Enthalpy relaxation and fragility in polychlorinated biphenyls

We employ temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) to determine the dependence of the fictive temperature on cooling rate for a series of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). From the slopes of semi-logarithmic plots of cooling rate vs. fictive temperature, the latter normalized by the fictive temperature for an arbitrary cooling rate, we determine the enthalpic fragilities. Despite significant differences in glass transition temperature and chemical structure (specifically chlorine content), the PCB have the same fragility. The value of the fragility determined using TMDSC is consistent with the fragility previously determined using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy.     

Characterisation of structural relaxation phenomena in polymeric materials from thermal analysis investigations

Measurements have been performed on poly(ethylene terephthalate)glycol/montmorillonite nanocomposites with different filler contents using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). According to the strong-fragile concept proposed by Angell, we have determined the values of the fragility index m. In a second time, we have calculated the average size of a cooperative rearranging region (CRR) z(T _g) at the glass transition according to the definition proposed by Solunov. However, z(T _g is a dimensionless quantity and then only allows a comparative study between different samples. To calculate the average number of monomer units by CRR noted N _α, we have used the method developed by Donth. The results show that the presence of montmorillonite in PET_g matrice implies modifications on structural relaxation phenomena. Furthermore, we have shown that z(T _g and N _α values have the same evolution in function of filler content.     

Determination of complex-specific heat and fragility of sodium borate glasses by temperature-modulated DSC

The frequency dependences of the complex-specific heat of the sodium borate glasses, xNa₂O·(100 − x)B₂O₃, where x denotes molar concentration of Na₂O, have been investigated by temperature-modulated DSC. The temperature dependences of α-relaxation time have been analyzed in Angell plot, and the fragility index has been determined. The composition dependence of the fragility index has been discussed on the basis of the variations of the structural units of the borate network. The origin of the fragility of the borate system relates to the distribution of the coordination number of boron atom.     

Evaluation of effective thermal conductivity of fireworks compositions

Effective thermal conductivity of fireworks raw materials and their mixture have been measured by the temperature modulated DSC and the hot wire method, in order to predict spontaneous ignition properties precisely. As a result, an excellent linear correlation has been obtained between the density and the λ_e by the TMDSC method. Moreover, the low-density data by the hot wire method lie on the extrapolated point of the linear correlation. Thus, the λ_e within the ordinary limit of fireworks composition can be measured by the TMDSC method. Krupiczka’s estimation method shows a good agreement with the experimental values.     

Preparation and characterization of anion-cation surfactants modified montmorillonite

The low-temperature molar heat capacities of CoPc and CoTMPP were measured by temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) over the temperature range from 223 to 413 K for the first time. No phase transition or thermal anomaly was observed in the experimental temperature range for CoPc. However, a structural change was found to be nonreversible for CoTMPP in the temperature range of 368–403 K, which was further validated by the results of IR and XRD. The molar enthalpy ΔH _m and entropy ΔS _m of phase transition of the CoTMPP were determined to be 3.301 kJ mol⁻¹ and 8.596 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters of CoPc and CoTMPP such as entropy and enthalpy relative to reference temperature 298.15 K were derived based on the above molar heat capacity data. Moreover, the thermal stability of these two compounds was further investigated through TG measurements. Three steps of mass loss were observed in the TG curve for CoPc and five steps for CoTMPP.     

Thermal analysis of the influence of water content on glass transitions

Starch is an important natural substance in which the water content has a significant influence on its structure and properties. In the present study, the effect of the water content on glass transition temperatures T _g and heat capacities C _p of wheat, maize and potato starches were investigated by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (temperature modulated TMDSC and conventional DSC). Thermal analysis measurements were performed on starch samples with different water contents. The exact water mass percentage of each sample was determined using the Karl-Fischer method. The obtained results show that the water content does influence the starch thermal properties in a systematic and measurable trend, the higher the water% the lower the glass transition temperature, and the higher the heat capacity jump during gelatinisation. At this stage possible interpretations of the results are just put forward and should be confirmed through complementary measurements.     

