Compressible models of equilibrium polymerization

Flory-Huggins-type models of equilibrium polymerization are extended to describe compressible systems and, hence, the pressure dependence of thermodynamic properties. The theory is developed for three different mechanisms of equilibrium polymerization (the free association, monomer-activated polymerization, and chemically initiated polymerization models). In contrast to previous approaches for describing the pressure dependence, the theory delineates the thermodynamic consequences of the size disparities between solvent molecules, unpolymerized monomers, and the monomers within polymers. Basic thermodynamic properties (the extent of polymerization, density, heat capacities C(P) and C(V), etc.) are calculated analytically as functions of pressure, temperature, and composition of the associating species. Illustrative calculations refer to systems that polymerize upon cooling and demonstrate general agreement with numerous experimental trends. Comparisons with results from other theories are also discussed.     

Critical evaluation and thermodynamic optimization of the Si-RE systems: Part I. Si-RE system (RE = La,Ce, Pr,Nd and Sm)

A critical evaluation and optimization of all available phase diagrams and thermodynamic data of the binary Si-RE (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm) systems were conducted to obtain reliable thermodynamic functions of all the phases in the systems. In the thermodynamic modelling, a systematic analysis involving the similarity and periodicity observed in the lanthanide series was applied to resolve inconsistencies in the experimental data and to estimate the unknown thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria data. The phase diagram of the Si-Sm system was predicted using this approach.     

Evaluating nonpolarizable nucleic acid force fields: A systematic comparison of the nucleobases hydration free energies and chloroform‐to‐water partition coefficients

Nucleic acid force fields have been shown to reproduce structural properties of DNA and RNA very well, but comparative studies with respect to thermodynamic properties are rare. As a test for thermodynamic properties, we have computed hydration free energies and chloroform‐to‐water partition coefficients of nucleobases using the AMBER‐99, AMBER‐gaff, CHARMM‐27, GROMOS‐45a4/53a6 and OPLS‐AA force fields. A mutual force field comparison showed a very large spread in the calculated thermodynamic properties, demonstrating that some of the parameter sets require further optimization. The choice of solvent model used in the simulation does not have a significant effect on the results. Comparing the hydration free energies obtained by the various force fields to the adenine and thymine experimental values showed a very large deviation for the GROMOS and AMBER parameter sets. Validation against experimental partition coefficients showed good agreement for the CHARMM‐27 parameter set. In view of mutation studies, differences in partition coefficient between two bases were also compared, and good agreement between experiments and calculations was found for the AMBER‐99 parameter set. Overall, the CHARMM‐27 parameter set performs best with respect to the thermodynamic properties tested here. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Applicability of the configurational analysis to some problems of interest in polymer science

Comparison between theoretical and experimental values of configuration dependent properties of polymers is used to estimate the values of the conformational energies associated with the rotational states of molecular chains. It is shown that the critical interpretation of the configurational properties of the polymers obtained by cationic polymerization of heterocycles, may be an useful tool to elucidate the ring-opening mechanisms. The influence of the molecular flexibility in both the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of polymers is discussed in terms of the configurational entropy.     

Can we predict the structure and stability of molecular crystals under increased pressure? First‐principles study of glycine phase transitions

The aim of this study was to determine whether the periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations can be used for accurate prediction of the influence of the increased pressure on crystal structure and stability of molecular solids. To achieve this goal a series of geometry optimization and thermodynamic parameters calculations were performed for γ‐glycine and δ‐glycine structures at different pressure values using CASTEP program. In order to perform most accurate geometry optimization various exchange‐correlation functionals defined within generalized gradient approximation (GGA): PBE, PW91, RPBE, WC, PBESOL as well as defined within local density approximation (LDA), i.e. CAPZ, were tested. Geometry optimization was carried out using different dispersion correction methods (i.e. Grimme, TS, OBS) or without them. The linear response density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) was used to obtain the phonon dispersion curves and phonon density of states from which thermodynamic parameters, such as: free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) were evaluated. The results of the geometry optimization depend strongly on the choice of the DFT functional. Calculated differences between the free energy of the studied polymorphic forms at the studied pressure values were consistent with experimental observations on their stability. The computations of thermodynamic properties not only confirmed the order of stability of two studied forms, but also enabled to predict the pressure at which this order is reversed. The results obtained in this study have proven that the plane‐wave basis set first principles calculations under periodic conditions is suitable for accurate prediction of crystal structure and stability. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Prediction of the heat capacity of ionic liquids using the mass connectivity index and a group contribution method

A simple and accurate group contribution method to estimate the heat capacity of ionic liquids is presented. The method considers groups previously defined for a successful method used to estimate critical properties of ionic liquids. Additionally a structural parameter known as mass connectivity index recently defined by the authors has been incorporated to define the model equation. To better define the values of the groups, heat capacity data at 298 K for 126 organic substances were used with the 469 heat capacity data for 32 ionic liquids. The results were compared with experimental data and with values reported by other available estimation methods. Results show that the new group contribution method gives low deviations and can be used with confidence in thermodynamic and engineering calculations.     

