A new glance at ruthenium sorption mechanism on hydroxy, carbonate, and fluor apatites: Analytical and structural studies

The sorption mechanism of Ru3+ ions on hydroxy (HAp), carbonate (CO3HAp), and fluor apatites (FAp) has been studied in detail. Ru apatites were obtained by reaction of the apatites with RuCl3 in aqueous solution. The structure and composition of the ruthenium-modified apatites were studied by several techniques: elemental analysis, XRD, EXAFS, IR, NMR, SEM-EDS, TEM, and thermal analysis. The amount of Ru in the modified apatite varies from 7.8 to 10.5 wt% and is not related to the initial composition or the specific surface area of the apatite. The different characterization techniques show that in the Ru-modified apatites Ru is surrounded by six oxygen atoms and do not contain any chlorine. For Ru-HAp and Ru-CO3HAp the new phase is amorphous whereas it is crystalline for FAp. The catalytic oxidation ability is higher for Ru-HAp and Ru-CO3HAp compared to Ru-FAp apatite in the oxidation of benzylic alcohol.     

Sorption of tartrate ions to lanthanum (III)-modified calcium fluor- and hydroxyapatite

The present article details the formation of lanthanum-modified apatites and the binding process of tartrate ions with these obtained apatites. Chemical analyses, FT-IR and (31)P NMR spectroscopies, XRD powder, TGA, and TEM analyses were employed for studying the reaction between Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2) (HAp) or Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(F)(2) (FAp) and LaCl(3). The reaction was found to take place mainly through partial dissolution of the apatite followed by precipitation of a new phase containing lanthanum phosphate. When La(3+) was introduced in the presence of L(+)-tartaric acid (TAH(2)), no fundamental changes were observed in the HAp or FAp structures. However, there did occur a formation of a new phase of Ca or/and La tartrate salt.     

Structure refinements of Pb2+ ion-exchanged apatites by x-ray powder pattern-fitting

The crystal structures of Pb²⁺ ion-exchanged hydroxyapatite (OHAp), chlorapatite (ClAp), and fluorapatite (FAp) in aqueous solutions with low pH value of 3.0 or 4.0 have been investigated by X-ray powder pattern-fitting methods. The site occupancy factors of Pb atoms for the M1 (column site) and M2 sites were determined to be 0.72 and 0.77 for Pb_7.5Ca_2.5OHAp, 0.69 and 0.86 for Pb_7.9Ca_2.1ClAp, and 0.60 and 0.52 for Pb_5.5Ca_4.5FAp, respectively. These results imply that Ca²⁺ ions in calcium hydroxyapatite are exchanged for Pb²⁺ ions in acidic aqueous solution regardless of whether they occupy M1 or M2 sites.     

Elemental depth profiling of fluoridated hydroxyapatite: saving your dentition by the skin of your teeth?

Structural and chemical changes that arise from fluoridation of hydroxyapatite (Ca(5)(PO(4))(3)OH or "HAp"), as representing the synthetic counterpart of tooth enamel, are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Elemental depth profiles with a depth resolution on the nanometer scale were determined to reveal the effect of fluoridation in neutral (pH = 6.2) and acidic agents (pH = 4.2). With respect to the chemical composition and the crystal structure, XPS depth profiling reveals different effects of the two treatments. In both cases, however, the fluoridation affects the surface only on the nanometer scale, which is in contrast to recent literature with respect to XPS analysis on dental fluoridation, where depth profiles of F extending to several micrometers were reported. In addition to the elemental depth profiles, as published in various other studies, we also present quantitative depth profiles of the compounds CaF(2), Ca(OH)(2), and fluorapatite (FAp) that were recently proposed by a three-layer model concerning the fluoridation of HAp in an acidic agent. The analysis of our experimental data exactly reproduces the structural order of this model, however, on a scale that differs by nearly 2 orders of magnitude from previous predictions. The results also reveal that the amount of Ca(OH)(2) and FAp is small compared to that of CaF(2). Therefore, it has to be asked whether such narrow Ca(OH)(2) and FAp layers really can act as protective layers for the enamel.     

