Ce travail a pour objectif principal d'étudier l'influence des paramètres des procédés de compaction à froid et de frittage sur la microstructure et les propriétés mécaniques des pièces en polytetrafluoréthylène (PTFE) ainsi fabriquées. Comme d'autres polymères à haute masse moléculaire, bien que faisant partie des polymères thermoplastiques, le PTFE présente une viscosité à l'état fondu trop élevée pour permettre sa mise en oeuvre par moulage par injection, ce qui conduit au procédé de fabrication par compaction à froid et frittage. La phase de frittage correspond à un traitement thermique au delà de la température de fusion qui induit des déformations finies, en général anisotropes et fonction de l'histoire du chargement mécanique subi par le matériau au cours de l'étape préalable de compaction à froid. Afin de développer des modèles de comportement thermomécaniques utilisables lors de la simulation numérique de l'ensemble du procédé de fabrication, différents essais ont été réalisés pour étudier les différents mécanismes responsables des évolutions microstructurales et des déformations lors de la compaction et du frittage. L'étude expérimentale du procédé de compaction a été menée grâce à des essais de compaction uniaxiale (oedométriques), des essais de compaction hydrostatique réalisés dans une presse hydraulique isostatique et des essais triaxiaux réalisés grâce à un dispositif original installé dans une machine d'essais électrohydraulique à six vérins. Ces essais ont permis d'identifier un modèle de comportement élasto-plastique de type "Drucker-Prager/cap" disponible dans la bibliothèque de lois de comportement du programme de calcul par éléments finis industriel ABAQUS™, ce qui a permis de simuler numériquement quelques cas simples. L'étude expérimentale du procédé de frittage a été menée grâce à la réalisation d'essais de thermogravimétrie (ATG), calorimétrie différentielle à balayage (DSC) et d'essais de dilatométrie réalisés sur des éprouvettes isotropes ou anisotropes avec différentes valeurs de la porosité. Ces essais ont permis de décomposer la déformation de frittage en une déformation thermique réversible, une déformation liée au changement de phase cristalline en phase amorphe -ou vice versa-, une déformation liée à la refermeture des pores et enfin une déformation dite de recouvrance. Cette étude a été réalisée sur deux poudres, de PTFE pur ou de PTFE chargé par environ 5wt% d'Ekonol™ et 5wt% de fibres de carbone, respectivement commercialisées sous le nom de Teflon™ 6407 et de Teflon™ 6507.

Com o crescente uso de estruturas de membrana tensionada, as relações tensãodeformação do tecido utilizado em sua fabricação devem ser bem entendidas. Deste modo, esta dissertação apresenta um estudo sobre o comportamento mecânico de um tecido arquitetônico PTFE-vidro, ressaltando seu complexo mecanismo de deformação que engloba efeitos de anisotropia, não-linearidade física, troca de ondulações, histerese, remoção do espaçamento entre os fios e variação de temperatura. Diferentes métodos para modelagem do material foram estudados, com ênfase no modelo de material ortótropo representado por um funcional energia de deformação hiperelástico. Além disso, vários protocolos para ensaios de tração em tecidos recobertos foram analisados e uma série de ensaios biaxiais com amostras cruciformes foram realizados no Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Birdair, Inc. Um determinado funcional energia de deformação foi então ajustado aos dados de campo obtidos nestes testes, cujos resultados foram então comparados diretamente aos dados obtidos em campo e a um ajuste direto de uma superfície suave tensão-deformação. A performance do modelo ajustado não se encontra ainda em um patamar de aplicação industrial, entretanto este estudo permite um entendimento global dos mecanismos de deformação do tecido PTFEvidro, fornecendo também uma massa de dados consistentes que podem ser utilizados em situações práticas. / Considering the growing use of tensioned membrane structures, the stress-strain relation of the fabric used on its construction must be well understood. This dissertation presents a study of the mechanical behavior of a PTFE coated fiberglass fabric, emphasizing its complex strain mechanism which is influenced by the material anisotropy, physical non-linearity, crimp interchange, hysteresis, removal of yarn spacing and changes in temperature. Different material models were studied, focusing on an orthotropic material model represented by a hyperelastic strain energy function. Also, different test protocols were reviewed and a series of biaxial tests on cruciform samples were performed at the Birdair, Inc.s Research and Development Center. A strain energy function was adjusted to the collected data and than its results compared to the data itself and to another stress-strain function directly adjusted to the data. The performance of the strain-energy function chosen is not on a level of industrial application; however this study gives a global understanding of the PTFE coated fiberglass strain mechanism and also provides a consistent database that may be used on real situations.

