Use of emanation thermal analysis to characterize thermal reactivity of brannerite mineral

Emanation thermal analysis (ETA) was used to characterize the thermal reactivity of amorphous brannerite mineral of general formula U_1–xTi_2+xO₆ (locality El Cabril, near Cordoba, Spain). It was demonstrated that on sample heating up to 880°C microstructure changes taking place in the sample were accompanied by the formation of new radon diffusion paths, followed by their closing up during the final transformation of amorphous to crystalline brannerite in the range 900–1020 °C. Relative changes in structure irregularities that served as radon diffusion paths during heating and subsequent cooling of the sample to temperatures of 300, 550, 750, 880, 1020 and 1130°C, respectively, were determined from the ETA results. Mass losses in temperature ranges of 230–315, 570–760 and 840–1040°C were observed by thermogravimetry. Mass spectrometry indicated the release of CO2 mainly due to the decomposition of minor carbon amount in the brannerite mineral sample.     

Emanation thermal analysis study of a sol-gel precursor for silica-titania waveguides

Emanation Thermal Analysis (ETA) was demonstrated as a tool for the characterization of microstructure changes of a sol-gel precursor for silica-titania layers deposited on the glass plate to be used as planar waveguides. Temperature ranges of 280-330 and 380-500°C, respectively, in which the densification of the layers took place, were determined by ETA under in situ conditions of the sample heating. Results of thermogravimetry were compared with the ETA data. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Emanation Thermal Analysis of SiC Based Materials

Results of emanation thermal analysis (ETA) characterizing microstructure changes of SiC based materials during heat treatment in argon are demonstrated. This method made it possible to reveal fine changes of the texture of SiC nano-sized powders, SiC micro-sized powders and SiC whiskers under in situconditions of the heating. ETA curves can serve as fingerprints of the respective samples.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Formation of B-C-N Ceramics Investigated by Emanation Thermal Analysis, TG and DTA

Processes taking place during formation of B-C-N ceramics by thermal treatment of organic precursors were investigated using emanation thermal analysis (ETA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG). An additional information about thermal behavior of precursors used for preparation of BC4N, BN and CNx ceramic systems by heating in argon up to 1100°C was obtained. The ETA enabled us to characterize microstructure changes in the samples at in situ conditions of thermal treatment. A good agreement of ETA, TG and DTA results was found. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Theory of Emanation Thermal Analysis: XI. Radon diffusion as the probe of microstructure changes in solids

The theoretical background for the use of radon diffusion as a probe of microstructure changes in solids is given. The high sensitivity of the emanation thermal analysis (ETA) in the study of solid state processes especially interactions taking place on surfaces and in the near surface layers is described. The increasing sensitivity of the method towards bulk processes with rising temperature is theoretically shown. The background considerations to be used in the mathematical modeling of temperature dependences of the radon release from solids on heating (i.e. simulated ETA curves) are presented. Various models for radon diffusion and various functions describing the annealing of structure irregularities, which served as diffusion paths for radon, were used in the modeling. It was shown, that ETA is able to characterize microstructure changes in the surface layers of the thickness from several nanometers to several micrometers.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal behaviour of perovskite ceramics as a matrix for encapsulation of hazardous elements

Summary Emanation thermal analysis (ETA) was used to characterize thermal behaviour of the perovskite ceramics designed as a matrix for the encapsulation of high level radioactive waste. The perovskite ceramics (composition CaTiO₃ where small admixtures of Nd and Ce simulated the radioactive elements Cm and Pu, respectively) was prepared from sol-gel precursors by hot pressing at 1250°C/29 MPa for 2 h. The chemical durability of the ceramics was tested by leaching in the solution with pH 2 at 90°C/2 months. ETA results of as-leached and as-prepared perovskite ceramics samples were compared and evaluated by means of a mathematical model. Three temperature ranges of the annealing of structure defects in the as-prepared sample were determined from the decrease of radon release rate in the ranges 280-560, 800-960 and 960-1200°C, respectively. One annealing step was determined for the as-leached sample from the decrease of radon release rate in the range of 800-950°C.     

