A study has been carried out to investigate the effects of heat treatment on microindentation hardness, abrasion and corrosion resistance of Electroless Nickel coatings. In particular, a proprietary coating system, NIKLAD 794 has been investigated. Samples of 4130 steel have been plated according to manufacturer's specifications. The plated samples have then been subjected to an array of heat treatment temperatures and times. Post heat treatment tests have been conducted including Taber Abrasion testing, salt fog chamber testing, and Knoop microindentation hardness testing. Results of the individual tests have been compared to determine the effects of heat treatment on, and the interactions between, the parameters examined.

No description available.

A study of the nucleation, growth and final microstructure of vacuum deposited nickel films has been performed using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) as the primary research instrument. Typical nucleation conditions are reported for nickel films grown on partially shadowed highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), and techniques are developed for using the STM to catalog film islands instead of more conventional electron microscopes. Values for the activation energy of surface diffusion, critical nucleus size, changes in the saturation nucleation density with temperature, and spatial variations in the nucleation rate are included. Roughening and microstructure changes observed with STM are reported as functions of substrate temperature and deposition angle for nickel films grown on highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite and fused silica. Conventional film RMS roughness values are compared to microRMS values derived from STM data and STM images of film microstructure are compared with SEM and optical microscope photographs.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-69). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Nanoindentation has become a widely used technique to measure the mechanical properties of materials. Due to its capability to deform materials in micro- and nano-scale, nanoindentation has found more applications in characterizing the deformation behavior and determining the mechanical properties of thin films and coatings. This research deals with the characterization of samples received from Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD) and Integran Technologies Inc., Toronto, Canada and the objective of this investigation was to utilize the experimental data obtained from nanoindentation to determine the deformation behavior, mechanical properties of thin films on substrates and bulk materials, and the effect of geometrically different indenters (Berkovich, cubecorner, and conical). X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis were performed on these materials to determine the crystal orientation, grain size of the material, and also to measure any substrate effects like pile-up or sin-in respectively. The results indicate that indentation size effect (ISE) strongly depends on shape of the indenter and less sensitive to penetration depth where as the hardness measurements depends on shape of indenter and depth of penetration. There is a negligible strain rate dependency of hardness at deeper depths and a significant increase in the hardness due to the decrease in grain size and results also indicate that there is no significant substrate effect on thin films for 10% and 20% of film thicknesses. Nanocrystalline material could not validate a dislocation based mechanisms deformation for indentation made by cubecorner and conical indenters in depths less than 1mm.

M. Tech. Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering. / Aims to understand and study the tribology and tribocorrosion behaviour of the adaptive titanium-nickel-zirconia composite coatings deposited on AISI 316 stainless steel using laser surface deposition technique under various laser processing speeds. The research aim is meant to be achieved through the following objectives: 1. Determine appropriate procedure for laser feedstock deposition ; 2. Investigate tribological performance of laser composites under various loads ; 3. Evaluate the corrosion of the laser composites coatings. and 4. Assess tribocorrosion behavior of the composite coatings

The optimal conditions for deposition of nickel coating and Ni-layered double hydroxide metal matrix composite coatings onto stainless steel discs in a modified all-sulfate solutions have been examined. Nickel films provide good general corrosion resistance and mechanical properties as a protective layer on many metallic substrates. In recent years, there has been interest in incorporation nano-dimensional ceramic materials, such as montemorillonite, into the metal matrices to improve upon the corrosion and mechanical properties. Layered double hydroxides have been used as corrosion enhancer in polymer coatings by increasing mechanical strength and lowering the corrosion rate but until now, have not been incorporated in a metal matrix by any means. Layered double hydroxides can be easily synthesized in a variety of elemental compositions and sizes but typically require the use of non-polar solvents to delaminate into nanodimensional colloidal suspensions. The synthesis of a Zn-Al LDH has been studied and characterized. The effects of the non-polar solvents dimethylformamide and n-butanol on the deposition and corrosion resistance of nickel coatings from a borate electrolyte bath have been studied, a nickel-LDH nanocomposite coating has been synthesized by electrochemical deposition and the corrosion resistance has been studied. Results indicate an improvement in corrosion resistance for the coatings with minimal change in the nickel matrix's internal strain and crystallite size.