Anharmonicity and fragility in lithium borate glasses

Since the physical properties of lithium borate glasses xLi₂O-(1-x)B₂O₃ (0<x< 0.28) vary over a wide range with the composition, this binary system is particularly suitable for studying the relationship between vibrational anharmonicity and fragility. The density, the linear expansion coefficient, the longitudinal and transverse ultrasonic velocities and their respective temperature coefficients of the velocities are measured, from which the vibrational anharmonicity in lithium borate glasses is evaluated with the help of the Grüneisen parameter at the Debye cut-off frequency and the Anderson-Grüneisen parameter: these two parameters plotted vs. composition have the same characteristics with minima at x≈0.08. The fragility is evaluated from the temperature width of the glass transition; the fragility also shows a minimum at x≈0.08. The presence of minima at x≈0.08 is ascribable to the fact that the crosslinking density between six-membered rings in the glass reaches a maximum at this composition. We show that the anharmonic parameters strongly correlate with the fragility metrics. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of the glass transition temperature

The definition of the glass transition temperature, T _g, is recalled and its experimental determination by various techniques is reviewed. The diversity of values of T _g obtained by the different methods is discussed, with particular attention being paid to Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and to dynamic techniques such as Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) and Temperature Modulated DSC (TMDSC). This last technique, TMDSC, in particular, is considered in respect of ways in which the heterogeneity of the glass transformation process can be quantified.     

Sample encapsulation on glass transition of methylmetacrylate copolymers: TMDSC and DSC studies

The use of modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the measurement of the glass transition temperature (T _g) in polymer-water systems presents several important problems. These include the presence of water evaporation endotherms, partial water evaporation during scanning, changes in pan integrity due to vapour pressure developing in the pan headspace during analysis, and possible interaction between water and polymer at high temperatures. As a result, in most of the cases, only apparent T_g values can be obtained. In this study, TMDSC and DSC were used to determinate the thermal behaviour of methylmethacrylate copolymer-water systems. The samples were previously equilibrated at different relative humidities (RH) from 0 to 97% RH. Three different pan arrangements were used. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TG) was carried out to determine the initial amount of water in the sample. None of the pan arrangements was entirely suitable for the study of these systems. When sealed pans were used, the plastification effect of water was observed. Some evidence of degradation was also observed in which water and methylmethacrylate appeared to play roles.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Vitrification during the isothermal cure of thermosets

The process of vitrification that occurs during the isothermal cure of a cross-linking system at temperatures below T _g∞, the glass transition temperature of the fully cured resin, has been studied by TOPEM, a new temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) technique based upon the use of stochastic temperature pulses. A comparison is made between TOPEM and another TMDSC technique, and some advantages of TOPEM are considered. The TOPEM technique is used to show that the mobility factor is not always a reliable approach to predicting the cure rate during vitrification, in view of its frequency dependence. Also, the dependence of the apparent vitrification time on frequency is examined. There appears to be a non-linear relationship between the apparent vitrification time and log(frequency), which is further discussed in the second part of this series.     

Dielectric and electro-optical properties of a photosensitive liquid crystal

The temperature dependencies of the dielectric and electro-optical properties of a pure photo-ferroelectric liquid crystal have been investigated, in the chiral smectic C (SmC*) phase, with and without ultraviolet (UV) illumination. The SmC* dielectric Goldstone mode characteristics, the spontaneous polarization, the tilt angle and the rotational viscosity are affected by UV irradiation. Under increasing UV light intensities the dielectric strength Δ?_G increases whereas the relaxation frequency f_G , the spontaneous polarization P _s, the electro-optical rotational viscosity γ_eo and the tilt angle θ decrease. The twist elastic constant K ₃ and the Goldstone mode rotational viscosity γ_G of the studied compound are deduced from dielectric experimental results. Good agreement was found between both viscosities. The observed dielectric behaviours are controlled by the elastic constant and the rotational viscosity variations.     

