Thermal Study of the Cr-Mo-O System in Air

The phase diagram of the ternary system Cr-Mo-O in air was established from the results of thermal analysis of mixtures with different initial CrO3 to MoO3 ratios. It was found that MoO3 did not take any chromium oxide into solid solution. The presence of Cr2O3 destabilized MoO3 causing it to decompose to MoO2 in the temperature range 723-958 K depending on the initial Cr/Mo ratio. The decomposition of pure MoO3 MoO2 did not occur in air at any temperature. However, this decomposition took place through the formation of the compound Cr2O3·3MoO3(ss) and its decomposition to Cr2O3·3MoO2(ss). The latter compound has never been reported before and the X-ray data for this compound are given. The previously reported catalytic activity of Cr2O3·3MoO3(ss), at high temperatures, is presumably due to its reduction to Cr2O3·3MoO2(ss). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mechanism and kinetics of the non-isothermal degradation of ethylenepropylene diene monomer (EPDM)

The thermal degradation behaviour of ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomer, was examined under non-isothermal conditions at different heating rates (5, 7, 10 and 12 °C/min) using thermogravimetric analysis. Kinetic parameters of degradation were evaluated using the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa isoconversional method, as well as the integral method of Coats and Redfern. A comparison between the two methods showed that the degradation of EPDM follows the Avrami–Erofeev two-dimensional nucleation model. The thermodynamic parameters were also calculated and the effect of the heating rate on each was deduced.     

The use of thermal analysis in the approximate determination of the cement content in concrete

Thermal analysis was first used to investigate the pattern of dissociation of hydrated ordinary Portland cement. Portlandite (Ca(OH)₂) decomposes at about 500°C. This was confirmed by kinetic calculations. Thermal analysis was then performed to establish the effect of varying the cement content on the percent mass loss associated with the decomposition of Ca(OH)₂ in cement mortar cured for 28 days. An increasing relation was obtained. Standard concrete cubes were then prepared with cement contents ranging from 200 to 450 kg m^-3. The loss in mass on heating, up to 750°C, of concrete samples cured for 28 days was then related to the cement content in concrete. The relation obtained was tested for concrete cubes of known cement content and found to be in better agreement than the results obtained by conventional chemical analysis. This method can be used for an approximate determination of the cement content in concrete. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Non-grey radiative heat transfer in the picket-fence approximation

The radiative heat transfer between parallel plates separated by an absorbing gas with a “picket-fence” absorption coefficient is treated by a variational technique. For the heat transfer, a simple rational algebraic expression is obtained and the variational results are found in excellent agreement with the numerically “exact” results reported recently by Reithet al.(⁸) An expression for the extrapolation distance is also deduced and the results are compared with the values reported earlier by Bond and Siewert.(⁵)     

Characterization of sintering of gelled UO3 microspheres

UO₃ microspheres, prepared using an internal gelation process, were reduced and sintered. Hydrogen and argon atmospheres were used at temperatures ranging from 1100 °C to 1400 °C for different durations.It was found that the sintered density is higher for spheres réduced at 700 °C than at any other reduction temperature. Lower densities were achieved in argon atmosphere than in hydrogen for the same sintering and reduction temperature. More than 98% Th.D. could be obtained by calcining the UO₃ spheres at 400 °C for 1 hr, reducing at 700 °C and then sintering at 1400 °C for 2 hrs in hydrogen atmosphere.

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Zusammenfassung Über interne Gebildungsprozesse hergestellte UO₃ Mikrokugeln wurden reduziert und gesintert. Dafür wurden Wasserstoff- und Argonatmösphären verschiedene Zeit lang bei Temperaturen zwischen 1100 °C und 1400 °C verwendet. Es wurde festgestellt, daß die Dichte des gesinterten Materials bei einer Reduktionstemperatur von 700 °C am größten ist. Bei gleichen Sinter- und Reduktionstemperaturen erreicht man in Argon eine geringere Dichte als in Wasserstoff. Mehr als 98% Th.D. kann man erreichen, indem man die UO₃ Kugeln bei 400 °C eine Stunde lang kalziniert, bei 700 °C reduziert und dann zwei Stunden lang bei 1400 °C in Wasserstoffatmosphäre sintert.

