Neste trabalho, utilizamos a técnica de espalhamento de raios-X a baixos Ângulos (SAXS) para estudar a influência de dois derivados fenotiazínicos na estrutura de sistemas micelares, assim como suas propriedades de auto-associação, além de investigar a influência da variação de pH e de concentração nas interações entre proteínas em solução. Para tanto, utilizamos dois fármacos fenotiazínicos, (Trifluoperazina, TFP e a Clorpromazina, CPZ), em presença de L--fosfatidilcolina (LPC), um surfactante zwiteriônico (30 mM), a pH 4.0 e 7.0. Os resultados de SAXS indicam que a micela de LPC, em ausência de fenotiazina, pode ser representada por uma micela com forma elipsoidal (com razão axial 1.6 0.1). No entanto, em presença de TFP e de CPZ a forma da micela se altera, passando para um cilindro (com razão axial 2.5 0.1). Este efeito é acompanhado por uma diminuição do raio parafínico da micela (22.5 0.3 Å), em ausência de fármaco, para 20.0 0.5 em presença de 10 mM de fármaco. Em paralelo, realizamos medidas de EPR (Ressonância Paramagnética eletrônica) destes sistemas. Combinando os resultados de SAXS e de EPR, propusemos um sítio para a localização destes compostos nas micelas de LPC, que seria na interface polar/apolar da mesma. Em um segundo momento, utilizamos as técnicas de SAXS e de EPR para investigar as características estruturais dos agregados formados por TFP e CPZ (a 20 e 60 mM, a pH 4.0 e 7.0). As curvas de SAXS são compatíveis com o espalhamento de agregados pequenos com diferentes geometrias: elipsoidal, cilíndrico e tipo-paralelepípedo. Devido à resolução da técnica, dentro do intervalo de vetores de espalhamento utilizada (até cerca de 0.3 Å-1), não é possível determinar, de forma absoluta, a correta geometria dos agregados, ou seja, todas as geometrias citadas acima ajustam de forma satisfatória as curvas de SAXS. As análises dessas curvas também não excluem a possibilidade de que estes fármacos mantenham-se como nano-cristais em solução (compostos por cerca de 10 celas unitárias, empilhadas na direção-z), seguindo sua estrutura cristalográfica. Medidas de EPR indicam que os auto-agregados a pH 4.0 possuem características semelhantes às micelas, mas a pH 6.5 este efeito não foi evidenciado, uma vez que ocorre uma forte interação entre a sonda e os agregados. Este fato indica que os agregados, a pH 6.5, têm um maior empacotamento, em comparação aos sistemas a pH 4.0. Por fim, utilizamos a Albumina de Soro Bovina (BSA, a 10 50 mg/ml), em diferentes pHs (2.0 9.0), para investigar os efeitos de concentração e de pH nos potenciais de interação das macromoléculas em solução. O fator de forma da proteína foi obtido através da estrutura cristalográfica da HSA (Human Serum Albumine, proteína humana homóloga a BSA), enquanto que as interações proteína-proteína foram calculadas através da relação de fechamento RPA (Random Phase Approximation). Nossos dados indicam que a BSA mantém sua estrutura terciária inalterada de pH 4.0 a 9.0, independente de sua concentração. No entanto, a pH 2.0 a proteína sofre um processo de desenovelamento, indicado pelo aumento da dimensão máxima da mesma. Nossos dados dão suporte para concluir que as interações entre as proteínas, a 10 mg/ml, são praticamente desprezíveis, exceto para os sistemas compostos a pH 2.0 (onde a proteína está desenovelada) e a pH 4.0 (onde evidenciamos a presença de interferência atrativa entre as proteínas). Entretanto, a medida em que aumentamos a concentração proteica, uma função de interferência do tipo repulsiva aparece na curvas de SAXS (para os sistemas de pH 4.0 a 9.0). Além disso, no sistema composto por BSA, pH 5.4 e 50 mg/ml, evidenciamos a existência de monômeros e dímeros em solução, provavelmente devido a proximidade do ponto isoelétrico da proteína (entre 4.8 5.6). Este efeito não foi evidenciado para os outros pHs, nesta mesma concentração. A pH 2.0 (25 e 50 mg/ml) evidenciamos uma compactação da proteína, sendo que sua forma é diferente da forma nativa da BSA. Nestas condições, é possível que a proteína tenha alcançado um estado molten globule, como evidenciado em outros trabalhos. Acreditamos que os efeitos de volume excluído são de grande importância para a estabilidade da proteína in vivo. / In this work we study, mainly by means of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), the influence of two phenothiazine derivatives on biomimetic systems as well as the self-assembly features. At the same time, the conformational stability of proteins in the presence of denaturant agents (pH and concentration) was evaluated. First of all, the phenothiazine compounds trifluoperazine (TFP) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) with micelles of the zwitterionic surfactant L--lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), at pHs 4.0 and 7.0, are reported. The SAXS results demonstrate that, upon addition of both phenothiazines, the LPC micelle of prolate ellipsoidal shape changes into a cylindrically shaped micelle, increasing its axial ratio from 1.6 0.1 (in the absence of drug) to 2.5 