Synthesis of aluminum oxides from the products of the rapid thermal decomposition of hydrargillite in a centrifugal flash reactor: II. Structural and textural properties of aluminum hydroxide and oxide obtained from the product of the centrifugal thermal activation of hydrargillite (CTA product)

The basic properties of aluminum hydroxide compounds, namely, the flash product and the centrifugal thermal activation (CTA) product both before and after heat treatment at 400–1100°C are considered. The hydration conditions for obtaining 100% pseudoboehmite from the CTA product are determined. The structure, morphology, and texture of pseudoboehmite aluminum hydroxide synthesized from the CTA product and of the aluminum oxides obtained from this hydroxide in the temperature range 600–1100°C are described.     

Synthesis of aluminum oxides from the products of the rapid thermal decomposition of hydrargillite in a centrifugal flash reactor: II. Physicochemical properties of the products obtained by the centrifugal thermal activation of hydrargillite

A variety of physicochemical methods were used to characterize the product of the rapid thermal decomposition of hydrargillite in a centrifugal flash reactor under the following conditions: the average particle size of the reactant, 80–120 μm; the temperature of the solid heating surface (plate or cylinder), 300–700°C; hot-zone residence time, ～1 s; transfer of the product to the cooled zone of the reactor. The composition of the product and the extent of decomposition of hydrargillite were determined as a function of the processing temperature. The centrifugal thermal activation (CTA) of hydrargillite affords an X-ray-amorphous, highly reactive product with a developed surface and a disordered and inhomogeneous porous structure. This structure is capable of forming different modifications of aluminum hydroxide and oxide. The properties of the CTA product are compared with the properties of the earlier reported hydrargillite rapid decomposition products obtained using a gaseous heat-transfer agent (thermochemical activation product) or a fluidized bed of a granular heat-transfer agent (thermal dispersion product).     

The heat of wetting of aluminum hydroxyoxide obtained by the thermal activation of hydrargillite

Changes in the volume and surface properties of thermally activated hydrargillite, so-called centrifugal thermal activation (CTA) product (empirical formula Al₂O₃ · 0.85H₂O), during its calcining in air with gradually increasing temperature from 90 to 1100°C were studied. At each stage of calcining, weight loss, phase composition, texture characteristics, and the heat of wetting with water at 25°C were determined. Measurements of the heat of wetting showed that the energy and, therefore, chemical state of the surface changed during thermal treatment. The data obtained were used to calculate the heats of adsorption q _ads of water vapor by CTA samples with different water contents; the range of q _ads variations was 50–250 kJ/mol. The values obtained are compared with literature data.     

Physicochemical properties of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> (anatase) prepared by the centrifugal thermal activation of hydrated titanium dioxide

The physicochemical properties of titania (anatase) prepared from hydrated titanium dioxide by centrifugal thermal activation (CTA) at 140–700°C were studied. It was found that the microstructure and the texture parameters of anatase prepared by the above method were considerably different from those of the samples prepared by the traditional thermal decomposition of titanium hydroxide. The conditions of centrifugal activation exerted a considerable effect on the structure and the texture parameters of the resulting anatase. The crystal structure of anatase prepared at a temperature lower than 650°C was imperfect, and it approached a regular structure only at a temperature of >650°C. At temperatures higher than 300°C, the samples of TiO₂ prepared using CTA were characterized by higher specific surface areas, fine pore structures, and comparable mesopore volumes, as compared with the samples prepared by commonly used synthetic methods.     

Structure and electric conductivity of vapor deposition polymerization products of cyanoacetylene

Cyanoacetylene can be polymerized from the vapor state onto an inactive surface of substrate at a temperature as low as 200°C. The polymerization first occurs by way of the carbon–carbon triple bond. The reaction product obtained at 1000°C contains nitrogen at a concentration as high as 13.7%. At least some of this nitrogen is in naphtiridine ring or rings similar to it. The product obtained at 400°C is amorphous, while the product obtained at 1000°C has at least partly graphite-like crystalline structures with an apparent crystallite size (L_c) of about 17 Å. The electric conductivities of the products obtained at 400, 700, and 1000°C are 7.7 × 10^?2, 91, and 1600 S/cm, respectively. These values are extremely high compared to the pyrolized PAN treated at the same temperature. Electric conductivity of the product obtained at 400°C is well explained by the variable range hopping model in 3-dimensional amorphous materials. With the products obtained at the higher temperatures, conductivity cannot be accounted for by the hopping model. This is probably due to the development of graphite-like structure.     

