Thermal analysis of organically modified siloxane melting gels

Hybrid melting gels were prepared by a sol–gel process, starting with a mono-substituted siloxane and a di-substituted siloxane, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTES) together with dimethyldimethoxysilane (DMDES). Five gel compositions were prepared with concentrations between 50% MTES–50% DMDES and 75% MTES–25% DMDES (in mol.%). The consolidation temperature, the treatment temperature after which the melting gel no longer softens, increased from 135 to 160 °C with a decrease in the amount of the mono-substituted siloxane. The glass transition temperature, recorded with differential scanning calorimetry, decreased from −0.3 to −56.7 °C with a decrease in the amount of the mono-substituted siloxane. When a sample was heat treated isothermally for 2 h at the consolidation temperature, the glass transition temperature increased by about 15°, indicating further crosslinking of the siloxane network.     

Glass transition temperature and thermal decomposition of cellulose powder

Cellulose powder and cellulose pellets obtained by pressing the microcrystalline powder were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermal gravimetry (TG). The TG method enabled the assessment of water content in the investigated samples. The glass phase transition in cellulose was studied using the DSC method, both in heating and cooling runs, in a wide temperature range from −100 to 180 °C. It is shown that the DSC cooling runs are more suitable for the glass phase transition visualisation than the heating runs. The discrepancy between glass phase transition temperature T _g found using DSC and predictions by Kaelbe’s approach are observed for “dry” (7 and 5.3% water content) cellulose. This could be explained by strong interactions between cellulose chains appearing when the water concentration decreases. The T _g measurements vs. moisture content may be used for cellulose crystallinity index determination.     

The rigid amorphous fraction in semicrystalline macromolecules

The first experimental evidence of the existence of the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) was reported by Menczel and Wunderlich for several semicrystalline polymers. It was observed that the hysteresis peak at the glass transition was absent when these polymers were heated much faster than they had previously been cooled. In the glass transition behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), the hysteresis peak gradually disappeared as the crystallinity increased. At the same time, it was noted that the ΔC _p of higher crystallinity PET samples was much smaller than could be expected on the basis of the crystallinity calculated from the heat of fusion. It was also observed that this behavior was not unique to PET only, but is characteristic of most semicrystalline polymers: the sum of the crystallinity calculated from the heat of fusion and the amorphous content calculated from the ΔC _p at the glass transition is much less than 100% (a typical difference is ~20–30%). This 20–30% difference was attributed to the existence of the “RAF”. The presence of the RAF also affected the unfreezing behavior of the “mobile (or traditional) amorphous fraction.” As a consequence, the phenomenon of the enthalpy relaxation diminished with increasing rigid amorphous content. It was suggested that the disappearance of the enthalpy relaxation was caused by the disappearance or drastic decrease of the time dependence of the glass transition. To check the validity of this suggestion, the glass transition had to be also measured on cooling in order to overlay it on the DSC curves measured on heating. However, before this overlaying work could be accomplished, the exact temperatures on cooling had to be determined since the temperature of the DSC instruments that time could not be calibrated on cooling using the usual low molecular weight standards due to the common phenomenon of supercooling. Therefore, a temperature calibration method needed to be developed for cooling DSC experiments utilizing high purity liquid crystals using the isotropic → nematic, the isotropic → cholesteric, and other liquid crystal → liquid crystal transitions. After the cooling calibration was accomplished, the cooling glass transition experiments indicated that the glass transition in semicrystalline polymers is not completely time independent, because its width depends on the ramp rate. However, it was shown that the time dependence is drastically reduced, and the midpoint of the glass transition seems to be constant which can explain the absence of the enthalpy relaxation. The work presented here has led to a number of studies showing the universality of the rigid amorphous phase for semicrystalline polymers as well as an ASTM standard for DSC cooling calibration.     