Babbitt has long been used as the lining material in hydrodynamic sliding bearings. However, with the new operating conditions imposed on hydro-electric power plants due to grid frequency regulation, the power plants undergo more frequent starts and stops which increases the need for an alternative material with better friction characteristics at start-up compared to conventionally used white-metal (Babbitt). Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based materials have potential to provide significant improvements in hydrodynamic sliding bearings through their compliant and breakaway characteristics under loading. However, while pure PTFE can provide excellent performance, it is somewhat limited in extreme loading situations. This study is therefore aimed at investigating the tribological characteristics at the initiation of sliding (breakaway friction) of several polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based materials including virgin PTFE, PTFE filled with 25% black glass, PTFE filled with 40% bronze, PTFE filled with 25% carbon, and PTFE filled with 20% glass fibre and 5% Molybdenum disulphide, as well as standard Babbitt material in lubricated sliding contact with a steel counter-face. Experiments were carried out using a reciprocating tribo-meter in the block on plate configuration with the specific goal of determining the friction characteristics at breakaway under various conditions. Apparent contact pressures of 1 to 8 MPa were applied with oil temperature levels of 25° to 85°C.Bronze- and carbon-filled PTFE and virgin PTFE were found to provide generally lower and more stable breakaway friction over the course of testing than the other materials. Breakaway friction tests after an extended stop under loading showed a maximum change in breakaway friction of 0.07 for bronze filled, carbon filled, and virgin PTFE whereas Babbitt produced an increase of 0.32 in the first cycle after the extended stop, reaching the friction level of more than three times of those of PTFE based composites. Breakaway friction for the four tested materials after an extended stop returned to the pre-stop values after 1 stroke. The effect of materials on the steel counter face was also examined using an optical profilometer finding that only glass filled composites (black glass filled PTFE, and glass fiber and MoS2 filled PTFE) produced significant polishing of the steel surface under high loads. No measurable polishing was detected for other tested materials. / <p>Validerat; 20110224 (anonymous)</p>

Demanding applications, as well as the push to eliminate the need for fossil-fuel based lubricants, create the need for the development of high-performance polymers. Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) is an example of a high-performance polymer and has a high service temperature, good dimensional stability, and excellent chemical resistance. However, it has a low impact strength and is very brittle in neat form. Another high-performance polymer, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), provides low friction in dry sliding conditions and can deposit polymer transfer films onto the counterface but exhibits high wear rates in neat form. To take advantage of the desirable characteristics of both polymers, PPS/PTFE-based composites were produced through the Injection Molding process. The individual disadvantages of these polymers were further improved by incorporating the following fillers: SCF, GO and CNT. The tribological performance under dry sliding conditions and two different loads were investigated as well as the microhardness and degree of crystallinity of the materials. The DSC results showed that the incorporation of reinforcements did not significantly alter the total degree of crystallinity in the material. PPS/PTFE and the composites have significantly lower specific wear rates and coefficient of friction values compared to neat PPS and PTFE. The composites have higher microhardness and friction coefficient values (60N and 100N) compared to PPS/PTFE. For both loads, composites SCFCNT, 5SCF and 10SCF had the lowest specific wear rates recorded where a synergistic effect between SCF and CNT has been observed. The filler loading content did not affect the friction performance of the composites in both loads. However, for composites with SCF as the only reinforcement, the increase in wt% content of SCF increased the specific wear rate at 60N and decreased the specific wear rate at 100N. SEM images of the pin surfaces show that the governing wear mechanisms in the polymer blend and composites are abrasive and adhesive wear. The reduction of the specific wear rate values is also accompanied by the improvement in the uniformity of the observed transfer film formation.

No description available.