Termal decomposition of carbonated calcium phosphate apatites

The thermal stability of AB-type carbonated calcium phosphate apatites prepared by precipitation from aqueous media was studied. The behavior of powders was investigated using temperature programmed XRD, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. In N₂ atmosphere, two successive peaks of decarbonatation with maxima at about 700 and 950°C occurred. This behavior is explained by different substitution modes for carbonates in the apatite. The decarbonatation peaks were shifted to higher temperature under CO₂ (around 900 and 1150°C). The analysis of the thermal stability allowed further densification of carbonate apatite ceramics without important carbonate loss. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preparation and characterization of polyoxymethylene‐copolymer/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for long‐term bone implants

In this work, new polyoxymethylene (POM)/hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposites for long‐term bone implants have been obtained via extrusion and injection molding processes and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature‐modulated DSC (TMDSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG), and tensile mechanical and in vitro stability tests. Based on the DSC results, it was found that the degree of crystallinity increases for POM/0.5% HAp sample and decreases for POM/1.0% HAp and POM/2.5% HAp. SEM and TEM observations for POM/HAp nanocomposites indicated that the dispersion of HAp in the polymer matrix was uniform and the diameter of the HAp particles was less than 100 nm for most of them. Young's modulus increases with increasing HAp concentration, whereby elongation at break decreases. On the contrary, HAp concentration does not have a significant influence on the tensile strength. TG results show that for POM/0.5% HAp, POM/1.0% HAp, and POM/2.5% HAp, thermal stability slightly increases in comparison to pure POM, whereas for POM/5.0 HAp and POM/10.0% HAp, lower thermal stability was observed. In vitro data reveal that with an increase of HAp content, bioactivity of nanocomposites increases; a good in vitro chemical stability of POM and POM nanocomposites was confirmed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The use of thermal analysis to study thermal processing effects on polypropylene

The thermal stability of a polypropylene copolymer has been examined at several stages during the processing of the material into its final product in order to obtain information on the influence of processing steps such as grinding and thermal heating on the expected lifetime of the material. Mass loss kinetics in an inert atmosphere were able to detect differences in thermal stability, but oxidative differential scanning calorimetry studies proved to be a more sensitive techiique. A comparative study of a specially prepared series of samples revealed the importance of additives on measured thermal stability and indicated that both mechanical and thermal processing can cause reduction in measured thermal stability.     

Thermoanalytical investigation of 1,2-diimidazoloethane complexes of copper,mercury and cadmium by TG-DTG-DTA techniques in static air atmosphere

The iodide complexes of transition metals with 1,2-diimidazoloethane (DIE) of the general formula MLI₂, (M=Cu(II), Hg(II), Cd(II); L=1,2-diimidazoloethane) were prepared and studied by means of thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques. Their compositions were investigated by elemental analysis in order to ensure their purity and structural elucidations were based on conductivity measurements, room temperature magnetic measurements, proton NMR, XRD and IR spectra. Thermal decomposition of these distorted tetrahedral complexes and the ligand took place in two distinct steps upon heating up to 800°C, with the loss of inorganic and organic fragments. The thermal degradation of all the complexes (except for cadmium complex) in static air atmosphere started at temperatures lower than those observed for the free ligand pyrolysis. The composition of intermediates formed during degradation was confirmed by microanalysis and IR spectroscopy. The residues after heating above 740°C corresponded to metal oxide except for Hg(II) complex, which behaved differently. It was found on the basis of thermal analysis that thermal stability of the complexes increased in the following sequence: Hg(II)<Cu(II)<Cd(II).     

Preparation of waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites: Polymerization from functionalized hydroxyapatite

We report the preparation and characterization of waterborne polyurethane (WBPU)/hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposites through in situ polymerization from functionalized HAp. The HAp nanoparticles (HAp NPs) were urethanated with 3-isocyanatemethyl-3,5,5-trimethyl-cyclohexylisocyanate (isophorone diisocyanate) to obtain grafted HAp NPs containing isocyanate groups (HAp-g-NCO) as crosslinkers and then the HAp-g-NCO is further polymerized with WBPU monomers to form the WBPU/HAp nanocomposites. The HAp NPs were homogeneously dispersed in the polyurethane matrix at low loading levels (?2.0 wt%), thus the mechanical strength and the elongation at break of the WBPU/HAp nanocomposites were significantly improved. Thermal stability and water resistance of the WBPU/HAp nanocomposites are also enhanced. These results suggest that the WBPU/HAp nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization hold the potential as new materials with improved mechanical properties, thermal stability and water resistance.     