Properties of aluminium oxides obtained by calcination of the products of reductive roasting of basic aluminium-potassium sulfate

The influence of calcination conditions on changes in phase composition and porous structure was studied for hydrous aluminium oxide, obtained by leaching out potassium salts from the products of roasting basic aluminium-potassium sulfate in hydrogen atmosphere at 600°C. The product of calcination at 350°C in vacuum has the most developed porous structure with most pores of internal radius within 10–60 Å. Calcination in air atmosphere at temperatures 700, 800, 900, or 1000°C resulted in decrease of specific surface of aluminium oxide and increase of the share of pores with internal radius above 60 Å in the overall porosity of the samples. The reconstruction of the porous structure proceeds mainly as a result of coalescent sintering.     

Structural investigation of water‐induced phase transitions of poly(ethylene imine). III. The thermal behavior of hydrates and the construction of a phase diagram

The thermal behavior of poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) hydrates in a water vapor atmosphere was investigated through temperature‐dependent measurements of infrared spectra and X‐ray diffraction. Almost perfectly dried anhydrate melted at about 60 °C during the heating process. Anhydrate containing a small amount of water showed a phase transition to a mixture of hemihydrate and sesquihydrate around 40 °C, at which point the ethylene imine (EI)/water ratio was 1/0.5 in the hemihydrate and 1/1.5 in the sesquihydrate. The hemihydrate transferred to the sesquihydrate around 60 °C, and the latter melted above 80 °C. When the starting PEI sample contained a greater amount of water and consisted of hemihydrate and sesquihydrate, the hemihydrate transferred to the sesquihydrate via heating, and the latter melted around 75 °C. For a sample of dihydrate (EI/water ratio = 1/2) containing an appreciably large amount of water, it transferred to the sesquihydrate around 65 °C, and the latter melted above 90 °C. A sample of dihydrate with a much higher water content existed up to 110 °C and then melted; during this period, no transition to the sesquihydrate was observed. In this way, the starting crystalline phases were found to change for anhydrate and various types of hydrates. Their transition behaviors varied according to the water content. From these data, a phase diagram was successfully derived as a function of the temperature and water content. This phase diagram allowed us to predict the transition behavior during the hydration process at various constant temperatures. For example, at 60 °C, a molten sample should crystallize into a mixture of hemihydrate and sesquihydrate at first, and the hemihydrate should transfer to the sesquihydrate with increasing water content. The latter should change to the dihydrate in the final stage. This prediction was checked with time‐resolved measurements of X‐ray diffraction and infrared spectra during the hydration process at the corresponding temperature; this led to the establishment of the phase diagram. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2937–2948, 2003     

Synthesis and thermolysis of lithium aluminum double hydroxide containing [Fe(OH)Edta]<Superscript>2−</Superscript>

The reaction of the chloride form of lithium aluminum layered double hydroxide (Li-Al LDH) with an aqueous solution of NaFeEdta · 2H₂O (pH 3.7) was studied. Anion exchange of chloride ions for [FeEdta]^? anions almost does not occur under the conditions of our experiment. Increasing pH to 8.0 initiates anion exchange of chloride ions for [Fe(OH)Edta]^2? anions, generating Li-Al LDH, whose structure is built of metal-hydroxide layers [LiAl₂(OH)₆]⁺ and layers containing [Fe(OH)Edta]^2? anions and water molecules. Thermolysis of Li-Al-[Fe(OH)Edta] was studied in an inert atmosphere and in vacuo. Heating to 220°C mainly eliminates interlayer water molecules. A further rise in temperature induces the dehydration of metal-hydroxide layers and OH groups of [Fe(OH)Edta]^2? anions and the destruction of the organic component of the anionic complex. At 375°C, an X-ray amorphous product is formed, in which most iron is in the form of Fe²⁺ cations. With increasing thermolysis temperature to 450°C, a magnetically ordered solid phase containing Fe²⁺ cations appears. Further temperature elevation to 550°C generates an α-Fe phase.     

