Influence of thermal treatment on the glass transition temperature of thermosetting epoxy laminate

The influence of accelerated thermal treatment of thermosetting epoxy laminate on its glass transition temperature was studied. Lamplex^® FR-4 glass fibre-reinforced epoxy laminate (used for printed circuit board manufacturing) was used in these experiments. The composite was exposed to thermal treatments at temperatures ranging from 170 °C to 200 °C for times ranging from 10 to 480 h. The glass transition temperature (T_g) was analysed via dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It has been proven that the glass transition temperature rapidly decreases in reaction to thermal stress. The obtained T_g data were used for Arrhenius plots for different critical temperatures (T_g-crit. = 105–120 °C). From their slopes (?E_a/R), the activation energy of the thermal degradation process was calculated as 75.5 kJ/mol. In addition to this main relaxation mechanism, DMA also recorded one smaller relaxation process in the most aged samples. Microscopic analysis of the sample structure showed the presence of pronounced small regions of degradation both on the surface and in the inner structure, which are probably the causes of microscopic delamination and the smaller relaxation process.     

Cationic concentration effects on electron beam cured of carbon-epoxy composites

Electron beam (e-beam) curing is a technology that offers advantages over the thermal curing process, that usually requires high temperature and are time-consuming. E-beam curing is faster and occurs at low temperatures that help reduce residual mechanical stresses in a thermoset composite. The aim of the present study is to analyze the effects of cationic initiator (diaryliodonium hexafluoroantimonate) ranged from 1 to 3 wt% in DGEBA (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) epoxy resin when cured by a 1.5 MeV electron beam. The specimens were cured to a total dose of 200.4 kGy for 40 min. Analyses by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) show that the e-beam irradiated samples with 2 wt% cationic initiator were 96% cured obtained a glass transition temperature (tan δ) of 167 °C. The same epoxy resin, thermally cured for 16 h with an anhydride hardener, reached a T_g (tan δ) of 136 °C. So, the irradiated sample had its T_g increased approximately 20% and the curing process was much less time consuming.     

Study of the relaxor behavior in BaTi1−xHfxO3 (0.20 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) ceramics

The influence of Hf doping on the structure and dielectric properties of BaTiO₃ has been studied. For this purpose Ba(Ti_1−xHf_x)O₃ ceramics were prepared through solid-state reaction route at close compositions, having x = 0.20, 0.22, 0.23 and 0.30. The study was aimed to locate the exact hafnium concentration for normal to relaxor crossover in these ceramics. X-ray diffraction followed by Rietveld refinement, reveals the formation of single phase with Pm3m cubic structure. Temperature and frequency dependence of real (ɛ′) and imaginary (ɛ″) parts of the dielectric permittivity have been studied in the temperature range of 90–350 K, at frequencies between 0.1 kHz and 100 kHz. The dielectric permittivity variations with temperature show deviation from Curie–Weiss behavior and strong frequency dispersion. The deviation from Curie–Weiss behavior, discontinuous jump along with the change in the slope of T_m vs Hf concentration plot, and the degree of relaxation (γ) approaching ∼2, indicate a crossover from normal to relaxor ferroelectrics. Substitution of Hf⁴⁺ for Ti⁴⁺ in BaTiO₃ introduces structural disorder, causing perturbations like local electric and strain fields. These perturbations reduce the long-range polar order resulting in relaxor behavior.     

Dielectric data of binary mixtures of 1,2-butanediol with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and 1,4-dioxane at T = (298.2, 308.2, and 318.2) K

Relative permittivity measurements were made on binary mixtures of (1,2-butanediol + 2-ethyl-1-hexanol) and (1,2-butanediol + 1,4-dioxane) for various concentrations at T = (298.2, 308.2, and 318.2) K. The molecular dipole moments were determined using Guggenheim–Debye method in the temperature range of (298.2 to 318.2) K. The variations of effective dipole moment and correlation factor, g, with the mole fraction in these materials were investigated using Kirkwood–Frohlich equation. The pure compounds showed a negative and small temperature coefficient of effective dipole moment. In order to obtain valuable information about heterogeneous interaction (interactions between the unlike molecules), the Kirkwood correlation factor, the Bruggeman dielectric factor and the excess permittivity were calculated. In addition, in order to predict the permittivity data of polar-apolar binary mixtures, five mixing rules were applied.     