Climate change has propelled the development of alternative power sources that minimize the emission of greenhouse effect gases. Widespread commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEM-FC) technology for transportation and stationary applications requires cost-competitiveness with improved durability and performance. Advantages compared to battery electric vehicles include fast refueling and long distance range. One way to improve performance and minimize costs of PEM-FC involves the optimization of the nanostructure of the catalyst layer. The rate limiting oxygen reduction reaction occurs at a triple-phase interface in the cathode catalyst layer (CL) between the proton conductor perfluorosulfonic acid, PFSA, the Pt catalyst particles decorating the electron conductor carbon support and gaseous O2 available through the porous framework of the carbon support. Visualization and quantitation of the distribution of components in the CL requires microscopy techniques. Electron and X-ray microscopy have been used to characterize the distribution of the PFSA relative to the carbon support and porosity in CLs. Understanding and limiting the analytical impact of radiation damage, which occurs due to the ionizing nature of electrons and X-rays, is needed to improve quantitation, particularly of PFSA. This thesis developed scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) methods for quantitation of damage due to electron and soft X-ray irradiation in PFSA materials. Chemical damage to PFSA when irradiated by photons and electrons is dominated by fluorine loss and CF2-CF2 amorphization. The quantitative results are used to set maximum dose limits to help optimize characterization and quantitation of PFSA in fuel cell cathode catalyst layers using: analytical electron microscopy, X-ray microscopy, spectromicroscopy, spectrotomography, spectroptychography and spectro-ptycho-tomography. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are an alternative, environmentally friendly power source for transportation and stationary applications. Major challenges for mass production include cost competitiveness, improved durability and performance. A key component to enhance the performance and lower costs involves understanding and improving the spatial distribution of the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer in the catalyst layer. The ionizing nature of electrons and X-rays used in microscopy characterization tools challenges PFSA characterization since this material is radiation sensitive. This thesis developed measurement protocols and methods for quantitative studies of radiation damage to PFSA and other polymers using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. The chemical changes to PFSA films irradiated with photons, electrons and ultraviolet (UV) photons were studied. The quantitative results identify limits to analytical electron and soft X-ray microscopy characterization of PFSA. The results are used to optimize methods for soft X-ray microscopy characterization of PFSA in fuel cell applications.

På grund av det rådande miljöhotet så bör fokus för forskning och utveckling i ämnet riktas åt att utnyttja så många förnybara energikällor som möjligt, samt även optimera dessa för största möjliga energiupptagning. Vind, vatten och solljus är välkända och väl utformade källor för energi. Huruvida vatten i form av regn kan utnyttjas och dess potential kommer studeras i det här arbetet. Materialval och konstruktionslösningar står i centrum för arbetet. Vidare så studeras dess bakgrunder för utvinningsmetoderna och dess grundläggande principer tas upp för att skapa en bättre förståelse för möjligheterna att utnyttja tekniken. Fortsättningsvis så har rådande potentiella användningsområden och kommande utmaningar diskuterats utförligt. / Because of the prevailing environmental threat, focus for research and development in the subject should aim towards taking advantage of as many renewable energy sources as possible aswell as optimizing them to convert as much energy as possible. All renewable energy must be utilized, but above all, also optimized. Wind, water and sunlight are well-known and well-designed sources of energy. Whether water in the form of rain can be utilized and its potential as a sustainable commercial method will be studied in this paper. Material selection and design solutions are at the heart of the work. Furthermore, its backgrounds for the extraction methods are studied and its basic principles are addressed to create a better understanding of the possibilities of utilizing the technology. Moreover, the current potential uses and future challenges have been discussed in detail.