Spectroscopic Study of Cerium-Doped Silica Gel Monoliths and Their Densified Derivatives

Cerium is exploited as a probe cation for elucidating the structure of an alkoxide-derived silica gel and its progressive evolution to a glass network as a function of heat-treatment up to 1000°C. At intermediate temperatures, the host structure exhibits inhomogeneity due to insufficient formation of siloxane bonds, which is reflected by at least two different sites and co-ordination spheres (termed “high” and “low” water ligation) for cerium. This is proved by the response of the gels heated up to 700°C to rehydration. Further formation of Si−O−Si network (900°C) leads to the destruction of the “high water” sites of cerium and progression towards a glassy structure. It is, however, only after heat-treatment at 1000°C that a dense silica glass network, not responding to rehydration, is finally obtained with cerium ions embedded in it.     

Thermochemical Properties of the 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide Ionic Liquid under Conditions of Equilibrium with Atmospheric Moisture

Thermochemical properties of the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide ionic liquid [EMim]NTf₂ containing moisture absorbed from the atmosphere (0.242 wt %) are investigated. The phase behavior and thermal stability relative to salt dried in vacuum are studied by means of thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry at different heating and cooling rates. The glass transition, crystallization, and melting temperatures, the enthalpies of phase transitions, and the changes in heat capacity during the formation of glass are determined. It is established that the absorbed water crystallizes at a temperature of around ?40.6°C and has virtually no effect on the thermal stability and phase behavior of the salt. Rapid cooling results in the ionic liquid transitioning into the glass state at ?91.7 °C and the formation of three mesophases with different melting temperatures; one crystalline modification that melts at a temperature of ?19.3°C forms upon slow cooling.     

Some Physico-chemical Properties of Doxazosin Mesylate Polymorphic Forms and its Amorphous State

Seven polymorphic modifications of doxazosin mesylate, designed as forms A, D, E, F, G, H, I, and the amorphous state were studied by thermal methods (TG and DSC), temperature resolved X-ray powder diffractometry, hot stage and scanning electron microscopy and by FT-IR spectroscopy. Amorphous form was obtained either by fast evaporation of the solvent or by fast cooling of the melt in the DSC. Polymorphs A and F were found to be stable in the temperature range from room temperature to their melting points at 277.9 and 276.5°C, respectively. Form G, which melts at 270.8°C, was found to be hygroscopic. Polymorph D undergoes irreversible solid–liquid–solid phase transition at 235.5°C to polymorph I which melts at 274.9°C. Form H, which melts at 258.0°C, was found to be unstable at high temperatures. DSC examinations revealed that form H is irreversibly transformed to polymorph F during heating above the temperature of about 240°C. The amorphous state was found to be stable at room temperature but when heating above the glass transition (T _g=144.1°C) it crystallizes at 221.6°C, what leads into a mixture of polymorphic forms. The new polymorphic form designed as E was identified in the mixture. The polymorph E is converted by heating to the more stable form F. The solubilities at 25°C for forms A, and F in methanol are 3.5 and 7.7 mg mL⁻¹and in water they are 3.8 and 6.2 mg mL⁻¹, respectively. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ionic liquids from the cationic cobalt(III) Schiff base complex, [Co(acacen)L2][Tf2N] (acacen = N,N′-bis(acetylacetone)ethylenediamine,Tf2N = bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide)

Ionic liquids comprising cationic cobalt(III) complexes [Co(acacen)L₂][Tf₂N] (L?=?3-butylpyridine (1), 1-butylimidazole (2); acacen?=?N,N′-bis(acetylacetone)ethylenediamine, Tf₂N?=?bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide) were prepared. 1 is a liquid at room temperature and exhibits a glass transition at ?12?°C, whereas 2 is a solid at room temperature with a melting point of 74.6?°C and glass transition temperature of ?15?°C upon cooling from the melt. These salts are reddish brown diamagnetic materials that are stable against air and water; these properties differ from those of the corresponding iron(III) salt. Desorption of the axial ligands of 1 and 2 occurs at 180 and 207?°C, respectively.     

