Ceramic metal matrix composites (CMMCs) are materials generally created by mixing of hard ceramic particles in a metal matrix. They were expected to combine the ductility and toughness of the metal with the high strength and elastic modulus of the ceramic. MMCs have potential applications in automotive, aeronautical and aerospace industries. Hence, a simple and economical method for fabricating MMCs is an area of intense research. In MMCs, damage evolution starts preferentially at particle matrix interface or at particle clusters in the matrix. This is due to the different physical and mechanical properties of the particle and matrix. Higher local particle volume content leads to higher stress triaxiality making it a preferential site for damage nucleation. Problems with lowering of ductility, fatigue, fracture and impact resistance, agglomeration of ceramic phase and issues related to the predictability of properties of MMCs have been the major issues that have limited their use. In order to overcome some of these shortcomings, the use of nano particles has been attracting increasing attention. The reason is their capability in improving the mechanical and physical properties of traditional MMCs. The dispersion of a nanoscale ceramic phase is needed in order to overcome the problems related to fatigue, fracture toughness, and creep behaviour at high temperatures. However, manufacturing costs, preparation of nano composites and environmental concerns have to be addressed. Agglomeration of nano particles, when produced by the melt stir casting route, the primary route to produce MMCs, is a serious issue that limits the use of nano-particles to produce MMCs with good properties. To avoid agglomeration of the ceramic phase MMCs/nano MMCs have been produced through the powder metallurgy route. Agglomeration is avoided as this is a solid state process. Secondary processing, such as extrusion and rolling are often needed to fully consolidate materials produced in this manner. A high extrusion ratio is often required to get MMCs without porosity. A new method of making nano-ceramic MMC using a polymer derived ceramics (PDC) has been reported. A polymer derived ceramic is a material that converts itself into a ceramic when heated above a particular temperature. In the PDC method a polymer precursor is dispersed in the metal and then converted in-situ to a ceramic phase. A feature of this process is that all the constituents of the ceramic phase are built into the organic molecules of the precursor (e.g., polysilazanes contain silicon, carbon, and nitrogen); therefore, a reaction between the polymer and the host metal or air is not required to produce the ceramic phase. The polymer can be introduced through casting or powder metallurgy route. In the casting route, the polymer powder is directly added to molten metal and pyrolyzed in-situ to create castings of metal-matrix composites. These composites have shown better properties at elevated temperatures but the problem of agglomeration of particles due to Van der Waal's forces and porosity still remains. In the powder method, the organic precursor was milled with copper powder and then plasma sprayed to produce a metal matrix composite. It is reported that these composites retains its mechanical strength close to the melting point of the copper. However, getting a nano sized distribution is difficult through this route as the plasma spray route is a melting and solidification method. Solid state processing by powder metallurgy is possibly a better method to produce well dispersed nano-MMCs. However, powder metallurgy routes are much more expensive and only parts of limited sizes can be produced by this method. Another solid state process Friction Stir Processing (FSP) has successfully evolved as an alternative technique to fabricating metal matrix composites. FSP is based on the principles of Friction Stir Welding (FSW). In FSW, a rotating tool with a pin and a shoulder is inserted into the material to be joined, and traversed along the line of the joint. The friction between the tool and the work piece result in localized heating that softens and plasticizes the material. During production of MMCs using FSP method, the material undergoes intense plastic deformation resulting in mixing of ceramic particles and the metal. FSP also results in significant grain refinement of the metal and has also been used to homogenize the microstructure. FSP technology has also been used to fabricate surface/bulk composites of Al-SiC, friction stir surfacing of cast aluminum silicon alloy with boron carbide and molybdenum disulphide powders and to produce ultra-fine grained Cu-SiC composites. A major problem in the FSP of MMCs is severe tool wear that results from abrasion with hard ceramic particles. The progressive wear of the tool has been reported to increase the likelihood of void or defect development. This change in geometry has been reported in the friction stir welding of several MMCs. The problems concerning the tool life has become a serious issue in the application of FSP for producing MMCs. In the present work the advantages of the PDC method and FSP have been combined to produce polymer derived nano ceramic MMCs. This method mainly consists of three steps. In the first step, a polymer, which pyrolysis to form a PDC at temperatures lower than the melting point of the metal, is dispersed in the metal by FSP. This step is different from the melt route where the PDC forms at temperatures above the melting point of the metal. In the second step, external pyrolysis of the polymer dispersed material is carried out. Since this is a solid state process at stresses much higher than the shear or fracture of the polymer is expected to get evenly and finely distribution in the metal. This is done by heating the polymer