Vid extrema bergsaktiviteter som klättring och skidåkning ställs stora krav på utrustningen. Den här studien har fokuserat på skalplagg för alpin miljö. Skalplaggens huvuduppgift är att skydda mot vind och fukt samtidigt som de skall transportera fukt från insidan till utsidan. För att kunna designa och utveckla bästa möjliga skalplagg krävs det kunskap om vilken miljö produkten/plagget ska användas i, vem som ska använda det, hur mycket ska plagget användas, i kombination med vilka andra produkter/plagg och vilken kunskap har användaren? Det är också viktigt att förstå vilka materialkrav som ställs på produkten. Det leder till vikten att även förstå materialens egenskaper, vad det minsta, alternativt största mängden av en viss komponent som krävs för att produkten ska leva upp till de ställda kraven. Kunskap om kraven och funktionerna bakom mekanismerna som uppfyller kraven leder till en möjlighet att optimera plaggets funktion och miljöpåverkan. I denna studie har kunskaper inom textilteknik, fysiologi, termodynamik, kemisk dynamik och teknisk byggteknik kombinerats för att härleda och undersöka kraven på maximalt ånggenomsläpplighetsmotstånd beroende på grad av fysisk aktivitet. Resultatet visar tydligt att det maximala ånggenomsläpplighetmotståndet som accepteras vid en given intensitet sjunker med en avtagande temperatur. Detta beror på att fuktgradienten ökar med en avtagande temperatur, under premissen att temperaturen och fukthalten innanför membranet hålls konstant. / Program: Textilingenjörsutbildningen

Fouling is a chronic problem in many heat transfer systems and results in the need for frequent heat exchanger (HEX) cleaning. In the dairy industry, the associated operating cost and environmental impact are substantial. Antifouling coatings are one mitigation option. In this work, the fouling behaviour of fluoropolymer, polypropylene and stainless steel heat transfer surfaces in processing raw milk and whey protein solution are studied. Methodologies to assess the economics of antifouling coatings are developed and applied. Two experimental apparatuses were designed and constructed to study fouling at surface temperatures around 90 °C. A microfluidic system with a 650 x 2000 µm flow channel enables fouling studies to be carried out by recirculating 2 l of raw milk. The apparatus operates in the laminar flow regime and the capability to probe the local composition of delicate fouling deposit $\textit{in-situ}$ with histological techniques employing confocal laser scanning microscopy. A larger bench-scale apparatus with a 10 x 42 mm flow channel was built to recirculate 17 l of solution in the turbulent flow regime which is more representative of conditions in an industrial plate HEX. Experimental results demonstrate that fluoropolymer coatings can reduce fouling masses from raw milk and whey protein solution by up to 50 %. Surface properties affect the structure and composition of the deposit. At the interface with apolar surfaces raw milk fouling layers are high in protein, whereas a strongly attached mineral-rich layer is present at the interface with steel. Whey protein deposits generated on apolar surfaces are more spongy and have a lower thermal conductivity and/or density than deposits on steel. The attraction of denatured protein towards apolar surfaces and the formation of a calcium phosphate layer on steel at later stages of fouling are explained with arguments based on the interfacial free energy of these materials in water. The financial attractiveness of coatings is considered for HEX subject to linearly and asymptotically increasing fouling resistance and using a spatially resolved fouling model. An explicit solution to the cleaning-scheduling problem is presented for the case of equal heat capacity flow rates in a counter-current HEX. Scenarios where the use of coatings may be attractive or where there is no financial benefit in cleaning a fouled exchanger are identified. Finally, experimental data are used to estimate the economic potential of fluoropolymer coated HEXs in the ultra-high-temperature treatment of milk. In the considered case, the value of a fluoropolymer coating inferred from the reduction in fouling is estimated to be around 2000 US$/m².

Ce travail vise à définir les apports de la microcalorimétrie AC pour l'étude simultanée de la thermodynamique et de la cinétique dans les macromolécules. Ce manuscrit s'ouvre par une description thermodynamique et cinétique d'un système en transformation. Les principales méthodes calorimétriques sont ensuite exposées, puis la conception du calorimètre est détaillée – cahier des charges, capteur, chaîne de mesure. De très petit volume utile (5 µl), le dispositif permet une mesure de capacité calorifique AC apparente avec une résolution ?C/C = 10-6. Sa fréquence de travail est ajustable entre 0,05 et 5 Hz. Grâce à cette très large gamme de fréquence disponible, le dispositif permet de réaliser des expériences de spectroscopie thermique. On présente un exemple de simulation d'un système simple, puis les principaux résultats expérimentaux obtenus. Des effets de cinétique et d'irréversibilité sont observés sur plusieurs types de transition, sur un polymère (PTFE) et un liquide organique (cyclohexane). La dénaturation par la chaleur d'une protéine globulaire, observée sur 25 µg de protéine, en fait un bon candidat pour une étude en fréquence par cette méthode.