Jérémie De Baerdemaeker

Probing the molecular level of polyimide-based solvent resistant nanofiltration membranes with positron annihilation spectroscopy

Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) has been performed to link fundamental polymer properties to membrane performance, more specifically for polyimide (PI)-based solvent-resistant nanofiltration membranes. Laboratory-made membranes with well-known properties were applied first to define proper pretreatment conditions for the membrane to allow PAS-analysis and to allow more correct linking of PAS results to membrane properties. This knowledge was then applied to probe the structure of commercial PI-based Starmem membranes.

Effect of Mn on the Nanoprecipitation in Binary Fe-Cu alloys

Effect of the third alloying element Mn on Cu-precipitation was studied in a binary Fe-1.3% Cu alloy. Precipitation in both the alloys was investigated after homogenization treatment and subsequent artificial aging. Advanced characterization techniques such as Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) and Tomographic Atom Probe (TAP) were used to establish the chemical composition, morphology, size and number density of the Cu-rich phases. Combined results of PAS and TAP were particularly useful in order to follow the Cu precipitation in the binary alloy. At short aging times, addition of Mn significantly increased the kinetics of hardening while its effect on the magnitude of precipitation strengthening is only marginal. It further increases the over-aging kinetics.

Positron interaction in polymers

A series of dense copolyimide membranes was characterized using positron annihilation spectroscopy. The positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy performed on film with a classical positron source gives informations on the positronium fraction formed and also on the hole size within the film. The Doppler broadening spectra (DBS) of the gamma annihilation rays coupled with a variable energy positron beam allow the microstructural analyses as a function of the film depth. Experimental data were also linked to the chemical structure of the polyimides. It was found that the presence of the fluorine atoms strongly affects the positron annihilitation process and especially the DBS responses.

Positron Implantation and Transmission Experiments on Free-Standing Nanometric Polymer Films

Positron transmission experiments were performed on free-standing poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) films of nanometric thicknesses made by spin coating. The power_law equation z1/2(E) )=(α/ρ)En was determined from the measurements of the S-parameter as a function of the positron implantation energy. These transmission experiments indicate that n = 1.90(±0.08) and α = 1.33(±0.10) μg cm-2 which deviates from the values found by Algers et al. (n = 1.71(±0.05) and α = 2.8(±0.2) μg cm-2) and the commonly used parameters (n = 1.6 and α = 4.0 μg cm-2).

Seeking the Good Fitting Procedure of PALS Polymer Spectra

Positron annihilation lifetime measurements on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) at low temperature were performed. Different discrete fitting procedures have been used to analyze the experimental data. It shows that the extracted parameters depend strongly on the fitting procedure. The physical meaning of the results is discussed. The blob model seems to give the best annihilation parameters.