Magnetic nanoparticles that display high saturation magnetization and high magnetic susceptibility are of great interest for medical applications. Nanomagnetite is particularly desirable because it displays strong ferrimagnetic behavior, and is less sensitive to oxidation than magnetic transition metals such as cobalt, iron, and nickel. Magnetite nanoparticles can be prepared by co-precipitating iron (II) and iron (III) chloride salts in the presence of ammonium hydroxide at pH 9-10. One goal of this work has been to develop a generalized methodology for stabilizing nanomagnetite dispersions using well-defined, non-toxic, block copolymers, so that the resultant magnetite-polymer complexes can be used in a range of biomedical materials. Hydrophilic triblock copolymers with controlled concentrations of pendent carboxylic acids were prepared. The triblock copolymers contain carboxylic acids in the central urethane segments and controlled molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) tail blocks. They were utilized to prepare hydrophilic-coated iron oxide nanoparticles with biocompatible materials for utility in magnetic field guidable drug delivery vehicles. The triblock copolymers synthesized contain 3, 5, or 10 carboxylic acids in the central segments with Mn values of 2000, 5000 or 15000 g/mol poly(ethylene oxide) tail blocks. A method was developed for preparing ~10 nm diameter magnetite surfaces stabilized with the triblock polymers. The carboxylic acid is proposed to covalently bind to the surface of the magnetite and form stable dispersions at neutral pH. The polymer-nanomagnetite conjugates described in this thesis have a maximum of 35 wt. % magnetite and the nano-magnetite particles have an excellent saturation magnetization of ~66 - 78 emu/g Fe3O4. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the magnetite crystal structure, which appears to be approximately single crystalline structures via electron diffraction spectroscopy analysis (EDS). These materials form stable magnetic dispersions in both water and organic solvents. / Ph. D.

Résumé : Le développement des matériaux composites et leur utilisation dans le domaine du génie civil ont fait l’objet d’une recherche extensive sur le renforcement des structures en béton armé. Dans ce contexte, les études sur la compréhension du comportement structural des tubes en matériaux composites (Polymère renforcé en Fibre, PRF) sont indispensables. De fait que les matériaux composites sont innovateurs, cela nous exige de procéder à des investigations expérimentales approfondies pour vérifier les hypothèses et les théories, avant de les produire à échelle industrielle. Ce projet présente une étude expérimentale approfondie sur l’évaluation des propriétés physiques et mécaniques des nouveaux tubes en matériaux composites (PRF), et des tests sur la durabilité du matériau utilisé, et permet d’étudier l’influence de quelques facteurs environnementaux sur ces propriétés mécaniques, ces conditions sont simulées par une immersion prolongée en milieu aqueux et l'exposition à des cycles gel-dégel en milieu humide. Les tubes considérés sont produits par le procédé d’enroulement filamentaire à l’aide des fibres de verre (E) et de résine (Vinyle-Ester). Les expérimentations seront effectuées sur des échantillons normalisés prélevés à partir du tube. Les résultats de cette étude sont d’une importance cruciale pour comprendre le comportement structural (avant et après un vieillissement accéléré) des nouveaux tubes fabriqués entièrement en polymères renforcés de fibres par le procédé de l’enroulement filamentaire. // Abstract : The development of composite materials and their integration in the field of civil engineering has been the subject of extensive research on strengthening reinforced concrete structures. In the perspective of strengthening concrete structures by tubes made of composite materials. In this context, the need for knowledge of the structural behaviour of tubes made from fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials is prominent. The large using of innovativeFRP required extensive theoretical and experimental investigations. This project presents an experimental study to evaluate both the physical and mechanical properties of FRP-composites tubes, and to investigate the impact of some environmental factors on their mechanical properties. The tubes are produced by a filament winding process using fibre (E)-glass and vinyl-Ester resin. The experiments will be performed on standardized samples of the tube. The main objective of this project is to assess the physical and mechanical properties of laminated FRP composites, and then test the durability of the material used in the manufacture of the tubes. It leads to the study of the effects of some environmental factors on the mechanical properties of material. These conditions occur during an immersion in an aqueous medium and exposure to freeze-thaw cycles. The results of this study are crucial to understand the structural behavior (before and after accelerated aging) of new FRP tubes made by filament winding process.

This thesis focuses on transport properties and durability of liquid crystalline polymers (LCP)and fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) with regard to application in industrial process equipment.In the first part of the study the possibility of using a thermotropic LCP of type Vectra A950as lining material for FRP process equipment was investigated. Its performance wascompared to that of a fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP) with respect tochemical and permeation resistance. Transport property and chemical resistance data wereestablished for different types of LCP film (compression molded, uniaxially and biaxiallyoriented film) exposed to selected chemicals chosen to represent typical industrial processenvironments. Annealing of the LCP, which may reduce the disclination density and henceimprove the barrier properties, induced a crystallinity increase, but did not significantlyimprove the barrier and chemical resistance properties. Different surface treatments toincrease the bonding between the LCP and FRP were explored. The conclusion was that LCPhas potential to serve as lining material for FRP in contact with water, organic solvents andnon-oxidizing acid environments, although certain issues, such as jointing techniques, stillhave to be evaluated. The second part of the study focused on transport and long-termproperties of commercial thermoset and FRP materials for industrial process equipment inaqueous environments (50 – 95 °C, water activity 0.78 – 1, exposure time ≤ 1000 days). Thewater transport properties in different thermosets were related to their chemical structureusing the solubility parameter concept. The transport of water in the thermosets with differentchemical structures could be predicted from the water activity, regardless of the actual type ofionic or non-ionic solute in the solution. An empirical relationship, independent of boththermoset chemistry and temperature, was established to describe the water concentration inthe thermoset as a function of water activity and the water concentration in pure water. Inlong-term, the water concentration in the thermosets increased with exposure time. Thisseemed to be primarily related to stress relaxation processes induced by water absorption andcertain leaching effects. The effects of hydrolysis seemed to be small. The glass fibrereinforcement may to various extents affect the water transport properties by capillarydiffusion and additional absorption around fibre bundles. The extent of such processesseemed to depend on temperature, water activity and the type of thermoset and reinforcement.The present work may be a useful contribution to an increased understanding of water effectsand durability of FRP process equipment. However, open questions still remain for a morecomprehensive durability analysis. / QC20100629

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