0.1 (for 5 and 10 mM of phenothiazine). Such an effect is accompanied by a shrinking of the paraffinic shortest semiaxis from 22.5 0.3 to 20.0 0.5 Å. Besides, EPR (Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance) evidenced a bigger motion immobilization of the nitroxe probe, in the presence of phenothiazines. Our results provide evidence that the positively charged phenothiazine molecule must be accommodated near the hydrophobic/hydrophilic inner micellar interface. Furthermore, SAXS and EPR experiments were carried out to investigate the structure of the self-aggregates of CPZ and TFP, in aqueous solution. SAXS studies (drug solutions of 20 and 60 mM, at pH 4.0 and 7.0) evidenced that several different particle form factors with a homogeneous electron density distribution, in respect to the water environment, could reproduce the scattering curves. Due to the limitation of scattering intensity in the q range above 0.15 Å-1, precise determination of the aggregate shape was not possible and all of the tested models for ellipsoids, cylinders, or parallelepipeds fitted the experimental data equally well. The SAXS data allows inferring, however, that CPZ molecules might self-assemble in a basis set of an orthorhombic cell, remaining as nanocrystallites in solution. Such nanocrystals are composed of a small number of unit cells (up to 10, in c-direction), with CPZ aggregation numbers of 60-80. EPR spectra of 5- and 16-doxyl stearic acids bound to the aggregates were also performed, indicating a micelle-like aggregate at pH 4.0, and a significant motional restriction of the nitroxide was observed at pH 6.5. This implies that the aggregate is densely packed at this pH and that the nitroxide is tightly bound to it producing a strongly immobilized EPR spectrum. Finally, the effect of concentration and pH on the protein-protein interactions of BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin, from 10 up to 50 mg/ml) was evaluated by SAXS. Our results give support to infer that BSA keeps its native shape (similar to the Human Serum Albumin, HSA, crystallographic structure) unaltered at middle-acid (pH 4.0) up to basic pHs (9.0). At pH 2.0, however, BSA undergoes an unfolding process, indicated by a non globular shape. The protein-protein interactions were analysed into the Random Phase Approximation. The results show that at smaller amounts of BSA (10 mg/ml) the interference effects are not significative over the SAXS curve for pH 5.4 up to 9.0. At pH 4.0 and 10 mg/ml, however, an attractive potential takes place over the SAXS curves, that becomes repulsive with increasing BSA concentration. Besides, at pH 5.4 and 50 mg/ml, we evidenced a dimer-monomer co-existence in the solution. At pH 2.0 and 25 and 50 mg/ml, BSA undergoes to a compact conformation. Probably, BSA is in a molten globule state. Our results give also support to infer that probably, the exclude volume effect plays an important role on the protein stability in vivo.

Orientadores: Ricardo Aparicio, Marcelo Menossi Teixeira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Esstadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T12:36:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Kiyota_Eduardo_M.pdf: 3864663 bytes, checksum: fb929727fccb0492142f162a1eca404e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Os fatores de transcrição do tipo bZIP estão presentes em organismos eucariotos e estão envolvidos na regulação da expressão gênica e no controle de muitos processos intracelulares. Esses fatores se ligam a seqüências específicas no DNA e são capazes de reconhecer seqüências reguladoras no promotor de um gene. As bZIPs são caracterizadas por uma região conservada rica em resíduos de aminoácidos básicos, e um zíper de leucinas, que possui repetições de uma seqüência de aminoácidos hidrofóbicos onde há uma leucina que ocupa a mesma posição a cada 7 resíduos. Estudos estruturais com bZIPs mostraram que essas proteinas enovelam-se na forma de uma extensa hélice-a e são capazes de formar dímeros através de um arranjo do tipo coiled- coil. Neste trabalho, a parte correspondente à região básica e ao zíper de leucinas de duas bZIPs, SCF5 e SCF12 de cana-de-açúcar, pertencentes a sub-famílias diferentes, foram clonadas, expressas e purificadas para estudos estruturais. O DNA correspondente a SCF12 foi clonado em pET28a e a proteína recombinante foi produzida em E. coli BL21 (DE3) pRil. A SCF12 purificada por cromatografia de afinidade (IMAC) teve sua estrutura secundária caracterizada por dicroísmo circular. A SCF5, clonada em pET3C e expressa em E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS foi purificada por cromatografia de troca catiônica. Cristais de um complexo da proteína ligada a uma seqüência de DNA de 24 pares de bases foram obtidos mas não exibiram qualidade suficiente para permitir a determinação da estrutura cristalográfica. Entretanto, foi possível obter um modelo do complexo a partir de experimentos de espalhamento de Raios X a baixos ângulos (SAXS, do inglês Small Angle X-Ray