Deaquation and denitration studies on copper nitrate trihydrate

Previous studies on the thermal degradation of copper nitrate trihydrate have been reviewed. These indicate that the conditions used strongly influence the processes involved. The degradation has been studied here using slow heating rates and in vacuum, so reducing these effects. Possible mechanisms using these conditions have been discussed, using data for the degradation of the ammine complex to supplement the study.     

FTIR and thermal studies on gel grown neodymium tartrate crystals

The growth of neodymium tartrate crystals was achieved in silica gel by single diffusion method. Optimum conditions were established for the growth of good quality crystals. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic study indicates the presence of water molecules and tartrate ligands and suggests that tartrate ions are doubly ionised. The thermal behaviour of the material was studied using thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermogravimetric analysis support the suggested chemical formula of the grown crystal to be Nd₂(C₄H₄O₆)₃·7H₂O, and the presence of seven water molecules as water of hydration. It is shown that the material is thermally stable up 45 °C beyond which it decomposes through many stages till the formation of neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃) at 995 °C. The decomposition pattern is reported to be typical of a hydrated metal tartrate.     

IR and polarized Raman spectra of strontium tartrate trihydrate

The IR and polarized Raman spectra of SrC₄H₄O₆ · 3H₂O have been recorded and analysed. The factor group analysis of the divalent tartrate ion has been carried out on the basis of C₂ symmetry. As the ion possesses lower symmetry in the crystal, splittings have been observed for the different vibrational modes. Separate bands in the bending region of water suggest the existence of three crystallographically different water molecules in the crystal, which is confirmed by deuterium substitution.     

Thermal decomposition of copper(II) glutarate trihydrate. Part I. The mechanism of dehydration of copper(II) glutarate trihydrate

The mechanism of thermal dehydration of copper(II) glutarate trihydrate has been determined from the analysis of the kinetic data for isothermal and non-isothermal dehydration experiments. Microscopic investigations for the dehydration process of a single crystal of copper(II) glutarate trihydrate have been carried out to support the mechanism. The simultaneous DTG—DTA—TG curves of the salt are also described.     

Structural, spectral, optical and dielectric properties of copper and glycine doped LAHCl single crystals

Cu2+ and glycine doped L-arginine monohydrochloride monohydrate (LAHCl) single crystals were grown by slow solvent evaporation technique. The grown single crystals were confirmed by X-ray diffraction study and the interaction of dopants with LAHCl molecule was identified in Fourier transform infrared spectra. The crystalline perfection of pure and doped crystals was analyzed by high resolution X-ray diffraction studies. Vickers microhardness and UV-visible spectroscopy were carried out respectively to study the mechanical stability and optical transmittance of pure and doped LAHCl single crystals. He-Ne laser of wavelength 632.8 nm was used to measure refractive index and birefringence of grown crystals. The second harmonic generation efficiency was also measured for pure and doped LAHCl single crystals using Nd:YAG laser.     

Thermal and dielectric studies of 2,2’-dihydroxybenzophenone

Thermal and dielectric properties of 2,2’-dihydroxybenzophenone were studied in relation with the potential progress of crystal nucleation and growth below the ordinary glass transition temperature, T_gα. Differential scanning calorimetry was carried out in a range 100-350 K. The α glass transition was found to occur at T_gα=239 K. Crystallization and fusion were observed to take place when the sample was cooled down to 103 K, but not observed when cooled to 203 K. Crystal nucleation was interpreted as having happened during annealing for a short time at 103 K which is much below the T_gα. Heat capacities were measured in a range 7-350 K by an intermittent heating method with an adiabatic calorimeter. The temperature, enthalpy and entropy of fusion were determined to be 334.46 K, 20.07 kJ mol^-1 and 60.01 J K^-1mol^-1, respectively. Crystal growth was found to proceed even at 220 K below the T_gα, but no glass transition was detected below 220 K. Dielectric losses were measured in a temperature range of 100-250 K and a frequency range of 30Hz-10 kHz. β-Relaxation process was found dielectrically with the activation energy of 22.6 kJ mol^-1, and the corresponding glass transition was expected to occur at 76.9 K. It is discussed, based on the “structurally ordered clusters aggregation” model for supercooled liquids and glasses, that the β process is potentially attributed to the crystal nucleation progressing at 103 K.     

