Structure–property relationships in multicomponent oxide glasses

Cations play a complex structural role in oxide glasses, as they occur in different kinds of environments, which allow them to exert a contrasted influence on physical and chemical properties of these glasses. The combination of structural information given by a wide range of spectroscopic methods and by radiation scattering, combined with numerical modelling, has given insight on the structural organisation around these cations. Among these characteristic properties are unusually low-coordination numbers, such as 5-fold coordination, and the presence of extended ordered domains, in which cation polyhedra are edge- or corner-sharing. This review presents evidence for a structural control of several physical and chemical properties in oxide multicomponent glasses. The use of zinc as a stabilising glass component arises from its network-forming position, which implies the presence of low-charge cations in its surrounding and as a consequence decreases the concentration of modifier components. The compositional dependence of glass coloration by transition elements has been investigated thoroughly through the example of nickel in silicate and borate glasses. The wide range of coloration observed may be explained by the existence of three kinds of environments, with nickel occurring in 4-, 5-, and 6- coordination. The relationships of these sites with the medium-range organisation of the glasses have been understood by a combined use of EXAFS spectroscopy and neutron scattering with isotopic substitution. The two other examples that are presented to illustrate structure–property relationships concern the physical solubility of gazes in glasses and the alteration processes of glasses used as analogues of nuclear waste matrices. In this last example, the use of structural probes as zirconium illustrates the influence of the alteration solution on the process of glass corrosion and further development of a gel at the glass–solution interface. A comparison with the evolution of the surrounding of iron shows that the two major processes, hydrolysis/condensation and dissolution/precipitation, depend on the element considered.     

Effect of bismuth trifluoride on the characteristics of fluoroindate glasses: The InF3-BiF3-BaF2 system

Glass formation in the InF₃-BiF₃-BaF₂ system is studied. Partial substitutions of BiF₃ for InF₃ in the InF₃-BaF₂ system reduce the glass-transition and glass-crystallization temperatures and increase the thermal stability range and refractive index. The glass structure is studied using IR and Raman spectroscopy. InF₆ and BiF_n polyhedra are identified in the system. Doping the glass with bismuth trifluoride changes the degree and linkage character of the InF₆ polyhedra in the glass network. The medium-range order length is not affected by the bismuth trifluoride concentration in the glass. The modifier cation (Ba²⁺) substantially determines the correlation length in the glasses.     

L’importance des phénomènes d’oxydo-réduction dans le verreImportance of oxidoreduction phenomena in glass.

Oxydo-reduction phenomenon concerns glass manufacturing as well as its properties. Various oxidation scales have been used by glassmakers, the most widely used being the ratio between Fe²⁺ and the total iron content. Comparisons are made with others, such as the partial pressure of oxygen or the redox potential. The influence of the chemical composition of the glass is also studied as well as that of the temperature, through the results obtained in Saint-Gobain Recherche and in other laboratories. In industrial glass manufacturing, the oxidation equilibrium is usually achieved during the fining process, an intense ‘bubbling’ being necessary to obtain a homogeneous glass. Thus, the oxidoreduction state of the glass does not depend on the atmosphere under which it was made, but depends on the mixture of gases generated during the fining process, which is described through the reactions generated by the two main fining systems, arsenic oxide or antimony oxide + sodium nitrate and sodium sulphate + a reducing agent. The former provides oxygen and the latter, a mixture of oxygen and sulphur dioxide. Consequently, a glass melted with arsenic oxide is more oxidised than a glass melted with sodium sulphate. The equilibrium constant used to interpret the latter system, mostly used for soda lime silica glasses fining, is given as a function of the temperature and some of the consequences are examined. Obviously, the coloration by iron oxide impurities is influenced by the manufacturing process. Some other colouring oxides are submitted to a change of oxidation state and thus to a modification of their colouring action. A quick review is done of the transition metal coloration, of the electron-charge-transfer absorption due to sulphides or selenides, and of aggregate formation inducing the well-known red ruby glass, for instance.