Scattering) em solução, e interpreta-lo à luz de estruturas de homólogas já conhecidas. / Abstract: The bZIP transcription factors are present in eukaryotic organisms and are involved in the regulation of gene expression and many intracellular processes. These factors bind specific DNA sequences and are able to recognize regulatory sequences of a gene promoter. The bZIPs are characterized by a conserved region rich in basic amino acid residues as well as by having the leucine zipper region, which possess a sequence of hydrophobic residues where there are leucines every seventh amino acids. Structural studies have shown that bZIP-folding is alpha-helical and these proteins are capable of dimmer formation via coiled-coil arrangement. In this work, the basic region and the leucine zipper of two sugarcane bZIPs, SCF12 and SCF5, belonged to two different bZIP-families were cloned, expressed and purified for structural studies. The corresponding SCF12 DNA was cloned into pET28a expression vector and the protein was produced in E. coli BL21 (DE3) pRil cells. SCF12 protein was purified by affinity chromatography (IMAC) and had its secondary structure characterized by CD. SCF5, cloned into pET3c and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS was purified by cation exchange chromatography. Crystals of a complex formed by SCF5 protein and a 24-base-pair DNA sequence were obtained but unfortunately with quality insufficient for crystallographic structure determination. However, it was possible to obtain a model of the analyzed complex applying Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) technique by protein homologous structure comparison. / Mestrado / Físico-Química / Mestre em Química

Orientador: Ljubica Tasic / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T07:18:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fattori_Juliana_D.pdf: 11382370 bytes, checksum: c763644c24af47a0076a054c0186f7b1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O presente estudo teve por objetivo a caracterização estrutural de quatro possíveis chaperonas de secreção da bactéria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac). Esta caracterização é importante para entender as funções destas proteínas e consequentemente compreender os mecanismos de virulência da Xac que é a causadora do cancro cítrico. Das quatro proteínas estudadas, a XACb0033 é considerada uma possível chaperona de secreção do sistema de secreção do tipo IV; a XAC1346 são possíveis chaperonas de secreção do sistema de secreção do tipo III e a XAC1990, foi identificada em 2007 como uma proteína do sistema flagelar (FlgN). As quatro proteínas, clonadas em pET23a, foram expressas em E. coli, purificadas e obtidas enoveladas conforme as análises de dicroísmo circular (CD). Por CD também se observou um alto conteúdo helicoidal na estrutura secundária das proteínas. Elas foram caracterizadas por filtração em gel analítica, espectrometria de massas, técnicas de difusão de ressonância magnética nuclear (DOSY-NMR) e espalhamento de raios-X a baixo ângulo (SAXS). Por SAXS obteve-se um modelo do envelope molecular de duas proteínas que foi condizente com a estrutura tridimensional obtida por bioinformática. Baseando-se nos resultados obtidos foi possível especular a classificação da XAC0419 como provável chaperona secretória da classe I e a FlgN (XAC1990) foi classificada como uma chaperona flagelar (classe III); e para a XACb0033 observou-se similaridade estrutural com a VirE1, que é a única chaperona secretória do sistema de secreção do tipo IV conhecida até o momento / Abstract: The aim of this study was the structural characterization of four possible secretion chaperones from the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac). This characterization is very important to better understand the function of such proteins and the virulence mechanisms from Xac, which is the bacterium responsible for provoking the citrus canker. Among the target proteins, XACb0033 is a possible secretion chaperone from type IV secretion system, XAC0419 and XAC1346 are possible secretion chaperones from type III secretion system and XAC1990 was earlier identified as a flagellar protein (FlgN). All four target proteins, cloned into pET23a, were expressed in E. coli, purified and found folded as observed in the circular dichroism analyses (CD). It was also verified (CD experiments) that these proteins have a high helical content. These proteins were further characterized by analytical gel filtration, mass spectrometry (MS), diffusion techniques in nuclear magnetic resonance (DOSY-NMR) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Molecular envelops were built for two target proteins applying the SAXS data. These envelops were in good agreement with the 3D structures predicted by bioinformatics. Finally, XAC0419 was considered a possible class I secretion chaperone based on the obteined results. XAC1990 (FlgN) was confirmed as a flagellar chaperone (class III), while obtained results for XACb0033 pointed structural similarity with VirE1, the unique type IV secretion system chaperone known so far / Doutorado / Quimica Organica / Doutor em Ciências