Thermodynamic study on the sublimation of six methylnitrobenzoic acids

The Knudsen mass-loss effusion technique was used to measure the vapour pressures at different temperatures of the following six compounds: 2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid, between T =  357.16 K and T =  371.16 K; 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic acid, between T =  355.16 K and T =  369.16 K; 3-methyl-2-nitrobenzoic acid, between T =  371.16 K and T =  385.14 K; 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoic acid, between T =  363.21 K and T =  379.16 K; 4-methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid, between T =  363.10 K and T =  377.18 K; 5-methyl-2-nitrobenzoic acid, between T =  355.18 K and T =  371.08 K. From the temperature dependence of the vapour pressure, the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation were derived by the Clausius–Clapeyron equation and the molar entropies of sublimation at equilibrium pressures were calculated. Using estimated values for the heat capacity differences between the gas and the crystal phases of the studied compounds the standard, p^o =  10⁵Pa, molar enthalpies Δ_cr^gH_m^o, entropies Δ_cr^gS_m^oand Gibbs energies Δ_cr^gG_m^oof sublimation at T =  298.15 K, were derived:     

Relative permittivity data of binary mixtures containing 2-butanol, 2-butanone,and cyclohexane

Relative permittivity measurements were made on binary mixtures of (2-butanol + 2-butanone) and (2-butanol or 2-butanone + cyclohexane) for various concentrations at T = (298.2, 308.2, and 318.2) K. Some experimental results are compared with those obtained from theoretical calculations and interpreted in terms of homo- and heterogeneous interactions and structural effects. The molecular dipole moments were determined using Guggenheim–Debye method within the temperature range of (298.2 to 318.2) K. The variations of effective dipole moment and correlation factor, g, with the mole fraction in these materials were investigated using Kirkwood–Frohlich equation. The pure compounds showed a negative and small temperature coefficient of effective dipole moment. In order to obtain valuable information about heterogeneous interaction (interactions between the unlike molecules), the Kirkwood correlation factor, the Bruggeman dielectric factor and the excess permittivity were calculated. In order to predict the permittivity data of polar–apolar binary mixtures, five mixing rules were applied.     

Phase transitions and thermodynamic properties of (NH4)3VO2F4 cryolite

Calorimetric measurements performed in a wide temperature range on (NH₄)₃VO₂F₄ have shown the presence of four heat capacity anomalies at T₁ = 438 K, T₂ = 244 K, T₃ = 210.2 K, T₄ = 205.1 K associated with the first order phase transitions. In accordance with the permittivity behavior, the structural transformations are of nonferroelectric nature. Pressure dependence of the phase transition temperatures has been studied by DTA under pressure. The entropy of phase transitions is analyzed mainly in the framework of the orientational disordering of NH₄⁺ and VO₂F₄^3? ions in a cubic phase.     

Dielectric studies of tetraaryl and triaryl polycarbonates and comparisons with bisphenol A‐polycarbonate