Thermal degradation studies on some metal hydrazinic complexes

The paper deals with the characterization of three hydrazinic complexes with Ni, Cu and Cr respectively, by means of non-isothermal thermal methods, TG, DTG and DTA, under nitrogen atmosphere in order to investigate the structure-thermostability-thermal degradation mechanism correlation. The thermal analysis made evident the degradation mechanisms characteristic of every sample in accordance with the chemical structure. The quantitative analysis by TG-DTG afforded the estimation of the metal amount in the complex on the basis of the resulting metallic oxide nature as well as of some aspects of the thermal degradation mechanism supported by mass spectral measurements. The melting points given by DTA and confirmed by the Boetius method and the initial temperatures of thermal degradation from TG-DTG-DTA afforded to ascertain the temperature range proper for using and storing the complexes under study which show potential practical applications as drugs.     

Broadband dielectric studies of weakly polar and non-polar liquid crystals

Complex dielectric permittivities, for two orientations of the director n, parallel (E || n) and perpendicular (E ⊥ n) to the probing electric field E, of the weakly polar liquid crystals (LCs) 4,4'-dihexylazoxybenzene (D6AOB) and 4,4'-diheptylazoxybenzene (D7AOB) as well as the non-polar LC diheptylazobenzene (D7AB) have been measured in the frequency range 75 kHz to 1 GHz. The measurements were performed in the nematic, smectic and isotropic phases of the LCs. The dielectric anisotropies Δε (=ε_||-ε_⊥) obtained from the values of dielectric permittivities at 100 kHz in the nematic phase were found to increase with decreasing temperature. However, for the DnAOBs, the Δε values are somewhat smaller than that for D7AB which does not have a permanent dipole moment. In the nematic phase two molecular relaxation processes were observed for both DnAOBs in each of the orientations—parallel and perpendicular. The four processes merge into two separate processes in the isotropic phase. For D7AB no orientational relaxations were observed in the experimental frequency range.     

Thermal oxidative degradation of isotactic polypropylene catalyzed by copper and copper oxide interfaces

The oxidative degradation of isotactic polypropylene films coated on well-defined Cu(Cu₂O), CuO_0.67, and CuO films in a temperature range of 90–120°C in a quartz-spoon-gauge-reaction vessel was studied. This catalytic reaction has been compared with the oxidation of polypropylene without copper or oxide films. The reaction vessel contained, if needed, P₂O₅ and/or KOH as “getters” for H₂O and CO₂, these substances could be menitored continuously. Cu(Cu₂O) films were transformed during oxidation of the polymer to yellow CuO_0.67 below 100°C and above this temperature to black CuO in the presence of H₂O and CO₂, whereas in the absence of these compounds CuO was formed below 100°C and CuO_0.67 at 120°C. Characteristic autoxidation curves obtained in the absence of H₂O and CO₂ showed induction periods that were shorter for copper oxide-polymer interfaces than for glass-polymer interfaces (i.e., for uncatalyzed oxidation). Abnormalities were observed for Cu(Cu₂O)-polymer interfaces because of further oxidation of Cu during the reaction. The rates of oxygen consumption were faster for CuO_0.67-polymer and CuO-polymer than for the uncatalyzed reaction; the catalytic action of CuO_0.67 was somewhat larger than that of CuO. The important observation was made that the mechanism of oxidation is not the same in the absence and presence of reaction products; that is, H₂O and CO₂. This was confirmed by ion beam scattering experiments, which also revealed that an oxidation-reduction process takes place at Cu and their oxide interfaces. A mechanism for the catalytic oxidation process, based on the ease by which copper ions are released from the metal oxides at the interface, was formulated. These ions diffuse subsequently as actions of carboxylate anions into the bulk of the polymer. Arrhenius equations of oxygen consumption are given for all cases; the energy of activation calculated for the initiation of the uncatalyzed oxidation agrees with its literature value. The energy of activation for the initiation of the catalyzed reaction was a few kilocalories lower than that for the uncatalyzed reaction. Catalytic action is mainly operative for the initiation reaction at the interface and for the decomposition of hydroperoxides by copper ions. Preventing the delivery of copper ions to the polymer would be the most efficient way of inhibiting the catalysis.     

Isothermal dehydration of copper sulfate pentahydrate and trihydrate

Isothermal dehydrations of the pentahydrate and trihydrate of copper sulfate are studied in the temperature ranges of 47–63°C and of 70.5–86°C respectively. Both dehydration processes involve the loss of two molecules of water in the temperature ranges studied. The topochemical kinetics of the reactions is well described by Avrami-Erofeev equation with x = 2 over the α-range of 0.1–0.9. Activation energies of 104 ± 10 kJ mol⁻¹ and 134 ± 3 kJ mol⁻¹ are evaluated and are approximately equal to the respective values of the heat of reaction. The methods of Jacobs and Kureishy and of Ng in obtaining activation energy from the decomposition curves are also discussed.     

