A view and a review of the melting of alkali metal halide crystals

Summary Although melting is a most familiar physical phenomenon, the nature of the structural changes that occur when crystals melt are not known in detail. The present article considers the structural implications of the changes in physical properties that occur at the melting points, T_m, of the alkali halides. This group of solids was selected for comparative examination because the simple crystal lattices are similar and reliable data are available for this physical change. For most of these salts, the theoretical lattice energies for alternative, regular ionic packing in 4:4, 6:6 and 8:8 coordination arrangements are comparable. Density differences between each solid and liquid at T_mare small. To explain the pattern of quantitative results, it is suggested that the melt is composed of numerous small domains, within each of which the ions form regular (crystal-type) structures (regliq). The liquid is portrayed as an assemblage of such domains representing more than a single coordination structure and between which dynamic equilibria maintain continual and rapid transfers of ions. T_mis identified as the temperature at which more than a single (regular) structure can coexist. The interdomain (imperfect and constantly rearranging) material (irregliq) cannot withstand shear, giving the melt its fluid, flow properties. From the physical evidence, it is demonstrated that the structural changes on melting are small: these can accommodate only minor modifications of the dispositions of all, or most, ions or larger changes for only a small fraction. This proposed representation, the set/liq melt model, may have wider applicability.     

High-temperature aging of Halar film. II. Analysis of melting behavior

Melting behavior of an experimental Halar film, a predominantly alternating 1:1 copolymer of ethylene (E) and chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE), has been studied. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) reveals single or double melting peaks, depending upon the thermal history. The lower-temperature melting peak T_m1 is produced only by the thermal treatment and shows a strong dependence on annealing time and temperature. On the basis of the DSC and x-ray data it can be suggested that T_m1 represents the melting of relatively small crystallites formed upon annealing. The higher-temperature melting peak T_m2 is always shown at 238°C. (Note: the specification for commercial Halar product is 240°C. The slightly lower melting temperature reported in this study is probably due to the fact that we are dealing with an experimental melt-processed material.) On the basis of the heating rate study we propose that Halar crystallizes with stable crystals (T_m2 = 238°C) regardless of the crystallization conditions, i.e., quenching, slow cooling, or even annealing. Crystals of Halar have a heat of fusion of approximately 35 cal/g or 146 kJ/kg. Detailed analysis of the melting behavior of Halar is presented.     

The heating rate dependence of polymer melting points

The melting points (T_m) of small quantities (ca. 0.1 mg) of polyethylene (PE) single crystals in the dried state and in suspension were determined as a function of heating rate. Melting points were also obtained for large amounts (ca. 3 mg) of dried-down crystals. It has been reported previously that PE crystals of high molecular weight possess a single melting point and this T_m decreases with increasing heating rate. However, all samples in our study show multiple melting behavior. Moreover, suspension samples show little or no variation in the various peak temperatures with heating rate. There is some dependence of T_m on heating rate for small dry samples but the change in T_m is not nearly as great as previously reported. These small changes can be the result of the relatively poor resolution of small dry samples compared to suspension. Differences between the behavior reported here and those of other authors can be explained on the basis of the relative contributions to the various melting endotherms.     

Properties of solution-grown crystals of fractions of isotactic polypropylene with different degrees of stereoregularity

Solution-grown crystals of fractions of isotactic polypropylene (IPP) with different degrees of stereoregularity have been obtained by isothermal crystallization from α-chloronaphthalene, using a self-seeding technique. Electron micrographs of samples, crystallized under the same undercooling, show that, with decreasing fraction of isotactic pentads, the perfect rectangular shape of the single crystal is lost and the presence of more complex morphologies is increasingly observed. The equilibrium dissolution temperature T_d of IPP fractions, from polymers prepared with a titanium based catalyst, decreases linearly with decreasing percentage of isotactic pentads. An extrapolated value of 171°C is obtained for the equilibrium dissolution temperature of a crystal of IPP with 100% isotactic pentads, i.e., an IPP crystal free of configurational defects. The melting temperature T′_m and the apparent enthalpy of fusion ΔH of crystallized and annealed crystal aggregates have been determined by differential calorimetry. The equilibrium melting temperature T_m also depends greatly upon the isotactic pentad concentration. For 100% concentration the extrapolated value of T_m is 181°C. T_m decreases about 1°C per 1% decrease in the isotactic pentad population. The observed equilibrium melting and dissolution temperature depression does not follow the predictions of the Flory equation for copolymer crystallization. In fact, the effect of decreasing probability of isotactic sequence propagation is to depress T_d and T_m much more rapidly. The apparent enthalpy of fusion of both solution-grown crystals and melt-recrystallized samples decreases with an increase in the number of configurational impurities along the chain. For the most stereoregular fraction the average length of isotactic stereoblocks has been compared with the lamellar thickness of solution-grown lath-shaped single crystals.     