Effect of thermal treatment on the structure and texture of differently impregnated NiO/SiO2 catalysts

NiO/SiO₂ catalysts were prepared with Ni contents ranging from 2–15% using a microporous silica support at pH ~11.5. The role of the method of preparation on the resulting catalyst is also investigated. Structural and textural changes were followed using X-ray diffraction, TG and DTA techniques—the surface area measurements were carried out on the parent catalysts and those produced in the temperature range 250–1000°C.Impregnation of the silica gel in the nickel ammine complex solution (catalyst series 1N–4N) with subsequent drying at 80°C overnight produced crystalline catalysts with two distinct peaks at d-spacings of 2.035 and 2.349 Å resulting from a surface silicate. This is easily destroyed by thermal treatment at 250°C for Ni contents ? 10% but is stable to this temperature for the higher Ni content. Drying the catalyst at room temperature (3N_b) gives rise to an amorphous product. A non-crystalline catalyst is also obtained when concentrated ammonia solution is added to the adsorbed nickel salt (3N_c). At high Ni content, the hydroxo ligand becomes significant and results in a surface compound in which one silanol group is attacked. This gives rise to a crystalline product at 500°C with characteristic d-spacings at 2.201 and 2.049 Å which, subsequently, produces a poorly crystalline NiO product at 1000°C. The presence of this hydroxo ligand is manifested by a small endotherm at 260°C.At Ni contents below 15% but greater than 2% a small exotherm is observed at ~ 500°C resulting from a reduction process. Entrained SO₄^2? ions present as an impurity are evolved at temperatures & > 750°C and can be estimated by TG analysis.The specific surface area decreases with Ni contents ? 5% but increases for higher Ni contents. Catalyst samples containing 15% Ni possess the highest specific area at all temperatures.Pore structure analysis showed that microporosity increased with increase in Ni content for the catalyst series 1N–4N. Samples from preparations 3N_b and 3N_c showed more mesoporosity than that of 3N. Thermal treatment causes widening of the pores for catalysts 1N–3N becoming predominantly mesoporous, co-existing with some micropores. Catalyst samples with 15% Ni remained predominantly microporous-mesoporosity increasing only at 1000°C.     

Radical products of thermal decomposition of polydiphenylenesulfophthalide

The investigation of the vacuum thermal decomposition of polydiphenylenesulfophthalide at 100–530 °C showed that there are at least four main types of paramagnetic species (PMSs). The ESR spectrum of type I PMSs (120–250 °C) has a signal (g = 2.0028; ΔH ～1 mT) with a poorly resolved hyperfine structure (HFS) and an even number of lines. The electronic spectrum of these particles shows an absorption band at ～410 nm. These particles were assigned to “low-temperature” triarylmethyl-type radicals (TAMTR), which are apparently generated from dioxothioxanthene defect structures of the polymer. Type II PMSs (250–360 °C) give a smooth symmetrical ESR singlet (g = 2.0028; ΔH ～1 mT) and two absorption bands in the electronic spectrum at ～410 nm (strong band) and ～710 nm (weak band). Based on the results of calculations of electronic spectra for a series of model structures at the TD-DFT B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory, these PMSs were assigned to “high-temperature” TAMTR, which have a fluorenyl structure and are formed through the opening of the sulfophthalide ring. The maximum concentration of TAMTR II (～10²⁰ spin g^?1) is achieved at 320 °C. At T > 320 °C, type II radicals decay and type III radicals are generated. The latter are condensed aromatic species presumably having a phenalene structure. In the temperature range of 350–450 °C, the ESR line width and shape remain mainly unchanged, which attests to the retention of the dominant structure of the radicals. An increase in the thermal decomposition temperature to ～450 °C or above leads to a decrease in the ESR line width and a change in its shape from the Gaussian to Lorentzian type. This fact is an evidence of type IV paramagnetic species corresponding to even higher condensed aromatic structures.     