Thermal degradation studies of substituted conducting polyanilines

The synthesis of conducting polymers based on m-nitroaniline, m-chloroaniline and m-aminophenol by aniline initiated ammonium peroxydisulfate oxidation, has been attempted. The IR spectra of the polymers have been studied. Thermogravimetric analysis of the conducting polymers has been followed using a computer analysis method LOTUS PACKAGE, developed by us for assigning the degradation mechanism. A number of equations have been used to evaluate the kinetic parameters. The mechanism of degradation of the conducting polymers has been explained on the basis of their kinetic parameters.     

Evidence of wormlike micellar behavior in chromonic liquid crystals: rheological, X-ray, and dielectric studies

We report rheological, X-ray, and dielectric investigations on a chromonic liquid-crystalline system formed by aqueous solutions of a food coloring agent, Sunset Yellow, in the absence and upon addition of salt. The salt-concentration dependence of the steady-state viscosity at low shear rates has a non-monotonic variation and is qualitatively similar to the behavior seen in wormlike micellar systems, a surprising result since chromonic systems are expected to be non-micellar in character. More interestingly, for a particular low concentration of the salt (20 mM), the viscosity increases by 3 orders of magnitude in comparison with that of the pure chromonic material. The dynamic (oscillatory) rheological data bring out features which can be described in terms of a microstructure formation. X-ray and dielectric studies show that certain characters of the aggregates formed by the Sunset Yellow molecules are not altered by the addition of salt.     

Spectral,magnetic, thermal and electrochemical studies on new copper(II) thiosemicarbazone complexes

The chelation behavior of some =N(1) and NH(4) thiosemicarbazones towards copper(II) ions has been investigated. The isolated complexes are characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic moment, electronic, IR, ESR and ms spectra, and by thermal and voltammetric measurements. The substituents on =N(1) and/or NH(4) thiosemicarbazones and the log K values of the ligands play an important role in complex formation. The IR spectra showed that the reagents HAT, HAET, HAPT, HApClPT, H₂ST and HBT are deprotonated in the complexes and act as mononegative SN donors; H₂SET, H₂SpClPT, H₂HyMBPT and H₂HyMBpClPT, as binegative NSO donors while H₂SPT is a mononegative NSO donor. The ESR spectra of the complexes are quite similar and exhibit axially symmetric g-tensor parameters with g _‖?>?g _⊥?>?2.0023. The loss of thiol and/or hydroxyl hydrogen was confirmed from potentiometric titrations of the ligands and their copper(II) complexes. The protonation constants of the ligands as well as the stability constants of their Cu(II) complexes were calculated. Thermogravimetric analysis of the complexes suggests different decomposition steps. The Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger equations have been used to calculate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the different thermal decomposition steps of some complexes. The redox properties, nature of the electroactive species and the stability of the complexes towards oxidation are strongly dependent on the substituents on the precursor NH(4) thiosemicarbazone. The redox data are discussed in terms of the kinetic parameters and the reaction mechanism.     

Structural and magnetic studies on copper(II) azido complexes

The azide ligand has been receiving intense attention in the rapid growth of literature in the field of molecular magnetism. Primarily, azide ion functions as a bridging ligand and magnetic coupler of paramagnetic metal ions. This review is centered on the study of diverse structural and magnetic properties of copper(II) azido complexes. Some of the trends identified could serve as a privileged starting point for the further development of this promising area.     

Thermal degradation and crystallisation studies of reactively compatibilised polymer blends

The thermal degradation and crystallisation behaviours of polyamide12/isotactic polypropylene (PA12/PP) blends were studied. Effects of blend ratio and compatibiliser concentration on the thermal degradation properties of the blends were analysed. The activation energy for degradation in compatibilised and uncompatibilised blends computed using Horowitz-Metzger equation was reported. The blend ratio as well as the presence of compatibiliser has significant effect on the thermal stability of the blends. Phase morphology was found to be one of the decisive factors that affected the thermal stability of both uncompatibilised and compatibilised blends. Melting and crystallisation behaviours of the blends in the presence and absence of compatibiliser were evaluated. It was observed that blending has no significant effect on the melting and crystallisation properties of PA12 and PP. Compatibilisation of 70/30 and 50/50 PA12/PP blends didn't affect the crystallisation and melting behaviours of PA12 and PP even though some discrepancies were observed.     