dispersed material to a temperature above the pyrolysation temperature of the ceramic but lower than the melting point of the metal matrix. It should be mentioned that some pyrolysis of the polymer is possible during the FSP process itself. In the third step FSP is carried out on the pyrolised material for removing porosity that would form due to gas evolution during pyrolysis and to get a more uniform dispersion of polymer derived ceramic particles in the matrix. This method will produce nano-scale metal matrix composites with a relatively high volume fraction of the ceramic phase. This method can be extended to big sheets or a particular region in a sheet with no or low wear of tools. The material selected for the present study were pure Copper (99.9%) and Nickel Aluminum Bronze (NAB) copper alloy. The polymer precursor was poly (urea methyl vinyl) silazane, which is available commercially as CERASET. The polymer consists of silicon, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The liquid precursor was thermally cross-linked into a rigid polymer, which was milled into a powder. This powder, having angular shaped particles of an average size of 10 µm, was used as the reinforcement. The polysilazanes convert into a highly refractory and amorphous ceramic upon pyrolysis and is known as polymer-derived silicon carbonitride which consists principally of silicon, carbon and nitrogen. The in-situ process is feasible because copper melts above the temperature at which the organic phase begins to pyrolise. The polysilazanes pyrolise in the temperature range of 973 to 1273 K, which lie below the melting temperature of copper, 1356K.The precursor has a density of approximately 1 gcm-3 in the organic phase and approximately 2 gcm-3 in the ceramic state. In the present work, we seek to introduce approximately 20 vol% of the ceramic phase into copper. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the developed copper-based in-situ polymer derived nano MMCs have been characterized in detail to understand the distribution of particles. The microstructure of the as received, processed as well as the FSP composite material was characterized using Optical Microscope (OM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Electron Probe Micro Analyzer (EPMA) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). OM and SEM microstructural observations show that PDC particles are distributed uniformly with a bimodal (submicron+micron) distribution. In addition, TEM micrographs reveal the formation of very fine PDC particles of diameter 10-30 nm. X-ray diffraction and Thermo-gravimetric analysis confirms the presence of ceramic phase (Si3N4/SiC) in the matrix. Significant improvement in mechanical properties of the FSP PD-MMCs has been observed. This in-situ formed Cu/PDC composites show five times increase in micro-hardness (260Hv - 2.5GPa) compared to processed copper base metal and in-situ NAB/PDC composite shows two times increase in micro-hardness (325Hv- 3.2GPa) compared to NAB matrix. The Cu-PDC composites exhibited better tensile strength at room temperature. In-situ formed Cu-PDC composite’s yield strength increased from 110MPa to 235MPa as compared to processed base metal, where as ultimate tensile strength increases from 246MPa to 312MPa compared to processed base metal at room temperature. This strengthening could be attributed to the presence of in-situ formed hard phases and the concomitant changes in the microstructure of the matrix material such as reduction in grain size and contribution from Orowan strengthening. In the present work, we have observed tool wear by observing tool after each FSP pass and apart from producing a significantly harder material with higher elastic modulus, possibly for the first time, the issue of tool wear has been overcome. This is due to the fact that the composite is made by the polymer route and that the ceramic fractures easily till it reaches the nano-size. Wear studies of this composite was carried out in a pin-on-disc machine by sliding a pin made from the composite against an alumina disc. The wear rate of the FSP PD-MMC composites increased from 1.63×10-5 to 5.72×10-6 mm3/Nm. Improved wear resistance could be attributed to the presence of the in-situ formed hard nano-phase.

An effective procedure and parameter window was developed for underwater friction stir welding (UWFSW) 304L stainless steel with a PCBN tool. UWFSW produced statistically significant: increases in yield strengths, decreases in percent elongation. The ultimate tensile strength was found to be significantly higher at certain parameters. Although sigma was identified in the UWFSWs, a significant reduction of sigma was found in UWFSWs compared to ambient FSWs. The degree of sensitization in UWFSWs was evaluated using double loop EPR testing and oxalic acid electro-etched metallography. Results were compared to base metal, ambient FSW, and arc welds. Upper and lower sensitization localization bands were identified in the UWFSWs. Although higher sensitization levels were present in UWFSWs compared to the arc weld, ambient FSW, and heat treated base metals, the UWFSWs were found less susceptible to corrosion than arc welds due to the subsurface location of the sensitization bands. A SCC analysis of UWFSWs relative to base metal and arc weldments was performed. U-bends were exposed to two 3.5% NaCl cyclic immersion experiments at 21 °C and 63 °C for 1000 hours each. A tertiary test was conducted in a 25% NaCl boiling solution. The UWFSW u-bends were no more susceptible to SCC than base metal in the cyclic immersion tests. In the boiling NaCl test, the SCC of the UWFSWs showed significant improvement over the SCC of arc welds. Arc u-bends cracked entirely within the weld bead and HAZ, while SCC in the UWFSWs showed no cracking localization.