Résumé

Les phénomènes d’oxydo-réduction concernent aussi bien l’élaboration du verre que ses propriétés. Plusieurs échelles d’oxydo-réduction ont été utilisées par les verriers, la plus courante étant le rapport entre Fe²⁺ et la teneur totale en fer. Nous faisons la comparaison entre les différents systèmes, comme la pression partielle d’oxygène. Dans l’élaboration des verres industriels, l’équilibre redox est réalisé habituellement pendant le processus d’affinage, un « bullage » intense étant indispensable à l’obtention d’un verre homogène. L’état redox du verre ne dépend pas de l’atmosphère sous laquelle il a été élaboré, mais du mélange de gaz généré durant le processus d’affinage. Les deux systèmes affinants principaux sont l’oxyde d’arsenic ou d’antimoine couplé au nitrate de sodium ou bien le sulfate de sodium couplé à un agent réducteur. Le premier génère de l’oxygène et le second un mélange d’oxygène et de dioxyde de soufre. En conséquence, un verre élaboré avec de l’oxyde d’arsenic est plus oxydé qu’un verre élaboré avec du sulfate de sodium. La coloration par l’impureté oxyde de fer est évidemment fortement influencée par le procédé. D’autres oxydes colorants subissent aussi des changements d’état d’oxydo-réduction et voient leur action colorante modifiée en fonction des conditions d’élaboration.     

Forty years of the Hruby glass-forming coefficient via DTA when comparing other criteria in relation to the glass stability and vitrification ability

The revision of the meaning of the famous Hruby glass-forming coefficient (as well as of other analogous coefficients by, e.g., Weinberg and Lu?CLiu) reveals some generalized correlations between glass-forming ability (GFA) and glass stability. The relative change of the Hruby parameter is supreme in almost all cases. The Hruby parameter is more sensitive in relation to the change of both the super-cooled region and the reduced glass-transition temperature. The only exception is the restricted sensitivity respecting the reciprocal reduced glass-transition temperature in some cases of the bulk metallic glasses. The correlation of the Hruby coefficient with GFA is agreeable for oxide glasses and thus can be commonly employed as a reliable and precise glass-forming criterion. Associated problems are the experimental determination of relevant temperatures, most pertinent that for glass transition which is dependent to preparative condition of glass formation.     

Scaling of the hysteresis in the glass transition of glycerol with the temperature scanning rate

By measuring the dependences of the temperature-dependent primary ("alpha") dielectric relaxation time behavior on the temperature scanning rate for the glass-forming glycerol, we study the scaling of hysteresis at the glass transition in glycerol. Based on the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) expression and the Angell's fragility concept, notable correlations of the systematic kinetic fragility, and of the hysteresis effect in the vitrification∕fusion "alpha"-relaxation process of glycerol, with the temperature scanning rate, were reasonably analyzed and discussed. It was observed that the kinetic fragility m and the apparent glass-transition temperature hysteresis width ΔT(g)(a), respectively, scaled the temperature scanning rate q as m ≈ α(m)q(-γ) and ΔT(g)(a) ≈ A(0) + αq(β), at which the exponents, γ and β, were suggested to be characteristic of the resistance to the structure change or fragility change of the system during the glass transition. The observed scaling laws are quite similar to the scaling power law for the thermal hysteresis in the first-order phase transition (FOPT) of solids, providing a significant insight into the hysteresis effect in the glass transition of the glass-forming liquids.     

The effect of glass transition on the self-oscillation regime of tensile drawing of a polymer

The effect of the transition of a polymer into its rubbery state at the glass-transition temperature on the character of the excitation of self-oscillation neck propagation is studied with numerical methods. To describe the rate of plastic yielding near the glass-transition temperature, the Eyring equation is modified by the introduction of the temperature dependence of the parameter related to the free volume. There are three intervals of strain rates. At low strain rates when the yield stress increases with an increase in the strain rate, neck propagation is stable and no oscillations are excited. At high strain rates, when the glass-transition temperature is achieved during stationary neck propagation, the excitation of oscillations shows a mild character and there exists a certain critical length of the samples below which no oscillations are excited. In the intermediate interval of strain rates, the excitation shows a severe character. In this case, the oscillations are excited when, in the transition region, the glass-transition temperature of the polymer is achieved owing to excitations. In strain-rate-sample-length coordinates, the diagram describing the regions of various oscillation behaviors of the samples is constructed.     