Orientador: Carlos Kenichi Suzuki / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-24T13:34:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Morales_RoneCesar_M.pdf: 8735132 bytes, checksum: d1426ae0f0f829e57ca80edcdf2271b9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1999 / Resumo: A importância sempre crescente da biomassa e de seus subprodutos na área industrial, com destaque ao uso do carvão vegetal, para geração de energia ou termo-redução (agente desoxidante); requer pesquisas fundamentais visando amplo entendimento de suas características estruturais e composicionais. No Brasil, o bagaço de cana abre perspectivas bastante atraentes neste setor, visto que constitui-se numa matéria-prima usual, renovável de grande produção, podendo contribuir no sentido de substituir parte da exploração madeireira para produção de carvão, haja vista que parte dessa exploração ainda é atribuída ao desmatamento de matas nativas. Contribuindo para tal questão, conduziu-se neste trabalho a análise estrutural por Difração de Raios-X (XRD), Espalhamento de Raios -X a Baixo Ângulo (SAXS) e a Ultra Baixo Ângulo (VSAXS), em carvões derivados de madeira e bagaço de cana- de -açucaro Análise Química por Fluorescência de Raios-X (XRF) detenninaram a composição química, acompanhada por Análise com Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). Parte das amostras de carvão vegetal foram pirolisadas e tratadas termicamente (HTT) a temperaturas entre 430 e 1300°C.A aplicação da teoria de Warren nas análises dos difratogramas, permitiu avaliar a reordenação estrutural alcançada para o carbono ao longo do tratamento térmico. Tais interpretações mostraram que, em relação às amostras de carvão de madeira, as amostras de carvão de bagaço são menos susceptíveis a uma ordenação na cadeia carbônica, que induz ao rearranjo para estrutura grafitica. Análises por SAXS e VSAXS, mostraram também, em função de HTT, certa diminuição no tamanho de microporos (próximos a 80 Á) e agregados (próximos a 1200 Á), respectivamente. Análises por SAXS denotam ainda, aumento na concentração de centros de espalhamentos (heterogeneidades), em função de HTT, na faixa de SAXS (~0,2 < q < 0,4 'm POT. ¿1¿). Análises por XRF indicam grande gama de elementos, destacando-se a sílica, que é encontrada em maiores quantidades no carvão de bagaço em relação ao de madeira. Elementos como K, AI. Mg, Fe ,Na, Ca, Mn, são detectados para ambos tipos de carvão, porém em maiores concentrações para o carvão de bagaço de cana. Entretanto, a desmineralização conduzidas para amostras de carvão de bagaço de cana, demonstra viabilizar um decréscimo na participação dos elementos mais proeminentes (como Fe, AI. K, Ca, Na) para valores próximos àqueles encontrados para madeira, sabidamente de maior pureza. A utilização de carvão vegetal de bagaço de cana, analisado sob o ponto de vista composicional, tornaria-se deste modo, passível de utilização na redução carbotérmica do quartzo, haja vista que a impureza principal por sílica, não traria agravantes ao processo / Abstract: During the last few years, the industrial interest for the utilization of biomass and its byproducts has being increased very fast. In particular, the application of charcoal for thermo reduction of minerais (e.g. carbothermic reduction of quartz into silicon) is very attractive as an environmentally friend process in comparison with coal. In Brazil, the sugar- cane bagasse opens a new perspective for the substitution of wood for charcoal production, especially if we consider that a fraction of utilized wood comes from native forest. The present research reports the study of properties characterization of structure and chemical composition of charcoal carbonized from wood an sugar-cane bagasse by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), small angle and very-small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and VSAXS), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A number ofsamples were heat-treated afier pyrolysis in the interval oftemperature of 430 and 1300 oCoThe Warren model was applied to evaluate the structural rearrangement of disordered carbons. The result shows a slight progressive structural ordering with carbonization temperature and also with heat treatment temperature (HTT). It has also been observed that such interpretation, the samples of charcoal from sugar cane is less susceptible to carbon ordering than charcoal from wood, fact that can conduct to graphitization. The analysis by SAXS e VSAXS reveals a slight decrease of inhomogeneities and micropores in the range of the radius of gyration of ~80 A and 1200A,respectively,as a function of increasing of HTT. SAXS analysis still denotes an increase of concentration of scattering centres (inhomogeneities) as a function of HTT, in the interval ofSAXS (~,2 < q < '0,4 POT. -l). The content of mineraIs, particular silica is much higher for the charcoal from