A depressão em idosos é uma desordem persistente e recorrente, resultado do stress psicossocial ou efeito de doenças fisiológicas, que podem acarretar a desabilidade do indivíduo, aumento dos sintomas das doenças clínicas, na maior utilização dos serviços de saúde e altas taxas de suicídios.A monitorização terapêutica permite a ndividualização do regime de dosagem, assegurando a eficácia clínica e minimizando os efeitos adversos dos fármacos, prescritos na clínica. Os antidepressivos têm sido monitorados, pois, apresentam intervalos terapêuticos bem estabelecidos, ou seja, a maioria dos pacientes, que apresentam concentrações plasmáticas dentro deste intervalo fixo, tem as desordens psiquiátricas mantidas sob controle e efeitos adversos aceitáveis. Os antidepressivos tricíclicos (ADTs): imipramina, amitriptilina, nortriptilina e desipramina, embora eficazes e ainda muito utilizados, apresentam efeitos adversos, não desejáveis. Os antidepressivos, inibidores seletivos da recaptação de serotonina (SSRIs): citalopram, fluoxetina, paroxetina e sertralina, apresentam eficácia clínica comparável aos clássicos ADTs, mas destituídos dos efeitos adversos associados aos mesmos. Os métodos convencionais, empregados no tratamento de amostras biológicas, para análises de antidepressivos por técnicas cromatográficas, têm sido a extração líquido-líquido e extração em fase sólida. A microextração em fase sólida tem sido empregada em diferentes análises em fluidos biológicos, porém essa técnica apresenta certas limitações como, o número limitado de fases extratoras disponíveis no comércio que sejam adequadas para a análise de compostos não iônicos. A avaliação de novas fases extratoras, mais seletivas, estáveis e de baixo custo tem sido requerida para a análise de fármacos. O interesse no uso de poli(pirrol) (PPY), como fase extratora para SPME, está relacionado às diferentes interações dos fármacos (hidrofóbicas, -, com o grupo funcional polar, troca iônica, ácido-base) aos grupos multifuncionais deste polímero. Sua polimerização pode ser alcançada tanto por oxidação química, quanto por eletrodeposição em meio aquoso ou orgânico. O método eletroquímico apresenta algumas vantagens, tais como: o polímero ou mistura de polimeros podem ser revestidos diretamente em um metal, incorporação de diferentes grupos funcionais, entre outras, a polimerização pode ser eletroquimicamente controlada através da voltametria cíclica. Neste trabalho o poli(pirrol) (PPY) foi eletrodepositado em eletrodo de aço inox e empregado para a microextração em fase sólida dos antidepressivos: paroxetina, fluoxetina, mirtazapina, duloxetina, sertralina e citalopram. As variáveis da eletrodeposição, número de ciclos e contra-íon empregado no processo de eletrodeposição foram otimizadas. Assim como as variáveis SPME: tempo, temperatura, pH e volume de amostra, e tempo e solvente de dessorção; almejando maior sensibilidade para o método SPME-PPY/LC UV proposto. A extração sortiva em barra de agitação (SBSE), técnica recente de preparo de amostras, para a pré-concentração de compostos orgânicos presentes em amostras biológicas, baseia-se na extração estática, através do polímero polidimetilsiloxano (PDMS), no qual ocorre a dissolução (sorção) do analito. Neste trabalho, as técnicas SBSE e cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção UV (SBSE/LC UV) foram avaliadas para a análise simultânea de antidepressivos em amostras de plasma para fins de monitorização terapêutica. As condições cromatográficas de análise, assim como as variáveis SBSE de extração (tempo, temperatura, força iônica, pH da matriz) e tempo de dessorção, foram otimizadas, visando adequada sensibilidade analítica. A validação analítica foi realizada segundo normas da ANVISA, para ambos os métodos propostos, em diferentes concentrações plasmáticas, as quais contemplam o intervalo terapêutico. Segundo os parâmetros de validação avaliados, os métodos SBSE/LCUV e SPMEPPY/LCUV padronizados poderão ser empregados nas análises dos antidepressivos, para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / Depression in the elderly is a persistent and recurrent disorder resulting from psychosocial stress or physiological effect or disease. This condition can lead to disability, cognitive impairment, enhanced symptoms of medical illnesses, increased use of health care services and, increased of suicide rates. Therapeutic monitoring allows individualization of the dose regimen, ensuring clinical effectiveness and minimizing the adverse effects of drugs, prescribed at the clinic. Antidepressants have been monitored because they present well - established therapeutic intervals; in other words, most of the patients present plasmatic concentrations within this fixed range, so that their psychiatric disorders are kept under control and the adverse effects are acceptable. The tricyclic antidepressants (ADTs) imipramine, amitriptyline, nortryptiline, and desipramine, have adverse effects. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressants citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline, are clinically effectiveness as the classic ADTs, but they do not lead to the adverse effects associated to the latter. The conventional methods employed in the treatment of biological samples for analysis of antidepressants by chromatographic techniques have been the liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been used in various analyses of biological fluids. However, this technique has limitations such as the small number of comemercially available extracting phases that are appropriate for the analysis of non-ionic compounds. Investigation of new extraction phases that are more selective and stable, as well as inexpensive, has been requested for drug analysis. The interest in the use of poly(pirrole) (PPY) as an extraction phase for SPME is related to the different interactions of the drugs (hydrophobic, - , with the polar functional group, ionic exchange and acid-base) with the multifunctional groups on this polymer. The PPY polymerization can be achieved by chemical oxidation or electropolymerization in aqueous solution or organic solvents. The electrochemical method has advantages such as, the polymer or a mixes of polymers can be directly deposited on a metal wire, different functional groups can be incorporated, polymerization can be electrochemically controlled by cyclic voltammetry. In this work poly(pyrrole) was electropolymerized on stainless steel electrodes and employed for the solid phase microextraction of the antidepressants paroxetine, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, duloxetine, sertraline, and citalopram. The electropolymerization variables, the number of cycles and counterion employed in the process were optimized, as well as the SPME variables, time, temperature, pH, sample volume, and desorption solvent; aiming at a better sensibility for the proposed method SPME-PPY/LC-UV. The stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), recently established technique for samples preparation, that targets the pre concentration of organic compounds present in biological samples. It is based on static extraction, through the polymeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), where there is analyte dissolution (sorption). In this work, the SBSE technique and liquid chromatography with UV detector (SBSE/LC-UV) were evaluated for the simultaneous determination of antidepressants in plasma samples for therapeutic monitoring purposes. The cromatographic conditions, the SBSE extraction variables (time, temperature, ionic strength and matrix pH), and the dessorption time were optimized for appropriate analytical sensibility. The analytical validation was accomplished according to the norms of ANVISA for both of the proposed methods, in different plasmatic concentrations, which contemplate the therapeutic interval. According to the evaluated validation parameters, the standardized methods SBSE/LC-UV and SPME-PPY/LC-UV can be used in the analyses of antidepressants for therapeutic drug monitoring purposes.