Determination of elastic constants of a binary system (7CPB+9.CN) showing nematic,induced smectic Ad and re-entrant nematic phases

The temperature variation of the splay and bend elastic constants of a binary system exhibiting nematic-induced smectic A_d and re-entrant nematic phases measured by electric field-induced Freedericksz transition method has been reported. As bend deformation is not permitted in the smectic A phase, bend elastic constant (K₃₃) could only be determined in the nematic and re-entrant nematic phases. In both the nematic phases, the splay elastic constant has the same order of magnitude and does not show any pretransitional effect. However, in the induced smectic A_d phase, the value of K₁₁ is about one to two orders higher than that in the nematic phases. The bend elastic constant shows a strong pretransitional effect near the nematic–smectic and smectic–re-entrant nematic phase transitions. The influence of the presence of the induced smectic phase is observed even in those mixtures which have no induced smectic phases. As the smectic phase is approached, the ratio K₃₃/K₁₁ increases rapidly and diverges to infinity.     

Characterization of epoxy–surfactant interactions

We have investigated epoxies based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) cured with 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole (EMI-24) in the presence of the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100. A goal was to determine if the viscoelastic properties of the epoxy–surfactant system differed when prepared in bulk form, as opposed to being cast as a thin film on the surface of E-glass cloth. Such a combination of materials has generated great interest for potential use in the construction of laminated circuit boards. Using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), it was determined that the surfactant acts as a plasticizer and is miscible with the epoxy system in concentrations up to 15% by weight. The glass transition temperature (T_g) depression of the epoxy due to the surfactant was accurately described by the Fox equation. DMA master curves were constructed in the frequency domain. The temperature dependence of the shift factors was used to determine the fragility of each of the samples studied. It was found that the fragility (cooperativity) of the epoxy decreased as the concentration of surfactant increased, presumably due to a reduction of intermolecular constraints. The fragility of the combined epoxy–surfactant system increased when cast on the surface of the E-glass cloth. Results for our model epoxy–surfactant resin were in excellent agreement with those obtained using a commercially available aqueous waterborne epoxy resin. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 2781–2792, 1998     

Carbon-13 NMR. The analysis of the relaxation times T1 of benzofuran and of a series of its methyl derivatives. Correlations between molecular motions and structural properties

Carbon-13 relaxation times (T₁) and nuclear Overhauser enhancements (η) have been measured for benzofuran and a series of its methyl derivatives. The contributions of dipolar (T₁ ^DD) and spin rotation (T₁^SR) mechanisms have both been determined. The temperature dependence of T₁ has been studied. The relationships between molecular motions and structural properties have been emphasized. The overall motional anisotropy of the benzofuran molecule is increased by substitution in positions 2 and 5. The internal rotation of a methyl group may change depending on its position in the molecule and on the influence of other methyl groups in its close neighbourhood.     

The solubilization of alcohols in micellar solutions

The specific conductivities of dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium bromide (C12BBr) have been determined in aqueous butanol and aqueous benzyl alcohol solutions in the temperature range of 5-40°C. From these data the temperature dependent critical micelle concentration (cmc) was determined. The molar fraction of alcohol in the micelle was estimated using the theory suggested by Motomura et al. for surfactant binary mixtures. The thermal properties such as standard Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy of solubilization of alcohols in the micelles were estimated for the phase separation model. The change in heat capacity upon solubilization of alcohol in the micelle has been estimated form the above properties. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Measurement of the orientational elastic constants and the twist viscosity of nematic side chain polymers

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the three elastic constants k _ii (i = 1, 2, 3) and the twist viscosity γ₁ of two nematic side chain polyacrylates and one comparable low molecular weight compound have been measured by means of the Freedericksz effect. The change from the low to the high molecular liquid crystal causes a change of the ratio k ₃₃/k ₁₁ from greater to less than unity, but the order of magnitude of the elastic constants remains the same. In contrast, the twist viscosity of the polymeric liquid crystal is about 1000 times greater in magnitude than that of a comparable low molecular weight liquid crystal. The activation energy for the viscosity of the polymer differs by a factor 3–4 from that of the low molecular weight liquid crystal. The elastic constants as well as the twist viscosity show a quadratic dependence on the order parameter S over a wide temperature range.     