Changes in the standard transformed thermodynamic properties of enzyme-catalyzed reactions with ionic strength

The ionic strength has significant effects on the thermodynamic properties of ionic species and on the transformed thermodynamic properties of biochemical reactants at specified pH values. These effects are discussed for species, reactants, and enzyme-catalyzed reactions. This has led to three new thermodynamic properties: (z(j)(2) - NH(j)), (z(2) - N(H))(i), and Delta(r)(z((2)-N(H)), which are referred to as ionic strength coefficients. The first of these is a property of a species, the second is a property of a reactant, and the third is the property of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The effects of ionic strength on standard thermodynamic properties of species, standard transformed thermodynamic properties of reactants, and standard transformed thermodynamic properties of enzyme-catalyzed reactions are proportional to these new thermodynamic properties.     

Universal relation for size dependent thermodynamic properties of metallic nanoparticles

The previous model on surface free energy has been extended to calculate size dependent thermodynamic properties (i.e., melting temperature, melting enthalpy, melting entropy, evaporation temperature, Curie temperature, Debye temperature and specific heat capacity) of nanoparticles. According to the quantitative calculation of size effects on the calculated thermodynamic properties, it is found that most thermodynamic properties of nanoparticles vary linearly with 1/D as a first approximation. In other words, the size dependent thermodynamic properties P(n) have the form of P(n) = P(b)(1 -K/D), in which P(b) is the corresponding bulk value and K is the material constant. This may be regarded as a scaling law for most of the size dependent thermodynamic properties for different materials. The present predictions are consistent literature values.     

Surface tension of talc and talc-chlorite mixtures

It is possible to estimate surface tension of high-energy solids combining the immersion microcalorimetry thermodynamics and Van Oss' model. In this study we have applied this method on talc and talc-chlorite samples in order to obtain thermodynamic values which permit to understand surface properties useful in the industrial applications of these solids. Some talcite samples are preferentially used in specific industrial applications because they are less hydrophobic or more lamellar. This method seems to be reliable to classify the solids and predict some properties.     

THERM: a computer code for estimating thermodynamic properties for species important to combustion and reaction modeling

A computer package has been developed called THERM, an acronym for THermodynamic property Estimation for Radicals and Molecules. THERM is a versatile computer code designed to automate the estimation of ideal gas phase thermodynamic properties for radicals and molecules important to combustion and reaction-modeling studies. Thermodynamic properties calculated include heat of formation and entropies at 298 K and heat capacities from 300 to 1500 K. Heat capacity estimates are then extrapolated to above 5000 K, and NASA format polynomial thermodynamic property representations valid from 298 to 5000 K are generated. This code is written in Microsoft Fortran version 5.0 for use on machines running under MSDOS. THERM uses group additivity principles of Benson and current best values for bond strengths, changes in entropy, and loss of vibrational degrees of freedom to estimate properties for radical species from parent molecules. This ensemble of computer programs can be used to input literature data, estimate data when not available, and review, update, and revise entries to reflect improvements and modifications to the group contribution and bond dissociation databases. All input and output files are ASCII so that they can be easily edited, updated, or expanded. In addition, heats of reaction, entropy changes, Gibbs free-energy changes, and equilibrium constants can be calculated as functions of temperature from a NASA format polynomial database.     

Thermodynamic properties of three-dimensional radical polymerization of dimethacrylates and their relation to the structure and properties of network polymers

For the polymerization of dimethacrylates, thermodynamic properties related to effect of the formed network polymer on the reaction between pendant methacrylate groups and free radicals have been studied. The polymer matrix creates steric hindrances for this reaction and impedes the shrinkage process accompanying the opening of С=С bonds. As a result, internal stresses develop in the polymer, the heat of polymerization of methacrylate groups decreases compared with the polymerization of methyl methacrylate, and the full conversion of double bonds is prevented. The relaxation of internal stresses and of excess free volume leads to the spontaneous cracking of network polymers and causes formation of regular adhesive-shrinkage patterns. The process of superslow relaxation of internal stresses in polymer films has been ascertained, and the mechanochemical model of this process has been advanced. The effect of internal stresses on the physicomechanical properties of polydimethacrylates has been discussed.     