Emanation Thermal Analysis of Intercalated Montmorillonitic clay

Emanation Thermal Analysis (ETA), based on the measurement of the release of radon from previously labelled samples, has been used for 'in-situ’ characterisation of the morphology changes of intercalated montmorillonitic clay. The thermal behaviour of hydroxyaluminium intercalated montmorillonite was monitored in course of the preparation of alumina pillared montmorillonite, making possible to determine optimal temperature for the isothermal treatment of the intermediate product. Moreover, the thermal stability of alumina pillared montmorillonite porous structure was determined from the ETA data. A good agreement of ETA data and surface area, XRD patterns. DTA, and TG resulted was found. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Theory of Emanation Thermal Analysis IX. Inert gas release during thermal decomposition of solids

In the Emanation Thermal Analysis the release of inert gas atoms previously incorporated in the sample is measured. Results of the statistical modelling of the inert gas release during thermal decomposition of solids are presented. The updated model supposing three components in the solid-state reaction system including the formation of an intermediate metastable component on the surface of the newly formed component was proposed for the modelling of the ETA curves. The release of inert gas atoms previously incorporated into the sample is used as a probe of microstructure changes. The random nucleation mechanism was considered in the modelling. The model can be used in modelling ETA curves of solid-solid, solid-gas and solid-liquid interactions where the existence of metastable intermediate component is supposed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transport properties and microstructure changes of alumina coatings characterized by emanation thermal analysis

Emanation thermal analysis was used to characterize the thermal behaviour of alumina coatings as deposited on EUROFER 97 steel surface by filtered vacuum arc technique. Temperature ranges of the healing of cracks and structure irregularities observed by SEM were determined from the ETA results. Transport properties of the alumina coatings were assessed from the ETA results by the evaluation of radon diffusion parameters in the temperature range from 50 to 300°C. Healing microstructure irregularities of the alumina coatings can be expected in the range 300–700°C as indicated by the decrease of the radon release rate. From the ETA results it followed that the onset of healing the cracks observed by the SEM on the surface of one alumina coating sample can be expected at 430°C. Dedicated to Dr. K. Habersberger, Past-Chairman of the thermal analysis working group of the Czech Chemcial Society, at the occasion of his 75^th birthday     

Emanation thermal analysis of low-density polyethylene irradiated by electron beam

The thermal behaviour of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as powder and pellet have been characterised by means of the emanation thermal analysis (ETA) during heating in air. The ETA was used in the study of LDPE polymer before and after irradiation to various doses of high energy electrons. It was shown that the ETA reflects microstructure changes taking place as the result of thermal degradation and oxidation pyrolysis of the polymer samples. It was shown in the study of LDPE products, resulting after the electron-beam treatment, that the results of ETA reflect structural changes caused by the radiation over the range of absorbed doses from 0 to 20 MGy. The annealing chemical radicals produced by the electron-beam irradiation was assessed by comparing ETA curves measured during first and second heating runs.     

Optimization of firing parameters for ceramic wares by thermal analysis

Aesthetic and utilitarian properties of traditional ceramic wares as well as engineering properties of modern advanced ceramics are attained by maintaining an optimum temperature-time-atmosphere relationship, called firing schedule, in the kiln. The contribution of modern thermal analysis (TA) techniques such as TG/DTG, TG/EGA, TG/MS, DTA, DSC, TDA, etc. in 1) optimizing production steps by raw material quality control, by studying binder burn out, product densification, 2) in simulating appropriate preheating, firing and cooling schedules as well as 3) in developing shorter firing cycles has been extensively reported in recent literature. The paper will first discuss theoretical curves and energy required for ceramic firing and present from the literature selected examples of applications of thermal analysis in ceramic technology.     

Emanation Thermal Analysis: Ready to fulfill the future needs of materials characterization

The paper reviews the actual state of the development and use of emanation thermal analysis (ETA). Examples of its recent applications are presented. The advantages of ETA in the microstructure characterization of materials under in situ conditions of their heat treatment are outlined.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Emanation thermal analysis study of synthetic gibbsite

Emanation thermal analysis (ETA) was used for thermal characterization of microstructure changes taking place during heating of synthetic gibbsite sample in argon in the range of 25–1200°C. Microstructure development and the increase of the surface area under in-situ conditions of the sample heating were characterized. The increase of the radon release rate from 130–330°C monitored the increase of the surface area due to the dehydration of Al(OH)₃. During heating of the sample in the range 450–1080°C the ETA results characterized the annealing of surface and near surface structure irregularities of intermediate products of gibbsite heat treatment. The mathematical model for the evaluation of the ETA experimental results was proposed. From the comparison of the experimental ETA results with the model curves it followed that the model is suitable for the quantitative characterization of microstructure changes taking place on heating of gibbsite sample. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal Behaviour of Titania Based Materials: Mathematical modeling of emanation thermal analysis results

