. In this study, S-type granite of the Cape Granite Suite (CGS), South Africa is used to discriminate between potential sources of compositional variation. Experimental studies show that melt produced from the partial melting of sediment is exclusively leucocratic. On this basis, the entrainment of up to 20 wt.% of peritectic garnet within S-type melt can be established to produce the observed major element variations. S-type CGS locally contains garnet. This garnet is in equilibrium with granite composition at P-T conditions (5kb and 750 C for the core of the garnet and 3kb and 720 C for the rim) well below conditions recorded by xenoliths from the same granite (10 kb and 850 C from a metabasite). From this result it seems that the originally entrained garnet no longer exists in the Stype CGS and it have been replaced by newly formed minerals (garnet, cordierite and biotite). Considering the short time necessary to emplace granites (about 100 000 years), it appears that garnet has been compositionnally re-equilibrated through a dissolution-precipitation process. The study of trace element variations in S-type CGS shows that most leucocratic compositions are undersaturated in Zr and Ce compared to predictions from experimental models for dissolution of accessory zircon and monazite in their source regions. Thus, S-type melts are likely to be formed in disequilibrium with respect to accessory phase stability. As a result the observed increase in trace element content with increasing maficity indicates that accessory minerals such as zircon and monazite are co-entrained with peritectic garnet in melt to produce the observed trace element variation in S-type granite. Trace element disequilibrium in the CGS S-type granitoids requires particularly short times of residence of melt within the source region. Together, these results provide for the first time, a fully comprehensive model for major and trace elements variations. Compositional variation in CGS S-type granite results from source processes by a selective entrainment of peritectic and accessory minerals. After entrainment, these minerals are likely to be re-equilibrated within the magma, through a dissolution-reprecipitation process. In addition, it appears that the construction of large S-type granitic bodies occurs through successive addition of magma batches of different composition that originates directly from the source region. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: S-tipe granietinstrusies is baie algemeen in die kontinentale kors en vorm deur die gedeeltelike smelting van metasedimente. Samestellings van S-tipe graniete strek vanaf leukograniet tot granodioriet en het spoorelementsamestellings wat global toeneem met ’n toenemende mafiese component (Fe + Mg). Modelle wat voorgestel is vir die formasie van S-tipe graniete beantwoord nie bevredigend al die petrologiese en komposisionele benodigdhede nie. In hierdie studie word S-tipe graniete van die Kaapse Graniet Suite (CGS), Suid Afrika, gebruik om te diskrimineer tussen potensiele bronne van komposisionele variasie. Eksperimentele studies wys dat smelt, geproduseer van die gedeeltelike smelting van sedimente, uitsluitlik leukokraties is. Op hierdie basis kan bewys word, dat die optel-en-meevoering van tot 20 wt% van peritektiese granaat in S-tipe smelt, die waargeneemde hoofelement variasies kan produseer. S-tipe CGS bevat lokale granaat. Hierdie granaat is in ekwilibrium met die graniet samestelling by P-T kondisies (5kb en 750circC vir die kern van die granaat en 3kb en 720circC vir die rand) ver onder kondisies waargeneem by xenoliete van dieselfde granite (10kb en 850circC van ’n metabasiet). Van hierdie resultaat kan afgelei word dat die oorspronklike opgetel-en-meegevoerde graniet bestaan nie meer in die S-tipe CGS en dat dit vervang is deur nuutgevormde minerale (granaat, kordieriet en biotiet). As in ag geneem word die kort tyd wat nodig is om graniete in te plaas (omtrent 100 000 jaar), wil dit voorkom dat granaat se samestelling geherekwilibreer word deur ’n oplossings-presipitasie proses. Die studie van spoorelement variasies in S-tipe CGS wys dat meeste leukokratiese samestellings is onderversadig in Zr en Ce in vergelyking met voorspellings deur eksperimentele modelle vir die oplossing van bykomstige zircon en monasiet in hulle brongebiede. Dus is S-tipe smelte meer geneig om gevorm te word in disekwilibrium in verhouding tot bykomstige mineraalstabilileit. Met die gevolg is dat die waargenome toename in spoorelementinhoud met toename in mafiese component wys dat bykomstige minerale, soos zirkoon en monasiet, word saam opgetel-enmeegevoer met peritektiese granaat in smelt om die waargenome spoorelement variasie in S-tipe graniete te verklaar. Spoorelement disekwilibrium in die CGS S-tipe granitoide benodig veral kort tye van residensie van die smelt binne die brongebied. Saam gee hierdie resultate vir die eerste keer ’n algehele antwoord vir hoof- en spoorelement variasies. Variasie in samestelling in CGS S-tipe graniete is die resultaat van bronprosesse deur ’n selektiewe optel-en-meevoer van peritektiese en bykomstige minerale. Na die optel-en-meevoer van hierdie minerale word hulle geherekwilibreer binne die magma deur ’n oplossings-presipitasie proses. Addisioneel wil dit voorkom of die konstruksie van groot S-tipe granietliggame plaasvind deur opeenvolgende toevoegings van magma lotte van verskillende samestellings wat direk uit die brongebied kom.