Thermal degradation studies of polystyrene sulfonic and polyacrylic carboxylic cationites

The thermal degradation of polyacrylic carboxylic and polystyrene sulfonic cationites was investigated using thermal analysis (TG) combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the resins degradation steps. The carboxylic cationite undergoes degradation through dehydration forming polyanhydrides, decomposition of polyanhydrides through decarboxylation with elimination of CO₂ and CO. The sulfonic cationite undergoes degradation through dehydration, followed by decomposition of sulfonic acid functional groups liberating SO₂. It was observed that strong acid (−SO₃H⁺) cationite shows small mass loss of 55%, as against 88% mass loss shown by low-acidity carboxylic cationite. The possible reason for small mass loss of sulfonic cationite is discussed. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Thermal studies on oxalate complexes. V. Potassium tris(oxalato)aluminate(III) trihydrate

The results on the studies of various thermodynamic parameters for the oxidation of seven sulpha drugs, viz. sulphanilamide, sulphacetamide(s), sulphasomidine, sulphaguanidine, sulphadiazine, sulphapyridine and sulphamethizole, by the peroxydisulphate ion are reported and discussed. All the reactions under study obeyed the Arrhenius equation. The validity of the isokinetic relationship and other related equations have been tested. An attempt has been made to correlate these findings with the mechanism operative in the oxidation of sulpha drugs by the peroxydisulphate ion.     

Novel copper complexes based on the thiocyanate bridge - Synthesis, X-ray studies and magnetic properties

Three novel compounds {[Cu(bpzm)(SCN)][Cu(bpzm)(MeOH)][Cu(SCN)₄]}_n (1a), {[Cu₂(bpzm)₂(μ-SCN)(SCN)₃]}_n (1b) and [Cu₂(μ-SCN)₂(SCN)₂(dpa)₂] (2) have been obtained in one-step self-assembly reaction of copper dichloride, a suitable N-N ligand (bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane and 2,2′-dipyridylamine) and ammonium thiocyanate. For the reaction involving bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane, an unprecedented in situ reduction of some Cu(II) ions to Cu(I) has been observed. The compound {[Cu(bpzm)(SCN)][Cu(bpzm)(MeOH)][Cu(SCN)₄]}_n (1a) belongs to a relatively scarce group of mixed-valence Cu^II/Cu^I coordination polymers with interesting polymeric architecture. It creates infinite two-dimensional structure consisting of layers extending along crystallographic plane (0 0 1), in which the cations [Cu^II(bpzm)(SCN)]⁺ and [Cu^II(bpzm)(MeOH)]²⁺ are connected by ions [Cu^I(SCN)₄]³⁻ through single end-to-end thiocyanato bridges. Structure 1b consists two crystallographically independent chains. The chain A has a zig-zag form and extends along the crystallographic direction [0 0 1], whereas the second chain is linear and runs along the crystallographic direction [0 1 0]. The structure 2 consists of dinuclear [Cu₂(dpa)₂(μ-SCN)₂(SCN)₂] units. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show very weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the paramagnetic centres Cu(II) centers inside the crystal lattices of three novel compounds.     

Crystal structures, magnetic, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of two copper(II) complexes with m-nitrobenzoic acid

Reactions of CuCl₂, m-nitrobenzoic acid (HNBA) and NaOH with 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in aqueous ethanol afforded two Cu(II) complexes Cu(bpy)(NBA)₂, 1, and [Cu(phen)(H₂O)₂(NBA)](NBA), 2. The monomolecular Cu(bpy)(NBA)₂ moieties are both bridged by hydrogen bonding interactions and interlayer π ^*–π ^*stacking interactions to form a 3D (3,4,6)-connected supramolecular architecture with the Schäfli symbol of (4⁴·6²)(4⁴·6⁶·8⁵)(6³)₂. Complex 2 crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric space group P2₁ where all molecules show the same orientation along the polar b axis. Preliminary investigations suggest that 2 exhibits ferroelectric hysteresis loops at room temperature with remanent polarization (P _r) of ca. 0.09 μC cm^?2 and coercive electric fields of 2.53 kV cm^?1, respectively. It may be a potential ferroelectric with a relatively large spontaneous polarization (P _s) of 0.22 μC cm^?2. Furthermore, permittivity property measurements reveal a dielectric constant (ε _r) of 6.36. Variable-temperature (2–300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements showed the presence of weak ferromagnetic interactions between the Cu(II) ions for both 1 and 2.