Study of thermal properties of flame retardant epoxy resin treated with hexakis[p-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]cyclotriphosphazene

Hexakis[p-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]cyclotriphosphazene (HHPCP) is prepared and characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. Then an investigation of the flame retardancy, thermal decomposition behavior of epoxy resin (EP) containing HHPCP is carried out using limiting oxygen (LOI) test, horizontal flame test, smoke density rate (SDR) test, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and thermal gravimetric analyzer-mass spectrometry (TG-MS). The decomposition process of HHPCP is studied by TG-MS and FTIR. The result shows that the LOI value of EP increase from 20.5 to 26.5 %, when 7.5 mass% HHPCP is added into EP. The addition of 1 mass% nano-montmorillonite (nMMT) into EP–7.5 mass% HHPCP sample as synergist can increase the LOI value of EP–7.5 mass% HHPCP–1 mass% nMMT sample from 26.5 to 27.5 %. The SDR test indicates that smoke suppression of HHPCP on EP is not significant. TG analysis reflects that the EP–7.5 mass% HHPCP sample and EP–7.5 mass% HHPCP–1 mass% nMMT show higher thermal stability properties with an increasing T _onset and T _max comparing with neat-EP. TG-MS result indicates that the main pyrolysis product of EP is H₂O, CO, CO₂, C₆H₆, C₆H₅OH, HOC₆H₄CH₃, and flammable hydrocarbon fragments C_xH_y. Compared with neat-EP sample, nonflammable water vapor of EP–7.5 mass% HHPCP sample increased, whereas CO₂ and the flammable hydrocarbon fragments C_xH_y and flammable gas CO decreased. TG-MS and FTIR result suggests that HHPCP decomposed first by inter-molecular dehydration, then P–N hexatomic ring of HHPCP decomposed during 470 and 560 °C, and a little no-flame gas containing nitrogen element volatilized into the gaseous phase.     

An alternative thermal method for identification of pozzolanic activity in Ca(OH)2/pozzolan pastes

Pozzolans play an important role in the industry of cement and concrete. They increase the mechanical strength of cement matrices and can be used to decrease the amount of cement in concrete mixtures, thus decreasing the final economic and environmental cost of production; also, as some of them are byproducts of industrial processes (such as silica fume and fly ash) and their use can be seen as a solution for some residues, that otherwise would be disposed as a waste. Pozzolans fixate the Ca(OH)₂ generated during cement’s hydration reactions to form calcium silicate hydrates (C–S–H), calcium aluminate hydrates (C–A–H), or calcium aluminosilicate hydrates (C–A–S–H), depending on the nature of the pozzolan. Traditionally, the pozzolanic activity is identified using the Ca(OH)₂ fixation percentage which is quantified by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, using the mass loss due to the Ca(OH)₂ dehydroxylation around 500 °C. An alternative method to identify pozzolanic activity at lower temperatures using a standard issue moisture analyzer (MA) is presented in this paper, using the mass loss due to hydrate’s dehydration generated by pozzolans in the pozzolanic reaction. Samples of Ca(OH)₂ blended with different pozzolans were prepared and tested at different hydration ages. Using TG analysis and an MA, a good correlation was found between the total mass loss of the same sample, using the two methods at the same temperature. It was concluded that the MA method can be considered a less expensive and less time-consuming alternative to identify pozzolanic activity of siliceous or aluminosiliceous materials.     

Investigation of the cellulose ethers effect on the Portland cement hydration by thermal analysis

Cellulose ethers (CE) are introduced in almost all cement-based dry mortars in order to retain water in mortar mass avoiding losing it too quickly by substrate absorption or water evaporation. In this way the workability of the fresh material, the adherence to the substrate and internal-strength characteristics of mortar, render or tile adhesive are improved. One of the side effects of cellulose ethers is the Portland cement hydration delaying. The influence of six commercial cellulose ethers, hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose (HEMC) type, on the hydration of Portland cement CEM I 42.5 R, was followed by thermal analysis (TG and DTA curves). Three of these cellulose ethers are unmodified, and have different viscosities, while three of them have the same viscosity but differ in the degree of modification (unmodified, one with medium modification and one with high modification). The interest of dry mortars producers for the effects of these cellulose ethers, is generated by the wide offer available on the market and by the absence of systematic data on the effect of different viscosities and degrees of modification on dry mortars properties. In order to quantify the effect of the CE on the cement hydration, the surface area of the endothermic effect corresponding to the dehydration of portlandite (Ca(OH)₂), formed after 1, 3, and 7 days of hydration, was defined. It was noted that the proportion of Ca(OH)₂ in samples containing CE after 1 day was 30–40 % lower than in reference sample. After 3 and 7 days of hydration the proportion of Ca(OH)₂ in samples containing CE approaches that of reference sample (10–20 % less). For the same period of hydration, the different viscosity, and different degree of modification of cellulose ethers cause variations in narrow limits of the proportion of Ca(OH)₂, and the degree of cement hydration, respectively.     