The relative permittivity, loss, and breakdown strength are reported for a commercial sample of bisphenol A‐polycarbonate (comm‐BPA‐PC) and a purified sample of the same polymer (rp‐BPA‐PC) as well as for two new polycarbonates having low molecular cross‐sectional areas, namely a copolymer of tetraaryl polycarbonate and BPA‐PC (TABPA‐BPA‐PC) and a triaryl polycarbonate homopolymer (TriBPA‐PC). The glass transition temperatures of the new polymers are higher than the T_g of BPA‐PC (187 and 191 °C vs. 148 °C). Relative permittivity and loss measurements were carried out from 10 to 10⁵ Hz over a wide temperature range, and results for the α‐ and γ‐relaxation regions are discussed in detail. For the α‐relaxation, the isochronal peak position, T_α, scales approximately with T_g. On the other hand, the peak temperature for the γ‐relaxation is approximately constant, independent of T_g. Also, in contrast to what is observed for α, γ exhibits a strong increase in peak height as temperature/frequency increases and a significant difference is found between Arrhenius plots determined from isochronal and isothermal data analyses. Next, the γ‐relaxation region for comm‐BPA‐PC and associated activation parameters show strong history/purity effects. The activation parameters also depend on the method of data analysis. The results shed light on discrepancies that exist in the literature for BPA‐PC. The shapes of the γ loss peaks and hence glassy‐state motions for all the polymers are very similar. However, the intensities of the TriBPA‐PC and TABPA‐BPA‐PC γ peaks are reduced by an amount that closely matches the reduced volume fraction of carbonate units in the two new polymers. Finally, for comm‐BPA‐PC, the breakdown strength is strongly affected by sample history and this is assumed to be related to volatile components in the material. It is found that the breakdown strengths for TriBPA‐PC and TABPA‐BPA‐PC are relatively close to that for rp‐BPA‐PC with the value for TriBPA‐PC being slightly larger than that for rp‐BPA‐PC or the value usually reported for typical capacitor grade polycarbonate. Finally, it is shown that the real part of the relative permittivity remains relatively constant from low temperatures to T_g. Consequently, based on the dielectric properties, TriBPA‐PC and TABPA‐BPA‐PC should be usable in capacitors to at least 50 °C higher than BPA‐PC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Surface tension and viscosity of molten vanadium measured with an electrostatic levitation furnace

Surface tension and viscosity of molten vanadium were measured over a wide temperature range by the oscillating drop method in an electrostatic levitation furnace. Over the (2023 to 2517) K temperature range, the surface tension can be expressed as γ(T)/(10^?3 N/m) = 1935 ? 0.27 {(T ? T_m)/K} with T_m = 2183 K. Over the same temperature span, the viscosity can be expressed as η(T)/(10^?3 Pa · s) = 1.23exp[2.27 · 10⁴/(RTK^?1)], where R is the gas constant.     

Dielectric properties of binary mixtures of three butanediols with 1,4-dioxane and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol at T = 298.2 K

Experimental results of dielectric investigations for solutions of the three butanediols {2,3-butanediol (2,3BD), 1,3-butanediol (1,3BD), and 1,4-butanediol (1,4BD)}, in 1,4-dioxane (1,4DX) are reported for various mole fractions at T = 298.2 K. Values of relative permittivity were measured at 100 kHz. The molecular dipole moments were determined using Guggenheim method. The variations of effective dipole moment and correlation factor, g, with mole fraction in these materials were investigated using Kirkwood–Frohlich equation. Dielectric measurements were also carried out on binary polar mixtures of the butanediols with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2EH) for various concentrations at T = 298.2 K. The Kirkwood correlation factor, the Bruggeman factor, and the excess permittivity were determined.     

Diffusion of ferrocene methanol in super-cooled aqueous solutions using cylindrical microelectrodes

The diffusion of ferrocene methanol in super-cooled aqueous solutions containing sucrose has been studied, using disk and cylindrical microelectrodes, over a wide viscosity range. The solution viscosity and the reduced temperature T/T_g (T_g being the glass transition temperature) were varied by changing the sucrose concentration and the temperature of the system. The voltammetric limiting current obtained with a disk microelectrode and the i(t) response on a cylindrical microelectrode after a potential step were used to determine diffusion coefficients from 7 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ down to 2 × 10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹. The electrochemical procedure described in this work allows a simple and accurate measurement of the dynamics of electroactive solutes in glass-forming liquids.     

Thermal properties of [Cr(NH3)6](BF4)3 studied by adiabatic and relaxation calorimetry

Four (solid–solid) phase transitions were detected in the temperature range of (9 to 300) K in polycrystalline [Cr(NH₃)₆](BF₄)₃ at T_C1 = 240.7 K, T_C2 = 108.0 K, T_C3 = 91.9 K, and T_C4 = 61.3 K by adiabatic calorimetry. The measurements by relaxation calorimetry were followed on lowering temperature from 20 K down to 0.35 K under six different external magnetic field values (9, 7, 5, 3, 1 and 0) T. For non-zero values of applied magnetic field well-defined Schottky anomaly appears. Magnetic heat capacity was calculated assuming the zero-field splitting for the decoupled Cr(III) ions. There is no discrepancy between the observed and calculated values. Isothermal magnetization curve recorded up to 5 T was measured at temperature of 1.8 K.     

