Reactivity of a Ti–45.9Al–8Nb alloy in air at 700–900°C

A Ti–45.9Al–8Nb (at%) alloy with a lamellar structure (γ+α₂) was oxidised in air at 700, 800, 850 and 900°C in isothermal and thermal cycling conditions. The reaction progress was followed by thermogravimetric measurements. In isothermal conditions the oxidation kinetics followed approximately a parabolic rate law and the rate constants ranged from about 10^–12 kg² m^–4 s^–1 at 700°C to 10^–10 kg² m^–4 s^–1 at 900°C. The oxide scales were built of Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, the former being the main component of the outermost layer. The oxidation behaviour of Ti–45.9Al–8Nb was referred to a commercial titanium alloy, WT4 (Ti–6Al–1Mn), and selected oxidation-resistant alloys.     

Thermal behavior of selected ferroelectric liquid crystals

Thermal properties of three ferroelectric liquid crystals, namely: 3-octyloxy-6-[2-fluor-4-(fluoroctyloxy)phenyl]-pyridine (FFP), 3-(3-fluor-nonyl)-6[4-heptyloxyphenyl]-pyridine (FNHPh-P), 4-[(S,S)-2,3-epoxyhexyloxy]phenyl 4-(decyloxy)benzoate (EHPhDB) were studied using heat flux differential scanning calorimetry method. All the transitions expected in this compounds, except the SmC^*-SmA^* and SmC^*-S₃ transitions, were detected in the DSC curves. The temperatures of the phase transitions and the enthalpy changes associated with them were determined. The transition from the liquid crystalline to the crystalline state showed significant hysteresis for all three compounds studied. The following transitions: SmA^*-Is, SmG^*-SmC^* for FNHPh-P, N^*-Is for EHPhDB, N^*-Is and SmC^*-N^* for FFP also showed a small hysteresis basing on which first-order character of all the above transitions was implied. All three substances studied in this work are characterized by a complex polymorphism in the solid state.The author is grateful to Dr. Stanislaw Wróbel for his stimulating interest, valuable discussions and supplying the samples. This work has been done in the framework of the KBN grant 2 P302 139 07.     

Effect of Botanical Extracts on the Growth and Nutritional Quality of Field-Grown White Head Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Nutraceuticals and functional foods are gaining more attention amongst consumers interested in nutritious food. The consumption of foodstuffs with a high content of phytochemicals has been proven to provide various health benefits. The application of biostimulants is a potential strategy to fortify cultivated plants with beneficial bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, it has not yet been established whether the proposed higher plants (St. John’s wort, giant goldenrod, common dandelion, red clover, nettle, and valerian) are appropriate for the production of potential bio-products enhancing the nutritional value of white cabbage. Therefore, this research examines the impact of botanical extracts on the growth and nutritional quality of cabbage grown under field conditions. Two extraction methods were used for the production of water-based bio-products, namely: ultrasound-assisted extraction and mechanical homogenisation. Bio-products were applied as foliar sprays to evaluate their impact on total yield, dry weight, photosynthetic pigments, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, nitrates, micro- and macroelements, volatile compounds, fatty acids, sterols, and sugars. Botanical extracts showed different effects on the examined parameters. The best results in terms of physiological and biochemical properties of cabbage were obtained for extracts from common dandelion, valerian, nettle, and giant goldenrod. When enriched with nutrients, vegetables can constitute a valuable component of functional food.     

Far infrared study of polymorphism of trimethylchlorosilane

The far infrared spectra in the range of 16 – 500 cm^?1 for (CH₃)₃SiCl were measured in the temperature range of 90 – 300 K by the use of Fourier transform technique. Two solid phases were found, the high-temperature phase being easily supercooled down to liquid nitrogen temperature. On the basis of the characteristic features of the spectra suggestions concerning the structure of the low-temperature phase are given.     

Molecular structure of phthalocyaninato lanthanide LnPc(OAc) complexes derived from the FTIR and FT Raman studies

Room temperature Fourier transform IR and Raman spectra in the range 30–4000 cm⁻¹ and 80–4000 cm⁻¹ of Dy, Ho, Er and Lu phthalocyanide PcLn(OAc)-type complexes have been measured, respectively. The assignment of the bands observed has been made on the literature data. The molecular structure of the PcLnX-type derivatives has been discussed on the basis of the group theory taking into account the shape and number of the bands corresponding to the stretching and bending vibrations of the LnN₄O coordination polyhedron as well as whole PcLn(OAc) complex.     

Normal coordinate analysis and DFT calculations of the vibrational spectra for lanthanide(III) complexes with 3-bromo-4-methoxy-2,6-lutidine N-oxide: LnCl3(3Br4CH3OC7H7NO)3 (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy)

The results of the FT-Raman and FT-IR studies of the LnCl₃(LNO)₃ type complexes (where Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy and LNO=3-Br-4-CH₃OC₇H₇NO) are presented. The spectral contours observed in the regions of the lanthanide-oxygen, lanthanide-chlorine and nitrogen-oxygen vibrations are employed in the discussion of the molecular structure of the complex ions and the local symmetry of the LnCl₃(ON)₃ polyhedron. The discussion of the vibrational spectra is based on the classical normal coordinate analysis and its results are compared to the results of DFT quantum chemical calculations performed for complete molecule. The normal coordinate analysis has been performed for PrCl₃(ON)₃ and DyCl₃(ON)₃ molecular systems, which have been treated as a different ‘isotopic units’. Basing on the predominant PED contributions of the respective internal coordinates the assignment of the normal vibrations has been proposed.     

Evaluation of corrosion behaviour of selected metallic samples by electrochemical noise measurements

Electrochemical noise (EN) denotes spontaneous fluctuations in potential and current originating from the corrosion processes. In this work, EN was measured for three model metallic materials of known corrosion properties: Al, Fe and Fe30Al. Corrosion behaviour was assessed in neutral, acidic or alkaline solutions containing 4 wt% NaCl. Correlation between the electrochemical noise and corrosion intensity was established on the basis of appropriate treatment of the recorded numerical data and ex situ examination of the specimen surface. The parameter, referred to as EN resistance, allowed relatively simple and rapid evaluation of the corrosion behaviour of the investigated metallic materials.     

The adiabatic calorimetry study of the polymorphism of solid 4,4′-Di-n-Butyloxyazoxybenzene

Specific heat measurements for 4-OAOB using adiabatic calorimetry are presented in the temperature range 290 K to 380 K. In the solid state three anomalies are found in the specific heat curve, at 315.5 K, 323.3 K and 360.5 K. A new solid phase is found in addition to those previously reported. Some observations concerning the kinetics of the phase transitions are also presented.     

Far infrared study of molecular reorientation in some alkoxyazoxybenzenes

Far infrared spectra in the frequency range 20 to 200 cm^-1 for the 4,4δ-di-n-alkoxyazoxybenzene homologous series are presented for the isotropic and nematic phases and for 0.1 M solution in benzene. In addition some partially deuteriated samples were studied. The spectra consist generally of two broad bands. By comparison of the spectra for different deuteriated compounds it is possible to interpret the higher frequency band as being connected with the intramolecular torsional vibration of the end groups. The band at lower frequencies we associate with the Poley absorption of librating molecules. The confined rotator model calculations performed for this band, for all compounds studied, give the rotational correlation time which is in good agreement with the correlation times as derived from quasi-elastic neutron scattering experiments.