Modelling propagation in cationic polymerization

Propagation in cationic polymerization is modelled by ethene homopolymerization. Cationization and three propagation steps are investigated by the MINDO/3 method employing complete and partial optimization of geometry. A potential energy surface is calculated describing the first propagation step, the nucleophilic attack of ethene on an ethyl cation. The results indicate a reactant-like activated complex and three energetic minima representing structures of the products for both the first and the second propagation step. The thermodynamic foundation of polyreactions is well reflected both with and without consideration of statistic-thermodynamic calculations.     

Rapid Estimation of Thermodynamic Parameters and Vapor Pressures of Volatile Materials at Nanoscale

Non‐isothermal measurements of thermodynamic parameters and vapor pressures of low‐volatile materials are favored when time is a crucial factor to be considered, such as in the case of detection of hazardous materials. In this article, we demonstrate that optical absorbance spectroscopy can be used non‐isothermally to estimate the thermodynamic properties and vapor pressures of volatile materials with good accuracy. This is the first method to determine such parameters in nanoscale in just minutes. Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is chosen because of its low melting temperature, which makes it impossible to determine its thermodynamic parameter by other rising‐temperature techniques, such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The well‐characterized vapor pressure of benzoic acid is used to calibrate the spectrometer in order to determine the vapor pressure of low‐volatile TNT. The estimated thermodynamic properties of both benzoic acid and TNT are in excellent agreement with the literature. The estimated vapor pressure of TNT is one order of magnitude larger than that determined isothermally using the same method. However, the values are still within the range reported in the literature. The data indicate the high potential for use of rising‐temperature absorbance spectroscopy in determining vapor pressures of materials at nanometer scale in minutes instead of hours or days.     

The study of stereoisomerism influence on speed of sound, isentropic compressibility and heat capacity

In order to study the influence of stereoisomerism on thermodynamic derived properties, an extensive experimental study has been carried out for the two stereoisomers of decahydronaphthalene known as cis-and trans-decalin. For both compounds, speed of sound data are reported up to 150 MPa in the temperature range 303.15 to 373.15 K. Heat capacity measurements are presented up to 60 MPa for temperature ranging from 313.15 to 383.15 K. The experimental speed of sound together with the heat capacity data were used to estimate densities and compressibilities of the fluids up to 150 MPa. The thermodynamic consistency between volumetric, acoustical and calorimetric properties is then checked. The effect of stereoisomerism on speed of sound, isentropic compressibility and heat capacity behaviours is analyzed. It is concluded that the influence observed on these thermodynamic properties mainly results from volumetric effects.     

Modélisation numérique du systeme La-Ru

The present study concerns the optimization of the La-Ru system by the use of the NancyUn software, taking into account the available experimental results about phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties. The computer program allows us to obtain estimated data for experimentally undetermined thermodynamic properties and to compare the computed phase diagram with the one already published.     

Anisotropic united atom model including the electrostatic interactions of benzene

An optimization including electrostatic interactions has been performed for the parameters of an anisotropic united atoms intermolecular potential for benzene for thermodynamic and transport property prediction using Gibbs ensemble, isothermal-isobaric (NPT) Monte Carlo, and molecular dynamic simulations. The optimization procedure is based on the minimization of a dimensionless error criterion incorporating various thermodynamic data (saturation pressure, vaporization enthalpy, and liquid density) at ambient conditions and at 350 and 450 K. A comprehensive comparison of the new model is given with other intermolecular potentials taken from the literature. Overall thermodynamic, structural, reorientational, and translational dynamic properties of our optimized model are in very good agreement with experimental data. The new model also provides a good representation of the liquid structure, as revealed by three-dimensional spatial density functions and carbon-carbon radial distribution function. Shear viscosity variations with temperature and pressure are very well reproduced, revealing a significant improvement with respect to nonpolar models.     

信息拓扑指数与烷烃分子热力学性质的关系

Two topological information indices were constructed based on Randic and Wiener indices, and the values of topological information indices for 85 alkanes were calculated. The thermodynamic properties such as the standard enthalpies of formation, the standard entropies and the standard free energies of formation for these alkanes were also correlated with these topological and information indices. It is found that the thermodynamic properties calculated for both gaseous and liquid states of the 85 alkanes are in excellent agreement with the experimental values through the regression analysis.