Papers by Author: S. Achour

Abstract: In this work, the hydroxyapatite was prepared from cortical bone after calcination at 700°C during 1 hour. In order to improve mechanical properties of HA, 5 wt% of the ZrO2 (stabilized with 12.0 wt% CeO2), Al2O3 and TiO2 were added to HA powder as a reinforcing phase. All the powders were sintered at 1300°C for 2 hours. The XRD was utilized to identify the phases composition. It was found that the initial calcined powder is hydroxyapatite with the following chemical composition Ca5(PO4)3OH. In addition, the phenolphthalein test has put into evidence the existence of free CaO. For powders containing ZrO2, the XRD spectra has showed a little percent of formed b-tricalcium phosphate (b-TCP); the HA was decomposed to (b-TCP) and CaO which forms with ZrO2 the calcium zirconate (CaZrO3). Nevertheless, in powders containing TiO2, the XRD spectra showed that a partial decomposition of HA to b-TCP was occurred with formation of calcium titanium oxide (CaTiO3). However, for powders containing Al2O3, a nearly full decomposition of HA to b-TCP was occurred, the free Al2O3 was present. Finally, it has been found that HA composites containing a large amount of b-tricalcium phosphate are resorbale than HA composites containing a small amount of b-TCP and they were not well densified. The microhardness values of HA- ZrO2 composites were greater than those of HA- Al2O3 and HATiO2 composites.

Abstract: Diopside CaMgSi2O6 is an attractive material because of its multi applications. It was prepared by sintering the mixture at different temperatures (900°C-1300°C). Starting materials were pure SiO2 and dolomite raw materials. In order to improve the properties of sintered samples, such as the density egg white (ovalbemin) has been added into diopside. Furthermore, the effect of P2O5 addition on the sintering of the prepared diopside in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 wt% was studied as a function of the sintering temperature. A density of 96.5% of theoretical has been achieved when 5.0 wt% P2O5 was added, at a sintering temperature of 1225°C, whereas the density of diopside samples, without P2O5 addition was lower than 83.0% of theoretical.

Abstract: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to investigate the effect of tantalum addition on the TiN thin films structure. Both the HRTEM and selected area electron diffraction have showed that the films possess a fine grained polycrystalline structure with an average grain size in the order of 10 nm. The chemical composition of the films was determined by the use of the Ti2p, N1s and Ta4f core level peaks. The analysis of Ta4f core level revealed the presence of Ta-N bond indicating that tantalum atoms can occupy the titanium sublattice sites. Moreover, the XPS spectra revealed the presence of Ta2O5 in the films.

Abstract: X-ray and UV photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and UPS were used for studying the oxidation of Er films deposited on Ta substrate under ultra-high vacuum.Oxidation has been carried out at room temperatue with an oxygen pressure of 2x10-5 mbar.Erbium exposition to oxygen produces ; Er2O3 and a hydoxide.Subjecting the sample to a post annealing treatment at 750 °C dissociates the hydroxide and produces additional Er2O3.UPS and XPS valence band gives evidence that the formed oxide is Er2O3.

Abstract: TiN films with different nitrogen contents were deposited on glass and Si (100) substrates by d. c. magnetron reactive sputtering. The structure of the films was determined by Xray diffraction. It was found that heat treatment at 773 decreased the lattice parameter. A considerable thermal instability of over-stoichiometric films was observed after annealing films in air. This instability enhanced with increasing nitrogen content and is characterized by an abundant appearance of clear and dark disks in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Also, it was shown that the film instability does not come from an interfacial reaction but was observed when the TiNx layers present a (200) preferred orientation together with high nitrogen content.