Uma fase polimérica inédita de polidimetilsiloxano/carvão ativado (PDMS-ACB) é proposta como fase extratora para extração por sorção em barras de agitação (SBSE). A barra de PDMS-ACB foi desenvolvida no laboratório usando um molde de teflon simples, demonstrando estabilidade e resistência aos solventes orgânicos. Utilizando uma única barra de PDMS-ACB mais de 150 extrações foram realizadas sem qualquer dano. A barra de SBSE contém aproximadamente 100 µL de revestimento polimérico, 2,36 mm de diâmetro e 2,2 cm de comprimento. A barra PDMS-ACB foi aplicada na extração de seis pesticidas (ametrina, atrazina, bifentrina, carbofurano, metribuzim e tebutiurom), com propriedades predominantemente polares, comumente aplicados em plantações de cana-de-açúcar. A barra PDMS-ACB foi utilizada na determinação de pesticidas em garapa através de cromatografia gasosa hifenada à espectrometria de massa (GC-MS). O planejamento experimental foi empregado na etapa de otimização da extração SBSE, um planejamento fatorial fracionado avaliou a influência dos principais parâmetros envolvidos. Posteriormente, o planejamento composto central (CCD) com conformação estrela foi explorado para otimizar os fatores significativos na extração. Apenas 200 µL de acetato de etila foram utilizados como solvente na dessorção líquida (LD). Para os compostos avaliados, o método apresentou limite de quantificação (LOQ) no intervalo de 0,5 - 40 µg L-1, as recuperações variaram entre 0,18 - 49,50 % e a precisão intra-dia variou de 0,072 - 8,40 %. Concluída a etapa de validação, o método foi aplicado em amostras reais de garapa disponíveis comercialmente em São Carlos-SP. / A novel polydimethylsiloxane/activated carbon (PDMS-ACB) is proposed as new polymeric phases for stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). The PDMS-ACB was developed in lab using simple teflon\'s mold, demonstrating remarkable stability and resistance to organic solvents, over 150 extractions without any damage. SBSE bar contained 100 µL of polymeric coating, a diameter of 2.36 mm and a length of 2.2 cm. It was applied to the determination of pesticides (ametryn, atrazine, bifenthrin, carbofuran, metribuzine and tebuthiuron) having predominantly polar properties, applied in sugarcane crops. PDMS-ACB was employed in the determination of pesticides in sugarcane juice using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Experimental design was employed in the optimization step, a fractional factorial evaluated the main parameters involved in the extraction procedure. Afterwards, central composite design (CCD) was exploited to optimize the significant factors on the extraction. About 200 µL of ethyl acetate were employed as solvent in the liquid desorption (LD). The method presented limit of quantification (LOQ) from 0.5 to 40 µg L-1, recoveries varied 0.18 - 49.50% and precision intra-day 0.072 - 8.40%. Hence, the method was applied to the analysis of real sugarcane juice samples commercially available in São Carlos-SP.

Neste trabalho, os anticorpos policlonais e monoclonais anti-fluoxetina foram produzidos em coelhos e camundongos, respectivamente, por imunização com o conjugado fluoxetina-soroalbumina bovina. Os anticorpos obtidos foram caracterizados em função da especificidade contra o fármaco por ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) e posteriormente, purificados por afinidade em coluna fluoxetina-agarose labmade. Os anticorpos purificados foram imobilizados covalentemente na superfície vítrea das barras SBSE (extração sortiva em barra de agitação) labmade. Após a derivatização das barras com 3-aminopropiltrietoxisilano, dois métodos distintos de acoplamento dos anticorpos às barras SBSE foram avaliados: ativação com glutaraldeído e succinilação seguida de ativação via éster N-hidroxisuccinimida (NHS). A funcionalização das barras SBSE foi comprovada através da imobilização de enzima peroxidase (HRP) em lugar do anticorpo e posterior ensaio enzimático com as barras. Várias barras SBSE com diferentes áreas (1,2; 2,4; e 4,0 cm2) foram preparadas, dentre as quais, as com maior área imunosorvente apresentaram maiores taxas de recuperação do fármaco. A avaliação da morfologia da superfície da barra SBSE imunosorvente foi realizada através de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). As variáveis do processo SBSE de imunoafinidade foram otimizadas para estabelecer o equilíbrio de sorção antígeno-anticorpo em um menor tempo de análise e obtenção de limite de quantificação compatível com o intervalo terapêutico do fármaco. As capacidades adsortivas das barras imunosorventes foram de 1,2 e 8 microgramas por cm2 para anticorpos policlonais e monoclonais, respectivamente. Os imunosorventes desenvolvidos apresentaram reatividade-cruzada apenas com norfluoxetina (metabólito ativo de fluoxetina). As barras imunosorventes foram reutilizadas aproximadamente 30 vezes, sem perda significativa da eficiência das extrações. Baseados nos parâmetros de validação analítica avaliados, os métodos de SBSE/LC-FD de imunoafinidade desenvolvidos são adequados para a determinação de fluoxetina em amostras de plasma de pacientes em terapia com o fármaco, para fins de monitorização terapêutica. Por conseguinte, esses métodos foram aplicados com êxito para análises de amostras de plasma de pacientes idosos em terapia com Prozac®. Neste trabalho, o método MEPS (microextração em sorvente empacotado)/LC-UV também foi desenvolvido e validado para análise simultânea de sertralina, paroxetina, citalopram, fluoxetina e mirtazapina em amostras de plasma para fins de monitorização terapêutica. As variáveis do processo MEPS foram otimizadas (pH e volume da amostra, força iônica, volume dos ciclos aspirar-dispensar e condições de dessorção) para estabelecer o equilíbrio de sorção em menor tempo de análise e obter sensibilidade analítica adequada para a determinação dos antidepressivos no intervalo terapêutico. O método MEPS/LC-UV desenvolvido permitiu integração da dessorção dos analitos e injeção da amostra no sistema cromatográfico (LC-UV) em uma única etapa, usando a microsseringa de extração MEPS. A fase extratora MEPS, M1 (C8/SCX), foi reutilizada mais de 50 vezes com perda mínima da eficiência da extração, comprovando a robustez do material sorvente. Segundo os parâmetros de validação analítica avaliados, o método MEPS/LC-UV desenvolvido é adequado para a determinação de antidepressivos em amostras de plasma para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / In this work, polyclonal and monoclonal anti-fluoxetine antibodies were developed in rabbits and mice by immunization with fluoxetine-bovine albumin conjugate, respectively. The