Monitoring the glass transition temperature of polymeric composites with carbon nanotube buckypaper sensor

Carbon nanotube (CNT) Buckypapers can be infused with resin and easily incorporated into conventional fiber reinforced composites. In this paper, we propose to use Buckypaper (BP) as a new measuring method to determine the glass transition temperature of polymeric composites. The CNT-only BP was fabricated by spray-vacuum filtration method with monodispersion of multi-wall carbon nanotubes, and then co-cured with polymeric composites. After manufacturing, the glass transition temperature of polymeric composites could be obtained from the relationship between resistance and temperature of BP during the dynamic heating process. Experimental results show that the glass transition temperature of composite samples A and B monitored by BP sensors were 127 °C and 180 °C, while such temperatures obtained from a dynamical mechanical analyzer (DMA) were 128 °C and 184 °C respectively. This paper not only reveals the ability of BP as a sensor for monitoring the glass transition temperature of composite but also provides a new way to understand the glass transition phenomenon of composite.     

Bright blue pigment CoAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanocrystals prepared by modified sol–gel method

Nanocrystalline films of magnetite have been prepared by a novel sol–gel route in which, a solution of iron (III) nitrate dissolved in ethylene glycol was applied on glass substrates by spin coating. Coating solution showed Newtonian behaviour and viscosity was found as 0.0215 Pa.s. Annealing temperature was selected between 291 and 350 °C by DTA analysis in order to obtain magnetite films. In-plane grazing angle XRD and TEM studies showed that magnetite phase was present upon annealing the films at 300 °C. The films had crack free surfaces and their thicknesses varied between ~10 and 200 nm. UV–Vis spectrum results showed that transmittance of the films increases with decreasing annealing temperature and increasing spinning rate. Up to 96% transmittance was observed between the wavelengths of 900–1,100 nm. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements indicated that magnetite thin films showed ferromagnetic behavior and the saturation magnetization value was found as ~35 emu/cm³.     

Thermal properties of Nafion–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite electrolytes for PEM fuel cell

Thermal analysis has been used to evaluate the stability, glass transition, and water retention of Nafion based polymer–ceramic electrolytes. These electrolytes are envisioned as promising replacement of Nafion in fuel cells operating above 100 °C. The polymeric matrix prepared by casting exhibits lower crystallinity than the extruded Nafion, a feature that affects the water absorption properties. The addition of titania-based nanotubes and nanoparticles to the polymer has enhanced the water retention at high temperatures (~130 °C) and the glass transition temperature, respectively. Such results are important for the design of composite electrolytes for the operation of fuel cells at high temperatures.     

Crystalline phase content and ionic conductivity correlation in LATP glass–ceramic

Li₂O–Al₂O₃–TiO₂–P₂O₅ (LATP) glass was fabricated by conventional melt quenching route. Glass transition temperature (T _g = 296 °C) and crystallization temperatures (T _C1,2) were obtained from thermal analysis. LATP glass was converted to glass–ceramic by heat treatment in the range 550–950 °C for 6 h. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed LiTi₂(PO₄)₃ as a major phase. Ionic conductivity increased monotonically with concentration, reaching a maximum of ~10⁻⁴ S/cm. AlPO₄ phase was detected in samples heat-treated above 850 °C. Its presence decreased the conductivity, suggesting LiTi₂(PO₄)₃ phase as main contributor to high ionic conductivity. NMR spectra confirmed the presence of mobile ⁷Li ions in the entire sample series and also gave some information on the structure and dynamics of conductivity.     

Isothermal crystallization of P3HT:PCBM blends studied by RHC

Defining appropriate annealing temperatures and times is vitally important for increasing the efficiency of bulk heterojunction solar cells by favoring the crystallinity of the polymer-fullerene blend components. In order to better understand the annealing process, the isothermal crystallization of poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend investigated by means of rapid heating cooling calorimetry (RHC). Isothermal crystallization experiments at temperatures in between the glass transition and melting, within the temperature range of 70–150 °C, can successfully be performed since RHC permits cooling at a sufficiently high rate in order to prevent crystallization during cooling. Crystallization isotherms were determined from the subsequent melting behavior of the blend. They were measured for a wide set of annealing temperatures and times, and the evolution of the crystallization rate with temperature is compared for annealing from the glassy state and from the melt state.     