Characterization of annealed isotactic polypropylene in the solid state by 2D time‐domain 1H NMR

Two‐dimensional time‐domain ¹H NMR was used to investigate annealed isotactic polypropylene in the solid phase. The spin–lattice relaxation in the laboratory frame and in the rotating frame were correlated with the shape of the free induction decay to identify and characterize relaxation components over the temperature range −120 to 120 °C. Several phase transitions were observed, and three distinct solid phases, with different chain mobilities, were detected. Two of these phases were identified as regions with different mobilities within the crystalline phase. The third phase was characterized by a high degree of isotropy in molecular motion. This phase, identified as the amorphous phase, appeared as the polymer was heated above a low‐temperature (−45 °C) phase transition. All transitions observed at higher temperatures occurred exclusively in this phase. About one‐third of the polymer chains reside between crystalline lamellae, whereas the majority form amorphous regions outside fibrils of multilamellar structure. Furthermore, the glass‐to‐rubber transition, occurring above −15 °C, consists of three stages. During the first stage, between −15 °C and 15 °C, regions with an increased segment mobility (labeled intermediate phase) appear gradually within the amorphous phase. At 15 °C, the intermediate phase consists of ∼10% of the polymer units, or one‐third of the polymer units constituting the amorphous phase. Between 15 °C and 25 °C, the intermediate phase increases rapidly to 18%. This is associated with the appearance of semiliquid and liquid regions, likely within the intermediate phase. Polymer chain segments (and possibly entire chains) involved in the liquidlike phases exhibit heterogeneous molecular motion with a correlation frequency higher than 10⁶ Hz. These two stages of glass‐to‐rubber transition occur within amorphous regions outside multilamellar structures. The third stage of the glass transition, appearing above 70 °C, is associated with the upper glass transition and occurs within the interlamellar amorphous phase. Finally, on a timescale of 100 ms or less, spin diffusion does not couple the amorphous regions outside fibrils with crystalline and amorphous regions within multilamellar fibrils. However, on a timescale of hundreds of milliseconds to seconds, all different regions within isotactic polypropylene are partially coupled. It is proposed that the relative magnitude of the crystalline magnetization, as observed in the T_1ρ experiment, is a good measure of polymer crystallinity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2487–2506, 2000     

Improvement of acid resistance of Portland cement pastes using rice husk ash and cement kiln dust as additives

This paper represents a laboratory study on the acid resistance of hardened ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and blended OPC pastes at two different curing temperatures. The blended materials used are rice husk ash (RHA) and cement kiln dust (CKD). The blended cement pastes were prepared using a water/solid (W/S) ratio of 0.3. The effects of immersion in deionized water (pH 7) and sulfuric acid solutions (pH 1, 2 and 3) at two temperatures (20 and 50 °C) on the compressive strength and phase composition of the various hardened blended cement pastes were studied. The results of compressive strength revealed that the increase of curing temperature from 20 to 50 °C resulted in increase the reduction of compressive strength due to acid attack up 2 months, but the resistance to sulfuric acid attack increases after that time due to the formation of crystalline calcium silicate hydrates (CSH) which have higher resistance to acid attack than the amorphous CSH formed at the early ages of hydration. The presence of RHA and CKD improves the resistance to sulfuric acid attack at both curing conditions. From the results of X-ray diffraction analysis and differential scanning calorimetric technique curves, the main hydration products identified are CSH, portlandite, and calcium sulfoaluminate hydrates.     