developed antibodies were characterized on the basis of the specificity against the drug by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and, subsequently they were purified by labmade fluoxetine-agarose affinity column. The purified antibodies were covalently immobilized onto the glass surface of labmade SBSE (stir bar sorptive extraction) bars. After derivatization of the bars with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, two distinct methods were evaluated for the antibodies coupling to the SBSE bars: activation with glutaraldehyde and succinylation activation via ester N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The functionalization of SBSE bars was confirmed by the immobilization of peroxidase (HRP) instead of the antibody and, subsequent enzymatic assay with the bars. Several SBSE bars with different areas (1.2, 2.4, and 4.0 cm2) were prepared, among of them the largest immunosorbent area showed higher recovery rates of the drug. The evaluation of surface morphology of the SBSE immunosorbent bar was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SBSE immunoaffinity variables were optimized to establish sorption equilibrium of antigen-antibody in a short time analysis and to obtain the limit of quantification compatible with the therapeutic range of the drug. The adsorptive capacities of the immunosorbent bars were 1.2 and 8 micrograms per cm2 for polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, respectively. The developed immunosorbents showed cross-reactivity only with norfluoxetine (active metabolite of fluoxetine). The immunosorbent bars were reused approximately 30 times without significant loss of the extraction efficiency. Based on evaluated analytical validation parameters, the developed immunoaffinity SBSE/LC-FD methods are suitable for the determination of fluoxetine in plasma samples from patients on therapy with the antidepressant for therapeutic drug monitoring. Therefore, these methods were successfully applied for the analysis of plasma samples from elderly patients undergoing therapy with Prozac®. In this work, the method MEPS (microextraction by packed sorbent)/ LC-UV was also developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, fluoxetine and mirtazapine in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring. The MEPS process variables were optimized (pH, sample volume, ionic strength, draw-eject cycles volume and desorption conditions) to establish the sorption equilibrium in a short time analysis and to obtain adequate analytical sensitivity for determination of antidepressants within therapeutic range. The developed MEPS/LC-UV method allowed integration of the analytes desorption and sample injection in the chromatographic system (LC-UV) in a single step, using a MEPS extraction microsyringe. The MEPS extraction phase, M1 (C8/SCX) was reused over 50 times with minimum loss of extraction efficiency, proving the robustness of the sorbent material. According to the evaluated analytical validation parameters, the developed MEPS/LC-UV method is suitable for the determination of antidepressants in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring.

O desenvolvimento e utilização de novos materiais, mais leves e com propriedades mecânicas superiores aos atuais, se mostram extremamente importantes devido à redução de peso e consequentemente redução na emissão de gases poluentes que poderiam gerar. As ligas de Fe-Mn-C com elevados teores de Mn (20-30%) representam um desenvolvimento muito recente de aços austeníticos, que, através dos seus mecanismos diferenciados de deformação reúnem elevada resistência mecânica com grande ductilidade. Essa nova classe de materiais estruturais possibilita uma efetiva redução de custos na produção através do reduzido tempo de processamento (sem a necessidade de tratamentos térmicos especiais e de processamentos termomecânicos controlados). A soldagem é, atualmente, o mais importante processo de união de metais usado no setor industrial. Dentro da variada gama de processos de soldagem existentes, a soldagem por fricção e mistura mecânica (SFMM, em inglês: Friction Stir Welding - FSW) se destaca por ser um processo de união no estado sólido que apresenta uma série de vantagens sobre as tecnologias convencionais de soldagem por fusão. Do ponto de vista metalúrgico, uma das suas principais vantagens se manifesta justamente na junção de materiais dissimilares, visto que o grau de mistura de composições e as transformações de fases entre materiais incompatíveis podem ser minimizados. Outra vantagem é que há um refino de grão no cordão de solda comparado com a microestrutura fundida que se forma nos processos convencionais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo produzir em escala laboratorial os aços de alta liga ao manganês com efeito TRIP, avaliar o impacto da velocidade de rotação da ferramenta na soldagem por fricção e mistura mecânica e avaliar a microestrutura e propriedades mecânicas das juntas soldadas. A microestrutura das juntas soldadas caracterizou-se pela presença apenas da zona de mistura e do metal base, além da formação de \'anéis de cebola\' na zona de mistura, esta não mostrou sinais de transformação martensítica induzida por deformação e sofreu recristalização dinâmica para todas as velocidades de rotação investigadas com a formação de grãos refinados e com morfologia equiaxial. Os corpos de tração fraturaram todos nos metais de base, mostrando que as propriedades mecânicas da zona de mistura foram superiores à do metal base e que a variação de aporte térmico alcançada com a velocidade de rotação da ferramenta não comprometeu a qualidade das juntas soldadas. / The development and application of new light materials with superior mechanical properties is extremely important to weight reduction in vehicles and consequently reduction of greenhouse gases emission. The Fe-Mn-C steels with high Mn (20-30%) are a recent development of austenitic steels, which, due to their different mechanisms of deformation, possesses high strength and high ductility as well. In addition, this new type of structural steel allows an effective reduction of manufacturing costs due to its reduced processing time (it does not require special heat treatments and controlled thermo mechanical processing). Welding has been one of the most important processes for joining metals. Among the available welding processes, friction stir welding (FSW) is notable for being a solid state process with great advantages over the conventional welding methods. In the mettalurgical point of view, welding dissimilar materials is a significant advantage of FSW over