BSA denaturation in the absence and the presence of urea studied by the iso-conversional method and the master plots method

The effect of cure temperature and modifier proportion on the miscibility of an epoxy–amine system with a thermoplastic modifier was studied by analysis of phase diagrams, morphologies, and glass transitions. Phase diagrams for the system before and during reaction were obtained from a thermodynamic analysis of phase separation using a model based on Flory–Huggins theory. Different types of morphologies were observed and analyzed in function of cure temperature and modifier proportion. The validity of the thermodynamic model was checked by comparing with observed morphologies. Two glass transitions were observed for most of the modified systems indicating that a phase separation was occurred.     

Enantiopure aryl-[1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridinyl] methanols and their use for heterogeneous hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate

Both enantiomers of two new chiral modifiers (naphthyl- and anthryl-[1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridinyl] methanols, 4H and 5H) are obtained for the first time from inexpensive d-mannitol in 10 easy steps. Until now erythro-4H is the only synthetic chiral modifier available under both enantiomeric forms, which provide enantioselectivities almost as high as those obtained with natural cinchonidine, for which only one enantiomer is available. It is shown that the anthryl group may be less efficient than the naphthyl (the e.e.% drops from 75% with erythro-4H to 46% with erythro-5H) and that N-methyl substitution (trisubstituted nitrogen as in cinchonidine) leads also to a drop in the e.e.% (from 75% with 4H to 39% with 4Me).     

Modification of epoxy polymers with small additives of multiwall carbon nanotubes

The effect of small additives of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes used as a modifier on the formation and properties of epoxy polymers cured with diaminodiphenyl sulfone is investigated. In the range of additive concentrations 0.01–0.50 wt %, there are extreme dependences of dynamic storage modulus and the glass-transition temperature on modifier concentration. As shown by electron microscopy and X-ray scattering, regions with increased packing densities of macromolecules are formed in the polymers in the presence of the modifier. The effect of the specific surface on the kinetics of curing of epoxy resins is observed. A mechanism controlling the formation of the epoxy matrix that is responsible for the inhomogeneous polymer structuring that defines the final properties of the polymers is suggested.     

Influence of Material Properties on the Damage-Reporting and Self-Healing Performance of a Mechanically Active Dynamic Network Polymer in Coating Applications

We conducted a detailed investigation of the influence of the material properties of dynamic polymer network coatings on their self-healing and damage-reporting performance. A series of reversible polyacrylate urethane networks containing the damage-reporting diarylbibenzofuranone unit were synthesized, and their material properties (e.g., indentation modulus, hardness modulus, and glass-transition temperature) were measured conducting nanoindentation and differential scanning calorimetry experiments. The damage-reporting and self-healing performances of the dynamic polymer network coatings exhibited opposite tendencies with respect to the material properties of the polymer network coatings. Soft polymer network coatings with low glass-transition temperature (~10 °C) and indentation hardness (20 MPa) exhibited better self-healing performance (almost 100%) but two times worse damage-reporting properties than hard polymer network coatings with high glass-transition temperature (35~50 °C) and indentation hardness (150~200 MPa). These features of the dynamic polymer network coatings are unique; they are not observed in elastomers, films, and hydrogels, whereby the polymer networks are bound to the substrate surface. Evidence indicates that controlling the polymer’s physical properties is a key factor in designing high-performance self-healing and damage-reporting polymer coatings based on mechanophores.     