Photoinduced Reversible Solid‐to‐Liquid Transitions for Photoswitchable Materials

Heating and cooling can induce reversible solid‐to‐liquid transitions of matter. In contrast, athermal photochemical processes can induce reversible solid‐to‐liquid transitions of some newly developed azobenzene compounds. Azobenzene is photoswitchable. UV light induces trans‐to‐cis isomerization; visible light or heat induces cis‐to‐trans isomerization. Trans and cis isomers usually have different melting points (T_m) or glass transition temperatures (T_g). If T_m or T_g of an azobenzene compound in trans and cis forms are above and below room temperature, respectively, light may induce reversible solid‐to‐liquid transitions. In this Review, we introduce azobenzene compounds that exhibit photoinduced reversible solid‐to‐liquid transitions, discuss the mechanisms and design principles, and show their potential applications in healable coatings, adhesives, transfer printing, lithography, actuators, fuels, and gas separation. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges in this field.     

Molar heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride [C8H10O3]

The molar heat capacity C _p,m of 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic anhydride was measured in the temperature range from T=80 to 390 K with a small sample automated adiabatic calorimeter. The melting point T _m, the molar enthalpy Δ_fus H _m and the entropy Δ_fus S _m of fusion for the compound were determined to be 303.80 K, 14.71 kJ mol⁻¹ and 48.43 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The thermodynamic functions [H _T-H _273.15] and [S _T-S _273.15] were derived in the temperature range from T=80 to 385 K with temperature interval of 5 K. The thermal stability of the compound was investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG), when the process of the mass-loss was due to the evaporation, instead of its thermal decomposition.     

Nanostructuration Effect on the Thermal Behavior of Ionic Liquids

This work shows how the nanostructuration of ionic liquids (ILs) governs the glass and melting transitions of the bistriflimide imidazolium‐based [C_nC₁im][NTf₂] and [C_nC_nim][NTf₂] series, which highlights the trend shift that occurs at the critical alkyl size (CAS) of n=6. An initial increase in the glass temperature (T_g) with an increase in the alkyl side chain was observed due to the intensification of the dispersive interactions (van der Waals). Above the CAS, the ?CH₂? increment has the same effect in both glass and liquid states, which leads to a plateau in the glass transition after nanostructuration. The melting temperature (T_m) of the [C_nC₁im][NTf₂] and [C_nC_nim][NTf₂] series presents a V‐shaped profile. For the short‐alkyl ILs, the ?CH₂? increment affects the electrostatic ion pair interactions, which leads to an increase in the conformational entropy. The ?CH₂? increment disturbs the packing ability of the ILs and leads to a higher entropy value ( ) and consequently a decrease in T_m. Above the CAS, the ?CH₂? contribution to the melting temperature becomes more regular, as a consequence of the nanostructuration of the IL into polar and nonpolar domains. The dependence of the alkyl chain on the temperature, enthalpy, and entropy of melting in the ILs above the CAS is very similar to the one observed for the alkane series, which highlights the importance of the nonpolar alkyl domains on the ILs thermal behavior.     

Melting and high-temperature solid state transitions in cobalt(II) halides

Melting and high temperature solid-state transitions in CoCl₂ and CoBr₂ are widely discussed. On the basis of DSC and conductometric measurements it was found that melting process of CoCl₂ is preceded by a solid-state transition appearing about 20 K below the melting point of CoCl₂. Due to deconvolution of the thermograms, the enthalpy of fusion and that of solid-state transition were found to be 36.4 and 9.6 kJ mol^–1, respectively. Melting points of CoCl₂ and CoBr₂ were established to be 999.0 and 949.7 K, respectively. Hitherto unknown enthalpy of fusion of CoBr₂ was determined to be 27.2 kJ mol^–1. A solid-state transition in CoBr₂ at 650 K has been confirmed.     