CASTRO, Manuela Oliveira de. Síntese de grafeno pelo método CVD. 2011. 84 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Física) - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Física, Departamento de Física, Centro de Ciências, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2011. / Submitted by Edvander Pires (edvanderpires@gmail.com) on 2014-11-13T20:03:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_mocastro.pdf: 3411512 bytes, checksum: 64f6579c926c263cd9391dfb058954bb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Edvander Pires(edvanderpires@gmail.com) on 2014-11-13T20:35:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_mocastro.pdf: 3411512 bytes, checksum: 64f6579c926c263cd9391dfb058954bb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-11-13T20:35:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_mocastro.pdf: 3411512 bytes, checksum: 64f6579c926c263cd9391dfb058954bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / The advancement and improvement of synthesis techniques and handling of materials are fundamental to understand their properties and possible forms of production and use. However, in the case of nanomaterials, problems such as structural defects, high cost and difficulty of achieving production on a large scale have yet to be solved. Inserted in this panorama is graphene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial whose morphology, consisting of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal form, is responsible for unprecedented properties that have revolutionary relevance for both basic and applied research. There are different methods of synthesis of graphene. The method of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is among the most advantageous ones. This method consists in breaking the bonds of the molecules of a gas subjected to high temperatures so that the atoms from the gas are deposited on a given substrate. In this work, we used the CVD method for the synthesis of graphene on oxidized silicon substrates (Si/SiO2) coated with a 500 nm thick film of nickel (Ni), which served as the catalyst. Methane gas (CH4) was used as the source of the carbon atoms and the synthesis was carried out using different sets of parameters. Experiments were performed, firstly, using parameters es-tablished in the literature and the results were compared with those obtained by other authors. The influence of the synthesis parameters and the characteristics of the films of Ni catalysts on the properties of the graphene films was studied. The samples were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Confocal Raman and Optical Microscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy. In agreement with results from the literature, it could be observed that thin films are synthesized and they are composed of graphitic flakes with a non-uniform thickness, which is strongly dependent of the morphology of catalyst film. Larger regions with characteristic Raman spectra of monolayer and few layer graphene could be obtained by combining thermal treatment of Ni film during the sputtering process with low gas flow and time of exposure to CH4 in the CVD experiment. Variations in the Raman spectra of the flakes could be observed, including the emergence of the D-band and the displacement of the peaks. These variations, which reveal the influence of substrates on the synthesized films, were more intense the smaller the number of graphene layers. Next, we combined methods reported in the literature for estimating the number of layers on the basis of the characteristics of the Raman spectra with AFM analysis to obtain the thickness of the graphene layer. The results obtained from our analysis show that monolayer graphene could be successfully synthesized in the experiments. / O avanço e o aperfeiçoamento das técnicas de síntese e manipulação de materiais são fundamentais para o entendimento de suas propriedades e das possíveis formas de produção e utilização. Porém, no caso dos nanomateriais, principalmente, cujas extraordinárias capacidades são bastante celebradas, problemas como defeitos estruturais, alto custo de obtenção e dificuldade de produção em larga escala ainda necessitam ser solucionados. Inserido neste panorama está o grafeno, um nanomaterial cuja morfologia bidimensional, constituída por átomos de carbono dispostos de forma hexagonal, é responsável por propriedades sem precedentes que apresentam revolucionária relevância, tanto para a pesquisa básica quanto para a pesquisa aplicada. Neste sentido, existem diferentes métodos de síntese de grafeno, estando entre os mais vantajosos o método de deposição química em fase de vapor (Chemical Vapor Deposition - CVD). Este método consiste na quebra das ligações das moléculas de um gás submetido a altas temperaturas de modo que os átomos provenientes do gás sejam depositados sobre um determinado substrato. Neste trabalho, utilizou-se o método CVD para a síntese de grafeno sobre substratos de silício oxidado (Si/SiO2) recobertos por filmes de níquel (Ni) com, aproximadamente, 500nm de espessura, os quais funcionaram como catalisadores. O gás metano (CH4) foi utilizado como a fonte dos átomos de carbono depositados e os processos de síntese tiveram diferentes conjuntos de parâmetros executados. A síntese de grafeno pelo método CVD teve como objetivo geral verificar os resultados divulgados na literatura e aperfeiçoá-los, relacionando os parâmetros utilizados nas sínteses e as características dos filmes de Ni catalisadores com aquelas apresentadas pelos filmes de grafeno obtidos nos experimentos. As amostras foram caracterizadas por meio de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura, Microscopia Óptica e Raman Confocal e Microscopia de Força Atômica. Em consistência com os resultados publicados na literatura, observou-se que são sintetizados filmes finos compostos por flakes de material grafítico com espessura não uniforme, e que a obtenção de filmes mais uniformes é fortemente dependente da morfologia do filme catalisador. Regiões apresentando espectro Raman característico de monocamadas de grafeno e de grafeno de poucas camadas foram maiores quando combinados o tratamento térmico do filme de Ni com o baixo fluxo e menor tempo de exposição ao CH4. Verificaram-se, ainda, variações nos espectros Raman dos flakes. Estas variações apresentaram-se mais intensas, quanto mais reduzido é o número de camadas de grafeno e incluem o aparecimento da banda D, além do deslocamento dos picos, revelando a influência dos substratos sobre os filmes sintetizados. Esta pesquisa considerou métodos de estimativa do número de camadas por características do espectro Raman, divulgados na literatura, aliados à análise da espessura por AFM que mostraram ser possível a síntese de monocamadas de grafeno.