bagasse in comparison with wood. Several other elements, such as K, AI, Mg, Fe, Na, Ca, are also present, but with higher concentration in bagasse charcoal. However, the result of desmineralization process in charcoal bagasse samples, exhibits a significant decrease for majority elements (Fe, AI, K, Ca, Na). The application in terms of chemical composition of bagasse charcoal for thermoreduction of quartz could be feasible, considering that quartz has no implication in quality of reduction process / Mestrado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Abstract Lipids are necessary for living organisms and have various roles as, energy sources, hormone precursors and as components of membrane structures. Fatty acid β-oxidation is a pathway of energy metabolism, in which the fatty acyl-CoAs are degraded in several steps. Peroxisomal β-oxidation systems are found in all eukaryotes studied thus far, but the existence of a mitochondrial system is established in mammals only. Multifunctional enzyme type 2 (MFE-2) has been characterized from various species and is responsible for catalyzing the second and third steps in the R-specific peroxisomal β-oxidation pathway. MFE-2 accepts a wide range of substrates and displays great variation in domain organization and overall molecular mass. The crystal structures of individual domains of MFE-2 from several species have been determined previously. In this study, the structural knowledge of MFE-2 is further extended from the domain level to the assembly of the full-length enzyme. The crystal structure of Drosophila melanogaster MFE-2 (DmMFE-2) was solved at 2.15 Å resolution. The enzyme is a homodimer with 3R-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and 2E-enoyl-CoA hydratase 2 activities residing on each of the polypeptide subunits. Kinetic data combined with information from the structure, suggest that the catalytic domains of DmMFE-2 work as separate entities. It also appears that the enzyme does not assemble into dimers in vitro when the catalytic subunits are introduced in a solution as stand-alone proteins. The data were confirmed by two different methods, static light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering. However, the primary use of SAXS was not to monitor the formation of dimers in solution, but instead it was used for structure determination of the human MFE-2. During the process, the structural information from DmMFE-2 was used as a scaffold for the human homolog. After collecting a wide range of SAXS data and numerous calculations, a plausible low resolution solution structure of human MFE-2 was obtained. The model reveals the overall assembly of the enzyme and the locations of the C-terminal SCP-2L domains (an unspecific lipid carrier), thus enabling further hypotheses regarding the possible role of the SCP-2L domain in the enzymatic reaction. / Tiivistelmä Lipidit eli rasva-aineet ovat välttämättömiä eliöille ja niillä on lukemattomia rooleja mm. energianlähteinä, kalvojen rakenteina ja hormonien esiasteina. Rasvahappoja hajotetaan monivaiheisella metaboliareitillä, jota kutsutaan β-oksidaatioksi. Peroksisomaalinen rasvojen hajotusreitti on löydetty kaikista tähän asti tutkituista aitotumallisista, mutta mitokondrioissa tapahtuva rasvojen β-oksidaatio on löydetty vain nisäkkäiltä. Peroksisomaalinen monitoiminen entsyymi tyyppi 2 (MFE-2) katalysoi toisen ja kolmannen reaktion R-spesifisellä rasvahappojen hajotusreitillä ja se on karakterisoitu useilta eri lajeilta. MFE-2 muodostaa lajista riippuen hyvin erilaisia ja molekyylimassaltaan erikokoisia alayksikköyhdistelmiä, jotka pystyvät katalysoimaan erityyppisten substraattien hapetuksen. Eri lajien MFE-2:n yksittäisten alayksiköiden kiderakenteet ovat olleet tunnettuja jo vuosia. Tässä tutkimuksessa rakennetietämys laajenee MFE-2:n osalta alayksikkötasolta kokopitkän entsyymin tasolle, sillä banaanikärpäsen MFE-2:n (DmMFE-2) kiderakenne selvitettiin 2.15 ångströmin erotuskyvyllä. Tämä homodimeerinen entsyymi kantaa samassa polypeptidissä sekä 3R-hydroksiasyyli-KoA-dehydrogenaasi, että 2E-enoyyli-KoA-hydrataasi 2 -aktiivisuuksia. Kiderakenteen ja reaktiokinetiikan perusteella tehtiin johtopäätös, jonka mukaan DmMFE-2:n alayksiköt toimivat itsenäisinä kokonaisuuksinaan. Staattisen valonsironnan (SLS) ja röntgenpienkulmasirontamittauksien (SAXS) perusteella MFE-2:n erillisinä tuotetut alayksiköt eivät muodosta liuoksessa spontaanisti kokopitkän MFE-2:n kaltaisia oligomeerejä. Ihmisen MFE-2:n alhaisen erotuskyvyn malli määritettiin röntgenpienkulmasirontatekniikan avulla. Tässä prosessissa käytettiin hyväksi banaanikärpäsen entsyymin tarjoamaa rakennetietoa, jonka perusteella rakennettiin ensin runko ihmisen MFE-2:lle. Monivaiheisen prosessin jälkeen saatiin lopulta laskettua vakuuttava malli, joka paljastaa ensimmäistä kertaa ihmisen kokopitkän MFE-2:n rakenteen ja antaa mahdollisuuden tehdä alustavia johtopäätöksiä karboksiterminaalisen lipidejä epäspesifisesti sitovan alayksikön (SCP-2L) biologisesta roolista osana tätä monitoimista entsyymiä.