A molecular dynamics study of the thermodynamic properties of calcium apatites. 1. Hexagonal phases

Structural and thermodynamic properties of crystal hexagonal calcium apatites, Ca10(PO4)6(X)2 (X = OH, F, Cl, Br), were investigated using an all-atom Born-Huggins-Mayer potential by a molecular dynamics technique. The accuracy of the model at room temperature and atmospheric pressure was checked against crystal structural data, with maximum deviations of ca. 4% for the haloapatites and 8% for hydroxyapatite. The standard molar lattice enthalpy, delta(lat)H298(o), of the apatites was calculated and compared with previously published experimental results, the agreement being better than 2%. The molar heat capacity at constant pressure, C(p,m), in the range 298-1298 K, was estimated from the plot of the molar enthalpy of the crystal as a function of temperature, H(m) = (H(m,298) - 298C(p,m)) + C(p,m)T, yielding C(p,m) = 694 +/- 68 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), C(p,m) = 646 +/- 26 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), C(p,m) = 530 +/- 34 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), and C(p,m) = 811 +/- 42 J x mol(-1) x K(-1) for hydroxy-, fluor-, chlor-, and bromapatite, respectively. High-pressure simulation runs, in the range 0.5-75 kbar, were performed in order to estimate the isothermal compressibility coefficient, kappaT, of those compounds. The deformation of the compressed solids is always elastically anisotropic, with BrAp exhibiting a markedly different behavior from those displayed by HOAp and ClAp. High-pressure p-V data were fitted to the Parsafar-Mason equation of state with an accuracy better than 1%.     

In situ monitoring the thermal degradation of PCPDTBT low band gap polymers with varying alkyl side‐chain patterns

The degradation pattern of a series of low band gap PCPDTBT polymers under thermal stress is investigated by in situ UV–vis and FT‐IR techniques combined with thermal degradation analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis is used to predetermine the decomposition intervals, revealing that thermolysis occurs in two stages. TG‐TD‐GC/MS shows that loss of the alkyl side chains predominantly happens within the first temperature regime and degradation of the polymer backbone occurs thereafter. UV–vis spectroscopy is used to monitor the evolution of the optical properties upon heating, reflecting the thermal stability of the conjugated backbone, whereas FT‐IR spectroscopy is applied to evaluate the chemical changes under thermal stress, with an emphasis on the polymer periphery. The influence of the side chains and possible defects, dependent on the synthesis protocol applied, on the thermal stability of the final polymers is discussed and is related to the application of said materials in organic photovoltaics. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4912–4922     

Molecular dynamics study of the thermodynamic properties of calcium apatites. 2. Monoclinic phases

Structural and thermodynamic properties of crystalline monoclinic calcium apatites, Ca10(PO4)6(X)2 (X=OH, Cl), were investigated for the first time using a molecular dynamics (MD) technique under a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions. The accuracy of the model at room temperature and atmospheric pressure was checked against crystal structural data, yielding maximum deviations of ca. 2%. The standard molar lattice enthalpy (DeltalatHo298) of the apatites was also calculated and compared with previously published experimental and MD results for the hexagonal polymorphs. High-temperature simulation runs were used to estimate the isobaric thermal expansivity coefficient and study the behavior of the crystal structure under heating. The heat capacity at constant pressure, Cp, in the range 298-1298 K, was estimated from the plot of the molar enthalpy of the crystal as a function of temperature, Hm=(Hm,298-298Cp,m)+Cp,mT, yielding Cp,m=635+/-7 J.mol-1.K-1 and Cp,m=608+/-14 J.mol-1.K-1 for hydroxy- and chlorapatite, respectively. High-pressure MD experiments, in the 0.5-75 kbar range, were performed to estimate the isothermal compressibility. The Parsafar-Mason equation of state was successfully used to fit the high-pressure p-Vm data, with an accuracy better than 0.03%.     