The effect of gamma irradiation on glass transition temperature and thermal stability of Se96Sn4 chalcogenide glass

Se₉₆Sn₄ chalcogenide glass was prepared by melt quenching technique and exposed, at room temperature, to different doses of 4, 8, 12, 24 and 33 kGy of high-energy ⁶⁰Co gamma irradiation. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used under non-isothermal condition to determine the glass transition temperature T_g, onset T_c and peak T_p temperatures of crystallization, of un-irradiated and γ-irradiated samples, at four different heating rates. The variation of T_g with heating rates was utilized to calculate the glass transition activation energy E_t for un-irradiated and γ-irradiated glass, using the methods suggested by Kissinger and Moynihan. Based on the obtained values of the characteristic temperatures T_g, T_c and T_p, thermal stability was monitored through the calculation of the S parameter and the crystallization rate factor 〈K_p〉 for irradiated and un-irradiated glass. Results reveal that, as γ-dose increases T_g increases up to 12 kGy then decreases at higher doses but remains more than that of un-irradiated glass. Meanwhile, both E_t and 〈K_p〉 attain their minimum values at the same dose of 12 kGy and the glass is thermally stable at this particular dose.     

On the structural and magnetoelectrical characterization of epitaxial SrRuO3 thin films grown on (001) SrTiO3 substrates

High-quality epitaxial thin films of the ferromagnetic metallic oxide SrRuO₃ (SRO) were fabricated by dc-sputtering at high oxygen pressure and their structural and magnetoelectrical properties were carefully studied. The films featured a Curie temperature T_C ～ 160 K and a magnetic moment of ～0.7 μ_B per Ru ion. The temperature dependent magnetization could be well described by the scaling relation M(T) ∝ (T_C ? T)^β with a critical exponent β = 0.53 over the entire ferromagnetic temperature range. A negative magnetoresistance, MR, on the order of a few percent was found up to room temperature. MR showed a maximum of ～4% right at T_C where a kink structure of the resistivity, ρ, at zero field was flattened out on magnetic field application. This ρ contribution could be related to scattering due to orientational disorder of the Ru magnetic moments which become aligned by an external magnetic field. In addition, an equally strong MR effect, related to localization phenomena, could be observed at lower temperature. Particularly, the second MR peak at ～35 K might be related to a Fermi-liquid to non-Fermi-liquid crossover. A scaling behavior dρ/dT ∝ |T ? T_C|^α was observed only above T_C. Here, values for the exponent α ≈ ?0.4 and α ≈ ?1.4 were obtained in zero field and in a field of 9 T, respectively. The commonly observed ρ minimum, appearing at low temperatures (～3 K in the present case), is correlated with the structural disorder of the SRO films and is believed to have its origin in quantum corrections to the conductivity (QCC).     

Thermodynamic study on the sublimation of 3-phenylpropionic acid and of three methoxy-substituted 3-phenylpropionic acids

The Knudsen mass-loss effusion technique was used to measure the vapour pressures at different temperatures of the following compounds: 3-phenylpropionic acid, between T =  305.17 K and T =  315.17 K; 3-(2-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid, between T =  331.16 K and T =  347.16 K; 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid, between T =  341.19 K and T =  357.15 K; 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propionic acid, between T =  352.18 K and T =  366.16 K. From the temperature dependence of the vapour pressure, the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation Δ_cr^gH_m^owere derived by the Clausius–Clapeyron equation and the molar entropies of sublimation at equilibrium pressures were calculated. On the basis of estimated values for the heat capacity differences between the gas and the crystal phases of the studied compounds the standard, p ^∘  =  10⁵Pa, molar enthalpies, entropies and Gibbs energies of sublimation at T =  298.15 K, were derived:     

Development and assessment of experimental dental polymers with enhanced polymerisation,crosslink density and resistance to fluid permeability based on ethoxylated-Bisphenol-A-dimethacrylates and 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate

The formulation of appropriate dental adhesives is critical to achieve efficient polymerisation and reduced fluid permeability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of conversion, the crosslink density and the fluid permeability of experimental 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-containing or HEMA-free resin adhesives formulated with the use of a hydrophilic ternary photoinitiator system (DPIHP: diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate). The final FTIR/Raman degree of conversion (DC), DSC glass transition temperature (T_g) and the resin permeability (rP) were then characterised. The inclusion of the hydrophilic ionic salt DPIHP increased the affinity between amphiphilic monomers and binary photoinitiator system enhancing the DC, T_g and the resistance to fluid permeability (p < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between rP and FTIR/Raman-DC or T_g (p < 0.05). In conclusion, new generation resin adhesives containing hydrophilic monomers and solvents should be formulated on a ternary photoinitiator system including hydrophilic ionic accelerator in order to achieve enhanced physical–chemical characteristics especially when light-cured in a relatively short period time (10–20 s).     