Quantifying supercritical CO2 dilation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoro-propylene) utilizing a linear variable differential transducer: plasticization and melting behavior

Melting behavior of semicrystalline poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) is investigated as a function of supercritical CO₂ pressure using a Linear Variable Displacement Transformer (LVDT). The melting temperature (T_m) of both polymers is lowered due to supercritical CO₂ plasticization. For PVDF, the maximum lowering of T_m (ΔT_m/n=23°C) occurs between 483 and 552 bar. The corresponding value for the copolymer is Δ T_m = 26°C at 552 bar. At higher pressures, hydrostatic effects override plasticization and T_m increases for both polymers. By comparing T_m in N₂, a noninteracting gas, the opposing effects of plasticization and hydrostatic pressure on T_m are explored.     

含二苯并-18-冠-6酰胺型液晶冠醚钾配合物的合成和性质

合成了2个系列酰胺型液晶冠醚钾配合物，配合物的结构通过元素分析、IR、UV-Vis和AAS等方法表征。液晶行为通过DSC、POM、XRD等方法表征。实验结果表明，所有配合物均具有热致液晶性，且随分子末端烷氧基碳原子数增加，其熔点和清亮点呈规律性变化。与配体相比，配合物液晶态温度范围变宽。液晶相态类型发生改变，配体只有近晶相，而配合物既有近晶相，又有向列相。     

水合烟酸铜Cu(Nic)2•H2O(s)(Nic＝烟酸)的合成、表征及热力学性质

近几十年来,烟酸盐类化合物或配合物由于优越的吸收率高和无毒副作用等特点使其在化妆品、药品和食品等领域作为营养添加剂具有重要应用前景。然而,这类化合物的基础热力学数据极其缺乏,从而限制了这类化合物的理论研究和应用开发的深入开展。为此,本论文利用室温固相合成方法和球磨技术合成了一种新化合物Cu(Nic)2•H2O(s),利用化学分析、元素分析、FTIR和X-射线粉末衍射技术表征了它的结构和组成,利用精密自动绝热热量计准确地测量了它在78-400 K温区的摩尔热容。在热容曲线的T ＝ 326-346 K温区观察到一个明显的固-液相变过程。利用相变温区三次重复实验热容的测量结果确定了此相变过程的峰温、相变焓和相变熵分别为：Tfus＝(341.290 ±0.873) K, DfusHm＝(13.582±0.012) kJ×mol-1, DfusSm＝(39.797±0.067) J×K-1×mol-1。通过最小二乘法将相变前和相变后的热容实验值分别拟合成了热容对温度的两个多项式方程。通过热容多项式方程的数值积分,得到了这个化合物的舒平热容值和相对于298.15 K的各种热力学函数值,并且将每隔5 K的热力学函数值列成了表格。     

Structure and rheological properties of PVC melts

The Theological properties of PVC compounds reflect the state of the flow units. The steady state structure which may be found in PVC melts is predicted to depend on the interaction of stresses in simple flow and temperatures for transition from rubberlike solid to liquid state and transition from a liquid state containing crystallite aggregates to a liquid state without crystallite aggregates, called the gel destruction temperature T_d and the dynamic melting temperature T^dyn_m, respectively. The model predictions for T_d and T^dyn_m are compared with experimental data.     

Behavior of pressure dependence of melting temperatures in aromatic polyesters: Influence of polymer structure

The thermal behavior of three aromatic polyesters in a homologous series, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) was studied under hydrostatic pressure up to 200 MPa by using a high pressure differential thermal analysis apparatus. Confining fluid high pressure dilatometer was used to establish the volume–temperature curves (in both solid and liquid regions) from which volume change on melting of these polyesters at atmospheric pressure was determined. Single endothermic peak was seen for PET and PTT, whereas PBT showed double peaks above 50 MPa. Pressure coefficient of melting temperature at atmospheric pressure (dT_m/dp₍₀₎), was obtained from the quadratic fit. The dT_m/dp₍₀₎ for PTT was newly determined to be 0.445 KMPa^?1, whereas for PET and PBT were 0.503 and 0.455 KMPa^?1, respectively, comparable to reported values. The dT_m/dp₍₀₎ exhibited the odd‐even behavior corresponding to odd and even number of methylene groups in the repeat unit. Enthalpy and entropy of fusion had the most influence on this coefficient. Entropy related to conformational and volume change were evaluated and the former was found to have a significant impact on the value of dT_m/dp₍₀₎. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1799–1808, 2009     