Estimating the molecular mass between epoxy-amine network junctions from glass-transition-temperature data

The average molecular mass between network junctions is estimated for several epoxy-amine systems of various compositions with comparable molecular masses of the epoxy oligomer and the curing agent. This estimation is based on the experimental data on glass-transition temperatures of curing epoxy-amine mixtures. The constant that relates these physicochemical characteristics is dependent on the nature of the epoxy-amine system and the rigidity of polymer chains located between network junctions. Correlations are found between the constant and the glass-transition temperature of the crosslinked epoxy-amine system and between the constant and the difference in the glass-transition temperatures of uncured and ultimately cured epoxy-amine systems.     

The non-isothermal devitrification of Li2O·TiO2·6GeO2 glass

The effect of a partial replacing of GeO₂ by TiO₂ structure and non-isothermal devitrification of lithium heptagermanate glass, examined by Fourier transform infrared spectra, differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction, is reported and discussed. The structure and the glass-transition temperature are not affected by the substitution of GeO₂ by TiO₂ but the investigated glass, unlike lithium heptagermanate glass, devitrifies only from the surface into a crystalline phase isomorphous with Li₂Ge₇O₁₅ crystals. The validity of the Arrhenius-type relationship between the rate constant of crystal growth and the absolute temperature is also discussed.     

Merging Styrene and Diene Structures to a Cyclic Diene: Anionic Polymerization of 1-Vinylcyclohexene (VCH)

We report the first anionic polymerization of 1-vinylcyclohexene (VCH). This structure may be considered as an intermediate between dienes and styrene. The polymerization of this cyclic 1,2-disubstituted 1,3-diene proceeded quantitatively in cyclohexane at 25 °C with sec-butyllithium as an initiator. The obtained polymers have well-controlled molecular weights in the range of 5 to 142 kg mol⁻¹, controlled by the molar ratio of monomer and initiator, with narrow molecular weight distributions (Đ<1.07–1.20). In situ ¹H NMR kinetic characterization revealed a weak gradient structure for the copolymers of styrene and VCH, (r_Sty=2.55, r_VCH=0.39). P(VCH) obtained in cyclohexane with sec-BuLi as an initiator showed both 1,4- and 3,4-incorporation mode (ratio: 64 : 36). It was demonstrated that the microstructure of the resulting P(VCH) can be altered by the addition of a modifier (THF), resulting in increasing 3,4-microstructure (up to 78 %) and elevated glass-transition temperature up to 89 °C. Thus, the monomer VCH polymerizes carbanionically like a diene, however leading to rigid polymers with high glass transition temperature, which provides interesting options for combination with other dienes to well-defined polymer architectures and materials.     

The elementary softening event in glassy systems in terms of the model of the excited state

The pressure dependence of the glass-transition temperature (glass-transition lines) is described through a relationship similar to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. The criterion for the glass-liquid transition for polymer and other glasses is calculated. According to the proposed speculations, an elementary softening event in glasses is reduced to the critical deformation of interatomic (intermolecular) linkage, which corresponds to the maximum force of attraction between atoms. A glass (an amorphous polymer) softens when the mean energy of the thermal motion of the kinetic units responsible for the viscous flow is ∼3 times higher than the work of the ultimate deformation of the interatomic bond. The nature of structural changes occurring in the course of critical displacement (excitation) of kinetic units in liquids and glasses is discussed.     

Impact of plasticizers and tackifiers on the crystallization of isotactic poly(1-butene)

Crystallization of a semi-crystalline polyolefin in the presence of low molecular weight modifiers was quantified by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The polyolefin was a commercial grade of isotactic poly(1-butene) (iPB). Two modifiers were used: an oligomeric plasticizer, designated HOAO, which decreased the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the system, and an oligomeric tackifier, designated HOCP, which increased T_g. Binary iPB/modifier blends containing 10% or 20% by weight of HOAO or HOCP were examined to determine how their addition affects T_g, while ternary iPB/HOAO/HOCP blends containing 10% or 20% by weight of total modifier were examined to determine the effects of dilution by using a ratio of HOAO to HOCP that matched the T_g of iPB. The addition of modifier decreased the nucleation rate, spherulitic crystal growth rate, and final crystallinity of each blend. However, only the nucleation rate showed a dependence on the type of modifier, with nucleation retarded more by HOCP than by HOAO. A Hoffman-Weeks analysis of the melting point as a function of crystallization temperature confirmed that the driving force for nucleation was reduced, and that the effect was larger for HOCP. An Avrami analysis of the bulk crystallization kinetics was consistent with these observations, as the Avrami exponents were in the range of 3-4.     