Influence of processing conditions on polymer crystallization measured by fast scanning DSC

The structural formation of polymers during processing significantly influences the mechanical properties and the temperature stability of polymer products. The analysis of structural formation by conventional thermal analysis techniques is limited because of the relatively low scanning rates. Thus, reorganization during heating changes the initial structure, and the applicable cooling rates are not representative for the applied cooling rates during production, i.e., crystallization at high supercooling cannot be investigated. To overcome these limitations, chip calorimeters with very high scanning rates have been developed. The fast scanning Flash DSC 1 based on MEMS chip-sensors allows for scanning rates up to 40,000 K s^?1. In this paper, we discuss some basic concepts of chip calorimetry in general. We then study the influence of additives and molecular modifications on the structural formation at technically relevant cooling rates. This information is crucial to adapt polymer formulation and processing conditions to specific product requirements.     

Thermochemistry of lignin

Thermochemical reactions occurring in various stages of structural transformations of native lignin in its thermal treatment in a wide temperature range are considered and classified. Attention is given to the initial state of lignin in its primary isolation without heating. The terminology of lignin products, used in the literature, is put in order to a certain extent. The thermochemical reactions in which lignins are transformed in processing of raw wood materials and the structure of isolated lignins undergoes changes in the course of the target thermal treatment are differentiated. The applied aspect of the directed thermochemical synthesis of new lignin-based low- and high-molecular-mass compounds is discussed.     

Conformational changes of α-lactalbumin adsorbed at oil-water interfaces: interplay between protein structure and emulsion stability

The conformation and structural dimensions of α-lactalbumin (α-La) both in solution and adsorbed at oil-water interfaces of emulsions were investigated using synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) spectroscopy, front-face tryptophan fluorescence (FFTF) spectroscopy, and dual polarization interferometry (DPI). The near-UV SRCD and the FFTF results demonstrated that the hydrophobic environment of the aromatic residues located in the hydrophobic core of native α-La was significantly altered upon adsorption, indicating the unfolding of the hydrophobic core of α-La upon adsorption. The far-UV SRCD results showed that adsorption of α-La at oil-water interfaces created a new non-native secondary structure that was more stable to thermally induced conformational changes. Specifically, the α-helical conformation increased from 29.9% in solution to 45.8% at the tricaprylin-water interface and to 58.5% at the hexadecane-water interface. However, the β-sheet structure decreased from 18.0% in solution to less than 10% at both oil-water interfaces. The DPI study showed that adsorption of α-La to a hydrophobic C18-water surface caused a change in the dimensions of α-La from the native globule-like shape (2.5-3.7 nm) to a compact/dense layer approximately 1.1 nm thick. Analysis of the colloidal stability of α-La stabilized emulsions showed that these emulsions were physically stable against droplet flocculation at elevated temperatures both in the absence and in the presence of 120 mM NaCl. In the absence of salt, the thermal stability of emulsions was due to the strong electrostatic repulsion provided by the adsorbed α-La layer, which was formed after the adsorption and structural rearrangement. In the presence of salt, although the electrostatic repulsion was reduced via electrostatic screening, heating did not induce strong and permanent droplet flocculation. The thermal stability of α-La stabilized emulsions in the presence of salt is a combined effect of the electrostatic repulsion and the lack of covalent disulfide interchange reactions. This study reports new information on the secondary and tertiary structural changes of α-La upon adsorption to oil-water interfaces. It also presents new results on the physical stability of α-La stabilized emulsions during heating and at moderate ionic strength (120 mM NaCl). The results broaden our understanding of the factors controlling protein structural change at emulsion interfaces and how this affects emulsion stability.     