Emanation thermal analysis (ETA) was used in the characterization of microstructure changes during heating ofprecursors for the titania based materials: hydrous titania, TiO₂nH₂O (n=0.58) and hydrous titania containing 10% ruthenia,(TiO₂)_0.9(RuO₂)_0.1nH₂O (n=1.5). The precursors were heated at the constant rate 6 K min^–1 in argon flow in the range 20–1000°C. ETA results were compared with the theoretical curves simulating the temperature dependences of radon release rate, E(T). Two mathematical models were used in the simulation. The models considered either subsequent or simultaneous solid state processes (i.e. dehydration, crystallization orphase transition, resp.) during thermal treatment of titania based materials. A good agreement was found between experimental and the simulated ETA curves. The results of ETA were confirmed by XRD patterns of intermediate products of thermal treatment of the precursors.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Use of Emanation Thermal Analysis in Characterisation of Nanosized Hematite Prepared by Dry Grinding of Goethite

Hematite nanoparticles of narrow size distribution were prepared by grinding of goethite. Intermediate and final products of grinding were characterised by different techniques, including the less-common emanation thermal analysis (ETA). ETA was shown to be a useful technique for characterising processes of surface annealing, initial sintering and growth of hematite particles under in situ conditions of thermal treatment. A good agreement was found between results of ETA, TG, XRD, IR spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, used for characterisation of thermal behaviour of the goethite samples ground for varying time (0–70 h). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Emanation thermal analysis study of N-doped titania photoactive powders

Thermal behaviour of N-doped titania powders prepared by heat treatment of anatase in gaseous ammonia at 550 and 575°C, respectively, was characterized by emanation thermal analysis (ETA). The ETA results were used to assess transport properties of the samples subsurface using the mobility data of radon atoms previously incorporated into the samples to the depth of 60 nm. It was demonstrated that the radon permeability of anatase in the temperature range 50–500°C was enhanced for the N-doped titania as compared to the non-doped titania powder. Microstructure changes accompanying the anatase-rutile transition were pointed out from the decrease of the radon release rate in the temperature range 850–1000°C. The results of surface area and porosity measurements, DTA results as well XRD patterns supported the ETA results.     

Use of bomb calorimetry to assess recovery of waste industrial mineral oils through regeneration

Emanation thermal analysis (ETA), based on the measurement of the release of radon previously incorporated into the sample, was used to characterize the differences in the thermal behavior porous titania film (thickness 200 nm),when heated in argon and in oxygen, respectively, in the range from 20 to 800°C. It was observed that the annealing of porosity and structure defects in the near surface layers of the porous titania film (anatase) was enhanced on heating in oxygen in comparison to the heating in argon. ETA results were compared with SEM micrographs and XRD patterns of the titania film samples heated to 500 and 800°C, respectively. A mathematical model was used for the evaluation of the temperature dependence of the titania films microstructure development.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of accelerated thermal ageing on the thermal behaviour of the recently made parchments

To reveal the fire injuring of parchment, the changes in the thermal behaviour of some goat parchments, obtained from skins originating from different animals, as a result of thermal aging were determined by thermal analysis methods (DSC; simultaneous TG/DTG, DSC; micro hot table (MHT)). Thermal aging of parchments was revealed to bring about the decrease in shrinkage temperature, absolute value of enthalpy of denaturation in water and some changes in non-isothermal parameters characteristic for dehydration process in static air atmosphere. The results obtained by DSC analysis performed in N₂ and O₂ flows as well as those obtained by simultaneous TG/DTG, DSC analyses have shown that both softening (melting) process parameters and parameters of thermo-oxidative processes have not been changed by thermal ageing. The results obtained by thermal analysis methods were correlated with those obtained by microscopic investigation of parchment samples immersed in water and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The application of these microscopic techniques has revealed the morphology changes in the investigated parchments as a result of thermal degradation.     

Thermal Behaviour of Silica Waste from a Geothermal Power Station and Derived Silica Ceramics

The silica waste originating from a geothermal power plant in Mexico was investigated with the aim of finding its applicability as a raw secondary material for ceramics production. The thermal behaviour of the original silica waste (containing NaCl and KCl from marine brine) and of the purified silica was characterized by means of DTA/TG, emanation thermal analysis (ETA) and thermodilatometry (TD). The reactivity of the purified silica waste mixed with CaCO₃ (1.8 mass%) was characterized by means of ETA, DTA and TG. The microstructures and phase compositions of the final products prepared by heating in air were tested by means of X-ray diffraction and of scanning electron microscopy coupled with electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The thermal analysis methods allowed determination of the optimal conditions for thermal treatment of the silica waste in order to obtain partly sintered porous materials for use as refractory bricks. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.