This work proposes an extension of a sol-gel based synthesis route for obtaining highly hydrophobic, uniformly nanosized and stable precursor solutions of lead zirconate titanate [Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 or PZT (1-x)/x] for any given (1-x)/x Zr:Ti ratio. Several representative PZT compositions were chosen and their precursors were studied by taking into account the time dependence of the mean particles size andthe predominant aggregation kinetics. Size distributions were recorded by the Dynamic Light Scattering technique and the aggregation kinetics was explored by considering a Diffusion-Limited Colloidal Aggregation model. Transmission electron microscopy was also used to characterize some morphological features of our resultant precursor nanoparticles. Our final results supports the universalization of this approach to any PZT composition and its extension to other material systems. This work is intended to be the first on a series dealing with the sol-gel based synthesis of any PZT material at any scale using a bottom-up approach.

This work presents a review of computational models that use the Finite Elements Method (FEM) for the study of composite materials mechanical behavior, focusing the analysis in materials reinforced by particles or fibers. Bibliographic analysis shows that using FEM it is possible to successfully estimate the effect on the composites mechanical properties, of parameters such as the reinforcement type, volumetric fraction, orientation, aspect ratio and size. This review showed that the most studied property is Young´s modulus, as well as the models that favor the geometry decrease using the computational advantages. Future work that needs attention is addressed.

En este trabajo se presenta una revisión bibliográfica de modelos computacionales que utilizan el Método de los Elementos Finitos (MEF) para el estudio del comportamiento mecánico de los materiales compuestos, enfocándose el análisis en materiales reforzados por partículas o fibras. El análisis realizado muestra que el MEF permite estimar, de manera efectiva, la influencia sobre las propiedades mecánicas de los materiales compuestos, de factores como el reforzante, su fracción volumétrica, orientación, relación de aspecto y tamaño. Esta revisión mostró que la propiedad más estudiada es el módulo de Young, así como los modelos que favorecen la disminución de la geometría utilizando las ventajas computacionales. Se destaca el trabajo futuro que requiere atención.