La poudre de boehmite, précurseur de l’alumine utilisée pour la production de supports catalytiques variés, est produite suite à une étape de séchage par atomisation. Cet oxyhydroxyde d’aluminium est composé de particules anisotropes chargées. Ces dernières années, il a été ont montré que les propriétés physico-chimiques des suspensions avaient une influence sur les caractéristiques des poudres. La morphologie des grains (sphère creuse, tore…) ainsi que les propriétés des poudres (dispersibilité, résistance mécanique…) peuvent être modifiées en jouant sur les caractéristiques des suspensions.Ce travail de thèse porte sur la compréhension des liens entre les propriétés physico-chimiques et rhéologiques de suspensions de deux boehmites industrielles et les propriétés des grains obtenus après séchage. Dans une première partie, nous avons caractérisé les particules en suspension de ces deux boehmites grâce à une approche multi-technique (SAXS, DLS, MET). Une étude rhéologique des suspensions obtenues par stress osmotique a ensuite permis de construire précisément le diagramme de phase de ces deux boehmites dans le plan force ionique – fraction volumique. La diffusion des rayons X aux petits angles et la diffusion dynamique de la lumière ont été utilisées pour déterminer l’organisation structurale des suspensions. Enfin, des expériences de séchage suivies optiquement et par micro-tomographie X ont été réalisées sur des suspensions de boehmite afin d’étudier l’impact de la concentration et de la force ionique sur l’évolution de la goutte au cours du séchage. / In the catalyst supports industry, one important step of alumina powder production is the spray-drying of boehmite suspensions. This aluminium oxyhydroxyde is often used as precursor for various types of alumina catalyst supports. Boehmite is composed of anisotropic particles bearing an electric charge. In the past decade, it has been shown that the properties of the dry powder depend not only on the drying conditions but on physico-chemical properties of the sprayed suspensions. For instance, different grains morphologies (doughnut-shaped grains, hollow spheres,…) as well as various dry grains properties (textural properties, mechanical resistance,…) may be obtained by tuning the physico-chemical properties of the suspension.This study focus on the understanding of the links between the physico-chemical properties of suspensions of two industrial boehmites and the characteristics of the final dry grain. Since these two boehmites were not well-known, the first step of the study was to characterize boehmite particles present in suspension thanks to a multi-technical approach. A rheological study was performed on boehmite suspensions obtained thanks to osmotic stress to build precisely the phase diagrams of the both boehmites according to the system of ionic strength vs. volume fraction. Small angle X ray scattering and dynamic light scattering were used to investigate the existence of an orientational order of boehmite particles in suspension. Finally, drying experiments of boehmite suspensions were conducted on an optical set-up and on fast micro-tomography X, to examine the impact of both concentration and ionic strength on the evolution of the droplet during drying.

Master of Science / Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering / Steven J. Eckels / Christopher M. Sorensen / Large specific surface areas and high concentrations of reactive edge and defect sites make NanoActive™ metal oxide powders ideal chemical adsorbents. These powders are dispersed in aerosol form to remediate toxic wastes and neutralize chemical and biological warfare agents. In the destructive adsorption of toxic chemicals, effective application requires particles be as small as possible, thus, maximizing surface area and number of edge and defect sites. Other applications, e.g. smoke clearing, require particles be large so they will settle in a timely manner. Ideally, particle size control could be engineered into powder dispersion devices. The purpose of this study was to explore particle cohesion and aerodynamic deaggregation mechanisms to enhance the design of powder dispersion devices. An aerosol generator and four experimental nozzles were designed to explore the most commonly referenced deaggregation mechanisms: particle acceleration, particles in shear and turbulent flows, and particle impaction. The powders were then dispersed through the nozzles with increasing flow rates. A small angle light scattering device was used to make in situ particle size measurements. The nozzle designed for impaction deaggregated the NanoActive™ MgO particles to a lesser degree than the other three nozzles, which deaggregated the particles to a similar degree. Flows in three of the four nozzles were simulated in a commercial computational fluid dynamics package. Theoretical particle and aggregate stresses from the literature were calculated using simulated data. These calculations suggest particle acceleration causes internal stresses roughly three orders of magnitude larger than shear and turbulent flows. These calculations, coupled with experimental data, lead to the conclusion that acceleration was the most significant cause of particle deaggregation in these experiments. Experimental data also identified the dependence of deaggregation on primary particle size and agglomerate structure. NanoActive™ powders with smaller primary particles exhibited higher resistance to deaggregation. Small primary particle size was thought to increase the magnitude of van der Waals interactions. These interactions were modeled and compared to theoretical deaggregation stresses previously mentioned. In conclusion, deaggregation is possible. However, the ideas of particle size control and a universal dispersion device seem elusive considering the material dependent nature of deaggregation.

Le travail de cette thèse vise à contrôler la formation d’une structure fortement ordonnée à l’échelle supramoléculaire d'un liquide associé, par dilution dans un liquide aprotique, ou par confinement dans un silicate mésoporeux (MCM-41, SBA-15). Dans le volume, une forte perturbation du mélange idéal représentée en termes de regroupement entre les espèces similaires est observée par la diffusion de neutrons aux petits angles. Sous confinement, un phénomène remarquable de nanoségrégation des mélanges dans les pores conduit à des structures concentriques tubulaires de type coeur-gaine, ce qui est surprenant pour les systèmes binaires macroscopiquement homogène et entièrement miscibles. La dynamique moléculaire de ces nanostructures originales est étudiée par diffusion quasiélastique de neutrons dans le liquide et les états vitreux, révélant différents types de modes de relaxation sous confinement et étant fortement dépendant de la concentration. L’étiquetage isotopique HD des composants des mélanges fournit un point de vue global unique sur les propriétés de ces liquides binaires confinés. Ceci permet d’établir une corrélation directe entre les hétérogénéités dynamiques spatialement distinctes et la formation de nanostructures d'enveloppe de base d'origine induites par des interactions préférentielles. / The objective of this thesis is tuning the formation of ordered supramolecular structures of an H-bonded liquid alcohol, either by dispersion in an aprotic solvent or by confinement in mesoporous silicates (MCM-41 and SBA-15). In the bulk, a strong perturbation from ideal mixing depicted in terms of clustering between similar species is observed by small angle neutron scattering. Under confinement, a remarkable nanosegregation phenomenon of the mixture is observed in the pores, leading to concentric tubular structures of core-shell type, which are striking for macroscopically homogeneous and fully miscible binary systems. The molecular dynamics of these original glassforming nanostructures is studied by quasielastic neutron scattering in the liquid and vitreous states, revealing different types of relaxation modes under confinement with nontrivial concentration dependencies. Isotopic HD labelling of the mixtures components provides a unique comprehensive viewpoint on the properties of these confined binary liquids, establishing a direct correlation between spatially segregated dynamical heterogeneities and the formation of original core shell nanostructures induced by preferential interactions.

