MOCVD of [(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(toluene)Ru 0 ] on copper and silicon substrates in a vertical cold-wall reactor led to the formation of thin metallic ruthenium films with low carbon content. The deposition was carried out by varying the substrate temperature (150±450 C), total pressure (100±500 mbar) and mean residence time (0.17±0.50 s). It was found that Ru films could be deposited at temperatures as low as 150 C. The exhaust gas was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and the deposited films were characterized by energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDX) and elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA). A correlation was found between the carbon content of the films and the presence of chemically modified ligands in the MOCVD exhaust gas. 1,5-Cyclooctadiene was identified as the main source for carbon incorporated into the deposited Ru films. C±H activation at the metallic ruthenium surface was regarded as the primary process of ligand degradation, which led to final carbon contamination.

The aim of this research project was to modify a conventional self-compacting concrete (SCC) for use in a slip-form paver. For this purpose, two alternatives were investigated: (1) thixotroping agents (concept A) that were added to the original concrete mix and (2) viscosity-increasing additives (concept B) that were intermixed shortly before the concrete was finally placed to reduce the concrete’s flowability. The investigations were performed preliminarily on pastes and mortars and only subsequently on concretes. For the modification of pastes and mortars, thixotroping additives mainly based on modified starches and modified polymers were used. For modification of the viscosity, superabsorbent polymers and naphthalene sulfonates in combination with polycarboxylate ether (PCE) were considered. The conducted investigations indicated that it is quite difficult to create slip-form SCC using thixotroping additives because the thixotropic effect is reversible and results in a low “green strength” when the concrete is mixed for a second time (e.g., during the delivery and placement process). When superabsorbent polymers and naphthalene sulfonate were added during the concrete placement, the stiffening effect was irreversible.