A new model for the rationalization of the thermal behavior of carbonated apatites

A new model for the location and distribution of carbonate ions in carbonated apatite was used to assign the IR spectra of A- and AB-carbonated apatites. The percentage of total carbonate as measured by the mass loss in the TGA of these compounds is in good agreement with the percentage obtained by combustion analysis. The decomposition of pure A-type carbonate appears at temperatures of 985–1123 °C, whereas the decomposition of AB-type carbonated apatites occurs in the range of 600–800 °C. This difference is attributed to changes in the environment of channel carbonate brought about by B-type substitution of carbonate for phosphate. In the presence of sodium ions, the channel is changed by substitution of sodium for calcium in order to accommodate the difference between the charge of the carbonate and phosphate ions. A thermodynamic cycle is introduced to rationalize the differences in decomposition temperatures of A- and B-type carbonate. Preferential loss of B-type carbonate upon heating to 600 °C also suggests the migration of B-type carbonate to A-sites.

     

Electrothermomechanical analysis and its application to studying electrically conductive adhesive joints

Electrothermomechanical analysis (ETMA) is effective for studying electrically conductive adhesive joints. Post curing of an electrically conductive adhesive (silver particle filled epoxy) by heating at an elevated temperature significantly enhances the thermal and mechanical stability of the conductive adhesive joint. The contact electrical resistivity and thickness of a joint tend to decrease cycle to cycle upon thermal cycling between 30 and 50°C and upon compression (up to 0.55 MPa). The effects of compression and thermal cycling are significant in the joint without post curing, but is insignificant after post curing. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Investigation of thermo-reversibility of polymer crosslinked by reversible covalent bonds through torque measurement

Brominated butyl rubber (BIIR) was crosslinked through an esterification reaction using the sodium salt of dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylic acid (DCPDCA) as crosslinking agent. The crosslinked BIIR could de-crosslink upon heating and re-crosslink upon cooling due to Diels-Alder type reversible de-dimerization/re-dimerization of dicyclopentadiene moieties in the rubber networks. Torque measurement of the crosslinked rubber was conducted at various temperatures using a typical curemeter to investigate the thermo-reversibility. It was revealed that proper temperature for thermal processing of the crosslinked BIIR would be around 174 °C, at which the crosslinked polymer exhibits good flowability and is not too high to induce unexpected side reactions. The torque measurement was also carried out to investigate the efficiency of antioxidant on retarding the loss of the thermo-reversibility of the crosslinked polymer during heating-cooling cycles. It was found that addition of antioxidant 2246 [2,2′-methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol)] into BIIR could significantly improve the thermo-reversibility of DCPDCA crosslinked BIIR. Torque measurement provides a convenient and sensitive method to understand the thermal behavior of reversible covalent crosslinked polymer.     

Molecular Thermal Hysteresis in Helix‐Dimer Formation of Sulfonamidohelicene Oligomers in Solution

Sulfonamidohelicene oligomers up to the nonamer level were synthesized by the repeated coupling reactions of a building block. A tetramer formed a helix dimer in 1,3‐difluorobenzene, which unfolded to a random coil with heating. This structural change exhibited thermal hysteresis in which different thermal responses were observed in the course of temperature increase and decrease. The feature of the hysteresis was examined under different heating/cooling modes, and the mechanisms are discussed on the basis of the population change and the presence of an induction period. A proposal regarding the use of thermal hysteresis for sensing a temperature increase/decrease is also given.     

Dual effect of high electric field in capillary electrophoresis study of the conformational stability of Bungarus fasciatus acetylcholinesterase

The effect of high electric field in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was evaluated for the study of the thermally induced unfolding of Bungarus fasciatus acetylcholinesterase. This monomer enzyme is characterised by two interdependent uncommon structural features, the asymmetrical distribution of charged residues and a relatively low thermal denaturation temperature. Both traits were presumed to interfere in the thermal unfolding of this enzyme as investigated by CZE. This paper analyses the effect of high electric field on the behaviour of the enzyme native state. It is shown that increasing the applied field causes denaturation-like transition of the enzyme at a current power which does not induce excessive Joule heating in the capillary. The susceptibility to electric field of proteins like cholinesterases, with charge distribution anisotropy, large permanent dipole moment and notable molecular flexibility associated with moderate thermal stability, was subsequently discussed.