Fe-Cr based steels, i.e. stainless steels, possessing a combination of excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties, have indispensable applications ranging from low-end cooking utensils, to sophisticated components for nuclear power plants. However, the bcc/bct phase containing stainless steels which have a miscibility gap (MG) suffer from the so-called “475 oC embrittlement” leading to hardness increase and toughness deterioration. It occurs due to demixing of Fe and Cr leading to the formation of Fe-rich (α) and Cr-rich (α′) regions in bcc/bct phases. The demixing is referred to as phase separation (PS). The goal of this work was to study PS in ferrite containing stainless steels mainly by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Firstly, the application of different experimental techniques for the study of phase separation in Fe-Cr based steels was reviewed and supplemented by new measurements. SANS was shown to be very sensitive to the nanostructure change caused by PS and capable of characterizing the early stages of PS in Fe-Cr alloys. However, atom probe tomography and transmission electron microscopy are complementary to SANS. Therefore, in order to have a more complete view of the microstructure, the combination of these techniques should be pursued. Secondly, the factors affecting the initial microstructure prior to aging treatment and the effect of the resulted initial microstructure on PS were systematically investigated using binary Fe-Cr model alloys. The critical temperature of the MG was determined to be located between 560 and 580 oC in binary Fe-Cr. The results indicate that the solution treatment temperature above the MG and the cooling rate after solution treatment have significant effects on the initial microstructure and thus on PS during subsequent aging. The mechanisms responsible for the changed aging behavior are Cr clustering, quenched-in vacancy and decomposition during cooling. Therefore, computational simulations should take into account these factors and the initial microstructure to make predictions that are more accurate. Thirdly, the study was extended to PS in commercial duplex stainless steels (DSSs) which are of practical importance in various industries, e.g., nuclear power. It is found that alloying elements have an important effect on PS in DSSs. The grade 2507 (25 %Cr, 7 %Ni) experiences stronger PS than grade 2205 (22 %Cr, 5 % Ni) for the same heat treatment. Moreover, the fracture mechanisms as well as the mechanical properties depend on the extent of PS.  Finally, the fundamental aspects regarding the neutron scattering behavior for Fe-Cr alloys were examined. The results show that the nuclear and magnetic scattering of neutrons depend on the evolution of the nanoscale compositional fluctuation in Fe-Cr alloys. The ratio of the magnitude of nuclear scattering versus magnetic scattering varies with the extent of PS. / Stål baserade på Fe-Cr systemet, det vill säga rostfria stål, som har en kombination av utmärkta korrosionsegenskaper och bra mekaniska egenskaper, har många tillämpningar; allt från köksredskap, till sofistikerade komponenter för kärnkraftverk. Rostfria stål som innehåller Bcc / bct-fasen och som således har en blandningslucka, är känsliga för den så kallade "475 °C försprödningen" som leder till en hårdhetsökning men kraftigt försämrad slagseghet. Detta uppstår på grund av en uppdelning av Fe och Cr som leder till bildandet av Fe-rika (a) och Cr-rika (a’) regioner i bcc / bct-fasen. Denna uppdelning brukar kallas fasseparation. Målet med detta arbete var att studera fasseparationen i ferrit-innehållande rostfria stål främst genom lågvinkel-spridning av neutroner (SANS). Till att börja med studerades och jämfördes olika experimentella tekniker för undersökning av fasseparation i Fe-Cr-baserade stål med nya SANS- mätningar. SANS visade sig vara mycket känslig för förändringar på nano-skala orsakad av fasseparation och tekniken visade sig även kapabel att karakterisera de tidiga stadierna av fasseparation i Fe-Cr-legeringar. För att få en mer fullständig bild av mikrostrukturen efter fasseparation, bör emellertid en kombination av SANS och komplementära tekniker, såsom atomsond och transmissions-elektronmikroskopi, användas. Vidare undersöktes de faktorer som påverkar den ursprungliga mikrostrukturen före åldringsbehandling, och effekten av den initiala mikrostrukturen på fasseparation studerades systematiskt med användning av binära modell-legeringar av Fe-Cr. Den kritiska temperaturen för blandningsluckan i Fe-Cr bestämdes vara belägen mellan 560 och 580 °C. Resultaten indikerar att temperaturen för upplösningsbehandling ovanför blandningsluckan och kylhastigheten har en signifikant inverkan på den initiala mikrostrukturen och därmed på fasseparationen under efterföljande åldring. Mekanismerna som är ansvariga för det förändrade åldringsbeteendet är: Cr-klustring, insläckta vakanser och fasseparation under kylning. Simuleringar av fasseparationen bör därför ta hänsyn till dessa faktorer och den ursprungliga mikrostrukturen för att göra mer exakta