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, , . 1100–1400° . , , 700°, . . 98% 400° 1 , 700°, 2 1400°.

     

Green synthesis of antibacterial chitosan films loaded with silver nanoparticles

An eco-friendly chemical reduction method was successfully used for the preparation of chitosan (CTS) composite films loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by self assembly method using poly(ethylene glycol) as both reducing and stabilizing agent. UV-Vis spectra of the prepared chitosan loaded silver nanoparticles (CTSLAg) films reveal that full reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles takes place at 90 °C. The effect of reaction conditions on the silver nanoparticles formation was investigated using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The morphology of the films was tested by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The DSC curves showed that the CTSLAg film had a favorable compatibility and heat stability. AgNPs were confirmed by XRD and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The TEM findings revealed that the silver nanoparticles synthesized were spherical in shape with uniform dispersal, and by increasing CTS:PEG ratio larger silver nanoparticles could be obtained. The results of antibacterial study reveal that the prepared nanocomposite films exhibited potential inhibition.     

The Effect of Magnesium Chloride Hydrate on the Fire Retardation of Cellulosic Fibers

Thermal analysis was used to investigate the effect of the addition of magnesium chloride hexahydrate as a fire retardant to cellulosic fibers. The kinetics of the decomposition of the cellulosic material were first studied. The decomposition of the dry salt was also investigated and three steps disclosed. Then, the fabrics were impregnated into salt solutions of different concentrations and the loss in mass was followed by thermal analysis. The percent loss in mass was compared to that of pure cellulosic fabric at different temperatures. It was found that there is an appreciable improvement in fire retardation at a minimum percent add-on of the salt of 35%. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetics of isothermal oxidation of WC–20Co hot-pressed compacts in air

The present paper presents an isothermal analysis of the oxidation behavior in which hot-pressed compacts rather than powders are used over the temperature range 700–850 °C. This was done to better simulate the extent of oxidation occurring on use. WC–Co powders were first subjected to non-isothermal kinetic analysis to follow the oxidation mechanism. In the isothermal runs, a thermobalance was used to follow up the mass with time at different constant temperatures. The diameter of compacts was measured as function of time at these temperatures, and a simple model was proposed to relate the diameters to extent of oxidation. Two reactions were found to take place that are controlled by chemical reaction at interface: Oxidation of cobalt and oxidation of WC with the formation of WO₃ and CoWO₄. The activation energies for the two steps of oxidation were calculated and found to equal 157 kJ mol^?1 and 205 kJ mol^?1, respectively. These values are in reasonable agreement with published data for WC–Co powders.     

Kinetics of thermal decomposition of gelled UO3 microspheres

The kinetics of decomposition of gelled UO₃ microspheres has been studied by thermal analysis (DTA and TG) and by X-ray examination. UO₃ microspheres prepared via a hydrolysis process were used in the study. The DTA and TG curves were obtained in various atmospheres at different heating rates. The activation energies for the various stages of decomposition were calculated using the Carrol and Manche method.

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Zusammenfassung Die Kinetik der Zersetzung von Gel UO₃ Mikrokügelchen wurde mittels Thermoanalyse (DTA und TG) und Röntgenstrukturanalyse untersucht. Die in dieser Abhandlung benutzten UO₃ Mikrokügelchen wurden unter Zuhilfenahme von Hydrolyseprozessen hergestellt. Die DTA- und TG-Kurven wurden in verschiedenen Atmosphären und bei verschiedenen Aufheizgeschwindikeiten aufgenommen. Mit der Methode von Carrol und Manche wurden die Aktivierungsenergien für die einzelnen Schritte der Zersetzung berechnet.

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, UO₃, . . .

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The authors wish to express their thanks to Professor F. H. Hammad for his guidance and encouragement throughout this work.