MOLECULAR WEIGHT DEPENDENCE OF THE MELTING BEHAVIOR OF POLY(ε-CAPROLACTONE)

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with different molecular weights was synthesized and characterized by a gelpermeation chromatograph equipped with multiple detector. The melting behavior of PCL was also studied. It was found thatthe equilibrium melting points (T_m~0) of PCL samples depend on their molecular weights. Wide angle X-ray diffractionmeasurements (WAXD) and DSC measurements showed that the crystals of the high molecular weight PCLs were moreperfect than those of the low molecular weigh ones. These results demonstrate that the concentration of the end groups ofPCL chains is the main factor that influences the melting behavior. The fusion enthalpy per repeating unit (ΔH_u) wasdetermined to be 11.3 kJ/mol for PCL.     

The heat of fusion of polytetrafluoroethylene

The heat of fusion of virgin and melt-processed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was determined using the Clapeyron equation. Experimental data were obtained from PVT experiments and high-temperature x-ray diffraction measurements. For virgin, as-polymerized PTFE, the melting temperature is given by where, for T_m in degrees Celsius, A = 346.3±1.2, B = 0.095±0.003, and P is the pressure in kilograms per square centimeter. At the end of the atmospheric-pressure melting interval, the amorphous and crystalline specific volumes V₁ and V_c are 0.6517 and 0.492 cm³/g, respectively. Thus the heat of fusion is 24.4 cal/g, or nearly twice the value reported previously. The increases in enthalpy and volume at the melting point both indicate a degree of crystallinity of about 75–80% although infrared, x-ray, and NMR data give much higher levels. Data from calorimetry, NMR, and dynamic mechanical measurements indicate that in virgin PTFE some of the crystals continue to experience torsional oscillations at temperatures below the room-temperature transitions. This indicates that there are at least two kinds of crystalline regions. For previously melted PTFE, T_m is determined by A = 328.5±0.7 and B = 0.095±0.002, the volumes are V_am = 0.6349 and V_cr = 0.4855 cm³/g, and the heat of fusion is 22.2 cal/g. The entropy of fusion for PTFE is much closer to that of polyethylene than was previously believed.     

Cryoscopy in polymer solutions: scaling laws and Kauzmann paradox

We discuss the melting behavior of the solvent's crystals in linear flexible polymer solutions. Taking into account the Daoud ‐ Jannink (DJ) diagram, and the limit Kauzmann temperature T_K, one gives the cryoscopic laws describing the solid‐liquid transition of the solvent, in the different concentration ‐ temperature DJ domains. Finally one explains why, for thermodynamic reasons, below a critical concentration ϕ_K, the solvent can not crystallize. In these systems, the non crystallizable amount of solvent depends of the theta temperature characterizing the polymer‐solvent interaction, the Kauzmann temperature and the ratio between the melting enthalpy and the melting temperature of the pure solvent.     

Layer structures. VI. Chiral sanidic polyesters derived from 2,5-bis (dodecyloxy) terephthalic acids and 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl

Copolycondensations of (S,S)-2,5-bis(2-methylbutyloxy) terephthaloylchloride with 2,5-bis(dodecyloxy)terephthaloylchloride and with 4,4′-bistrimethylsiloxybiphenyl yielded a series of novel chiral thermotropic copolyesters. These polyesters were characterized by elemental analyses, inherent viscosities, ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, optical rotations, optical microscopy, DSC measurements, and WAXS powder patterns recorded with synchrotron radiation under variation of the temperature. All homo- and copolyesters formed a solid sanidic layer structure with melting temperatures (T_m) ≥ 200°C. A broad enantiotropic nematic or cholesteric phase is formed above T_m with isotropization temperatures (T_is) in the range of 275–325°C. Yet, the T_m of the chiral homopolyester is so high (378°C) that the melting process is immediately followed by rapid degradation. The cholesteric phases of the copolyesters displayed unusual mobile schlieren textures, but a stable Grandjean texture was never obtained. Cholesteric domains consisting of loose bundles of more or less helical main chains are discussed as supramolecular order responsible for the observed textures and their pronounced temperature dependence. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 947–957, 1997     