Study of the glass transition on viscous-forming and powder materials using dynamic mechanical analysis

The investigation of the glass transition in materials that become too viscous or are difficult to prepare in a solid compact form, is not straightforward using dynamic mechanical analysis, DMA. In this work, metallic pockets are used to envelop samples in order to resolve the loss factor peak, tan δ, in the region of T_g. Experiments with indium were carried out at different heating rates in order to correct the temperature in such isochronal measurements. The proof of concept of the utility of such methodology was done by investigating the glass transition dynamics of poly(d,l-lactic acid), PDLLA, a biodegradable amorphous polyester widely investigated for biomedical applications. The glass transition peaks obtained at scanning rates below 4 °C min^?1 shifted to the same temperature region after correction. DMA tests on PDLLA at different frequencies allowed construction of a relaxation plot where the glass transition dynamics followed Vogel–Fulcher–Tamman–Hesse behaviour. Inclusion complexes, ICs, of PDLLA with α-cyclodextrin were obtained, exhibiting a very organized arrangement at the nano-scale level. DMA experiments on the ICs powder packed in the metallic pocket revealed a loss factor peak located at a higher temperature as compared with PDLLA, indicating that the segmental mobility of the polymer chains is highly restricted in this supra-molecular organization.     

Glass transition behaviour of ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate–H2O mixed solutions

Here, we have measured the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate–H₂O mixed solutions as a function of H₂O concentration (x mol% H₂O). The glass-forming composition region was also determined. Contrary to the results of the quaternary ammonium type of ionic liquid, N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium tetrafluoroborate–H₂O mixed solutions, we did not observed the multiple glass transition behaviour. We also measured the glassy Raman spectra of the solutions at T = 77 K. We find that the “nearly free” hydrogen bonded Raman band of water molecules in the aqueous [bmim][BF₄] solution exists up to around x = 60 mol% H₂O, even at T = 77 K.     

Isobaric specific heat capacity of {xCH3OH + (1 − x)H2O} with x = (1.0000, 0.7943, 0.4949, 0.2606, 0.1936, 0.1010, and 0.0496) at T = (280, 320, and 360) K in the pressure range from (0.1 to 15) MPa

Measurements of the isobaric specific heat capacities for {xCH₃OH + (1 − x)H₂O} with x = (1.0000, 0.7943, 0.4949, 0.2606, 0.1936, 0.1010, and 0.0496) were carried out by the calorimeter with the thermal relaxation method, which we have developed, at T = (280, 320, and 360) K in the pressure range from (0.1 to 15) MPa. The present c_p measurements for (methanol + water) show mole fraction dependence at constant temperature with the maximum, and the maximum shifts to greater values of mole fraction with increasing temperature. Pressure dependence of the present measurements is insignificant. Temperature dependence increases with increasing mole fraction.     

Physicochemical properties of {1-methyl piperazine (1) + water (2)} system at T = (298.15 to 343.15) K and atmospheric pressure

Densities (ρ) and viscosities (η) of aqueous 1-methylpiperazine (1-MPZ) solutions are reported at T = (298.15 to 343.15) K. Refractive indices (n_D) are reported at T = (293.15 to 333.15) K, and surface tensions (γ) are reported at T = (298.15 to 333.15) K. Derived excess properties, except excess viscosities (Δη), are found to be negative over the entire composition range. The addition of 1-MPZ reduces drastically the surface tension of water. The temperature dependence of surface tensions is explained in terms of surface entropy (S^S) and enthalpy (H^S). The measured and derived properties are used to probe the microscopic liquid structure of the bulk and surface of the aqueous amine solutions.