Influence of the synthesis parameters on the thermal behavior of some ZnO–starch composites

Ten ZnO–starch composites were synthesized using a simple precipitation methodology. The IR spectroscopy and XRD investigations reveal the presence of amorphous starch and crystalline ZnO. The obtained composites present a spherical morphology, 5–8 spheres being interconnected into aggregates. The thermal analysis demonstrates that starch decomposition and ZnO thermally induced nucleation and crystal growth depending on the synthesis parameters such as starch processing (dissolution or gelatinization), reaction temperature (80, 90, and 100 °C), reaction time (15 min or 6 h), and applied treatments (heating or ultrasound irradiation).     

Thermoplasticity of sol–gel-derived titanoxanes chemically modified with benzoylacetone

Titanium tetra-n-butoxide was hydrolyzed in the presence of benzoylacetone (BzAc), and the solution obtained was concentrated and served for spin-coating or dropping on substrates, followed by successive drying at 120, 200 and 250 °C. The dried products were transparent and amorphous, and the infrared absorption and Raman spectroscopic studies showed that BzAc forms chelate rings. Thermomechanical analysis showed that the 120 and 200 °C-dried products showed steep, thermoplastic shrinkage at around 30 and 70–85 °C, respectively, whereas the 250 °C-dried product did not show thermoplasticity. Thus as the drying temperature was increased, the thermoplasticity appeared at a higher temperature and finally disappeared. These changes in thermoplasticity with drying temperature were concluded to result from the progress of condensation between titanoxane polymers and/or clusters, which was evidenced in gel permeation chromatographic analysis.     

Synthesis of yttrium orthoborate powders

Yttrium orthoborate YBO₃ is synthesized by calcining precursors precipitated with aqueous ammonium hydroxide from yttrium nitrate or yttrium chloride solutions (with concentrations ranging from 4.8 × 10^?3 to 0.0165 mol/L) and with a more than tenfold excess of boric acid. Single-phase YBO₃ is obtained at pH 5–6. Higher pHs result in the formation of mixtures of yttrium orthoborate and yttrium hydroxide phases. Dehydration occurs up to 288°C as shown by differential thermal analysis. Further heating induces crystallization. Addition of surfactants (polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or ammonium polyacrylate (APA)) to the starting solution in an amount of 1 wt % of the yttrium salt affects the sizes and shapes of the precipitated particles. YBO₃ platelets with nanometer thicknesses are obtained. The temperature of the low-temperature ? high-temperature vaterite phase transition in YBO₃ is 977°C upon heating and 640°C upon cooling.     

Rheological and thermal properties of a commercial liquid-crystalline polyesteramide

A commercial main-chain liquid-crystalline, naphthalene-based polyesteramide, was studied by three experimental techniques: extrusion capillary rheometry, dynamic viscoelasticity, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). From capillary rheometry a maximum at 360°C was observed in viscosity temperature curve. This result is compared with literature data for other thermotropics, and the possibility of a transition from a nematic to an isotropic phase is considered. The results obtained from dynamic viscoelasticity and DSC agree, and reveal the existence of a glass transition at 128°C (by DSC) and 137–147°C (by viscoelastic measurements, depending on frequency) as well as melting at 282°C. Annealing below 230°C produces two types of crystals, whereas annealing above this temperature gives rise to only one type of crystal, the melting temperature of which can be, depending on annealing time, as high as 340°C. The results are compiled in a phase diagram with six regions, four of them corresponding to the solid state, one to a liquid mesophase, and one to an isotropic phase.     

Effect of alkaline earth metal dopants on the thermal decomposition of the CaCO3-SiO2 system: Part II. Formation of dicalcium silicate

Mixtures of calcium oxide (taken as carbonate) and silica in 2:1 molar ratio containing varying amounts of MgO, SrCO₃ and BaCO₃ as dopants were subjected to thermal treatment up to 1450°C. The exothermic peaks at 1200°C and above (beyond the decomposition temperature of calcium carbonate) have been examined to elucidate the phases formed. The exothermic peak at 1210°C without dopant was found to conform to the β-dicalcium silicate phase with a significant amount of free lime and cristobalite along with small amounts of the γ-C₂S phase. MgO at 0.1–1% leads to the formation of β- and γ-dicalcium silicate phases at 1420–1430°C, while 5% MgO results in the formation of the β-C₂ S phase at 1360°C. SrCO₃, in the concentration range studied, leads to the stabilization of β-C₂S, but does not lower its temperature of formation. BaCO₃ at 0.1–1% assists in the formation of the β-dicalcium silicate phase, but 5% BaO forms a mixture of β- and α'_H-C₂S phases at a lower temperature.     