Determination of activation effect of Ca(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> upon the hydration of BFS and related heat by isothermal calorimeter

Isothermal conduction calorimetry, differential thermal analysis (DTA)–thermogravimetric analysis (TG) analysis, and SEM observations have proved the activation effect of Ca(OH)₂ released from the C₃S hydration upon blast furnace slag (BFS). Five sample mixtures of BFS and C₃S and two samples of pure BFS and C₃S were submitted to reaction with water inside the calorimeter at room temperature. The values of hydration heat were recorded up to 7 days. Samples were stored in humidity during 28 days and then were submitted to DTA–TG and SEM analysis. The effect of Ca(OH)₂ upon heat evolution of sample mixtures has been quantified and its influence upon the formation of new hydrates and microstructure of pastes was evidenced.     

Calorimetric and thermal analysis studies on the influence of waste aluminosilicate catalyst on the hydration of fly ash–cement paste

Binders containing large amounts of cement substitutes have been a subject of interest for many years because of the possibility to reduce the amount of cement in concrete, and in consequence decrease negative influence of cement production on natural environment. In this work, studies related to hydration of binders where 80 % of cement was substituted by blended pozzolana were carried out. The aim of this work was to investigate activation of fly ash–cement system by addition of spent aluminosilicate catalyst, using calorimetry and thermal analysis as main methods of investigations. It was demonstrated that spent fine-grained fluidised catalytic cracking catalyst acts acceleratingly on early hydration of binder. It seems to be beneficial to use up to 10 mass% of this spent catalyst. Higher amounts may cause changes in the mechanism of early hydration. Because Ca(OH)₂ in such systems is quickly consumed due to pozzolanic reaction it seems beneficial to modify composition of binders by introducing additional amounts of Ca(OH)₂ or cement.     

Investigation regarding the effect of viscosity modifying admixtures upon the Portland cement hydration using thermal analysis

The effect of 13 viscosity modifying admixtures (VMA) on the Portland cement hydration was studied in this paper. In this purpose, thermal analyses (DTA and TG) were performed after 1, 7 and 28 days of hydration on cement pastes containing 0.01–0.5 % from the following VMA: diutan gum, welan gum, polygalactomannane ether, natural cellulose fibres, modified polysaccharide, polyacrylamide, high-molecular mass synthetic copolymer, hydroxypropyl starch and a chemically modified starch. It was noticed that the proportion of Ca(OH)₂ from the samples containing polygalactomannane ether and modified polysaccharide was smaller than in the reference sample, which proved their effect of cement hydration delay. For the other VMA, this effect was not detected, on the contrary, the amount of Ca(OH)₂ was higher than in the reference sample.     

The difference among the effects of high-temperature curing on the early hydration properties of different cementitious systems

The difference among the effects of high-temperature curing on the early hydration properties of the pure cement, the binder containing fly ash, the binder containing GGBS, and the binder containing steel slag was investigated by determining the compressive strength, non-evaporable water content, hydration heat, and Ca(OH)₂ content. Results show that the order of the influence degrees of high-temperature on the early hydration of different binders is the binder containing GGBS > the binder containing steel slag > the binder containing fly ash > the pure cement. In the case of short period of high-temperature curing (only 1 day), the strength growth rate of the concrete containing GGBS is the greatest. Though the influence of increasing high-temperature curing period on the hydration degree of the binder containing fly ash is not the most significant, the strength growth rate of the concrete containing fly ash is the most significant due to the excessive consumption of Ca(OH)₂ by reaction of fly ash. In the case of high-temperature curing, the Ca(OH)₂ content of the paste containing steel slag is much higher than those of the paste containing GGBS and the paste containing fly ash, so though high-temperature curing promotes the hydration of the binder containing steel slag significantly, its influence on the strength growth rate of the concrete containing steel slag is not so significant.     