the other process. The main reason is the reduction of mixture of material and phase transformations between the incompatible materials in the weld. Moreover, grain refinement is another advantage from the process. The present study aimed to produce laboratorial scale high Mn steels with TRIP effect, investigate the impact of tool speed ont the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints. The microstructure of the welded joints exhibited only the stirred zone (SZ) and the base material (BM), besides the presence of ´onion rings´ within the stirred zone. The SZ exhibited no signs of martensite suggesting that dynamic recrystallization have occurred for all the speed tested. Moreover, the grains in the SZ had equiaxial morphology and were significantly refined. The fracture of the tensile specimens occurred in the base material, bringing to light that the welding process was beneficial to the mechanical properties. Furthermore, the variation of heat input achieved with the speed did not compromise the quality of welded joints.

A monitorização terapêutica tem sido descrita como um recurso clínico valioso, na individualização do regime de dosagem, de acordo com a concentração do fármaco em amostras de plasma ou soro. O objetivo da monitorização terapêutica é assegurar a eficácia clínica e minimizar os efeitos adversos dos fármacos prescritos na clínica. A química analítica moderna tem sido direcionada para a simplificação dos métodos através da miniaturização dos sistemas analíticos, minimização do consumo de solvente orgânico e do volume da amostra. Neste contexto, metodologias analíticas utilizando as técnicas de microextração, extração sortiva em barra de agitação (SBSE) e microextração em sorvente empacotado (MEPS), juntamente com a eletroforese capilar em solução não-aquosa (NACE) foram desenvolvidas para fins monitorização terapêutica de antidepressivos inibidores seletivos da recaptação de serotonina (ISRSs: fluoxetina, sertralina, paroxetina e citalopram) em amostras de plasma de pacientes em terapia com ISRSs. Inicialmente foram padronizadas as condições eletroforéticas com detecção espectrofotométrica (UV) para análise simultânea dos ISRSs em amostras de plasma. Dentre as condições avaliadas (diferentes soluções de eletrólitos em meio aquoso e não aquoso, cromatografia eletrocinética micelar e NACE), a técnica NACE-UV foi a única que apresentou resolução dos fármacos adequada. Em seguida, otimizou-se as variáveis inerentes das técnicas de microextração (SBSE e MEPS), visando minimizar o tempo de análise e aumento da sensibilidade analítica. Para o método SBSE/NACE, as variáveis tempo e temperatura de extração, pH da amostra biológica e processo de dessorção foram otimizadas, já para o método MEPS/NACE, as variáveis, pH da amostra biológica, volume da amostra e número dos ciclos aspirar/dispensar foram otimizadas. A validação analítica foi realizada segundo as normas preconizadas pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA), com adição de padrão de padrão interno às amostras de plasma enriquecidas com os antidepressivos em diferentes concentrações plasmáticas que contemplam o intervalo terapêutico dos ISRSs. Para avaliar a aplicabilidade das metodologias padronizadas, amostras de plasma de pacientes em terapia com os ISRSs foram analisadas. Os métodos padronizados (SBSE/NACE e MEPS/NACE) foram comparados ao método de referência (LLE/NACE), utilizando a extração líquido-líquido. As técnicas de microextração, quando comparadas à LLE, apresentaram as seguintes vantagens: a reutilização das fases extratoras, procedimentos de extração com reduzido número de etapas, menores volumes de amostras biológicas e de solventes orgânicos. Segundo os parâmetros de validação avaliados, os métodos SBSE/NACE e MEPS/NACE padronizados podem ser empregados nas análises dos antidepressivos (ISRSs) em amostras de plasma, para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / Therapeutic monitoring allows individualization of the dose regimen and has been indicated for the monitoring of well-established therapeutic intervals. In psychiatric disorders, most of the patients require that the plasmatic concentrations to be within a fixed range, so the disorders are kept under control and the adverse effects are acceptable. The aim of the therapeutic monitoring is ensure clinical effectiveness and minimization of adverse effects of drugs prescribed at the clinic. New trends in analytical chemistry have been directed towards simplification and miniaturization of analytical systems, and minimization of organic solvents and sample volume. In this work, analytical methodologies using microextraction techniques, such as stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS), in conjunction with capillary electrophoresis in a nonaqueous background electrolyte (NACE) were developed for therapeutic drug monitoring of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs: fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine and citalopram) in plasma sample of patients in therapy with SSRIs. First, the optimization of electrophoretic separation of the SSRIs was carried out to obtain simultaneous analysis of all antidepressants. Among the conditions evaluated (different background electrolytes in aqueous and nonaqueous medium, micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, and NACE), NACE-UV gave the best results. In the sequence, the optimization of the inherent variables of microextraction techniques (SBSE and MEPS)aiming analyses time minimization and increase of analytical sensibilitywas carried out. For SBSE/NACE methodology development the variables such as time of extraction, temperature of extraction, and matrix pH were optimized. For MEPS/NACE methodology the variables matrix pH and the volume of draw-eject cycles were optimized. Analytical validation was carried out in agreement with the norms of National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) for both of the proposed methods, in different plasmatic concentrations, which completed the therapeutic interval. The developed methods (SBSE/NACE e MEPS/NACE) were compared to the reference method, using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE/NACE). Microextraction techniques, compared to LLE, gave the following advantages: reutilization of the extraction phase, fewer numbers of steps for extraction, reduction of sample volume, and less consumption of organic solvents. According to the evaluated validation parameters, the standardized methods SBSE/NACE and MEPS/NACE can be used in the analyses of antidepressants (SSRIs) in plasma sample for therapeutic drug monitoring purposes.