Hydrothermal treatment of microcrystalline cellulose under mild conditions: characterization of solid and liquid-phase products

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles were subjected to hydrothermal treatment using an autoclave with temperatures ranging from 200 to 250 °C and reaction times ranging from 20 to 100 min. The structure and chemical composition of the reacted solid phase was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The relative composition of the water-soluble products was determined by one-dimensional ¹H-NMR and two-dimensional homo and hetero-nuclear NMR spectroscopy. Within the experimental temperature and treatment time ranges, the crystallinity of the reacted solid phase was found to be mostly dependent on the treatment temperature while the aqueous solution was found to change with both temperature and treatment time. At the maximum temperature employed in this study (250 °C), the solid products are similar to amorphous oxidized carbon with glucose as the main water-soluble product. At lower temperatures the particles are unconverted MCC and the liquid products are primarily levulinic acid, formic acid and acetic acid with smaller quantities of 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural and glucose. Heterogeneous and liquid phase reaction-schemes are proposed to explain the observed solid and water-soluble products as a function of temperature and treatment time.     

Heterogeneously catalyzed efficient hydration of alkynes to ketones by tin-tungsten mixed oxides

The Sn–W mixed oxide prepared by calcination of the Sn–W mixed hydroxide precursor with a Sn/W molar ratio of 2:1 at 800 °C (SnW2‐800) acts as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the hydration of alkynes. Structurally diverse terminal and internal alkynes, including aromatic, aliphatic, and double‐bond‐containing ones, can be converted into the corresponding ketones in moderate to high yields. The catalytic activity of SnW2‐800 is much higher than those of previously reported heterogeneous catalysts and commonly utilized acid catalysts. The observed catalysis was truly heterogeneous, and the retrieved catalyst can be reused at least three times with retention of its high catalytic performance. The reaction rate for the SnW2‐800‐catalyzed hydration was decreased by addition of 2,6‐lutidine and the hydration hardly proceeded in the presence of an equimolar amount of this compound with respect to that of the Brønsted acid sites in SnW2‐800. Therefore, the present hydration is mainly promoted by the Brønsted acid sites in SnW2‐800.     

Thermal decomposition behavior of precursors for yttrium aluminum garnet

Precursor powders for yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) were synthesized by solution combustion reactions (nitrate–glycine reaction with stoichiometric and sub-stoichiometric amount of fuel) and simple decomposition of nitrate solution. The TG-DTA, FTIR and XRD analyses of the precursors and the typical heat-treated samples were carried out to understand the processes occurring at various stages during heating to obtain phase pure YAG. Precursors from all the reactions exhibited dehydration of adsorbed moisture in the temperature range of 30 to 300°C. The precursor from nitrate–glycine reaction with stoichiometric amount of fuel (precursor- A) contained entrapped oxides of carbon (CO and CO₂) and a carbonaceous contaminant. It exhibited burning away of the carbonaceous contaminant and crystallization to pure YAG accompanied by loss of oxides of carbon in the temperature ranges of 400 to 600 and 880 to 1050°C. The precursor from simple decomposition of nitrates (precursor-B) exhibited denitration cum dehydroxylation and crystallization in the temperature ranges of 300 to 600 and 850 to 1050°C. The precursor from nitrate–glycine reaction with sub-stoichiometric amount of fuel (precursor-C) contained entrapped carbon dioxide and exhibited its release during crystallization in the temperature range of 850 to 1050°C. This study established that, in case of metal nitrate–glycine combustion reactions, crystalline YAG formation occurs from an amorphous compound with entrapped oxides of carbon. In case of simple decomposition of metal nitrates, formation of crystalline YAG occurs from an amorphous oxide intermediate.