Zum Einfluß von Zusätzen auf die Hydratation von Tricalciumsilicat (Ca3SiO5)

On the Influence of Admixtures on the Hydration of Tricalcium Silicate (Ca₃SiO₅) The influence of several compounds (alcohols, ketones, organic acids and the ir salts, cation exchange resin) on the hydration of tricalcium silicate was investigated by means of differential calorimetric analysis (DCA). The acceleration and retardation of this reaction found in these experiments are discussed on the basis of Ca(OH)₂ solubility, the pH of the solution and the rate of conversion of a C? S? H rich in CaO into a C? S? H poor in CaO at the surface of the C₃S grains.     

Insights on structural characteristic of Xilinguole lignite chars from low-temperature pyrolysis

The cleavage behavior of covalent bonds in Xilinguole (XLGL) lignite and changes in chemical structure of lignite and its chars during low-temperature pyrolysis were investigated by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Based on the TG and differential thermogravimetric (DTG) analysis results, the cleavage of different types of chemical bonds in lignite occurred mainly at four certain temperatures, 170 °C, 376 °C, 432 °C, and 521 °C. The latter three were selected as the final pyrolysis temperatures of chars evaluated in this study. The FTIR analysis results indicate that thermal treatment increased the relative content of two and three adjacent H deformation structures but decreased that of four adjacent H deformation structure. This was caused by the cleavage of C_al–C_al and C_ar–C_al bonds. The oxygen-containing functional groups in lignite are dominated by C–O and C–OH groups with a lower chemical reactivity than C=O–C and conjugated C=O groups. Moreover, XLGL lignite has the highest ratio of CH₂/CH₃ which declines with increasing temperature, indicating the decrease in the length of aliphatic chains and increase in the degree of branching of aliphatic side chains. This change mainly resulted from the cleavage of C_al–O, C_al–C_al, and C_ar–C_al bonds. Furthermore, XLGL lignite and its chars contain five specific hydrogen bonds: OH–N, cyclic OH, OH–ether O, OH–OH, and OH–π hydrogen bonds. The relative content of OH–OH hydrogen bond was the highest, indicating that OH–OH hydrogen bond has the highest thermal stability.

     

Degree of hydration in cement paste and C<Subscript>3</Subscript>A-sodium carbonate-water systems

This research provides a fundamental understanding of the early stage hydration of Portland cement paste, tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) paste at water to cement ratio of 0.5 and C₃A suspension at water to cement ratio of 5.0 modified by 2 or 4 mass% of sodium carbonate. A high conversion of unreacted clinker minerals to gel-like hydration products in the cement-Na₂CO₃ pastes takes place rapidly between 1^st to 24^th h. Contrary the Ca(OH)₂ formation within the same time interval is retarded in the excess of CO₃²⁻ ions due to intensive rise and growth of CaCO₃ crystals in hydrated cement. Later, the conversion of clinker minerals to the hydrate phase is reduced and higher contents of calcite and vaterite relative to that of Ca(OH)₂ in comparison with those found in the Portland cement paste are observed. As a consequence a decrease in strength and an increase in porosity between hardened Portland cement paste without sodium carbonate and those modified by Na₂CO₃ are observed. C₃A hydrates very quickly with sodium carbonate between 1^st and 24^th h forming hydration products rich in bound water and characterized also by complex salts of (x)C₃A·(y)CO₂·(zH₂O type, whereas C₃A-H₂O system offers C₃AH₆ as the main hydration product. Higher content of the formed calcium aluminate hydrates in C₃A-Na₂CO₃-H₂O system also contributes to early strength increase of Portland cement paste.     

Molecular structure and barriers to internal rotation of α-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride: a study by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical calculations

α-Naphthalenesulfonyl chloride, α-NaphSC, was studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) and quantum chemical calculations (HF/6-311 + G**, HF/aug-cc-pVDZ, B3LYP/cc-pVDZ, B3LYP/cc-pVTZ, B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ, B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ, MP2/cc-pVDZ, and MP2/cc-pVTZ). The calculations predict the existence of two conformers with C ₁ (I) and C _s (II) symmetries. The most stable conformer I has an enantiomer. The experimental data of α-NaphSC obtained at 370(5) K could be best fitted by a C ₁ symmetry model indicating that only this form exists in the gas-phase. In this model the C_α–S–Cl plane deviates from the perpendicular orientation relative to the plane of the naphthalene skeleton. Under the applied experimental conditions, the mole fraction of a second less stable conformer II of α-NaphSC predicted by calculations is no more than 1 %. The following geometrical parameters of conformer I were obtained from the experiment (Å and °; uncertainties are in parentheses): r _h1(C–H) = 1.082(6), r _h1(C–C)_cp = 1.407(3), r _h1(C–S) = 1.764(5), r _h1(S–O)_av = 1.425(3), r _h1(S–Cl) = 2.051(5), ∠C–C_α–C = 122.5(1), ∠C_α–S–Cl = 101.5(10); C9–C1–S–Cl = 71.4(21). The calculated barriers to internal rotation of the sulfonyl chloride group exceed considerably the thermal energy values corresponding to the temperatures of the GED experiments. Natural bond orbitals analysis of the electron density distribution was carried out to explain the peculiarities of the molecular structure of the studied compound and the deviation from the structures of β-NaphSHal molecules and their benzene analogs.     