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMw-PE) is an engineering polymer that is widely used in demanding applications because of its un-paralleled properties such as high abrasion resistance, high-modulus and high-strength tapes and fibres, biaxial films etc. In common practice, to achieve the uniaxial and the biaxial products, the solution processing route is adopted to reduce the number of entanglements per chain, such as found in Dyneema(R) from DSM(R). Another elegant route to reduce the number of entanglements to ease solid-state processing is through controlled polymerisation using a single-site catalytic system. In this theses, how different polymerisation condition, such as temperature and time control molecular weight and the resultant entangled state in synthesised disentangled UHMw-PE is addressed. Linear dynamic melt rheology is used to follow entanglement formation in an initially disentangled melt. With the help of rheological studies, heterogeneity in the distribution of entanglements along the chain length and the crystal morphology produced during polymerisation is considered. For the understanding of influence of large shear flow on melt dynamics large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) is used and the non-linear viscoelastic regime is explored. A remarkable feature of overshoot in loss (viscous) modulus with increasing deformation (strain) in UHMw-PE melt in the LAOS is observed. This observation is characteristic of colloidal systems. The role of entanglement density in the amorphous region of the synthesised disentangled UHMw-PE (semi-crystalline polymers) on the melting and crystallisation is presented. To understand the effect of topological differences on melting behaviour, nascent entangled, nascent disentangled and melt-crystallised samples have been used. The role of superheating on the melting process is also addressed. Preliminary results on characteristic melting time of a crystal using TM-DSC are also presented.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The common presence of large volumes of coarse-grained olivine in kimberlite magmas has been proposed to attest to the volume of mantle xenolith material that has been disaggregated during the ascent of the magma. Orthopyroxene should constitute 10-50 vol% of mantle xenoliths in kimberlites, some of which must be disaggregated into the kimberlite, yet it is typically absent. This work tests the stability of orthopyroxene in ascending kimberlite magma by conducting experiments at pressures between 2.0 and 3.5 GPa and temperatures between 1100 and 1300°C. The starting material consisted of natural hypabyssal kimberlite that is close in composition to primary group I kimberlite magma with 5wt% orthopyroxene sourced from a natural peridotite added. At higher temperatures and pressures it is seen that orthopyroxene quantities exceed that of the starting material, but at lower temperatures and pressures it is absent. These results indicate that orthopyroxene is not stable in the magma composition investigated within the shallower part of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle. Based on increased olivine volumes in the experiments where orthopyroxene disappeared, as well as textural relationships between olivine and orthopyroxene, it is found that orthopyroxene dissolution is incongruent along the reaction Mg2Si2O6 (opx) = Mg2SiO4 (ol) + SiO2 (in the liquid). It is concluded that this reaction leads to a maximum addition of 5.5 vol% peritectic olivine to the kimberlite as it ascends through the depths equivalent to a pressure window of 2.0 to 3.5 GPa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: The common presence of large volumes of coarse-grained olivine in kimberlite magmas has been proposed to attest to the volume of mantle xenolith material that has been disaggregated during the ascent of the magma. Orthopyroxene should constitute 10-50 vol% of mantle xenoliths in kimberlites, some of which must be disaggregated into the kimberlite, yet it is typically absent. This work tests the stability of orthopyroxene in ascending kimberlite magma by conducting experiments at pressures between 2.0 and 3.5 GPa and temperatures between 1100 and 1300°C. The starting material consisted of natural hypabyssal kimberlite that is close in composition to primary group I kimberlite magma with 5wt% orthopyroxene sourced from a natural peridotite added. At higher temperatures and pressures it is seen that orthopyroxene quantities exceed that of the starting material, but at lower temperatures and pressures it is absent. These results indicate that orthopyroxene is not stable in the magma composition investigated within the shallower part of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle. Based on increased olivine volumes in the experiments where orthopyroxene disappeared, as well as textural relationships between olivine and orthopyroxene, it is found that orthopyroxene dissolution is incongruent along the reaction Mg2Si2O6 (opx) = Mg2SiO4 (ol) + SiO2 (in the liquid). It is concluded that this reaction leads to a maximum addition of 5.5 vol% peritectic olivine to the kimberlite as it ascends through the depths equivalent to a pressure window of 2.0 to 3.5 GPa.

Laser Melting (LM) is an Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) process used to produce three-dimensional parts from metal powders by fusing the material in a layerby- layer manner controlled by a CAD model. During LM, rapid temperature cycles and steep temperature gradients occur in the scanned layers. Temperature gradients induce thermal stresses which remain in the part upon completion of the process (i.e. residual stresses). These residual stresses can be detrimental to the functionality and structural integrity of the built parts. The work presented in this thesis developed a finite element model for the purpose of investigating the development of the thermal and residual stresses in the laser melting of metal powders. ANSYS Mechanical software was utilised in performing coupled thermal-structural field analyses. The temperature history was predicted by modelling the interaction of the moving laser heat source with the metal powders and base platform. An innovative ‘element birth and death’ technique was employed to simulate the addition of layers with time. Temperature dependent material properties and strain hardening effects were also considered. The temperature field results were then used for the structural field analysis to predict the residual stresses and displacements. Experiments involving laser melting Ti-6Al-4V powder on a steel platform were performed. Surface topography analyses using a laser scanning confocal microscope were carried out to validate the numerically predicted displacements against surface measurements. The results showed that the material strain hardening model had a direct effect on the accuracy of the predicted displacement results. Using the numerical model, parametric studies were carried out to investigate the effects of a number of process variables on the magnitude of the residual stresses in the built layers. The studies showed that: (i) the average residual stresses increased with the number of melted powder layers, (ii) increasing the chamber temperature to 300°C halved the longitudinal stresses. At 300°C, compressive stresses appeared on the Ti64 surface layer, (iii) reducing the raster length from 1 mm to 0.5 mm reduced the average longitudinal stress in the top layer by 51 MPa (0.04σy), (iv) reducing the laser scan speed from 1200 mm/s to 800 mm/s increased the longitudinal stress by 57 MPa (0.05σy) but reduced the transverse stress by 46 MPa (0.04σy).