A monitorização terapêutica permite a individualização do regime de dosagem, assegurando a eficácia clínica e minimizando os efeitos adversos dos fármacos, prescritos na clínica. Os antidepressivos têm sido monitorados, pois, apresentam intervalos terapêuticos bem estabelecidos, ou seja, a maioria dos pacientes, que apresentam concentrações plasmáticas dentro deste intervalo fixo, tem as desordens psiquiátricas mantidas sob controle e efeitos adversos aceitáveis. Os antidepressivos tricíclicos (ADTs): imipramina, amitriptilina, nortriptilina e desipramina, embora eficazes e ainda muito utilizados, apresentam efeitos adversos, não desejáveis. Os antidepressivos, inibidores seletivos da recaptação de serotonina (ISRSs): citalopram e sertralina, apresentam eficácia clínica comparável aos clássicos ADTs, mas destituídos dos efeitos adversos associados aos mesmos. Os métodos convencionais, empregados no tratamento de amostras biológicas, para análises de antidepressivos por técnicas cromatográficas, têm sido a extração líquido-líquido e extração em fase sólida. A extração sortiva em barra de agitação (SBSE), técnica recente de preparo de amostras para a préconcentração de compostos orgânicos presentes em amostras biológicas, baseiase na extração estática, através do polímero polidimetilsiloxano (PDMS), no qual ocorre a dissolução (sorção, partição) do analito. Neste trabalho, as técnicas SBSE e cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência foram avaliadas para a análise simultânea dos antidepressivos em amostras de plasma para fins de monitorização terapêutica. As condições cromatográficas de análise, assim como as variáveis SBSE de extração (tempo, temperatura, força iônica, pH da matriz) e tempo de dessorção, foram otimizadas, visando adequada sensibilidade analítica. A validação analítica foi realizada segundo normas da ANVISA, em diferentes concentrações plasmáticas, as quais contemplam o intervalo terapêutico. O método SBSE/HPLC padronizado apresentou linearidade na faixa de concentração plasmática de 20 a 1000 ng mL-1, precisão interensaio com coeficientes de variação menor que 14% e recuperação relativa de 83 a 110%. Segundo a validação analítica, a metodologia SBSE/HPLC apresentou linearidade, alta sensibilidade, seletividade e precisão analítica adequadas para a análise dos antidepressivos: imipramina, amitriptilina, nortriptilina, desipramina, citalopram e sertralina, em amostra de plasma, para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / Therapeutic drug monitoring allows individualization of drug dosage assuring its clinical efficacy and at the same time minimizing adverse effects of the drugs prescribed in clinics. The antidepressants have been monitored since they present a very well established therapeutic interval. In this sense, most of the patients whose plasmatic concentrations are ranged at that interval present psychiatric disorders under control and drug adverse effects at bearable levels. Despite tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as imipramine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline and desipramine are highly efficient and widely used, they also present undesirable adverse effects. The antidepressants: citalopram and sertraline, which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), present clinical efficacy comparable to the classic TACs, but with no adverse effects associated to the last ones. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) have been usually employed in biological sample pre-treatment for chromatographic analysis. A new technique named sorptive stir bar extraction (SBSE) for sample pre-concentration of organic compounds from biological samples was recently proposed. This technique is based on static extraction through the polymer polidimetilsiloxane (PDMS), in which analyte sorption occurs. In this work, SBSE and HPLC techniques have been evaluated for out antidepressants simultaneous analysis in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring. The chromatographic conditions of analysis, as well as SBSE parameters (time, temperature, ionic strength, matrix pH, desorption time) have been optimized in order to obtain best analytical sensitivity. Analytical validation was carried out according to the norms established by ANVISA, in different plasmatic concentrations, which represent the therapeutic interval. The SBSE/HPLC method developed showed linearity in a concentration plasmatic ranging from 20 to 1000 ng mL-1, inter assay precision with coefficient of the variation lower than 14%, and relative recovery from 83 a 110%. Based on analytical validation, the SBSE/HPLC methodology showed good linearity, high sensitivity, selectivity and suitable repeatability to the analyzed antidepressants: imipramine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, desipramine, citalopram and sertraline in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Le procédé Cold Spray (CS) ou projection à froid a été largement étudié en raison de son rendement de projection et de la conservation des propriétés du matériau de départ. Donc, ce procédé a montré des avantages évidents sur la fabrication de différents dépôts à base de cuivre et de ses alliages par rapport à d'autres techniques, comme l’électrodéposition, le Laser Cladding ou la projection thermique. Parmi les alliages de cuivre, le laiton s’implante dans les domaines de l'architecture ou de l'industrie. Malheureusement, aujourd’hui force est de constater qu’il n’existe que très peu de travaux sur les revêtements en laiton qui ne sont réalisés d’ailleurs que par électrodéposition et par aucune autre méthode d’élaboration limitant sérieusement leur utilisation dans de nombreuses applications.Cette thèse s’est appliquée à élaborer des revêtements de laiton et des composites