Substituent effect on geometric and electronic structure of benzenesulfonic acid: gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical studies of 4-CH3C6H4SO3H and 3-NO2C6H4SO3H molecules

A combined gas-phase electron diffraction/mass-spectrometric and quantum chemical (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ, MP2/cc-pVTZ) study of the molecular structures of para-methylbenzenesulfonic acid (4-MBSA) and meta-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid (3-NBSA) was carried out. On the basis of mass spectrometric analysis, it was found that the substituted benzenesulfonic acids are thermostable at least up to 431(3) K. The fragmentations of 4-MBSA and 3-NBSA molecules under electron impact were analyzed. Quantum chemical calculations show that the 4-MBSA molecule exists as an enantiomeric pair, which is formed as a result of rotation of OH group about the S–O(H) bond. The 3-NBSA molecule has two conformers with different orientations of the O–H bond with respect to the nitro group and two corresponding enantiomers. The equilibrium configurations of 4-MBSA and both conformers of 3-NBSA have similar structures of the SO₃H group, with the O–H bond eclipsing one of the S=O bonds. Selected experimental bond distances for 4-MBSA/3-NBSA are (Å) r _h1(C–C)_av = 1.403(3)/1.395(4); r _h1(C–S) = 1.765(5)/1.784(5); r _h1(S=O)_av = 1.433(4)/1.438(4); and r _h1(S–O) = 1.618(4)/1.620(4). The potential functions for the internal rotation of SO₃H, OH, and CH₃ or NO₂ groups were calculated, and the transition states between enantiomers (conformers) were determined. The influence of substituent's nature on molecular geometry as well as on the energies of frontier orbitals and red-ox properties of the compounds is discussed. The inductive and mesomeric substituent effects were estimated from the donor–acceptor interaction energies of the natural bond orbitals of substituent and benzene frame. The correlation between group electronegativities and cooperative energetic characteristics of inductive and mesomeric effects of substituents is shown.     

Effect of solvent on the stability constant of complex formation and the thermodynamic parameters between dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 with Eu3+, La3+, Er3+ and Y3+ cations

The complexation reaction between Eu³⁺, La³⁺, Er³⁺ and Y³⁺ cations with the dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 (DCH18C6) in acetonitrile (AN)–dimethylformamide (DMF) and AN–methanol (MeOH) binary systems have been studied at different temperatures using conductometric method. The conductometric data show that the stoichiometry of the complexes is 1:1 [ML]. The results show that the stability constant of complexes in various solvents is: AN > MeOH > DMF. In the some cases, the minimum of logK_f for (DCH18C6–Eu³⁺), (DCH18C6–La³⁺), (DCH18C6–Er³⁺) and (DCH18C6–Y³⁺) complexes in AN–MeOH binary systems obtain at χ_MeOH ~ 0.75, and also, the logK_f of (DCH18C6–Er³⁺) complex in AN–DMF binary systems show a minimum at χ_AN ~ 0.75. Non-linear behavior was observed for the stability constant of complexes versus the composition of the solvent systems. The experimental data show that the selectivity order of DCH18C6 for these cations in AN–MeOH binary systems (mol% AN = 50, 75) at 25 °C is: Y³⁺ > Er³⁺ > Eu³⁺ > La³⁺. The values of thermodynamic parameters (?H?_C) for formation of complexes were obtained from temperature dependence of stability constants of complexes using the van′t Hoff plots and the standard entropy (?S?_C) were calculated from the relationship: ?G?_C, 298.15 = ?H?_C ?298.15?S?_C. The results show that the values of these thermodynamic parameters are influenced by the nature and the composition of the binary systems.     