förutsägelser av hur mikrostrukturen utvecklar sig med åldringstiden. Fasseparationen i kommersiella duplexa rostfria stål (DSS), som är av stor praktisk betydelse i olika branscher, t ex kärnkraft, studerades också med SANS. Det visade sig att mängden av olika legeringselement har en viktig effekt på graden av fasseparation i DSS. Legeringen 2507 uppvisade en tydligare fasseparation jämfört med legering 2205 för samma värmebehandling. Brottmekanismerna såväl som de mekaniska egenskaperna visade sig bero på omfattningen av fasseparationen. Slutligen undersöktes de grundläggande aspekterna hos neutronspridnings-beteendet för binära Fe-Cr-legeringar. Resultaten visade att kärn- och magnetisk spridning av neutroner beror på utvecklingen av sammansättningsfluktuationerna på en nanoskala i Fe-Cr-legeringar. Förhållandet mellan magnetisk- och kärnspridning varierar med omfattningen av fasseparationen. / <p>QC 20171117</p>

Les lubrifiants à base aqueuse sont très largement utilisés dans les procédés de mise en forme des métaux comme le tréfilage, car ils combinent d’excellentes capacités calorifiques à de bonnes propriétés tribologiques. Pour répondre à des exigences d’augmentation de la productivité, la compréhension des mécanismes de lubrification est nécessaire. L’objectif de ces travaux est d’établir le lien entre l’organisation des molécules en solution dans le lubrifiant et son pouvoir lubrifiant. La démarche expérimentale consiste à déterminer les propriétés structurales et tribologiques d’un système modèle aqueux, composé d’acides gras et d’éthylène diamine, principaux ingrédients des lubrifiants. Le diagramme de phases du système modèle est établi en s’appuyant sur des techniques de microscopie optique de polarisation, diffusion des rayons X aux petits angles (DXPA) et cryofracture. Pour un rapport molaire entre la diamine et les acides gras supérieur à 1, une succession de phases lamellaire, hexagonale et micellaires, biréfringente sous écoulement et isotrope, est observée avec la dilution. Une attention particulière est accordée à la phase lamellaire qui présente des défauts à l’approche de la transition vers la phase hexagonale. Les analyses réalisées en DXPA, cryofracture et RMN relient leur existence à une modulation de l’épaisseur de la bicouche et une augmentation de la courbure liées au couplage entre les acides gras et les contre-ions amines. Les propriétés lubrifiantes de l’ensemble de ces phases sont également comparées à l’aide d’un tribomètre qui réalise un contact entre un disque et une bille sous une cinématique de contact contrôlée, en régime de lubrification élastohydrodynamique. En plus des mesures de frottement, l’observation simultanée du contact permet de suivre la formation du film lubrifiant entre les surfaces et son évolution. L’influence de l’organisation supramoléculaire du lubrifiant sur son comportement est mise en évidence : les échantillons présentant une organisation lamellaire fournissent les meilleurs résultats en termes de réduction du frottement. L’organisation en bicouches de la phase lamellaire au sein du contact et ses propriétés piézovisqueuses peuvent expliquer sa portance accrue et sa prédisposition naturelle à la réduction du frottement. / Water based lubricants are widely used in metal forming processes due to their good cooling and lubrication capabilities. The understanding of the lubrication mechanisms is necessary to improve the current lubricant efficiency. The goal of this work is to correlate the structural properties of the lubricant to its lubricating behaviour. As mixtures of ethylene diamine and fatty acids in water are some of the main ingredients of such lubricants, their phase behaviour and tribological properties are investigated for different compositions. The phase diagram of the model system is established by using optical microscopy of polarisation, small angle X-rays scattering (SAXS) and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM). For a molar ratio between diamine and fatty acids upper to 1, a succession of lamellar, hexagonal and micellar phases is observed with the dilution. A particular attention is turned to the lamellar phase which presents defects close the transition towards the hexagonal phase. According to SAXS, nuclear magnetic resonance and FF-TEM analyses, we propose that their existence is due to a modulation of the bilayer thickness and an increase of the curvature resulted from the evolution of the coupling between the fatty acids polar heads and the amine counter-ions. The lubricating ability of these phases is then investigated experimentally using an EHL tribometre that simultaneously enables contact visualisation, film thickness and friction measurements in controlled kinematic conditions. The influence of the lubricant structure on its tribological behaviour is revealing: the lowest friction coefficients are obtained with lamellar samples. The organisation in bilayers of the lamellar phase within the contact and its piezoviscous properties can explain its greater load-bearing capacity and its natural predisposition to the reduction of the friction.