à matrice laiton. La poudre d'alliage de laiton Muntz de composition Cu60Zn40, présentant une résistance à la corrosion parmi les meilleures, a été choisie comme matériau de base des revêtements. Deux méthodes de projection permettant d’éviter les phénomènes d’oxydation ont été sélectionnées : la projection à froid et la projection basse pression. La comparaison entre les deux procédés sur les microstructures, phases, textures, propriétés mécaniques, comportements à l’usure et en corrosion du revêtement Cu60Zn40 a été étudié. De plus, les recherches de ce travail ont porté sur l’optimisation du revêtement par le post-traitement de friction malaxage et par ajout de différents renforts céramiques. Les effets du post-traitement par friction malaxage sur les microstructures, phases, textures, et propriétés mécaniques et les effets des types de renfort et de leurs quantités dans les revêtements composites sur les microstructures, les phases, les propriétés mécaniques et thermiques et les comportements à la corrosion ont été analysés. Les gains de performance obtenus à la fin de cette étude sont finalement concrétisés par la réparation d’une pièce endommagée en Cu60Zn40 avec l’étude des microstructures interfaciales entre le revêtement composite Cu60Zn40 et le substrat Cu60Zn40 ainsi que la détermination des propriétés mécaniques et des comportements tribologiques. / Cold Spray (CS) has been widely investigated owing to its high deposition efficiency and retention of the properties of starting materials. Thus, this process has shown obvious advantages over the fabrication of different copper-based deposits and its alloys over other techniques, such as electroplating, Laser Cladding or thermal spraying. As one of the main copper alloys, brass is implanted in the fields of architecture or industry. Nevertheless, nowadays it is clear that there is very little work on brass coatings, and they were mainly made by electroplating and any other deposition methods, which has severely limits their uses in many applications.This study was applied to develop the brass coatings and its composites. The Muntz brass alloy powder of Cu60Zn40, which shows the best corrosion resistance, was selected to manufacture the brass coatings. Two projection methods were used, i.e. Cold Spraying and Vacuum Plasma Spraying (VPS), avoiding the oxidation. The comparison study of spraying processes on the microstructures, the phases, the textures, the mechanical properties, and the wear and corrosion behaviors of the Cu60Zn40 coatings was carried out. In addition, this work also focused on the optimization of the coatings either by applying the post-treatment of friction stir processing (FSP), or by adding different ceramic reinforcements. The effects of FSP on the microstructures, the phases, the textures and the mechanical properties of coating and the effects of reinforcement types and their amounts in composite coatings on the microstructures, the phases, the mechanical and thermal properties and the corrosion behaviors were revealed. At the end of this study, the obtained performance will ultimately be realized by repairing the damaged part of Cu60Zn40 alloy, and the studies on the interfacial microstructures between the Cu60Zn40 composite coating and the Cu60Zn40 substrate as well as the mechanical properties and the tribological behaviors between were performed.

Efforts to reduce vehicle weight and improve crash performance have resulted in increased application of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) and a recent focus on the weldability of these alloys. Resistance spot welding (RSW) is the primary sheet metal welding process in the manufacture of automotive assemblies. Integration of AHSS into the automotive architecture has brought renewed challenges for achieving acceptable welds. The varying alloying content and processing techniques has further complicated this initiative. The current study examines resistance spot welding of high strength and advance high strength steels including high strength low alloy (HSLA), dual phase (DP) and a ferritic-bainitic steel (590R). The mechanical properties and microstructure of these RSW welded steel alloys are detailed. Furthermore a relationship between chemistries and hardness is produced. The effect of strain rate on the joint strength and failure mode is also an important consideration in the design of welded structures. Current literature, however, does not explain the effects of weld microstructure and there are no comprehensive comparisons of steels. This work details the relationship between the joint microstructure and impact performance of spot welded AHSS. Quasi-static and impact tests were conducted using a universal tensile tester and an instrumented drop tower, respectively. Results for elongation, failure load and energy absorption for each material are presented. Failure modes are detailed by observing weld fracture surfaces. In addition, cross-sections of partially fractured weldments were examined to detail fracture paths during static loading. Correlations between the fracture path and mechanical properties are developed using observed microstructures in the fusion zone and heat-affected-zone. Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) has proven to be a potential candidate for spot welding AHSS. A comparative study of RSW and FSSW on spot welding AHSS has also been completed. The objective of this work is to compare the microstructure and mechanical properties of Zn-coated DP600 AHSS (1.2mm thick) spot welds conducted using both processes. This was accomplished by examining the metallurgical cross-sections and local hardnesses of various spot weld regions. High speed data acquisition was also used to monitor process parameters and attain energy outputs for each process.