Water sorption heats on silica-alumina-based composites for interseasonal heat storage

CaCl₂-containing composites have been prepared by depositing the hydrated salt (by incipient wetness impregnation) on three different silica-aluminas with various Si/Al ratios. The surface area and porosity of all the samples were determined by N₂-adsorption at ?196 °C, and their water sorption properties were investigated by thermogravimetry linked to differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC) in order to determine the quantity of adsorbed/desorbed water and the related heats. The heat released and the quantity of adsorbed water were found to depend on parameters such as the silica-alumina pore diameters, the Si/Al ratio, and the presence of accessible CaCl₂ active phase. The short-term stability of both supports and composites has been also checked by performing successive hydration–dehydration cycles. The sample with the lower Si/Al ratio provided the highest heat per surface area of material, and the heat released per mol of water increased with the amount of Al₂O₃ present in the samples. The deposition of CaCl₂ positively acted on the quantity of heat released during the water sorption, and the composite with the higher alumina content (75 mass% Al) showed the largest heat released per m² of material (2.4 J m^?2) compared to those containing 25 and 13 mass% Al (1.4 and 1.2 J m^?2, respectively).     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of substituted 2,5‐diaryl 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives without flexible chains

A series of new compounds based on aromatically 2,5‐disubstituted 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles without flexible chains, formulated as p‐R–C₆H₄–(OC₂N₂)–(p‐C₆H₄)₂–R′ with (i) R = CH₃O, R′ = CH₃O, CH₃S, F, H (Ia–Id), (ii) R = CH₃S, R′ = CH₃O, CH₃S, F, H (IIa–IId) and (iii) R = F, R′ = CH₃O, CH₃S, F, H (IIIa–IIId) (p‐C₆H₄ and OC₂N₂ represent a p‐phenylene spacer and a 1,3,4‐oxadiazole ring, respectively), were synthesised and characterised by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, MS and HRMS techniques. Mesomorphic properties were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. All of the target compounds (except Id, IId, IIIc and IIId) exhibited an enantiotropic nematic mesophase with high melting temperatures. The liquid crystalline properties of these compounds were influenced greatly by polarity, steric factors and positions of the terminal groups. The effect of the terminal groups on the liquid crystal properties is discussed.     

Preparation process of a highly resistant wollastonite bioceramics using local raw materials

Wollastonite (CaSiO₃) is mainly used for traditional ceramics. In this study, wollastonite-based ceramics was obtained by solid state reaction. The starting powders were sintered at different temperatures (850–1,250 °C) for 2 h. Moreover, different amounts of B₂O₃ (0.5–5.0 mass%) have been added. A relative density of about 97% of the theoretical was reached for samples sintered at 1,050 °C for 2 h, containing 3 and 5 mass% B₂O₃. Excellent values of both three point flexural strength (343 ± 34 MPa) and micro-hardness (4.8 GPa) for samples containing 5 mass% B₂O₃, sintered at 1,050 °C for 2 h. Besides this, a relatively low mass loss ratio has been measured (1.1%) for wollastonite samples containing 5 mass% B₂O₃, sintered under the same conditions, after soaking in lactic acid for 9 days. Finally, the bioactivity of wollastonite by the possibility of formation of apatite on the surface of wollastonite immersed in simulated body fluid was confirmed.     

Hydration behavior of C2S and C2AS nanomaterials, synthetized by sol–gel method

Hydration behavior of dicalcium silicate (C₂S) (Cement chemistry nomenclature is used where C=CaO, S=SiO₂, A=Al₂O₃, S=SO₃) and gehlenite (C₂AS), synthesized by sol–gel method was investigated by means of isothermal heat flow calorimeter at different temperatures. These phases were obtained by crystallization processing at different temperatures from their xerogels (nano-crystalline) prepared by the sol–gel method at ambient temperature. The crystallization of C₂S begins below 600°C and it is well crystallized at 900°C. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that β-C₂S is formed and it remains stable since after slow cooling. The crystallization of C₂AS xerogels starts with the formation of C₂S, then it reacts with alumina to form mineral C₂AS at 1100°C. The effect of hydration temperature upon the hydration reaction of C₂S obtained at 600 and 900°C and C₂AS annealed at 600 and 1100°C was investigated by means of isothermal calorimeter. An increase in the temperature of hydration brought about initial acceleration of all samples, as indicated by the increased magnitude of peak of calorimetric curves. The microstructure of the samples cured at hydrothermal condition after 1 and 7 days has been examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fine crystals of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) were developed in C₂S samples, while C₂AS has been hydrated to form gehlenite hydrate supplemented by C–S–H.     