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O avanÃo e o aperfeiÃoamento das tÃcnicas de sÃntese e manipulaÃÃo de materiais sÃo fundamentais para o entendimento de suas propriedades e das possÃveis formas de produÃÃo e utilizaÃÃo. PorÃm, no caso dos nanomateriais, principalmente, cujas extraordinÃrias capacidades sÃo bastante celebradas, problemas como defeitos estruturais, alto custo de obtenÃÃo e dificuldade de produÃÃo em larga escala ainda necessitam ser solucionados. Inserido neste panorama està o grafeno, um nanomaterial cuja morfologia bidimensional, constituÃda por Ãtomos de carbono dispostos de forma hexagonal, à responsÃvel por propriedades sem precedentes que apresentam revolucionÃria relevÃncia, tanto para a pesquisa bÃsica quanto para a pesquisa aplicada. Neste sentido, existem diferentes mÃtodos de sÃntese de grafeno, estando entre os mais vantajosos o mÃtodo de deposiÃÃo quÃmica em fase de vapor (Chemical Vapor Deposition - CVD). Este mÃtodo consiste na quebra das ligaÃÃes das molÃculas de um gÃs submetido a altas temperaturas de modo que os Ãtomos provenientes do gÃs sejam depositados sobre um determinado substrato. Neste trabalho, utilizou-se o mÃtodo CVD para a sÃntese de grafeno sobre substratos de silÃcio oxidado (Si/SiO2) recobertos por filmes de nÃquel (Ni) com, aproximadamente, 500nm de espessura, os quais funcionaram como catalisadores. O gÃs metano (CH4) foi utilizado como a fonte dos Ãtomos de carbono depositados e os processos de sÃntese tiveram diferentes conjuntos de parÃmetros executados. A sÃntese de grafeno pelo mÃtodo CVD teve como objetivo geral verificar os resultados divulgados na literatura e aperfeiÃoÃ-los, relacionando os parÃmetros utilizados nas sÃnteses e as caracterÃsticas dos filmes de Ni catalisadores com aquelas apresentadas pelos filmes de grafeno obtidos nos experimentos. As amostras foram caracterizadas por meio de Microscopia EletrÃnica de Varredura, Microscopia Ãptica e Raman Confocal e Microscopia de ForÃa AtÃmica. Em consistÃncia com os resultados publicados na literatura, observou-se que sÃo sintetizados filmes finos compostos por flakes de material grafÃtico com espessura nÃo uniforme, e que a obtenÃÃo de filmes mais uniformes à fortemente dependente da morfologia do filme catalisador. RegiÃes apresentando espectro Raman caracterÃstico de monocamadas de grafeno e de grafeno de poucas camadas foram maiores quando combinados o tratamento tÃrmico do filme de Ni com o baixo fluxo e menor tempo de exposiÃÃo ao CH4. Verificaram-se, ainda, variaÃÃes nos espectros Raman dos flakes. Estas variaÃÃes apresentaram-se mais intensas, quanto mais reduzido à o nÃmero de camadas de grafeno e incluem o aparecimento da banda D, alÃm do deslocamento dos picos, revelando a influÃncia dos substratos sobre os filmes sintetizados. Esta pesquisa considerou mÃtodos de estimativa do nÃmero de camadas por caracterÃsticas do espectro Raman, divulgados na literatura, aliados à anÃlise da espessura por AFM que mostraram ser possÃvel a sÃntese de monocamadas de grafeno. / The advancement and improvement of synthesis techniques and handling of materials are fundamental to understand their properties and possible forms of production and use. However, in the case of nanomaterials, problems such as structural defects, high cost and difficulty of achieving production on a large scale have yet to be solved. Inserted in this panorama is graphene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial whose morphology, consisting of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal form, is responsible for unprecedented properties that have revolutionary relevance for both basic and applied research. There are different methods of synthesis of graphene. The method of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is among the most advantageous ones. This method consists in breaking the bonds of the molecules of a gas subjected to high temperatures so that the atoms from the gas are deposited on a given substrate. In this work, we used the CVD method for the synthesis of graphene on oxidized silicon substrates (Si/SiO2) coated with a 500 nm thick film of nickel (Ni), which served as the catalyst. Methane gas (CH4) was used as the source of the carbon atoms and the synthesis was carried out using different sets of parameters. Experiments were performed, firstly, using parameters es-tablished in the literature and the results were compared with those obtained by other authors. The influence of the synthesis parameters and the characteristics of the films of Ni catalysts on the properties of the graphene films was studied. The samples were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Confocal Raman and Optical Microscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy. In agreement with results from the literature, it could be observed that thin films are synthesized and they are composed of graphitic flakes with a non-uniform thickness, which is strongly dependent of the morphology of catalyst film. Larger regions with characteristic Raman spectra of monolayer and few layer graphene could be obtained by combining thermal treatment of Ni film during the sputtering process with low gas flow and time of exposure to CH4 in the CVD experiment. Variations in the Raman spectra of the flakes could be observed, including the emergence of the D-band and the displacement of the peaks. These variations, which reveal the influence of substrates on the synthesized films, were more intense the smaller the number of graphene layers. Next, we combined methods reported in the literature for estimating the number of layers on the basis of the characteristics of the Raman spectra with AFM analysis to obtain the thickness of the graphene layer. The results obtained from our analysis show that monolayer graphene could be successfully synthesized in the experiments.