Development of the crystallinity and rigid amorphous fraction in cold‐crystallized isotactic polystyrene

The phase structure of crystalline isotactic polystyrene (iPS) has been investigated with temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC), wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Quenched amorphous samples have been cold‐crystallized at 140 or 170 °C for various crystallization times. The degree of crystallinity obtained from WAXS, with the ratio of the crystal peak intensity to the total peak intensity, shows excellent agreement with the crystallinity determined from TMDSC total heat flow endotherms. For the first time, FTIR results show that the absorbance peak ratio (I/I) has a linear correlation with the crystalline mass fraction (χ_c) for cold‐crystallized iPS according to the following relation: I/I = 0.54χ_c + 0.16. This relationship allows the crystallinity of iPS to be determined from infrared spectroscopy analyses in cases in which it is difficult to perform thermal or X‐ray measurements. On the basis of the measurements of the heat capacity increment at the glass transition, we find that a significant amount of the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) coexists with the crystalline and mobile amorphous phases in cold‐crystallized iPS. The RAF increases systematically with the crystallization time, and a greater amount is formed at a lower crystallization temperature. A three‐phase model (crystalline phase, mobile amorphous phase, and rigid amorphous phase) is, therefore, appropriate for the interpretation of the structure of cold‐crystallized iPS. The origin of the low‐temperature endothermic peak (annealing peak) has been investigated with TMDSC and FTIR spectroscopy and has been shown to be due to irreversible relaxation of the RAF. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3026–3036, 2003     

Carbon-13 NMR spin-lattice relaxation times of isotactic and syndiotactic sequences in amorphous polypropylene

Spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) for methyl, methylene, and methine carbons in an amorphous polypropylene have been measured as a function of temperature from 46 to 138°C. The carbons from isotactic sequences characteristically exhibited the longest T₁'s of those observed. The T₁ differences increased with temperature with the largest difference occuring for methine carbons where a 32% difference was observed. Activation energies were determined for the motional processes affecting T₁'s for isotactic and syndiotactic sequences with essentially no dependence upon configuration noted.     

The Partial Molar Volumes and Heat Capacities of the Arginyl Side-chain of Proteins in Aqueous Solution over the Temperature Range 288.15 to 328.15 K

Solution densities over the temperature range 288.15 to 328.15 K have been measured for aqueous solutions of N-acetylarginamide monotrifluoroacetate and sodium trifluoroacetate, from which the partial molar volumes at infinite dilution, V₂^oV_{2}^{\mathrm{o}}, were determined. The partial molar heat capacities at infinite dilution, C_p,2^oC_{p,2}^{\mathrm{o}}, were also determined for these solutes over the same temperature range. These V₂^oV_{2}^{\mathrm{o}} and C_p,2^oC_{p,2}^{\mathrm{o}} results, along with relevant data taken from the literature, have been used to calculate the contributions of the protonated arginyl side-chain to the thermodynamic properties. These new side-chain values were critically compared with those obtained previously using alternative side-chain model compounds.     

Effect of Bi incorporation on the glass transition kinetics of Se<Subscript>85</Subscript>Te<Subscript>15</Subscript> glassy alloy

Bulk samples of Se_85-xTe₁₅Bi_x glassy alloys are obtained by melt quenching technique. Differential scanning calorimetry has been applied to determine the thermal properties of Se-rich Se_85-xTe₁₅Bix glassy alloys at different heating rates. The glass transition temperature (T _g) is found to shift to a higher temperature with increasing heating rate and with Bi addition. Activation energy and fragility of the system is also calculated. Specific heat is evaluated and a jump in heat capacity is observed at T _g. Theoretical parameters viz; density, molar volume, number of atoms per unit volume, lone pair electrons and cohesive energy of the system are also reported.