On the kinetics of pozzolanic reaction in metakaolin–lime–water system

The kinetics of pozzolanic reaction metakaolin–lime is studied in the present work. Metakaolin is prepared by calcination of enriched kaolin (deposit “Senovo”, Bulgaria) at temperature of 830 ± 10 °C in a labscale muffle oven. The reaction is performed in intensively stirred water suspension at different temperatures in the range 20–100 °C. The kinetics is analyzed by comparing the experimental data with theoretical curves, derived according to appropriate kinetic and diffusion models taking into account the grain size distribution of metakaolin. The macroscopic mechanism and activation energy of the reaction are determined. It is found, that the activation energy decreases gradually from 71 to 45 kJ/mol[Ca(OH)₂] with the increase of the reaction degree from 0.2 up to 0.6, respectively, which is a characteristic for transition regime reactions.     

Thermal transitions of DODAB vesicular dispersions

Two endothermic transitions, at 36°C and 44°C, were observed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) upon heating dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide vesicle dispersions that were equilibrated below 15°C while in samples kept at 25°C there was only the transition at 44°C, which was shown to be the gel to liquid–crystalline transition by ¹H-NMR measurements. The transition at 36°C was reversed in an exothermic transition around 13°C upon cooling. The slowness of this transition at ambient temperatures suggests that the presence of the transition at 36°C in a DSC upscan depends strongly on the sample history.     

Influence of the order of polymer melt on the crystallization behavior: I. Double melting endotherms of isotactic polypropylene

The influence of the order of polymer melt on the subsequent crystallization and melting has been carefully studied. The experimental data show that the order of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) melt decreases with increases in the fusion temperature. For an iPP sample isothermally crystallized at 130 °C for half an hour, the degree of order of melt is higher when the fusion temperature is lower than about 170.5 °C, hence the lamellae formed in a rapid cooling process are perfect. If the fusion temperature is not higher than 167 °C, some thicker lamellae can exist in the melt. The melting of these unmelted lamellae and those lamellae recrystallized in the cooling process result in double endotherms. On the other hand, when the fusion temperature is higher than 170.5 °C, the order of the iPP melt decreases greatly; thus, the lamellae formed in the following cooling process are imperfect. At a lower heating rate, the recrystallization or reorganization of these imperfect lamellae also leads to double melting endotherms. Received: June 16, 2000 Accepted: October 16, 2000     

A new bio-based nanocomposite: fibrillated TEMPO-oxidized celluloses in hydroxypropylcellulose matrix

Utilization of TEMPO-oxidized celluloses in bio-based nanocomposites is reported for the first time. TEMPO-oxidized wood pulps (net carboxylate content 1.1 mmol/g cellulose) were fibrillated to varying degrees using a high intensity ultrasonic processor. The degree of fibrillation was controlled by varying sonication time from 1 to 20 min. The sonication products were then characterized independently and as fillers (5 wt% loading) in hydroxypropyl cellulose nanocomposite films. Nanofibril yields ranging from 11 to 98 wt% (on fiber weight basis) were obtained over the range of sonication times used. Suspension viscosities increased initially with sonication time, peaked with gel-like behavior at 10 min of sonication and then decreased with further sonication. The thermal degradation temperature of unfibrillated oxidized pulps was only minimally affected (6 °C decrease) by the fibrillation process. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the nanocomposites revealed strong fibril-matrix interactions as evidenced by remarkable storage modulus retention at high temperatures and a suppression of matrix glass transition at “high” (~5 wt%) nanofibril loadings. Creep properties likewise exhibited significant (order of magnitude) suppression of matrix flow at high temperatures. It was also believed, based on morphologies of freeze-fracture surfaces that the nanocomposites may be characterized by high fracture toughness. Direct fracture testing will however be necessary to verify this suspicion.     