Effect of hydrothermal curing on early hydration of G-Oil well cement

G-Oil well cement has been cured under standard and hydrothermal conditions with different steam pressures and temperatures. Compressive strength, pore structure parameters, microstructure, and hydrated products were evaluated after 7 days curing by using SEM, MIP, and simultaneous TGA/DSC. Obtained results showed that 7 days aged sample cured under standard conditions has the highest compressive strength with compact pore structure and hydrated products similar to those found after hydration of Ordinary Portland cement. With increasing temperature and pressure from standard conditions (25 °C, 10125 Pa) to hydrothermal ones (150 °C and 0.3 MPa, 200 °C and 1.2 MPa), compressive strength has drastically decreased from 77.5 ± 2.0 to 20.5 ± 1.0 MPa due to the transformation of original hydrated products (C–S–H) to crystallized α-C₂SH and C₆S₂H₃. The crystallization has led, under hydrothermal curing, to the increase of permeability and pore structure depletion. The final compressive strength after curing for 7 days at 150 °C (51.8 ± 2.0 MPa) and 200 °C (20.5 ± 1.0 MPa), which significantly exceeds the recommended values of 3.45 MPa according to API to hold many casings of oil wells is questionable for application in geothermal ones.     

Supramolecular inclusion of a pillared double-layered host by an anion-directed second-sphere coordination

In this paper, we have illustrated the utilisation of a second-sphere coordination approach to construct supramolecular inclusion solids with varieties of guest molecules. A flexible molecule N,N,N′,N′-tetra-p-methylbenzyl-ethylenediamine (L1) bearing doubly protonated H-bond donors was designed, capable of forming N–H…Cl hydrogen bonds with a crystallographically unique chloride anion, to construct an anion-directed ligand. The pillared double-layered host framework was constructed by an anion-directed ligand and primary coordination sphere [CoCl₄]^2 ?  through weak C–H…Cl hydrogen-bonding interactions. A variety of guest molecules, such as p-anisaldehyde, 1,4-dimethoxy-2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)benzene, can be included, leading to the formation of novel supramolecular inclusion solids: [L1]·4[H]⁺·[CoCl₄]^2 ? ·2Cl^? ·1.5[C₈H₈O₂]·0.25[CH₃OH] (1) and [L1]·4[H]⁺·[CoCl₄]^2 ? ·2Cl^? ·1.5[C₁₂H₂₀O₄]·0.5[CH₃OH] (2).

We have presented herein the utilisation of a second-sphere coordination approach to construct supramolecular inclusion solids with a variety of guest molecules. A novel type of a pillared double-layered host framework was constructed by a second-sphere coordination between the anion-directed ligand (L1 = N,N,N′,N′-tetra-p-methylbenzyl-ethylenediamine) and [CoCl₄]^2 ?  through weak C–H…Cl hydrogen-bonding interaction, and a variety of guest molecules, such as p-anisaldehyde, 1,4-dimethoxy-2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)benzene, can be included, leading to the formation of supramolecular inclusion solids: [L1]·4[H]⁺·[CoCl₄]^2 ? ·2Cl^? ·1.5[C₈H₈O₂]·0.25[CH₃OH] (1) and [L1]·4[H]⁺·[CoCl₄]^2 ? ·2Cl^? ·1.5[C₁₂H₂₀O₄]·0.5[CH₃OH] (2)

     

Thermal resistance,microstructure and mechanical properties of type I Portland cement pastes containing low-cost nanoparticles

This study aimed to utilize laboratory-prepared nano-silica (NS) and nano-alumina (NA) as low-cost nano-oxides additions for improving the mechanical properties and thermal resistance of hardened ordinary Portland cement (OPC) pastes. NS was synthesized from rice husk ash in the absence of any surfactant, while NA was synthesized from AlCl₃ in the presence of CTAB as a surfactant. The average particle sizes of synthesized NS and NA were 30 and 40 nm, respectively. Nano-silica or nano-alumina was added to OPC as a single phase with different ratios of 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 by mass % of OPC. The physico-chemical characteristics of different OPC-NS and OPC-NA hardened pastes were studied after 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 90 days of hydration. The resistance of the hardened composites for firing was evaluated for specimens cured for 28 days under tap water and then fired at 300, 600 and 800 °C for 3 h. The fired specimens were cooled by two methods: gradual cooling and rapid cooling. The compressive strength test was performed for all mixes at each firing temperature. The compressive strength results revealed that the optimum addition of NS is 1, whereas the optimum addition of NA is 0.5 by mass % of OPC. XRD, TG/DTG and SEM results indicated that ill-crystalline and nearly amorphous C–S–H, C–A–S–H and C–A–H were the main hydration products.