Melting behavior of poly(tetrahydrofuran)-S and their blends

Melting behavior of poly(tetrahydrofuran)-s (PTHF) and their blend with different molecular masses has been studied by TM-DSC. PTHF and their blend show two endothermic peaks on their curve. The melting peak temperatures T _m1 and T _m2, entropy of fusion ΔS _f1 and ΔS _f2, and mean relaxation time for melting τ_f1 and τ_f2 have been estimated, and their dependence on the molecular mass has been examined. Plots of Tm1 to the reciprocal of their molecular mass fit a simple equation (T _m=a-b/M _n). Plots of T _m2 to their molecular mass also fit the equation with different factors. There seems to be a boundary around molecular mass 1200 in the molecular mass dependence of ΔS _fand τ_f. Effect of blending appeared on the τ_f and the non-reversing heat flow. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Multiple melting behavior of poly(butylene succinate). II. Thermal analysis of isothermal crystallization and melting process

The multiple melting behavior of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) was studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Three different PBSu resins, with molecular weights (MWs) of 1.1 × 10⁵, 1.8 × 10⁵, and 2.5 × 10⁵, were isothermally crystallized at various crystallization temperatures (T_c) ranging from 70 to 97.5 °C. The T_c dependence of crystallization half‐time (τ) was obtained. DSC melting curves for the isothermally crystallized samples were obtained at a heating rate of 10 K min⁻¹. Three endothermic peaks, an annealing peak, a low‐temperature peak L, and a high‐temperature peak H, and an exothermic peak located between peaks L and H clearly appeared in the DSC curve. In addition, an endothermic small peak S appeared at a lower temperature of peak H. Peak L increased with increasing T_c, whereas peak H decreased. The T_c dependence of the peak melting temperatures [T_m(L) and T_m(H)], recrystallization temperature (T_re), and heat of fusion (ΔH) was obtained. Their fitting curves were obtained as functions of T_c. T_m(L), T_re, and ΔH increased almost linearly with T_c, whereas T_m(H) was almost constant. The maximum rate of recrystallization occurred immediately after the melting. The mechanism of the multiple melting behavior is explained by the melt‐recrystallization model. The high MW samples showed similar T_c dependence of τ, and τ for the lowest MW sample was longer than that for the others. Peak L increased with MW, whereas peak H decreased. In spite of the difference of MW, T_m(L), T_m(H), and T_re almost coincided with each other at the same T_c. The ΔH values, that is crystallinity, for the highest MW sample were smaller than those for the other samples at the same T_c. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2039–2047, 2005     

THE EFFECTS OF IRRADIATION ON THE THERMAL PROPERTIES OF SEMI-CRYSTALLINE POLYAMIDES

Irradiation crosslinking of semi-crystalline polyamides was performed by high energy electronswith various dosages. It is known that the melting behavior of the polymers after irradiation is acomplex phenomenon. In company with the wide angle X-ray diffraction and DSC data of irradiatedand unirradiated polyamides it is possible to develop the local order and perfection of the crystallinitiesslightly which resulted from introduction of intermolecular crosslinking in amorphous region, incl-uding in amorphous-crystalline interface and crystalline defect regions due to irradiation. It canbe explained that slight increase of melting temperature (T_m) and heat of fusion (△H_f) with increasingdosage for both of higher crystallinity nylon 4 and nylon 6. For irradiated lower crystallinity nylons,in contrast, the T_m and △H_f decrease obviously with increasing dosage. In this case, radiation cross-linking "freeze in" the pre-existing morphology, and then the prevention for reorganization duringheating is a dominant effect. The T_m from the second melting for all of the samples were depressed,corresponding with Flory theory. Therefore the crosslinks imposed on the molecules restrainedthe molecular mobility, and that not only depresses the crystallinity but also increases the imperfec-tion of crystallites when the radiated polymer melted and then recrystallized. These are also reflectedin the depression of heat and entropy of fusion as well as the appearance of double melting peakson the DSC thermograms.