Progress of Polymerization of D,L-Lactide Through Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Gel Permeation Chromatography

Melt polymerization conditions for D,L-lactide initiated with tetraphenyltin were studied with regard to polymer molecular weight. The present study was undertaken to investigate the progress of polymerization of D,L-lactide through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and also to explore the correlation between melt polymerization conditions and molecular weight. The physical characteristics, such as glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer and melting transition (Tm) of D,L-lactide are correlated with GPC data. DSC data shows that the Tm of D,L-lactide is 122.8 at 150°C polymerization time. ΔHf is 83.2 J g-1, and Tg of polymer is untraceable. At 180°C the Tm is 101.4°C, ΔHf is 34 J g-1, and Tg is around 29.5°C. The drop in Tm and ΔHf clearly shows the conversion of D,L-lactide to polymer. The maximum increment to molecular weight of polymer is achieved at 160°C and 8 h. After a short induction period, the slow polymerization of D,L-lactide resulted in maximal molecular weight followed by an almost constant value of molecular weight. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preparation and thermal study of Mg-diclofenac compound in solid state

The thermal behaviour of Mg-diclofenac compound was evaluated by simultaneous TG-DTA and DSC. The profile of the DSC curves showed that this compound possesses two transition phases: endothermic and exothermic between 170–180 °C and 185–195 °C, respectively. The endothermic reaction is reversible (enantiotropic). Thus, different experimental conditions, i.e. masses sample, open and crimped lids crucible, static and dynamic atmospheres were utilized for DSC analysis for evaluation of this transition phase. In a static atmosphere the enantiotropic reaction was not observed. The obtained data were utilized to obtain the kinetic parameters, which were calculated by the Capela and Ribeiro method. The results show that the activation energy for the transition phase depends on the different experimental conditions.     

Sol-Gel Microsphere Pelletisation Process for Fabrication of (U,Pu)O2, (U,Pu)C and (U,Pu)N Fuel Pellets for the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor in India

A “dust-free” sol-gel microsphere pelletisation (SGMP) process has been developed for fabrication of (U,Pu)O₂, (U,Pu)C and (U,Pu)N fuel pellets containing around 15% plutonium for the forthcoming prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) in India. The objective was to produce homogeneous sintered pellets of ∼85% T.D. with a predominantly open-pore structure. Hydrated gel-microspheres of UO₃+PuO₂ and UO₃+PuO₂+C have been prepared from nitrate solutions of uranium and plutonium by the “ammonia internal gelation” process, using hexamethylene tetramine (HMTA) as an ammonia generator and silicone oil at 90±1°C as gelation bath. For oxide fuel pellets, the hydrated UO₃+PuO₂ gel-microspheres were calcined at around 700°C in Ar+8% H₂ atmosphere to produce “non-porous”, “free-flowing” and coarse (around 400 micron) microspheres which could be directly pelletised at 550 MPa to green pellets. The mixed oxide pellets were subjected either to low temperature (∼1100°C) oxidative sintering (LTS) in N₂+air containing ∼1500 ppm O₂ or to high temperature (1650°C) sintering, (HTS) in Ar+8% H₂. For monocarbide and mononitride pellets, hydrated gel-microspheres of UO₃+PuO₂+C were subjected to carbothermic synthesis in vacuum (∼1 Pa) and flowing nitrogen (flow rate: 1.2 m³/h) in the temperature range of 1450–1550°C respectively. The monocarbide and mononitride microspheres thus produced were relatively hard and required higher compaction pressure (∼1200 MPa) for making reen pellets which could be sintered to 85% T.D. in Ar+8% H₂ at 1700°C. The sintered oxide, monocarbide and mononitride pellets had a “blackberry” “open” pore microstructure with fine grain size. The microspheres retained their individual identity in the sintered pellets because during sintering densification took place mainly within and not between the microspheres.     

Structural and sorption characteristics of the products from zeolitization of sba-15 in the presence of tetraalkylammonium hydroxides

Micro–mesoporous materials combining the structural and sorption characteristics of a mesoporous molecular sieve (MMS) and zeolite BEA were obtained by the “dry gel conversion” method – partial zeolitization of silica MMS SBA-15 in the presence of tetraethylammonium hydroxide. The volume of the mesopores reaches 0.65 cm³/g, while that of the micropores is in the region of 0.1 cm³/g. The acidity of the obtained zeolitized materials differs from that of BEA; the total concentration of medium-strength acid centers (maximum thermal desorption of ammonia at ~315 °C) amounts to 0.15 mmol/g.