Recent progress in nitroxide-mediated polymerizations in miniemulsion

Recent developments in nitroxide-mediated polymerizations conducted in emulsion and miniemulsion have advanced the field across a range of both experimental and theoretical fronts. This article reviews progress in bicomponent initiating systems (including use of camphorsulfonic acid to enhance rate), unimolecular initiating systems, miniemulsions not requiring the use of volatile costabilizers, polymerization of acrylates, mathematical modeling and simulation, and theoretical understanding with regards to issues such as compartmentalization, preservation of polymer chain livingness, the role of aqueous phase kinetics and phase partitioning. These topics are discussed and analyzed to present an integrated portrait of the current status of nitroxide-mediated polymerizations in emulsion/miniemulsion and to identify the most pressing concerns, issues, and opportunities. To cite this article: M.F. Cunningham, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

用DSC测量葡萄糖溶液部分玻璃化转变温度的新方法

用差示扫描量热仪, 采用经过退火处理的连续扫描法, 以不同浓度(20%、45%)的葡萄糖溶液为研究对象, 研究了退火温度对Tgf(部分结晶的玻璃化转变温度)的影响, 给出了确定Tg′(部分玻璃化转变温度)的新方法. 研究发现, 不同退火温度下的Tgf不同. 在−50 ℃以上退火, Tgf随着退火温度的增大而减小; 在−50 ℃以下退火, Tgf随着退火温度的增大而增大, 都有很好的线性关系. 不同浓度的溶液具有相似的规律. 提出从Tgf确定Tg′的方法: Tgf在−50 ℃上下随退火温度变化线的交点所对应的部分结晶玻璃化转变温度即为Tg′. 使用该方法测得葡萄糖的Tg′为−55 ℃.     

Viscoelastic behaviour of butyl acrylate/styrene/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/acrylic acid latices thickened with associative thickeners

The rheological behaviour of butyl acrylate/styrene/acrylic acid latices thickened with a hydrophobically modified ethoxylated polyurethane (HEUR) or hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble polyacrylate emulsion (HASE) was investigated. While the pseudoplastic character of frequency dependence of complex viscosity was similar for both thickeners, viscoelastic behaviour, expressed as the ratio of loss and storage moduli, significantly differed, indicating that the HEUR molecules, unlike swollen HASE particles, create a viscoelastic space structure. The increase in hydrophilicity of the particle surface, achieved by incorporation of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomer into the latex copolymer reduced the viscoelasticity of latices thickened with HEUR, but not of those thickened with HASE. This confirms that adsorption of hydrophobic end-groups on particle surface is important for thickening of latices with HEUR and that a physical network of latex particles interconnected by the thickener macromolecules is formed. To cite this article: O. Quadrat et al., C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Rare-earth-doped transparent glass ceramics

Glass ceramics are a known class of polycrystalline ceramic materials, where, depending on the glass matrix and the particular crystalline phases, one can obtain materials with improved mechanical, thermal, electrical or optical properties. The characteristics and applications of optical glass ceramics are reviewed, with particular emphasis on rare-earth-doped transparent glass ceramics for photonics, including the search for new transparent glass ceramic compositions and the development of suitable methods to process such materials into functional devices.     

The influence of an organosilicon modifier on the properties of a compound based on epoxy-urethane oligomer

To improve the performance characteristics of products made of highly-filled polymer compositions, modification of a compound based on epoxy-urethane oligomer was performed. The SH 198 amino functional organosilicon oligomer was used as a modifier. The performed studies established that an organosilicon modifier increases the gel time and the curing time of the composition based on epoxy-urethane oligomer, shows the plasticizing effect on a compound, decreases its glass transition temperature from 16.5 to 9°C, and increases the deformation in the temperature range of from–40 to +50°C.