Crystallization Processes in Composite Biomaterials

The crystallization processes in composite biomaterials containing fluorapatite (FA) and gel glasses (GG) have been investigated. Using the sol-gel method three gel-glasses have been synthesized: ZnO·SiO₂, ZnO·Al₂O₃·2SiO₂ and ZnO·CaO·2SiO₂. The composites have been prepared from GG and FA in different mole ratios and each of them treated at 950°C, 1050°C, 1150°C and 1250°C. From the XRD analysis of the composites it has been established that fluorapatite is present as a major crystalline phase. The XRD patterns and the IR spectra of the pure GG systems have been studied at 200°C, 600°C and 800°C. The surface of the samples has been analyzed before and after the in vitro experiments using SEM. An amorphous layer has been observed on the surface of each of the treated samples. The element concentration and the solubility of the samples have been analyzed after the in vitro experiments by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).     

Effect of alumina concentration on thermal and structural properties of mas glass and glass-ceramics

Magnesium aluminum silicate (MAS) glass samples with different concentrations of alumina (7.58 to 14.71 mol%) were prepared by melt and quench-technique. Total Mg content in the form of MgF₂+MgO was kept constant at 25 mol%. MAS glass was converted into glass-ceramics by controlled heat treatment at around 950°C. Crystalline phases present in different samples were identified by powder X-ray diffraction technique. Dilatometry technique was used to measure the thermal expansion coefficient and glass transition temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to study the microstructure of the glass-ceramic sample. It is seen from X-ray diffraction studies that at low Al₂O₃ concentrations (up to 10.5 mol%) both MgSiO₃ and fluorophlogopite phases are present and at higher Al₂O₃ concentrations of 12.3 and 14.7 mol%, fluorophlogopite and magnesium silicate (Mg₂SiO₄), respectively are found as major crystalline phases. The average thermal expansion co-efficient (_avg) of the glass samples decreases systematically from 9.8 to 5.5·10^–6 °C^–1 and the glass transition temperature (T g) increases from 610.1 to 675°C with increase in alumina content. However, in glass-ceramic samples the _avg varies in somewhat complex manner from 6.8 to 7.9·10^–6 °C^–1 with variation of Al₂O₃ content. This was thought to be due to the presence of different crystalline phases, their relative concentration and microstructure.Authors wish to thank Dr V. C. Sahni, Director Physics Group and Dr J. V. Yakhmi, Head TPPED, BARC for encouragement and support to the work. They would like to thank Dr S. K. Kulshreshtha for many useful discussions. Technical assistance from Shri B. B. Sawant, Mrs Shobha Manikandan, Mr Rakesh Kumar and Shri P. A. Wagh is gratefully acknowledged. One of authors (BIS) would like to thank BRNS-DAE for awarding him KSKRA fellowship.     

The effect of mechanochemical activation on the reactivity in the MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 system

Samples of the MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ ternary system, constituted by 28.5 mol% ofMgO, 28.5 mol% of Al₂O₃ and 43mol%of SiO₂, were activated in a roll mill and calcined at different temperatures. The influence of the grinding time, the used SiO₂ precursor and activation medium, furthermore the mass ratio between the powdered sample and zirconia cylinders was investigated on the reactivity of the MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ ternary system. FTIR spectra and the X-ray powder diffraction patterns indicates the formation of Mg(OH)₂ at 393 K, of forsterite (MgSi₂O₅) and enstatite (MgSiO₃) at 1223 K and of spinel (MgAl₂O₄) between 1223 and 1523 K in some samples. The presence of cordierite (Mg₂Al₂Si₅O₁₈) was observed at 1523 K, a reaction pathway concerning its formation was proposed.     

Synthesis and properties of mullite and cordierite aerogels

This work deals with the preparation of aluminosilicate aerogels, especially mullite (3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂) and cordierite (2MgO·2Al₂O₃·5SiO₂) aerogels, from the cohydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and chelated aluminum-secbutylate; in the case of cordierite magnesium nitrate was added. The influence of various preparation conditions on the aerogel synthesis is described. Crystallization and sintering behavior of mullite aerogels supercritically dried in acetone or alcohol differs from that one of mullite aerogels dried in CO₂. During non-isothermal heat treatment the former show a drastically reduced shrinkage compared to the latter. This behavior can be explained by a phase separation during the high temperature autoclaving process. In cordierite aerogels the crystallization of tetragonal mullite at about 1000°C is observed, while the correspondent xerogels show the crystallization of - and - cordierite between 1000 and 1100°C. On the other hand sintering is promoted in cordierite aerogels, which is due to the content of MgO.     

Crystallization of Gels in the Apatite-Mullite System

Crystallization processes in gels of the apatite-mullite system were studied to obtain information for the synthesis of bioglass-ceramics and composite materials. SiO2-sol, Al(NO3)3·9H2O, Ca(NO3)2·4H2O, (NH4)3PO4·3H2O and CaF2 were used as precursors. CaF2 was added before and after gelation. Mixtures of mullite gel-glass and fluorapatite in the range 10 to 90 mol% were investigated for synthesis of composites. All the samples were heat treated at different temperatures in the range 950–1250°C and the structural changes were established using X-ray diffraction and IR-spectroscopy. When the gels were treated at 1050°C and at 1150°C, the main crystalline phases found were fluorapatite and mullite independent of the CaF2 content and the manner of its addition. At 1250°C the relative amounts of fluorapatite and mullite decrease and gehlenite appears. Composite materials containing fluorapatite and mullite as main crystalline phases can be obtained only when the content of mullite gel-glass in the initial mixture is more than 60 mol%.     

Conversion of methane/carbon dioxide mixtures on vermiculite

A study has been made of the conversion of methane/carbon dioxide mixtures on a vermiculite catalyst of composition 22MgO·22SiO₂·5Al₂O₃·Fe₂O₃·4OH₂O. It has been established that at 900–970°C with molar ratios of CO₂/CH₄ of 0.5–1.5 and contact times of 10.5–21 sec the conversion proceeds quantitatively but the main products, H₂ and CO, are formed in varying proportions. An explanation has been given for the effect of the process parameters on the conversion and selectivity.Chernogolovka Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1511–1515, July, 1992.     

The synthesis and properties of zeolite CF-3

The novel zeolite CF-3, with a high ratio of SiO₂/Al₂O₃ and a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern, has been synthesized hydrothermally from a TMEDA-Na₂O–SiO₂–Al₂O₃–H₂O system at 200°C. The molar composition of CF-3 is (0.4–0.6)Na₂O·(1.5–6.3)TMEDA·Al₂O₃·(80–400)SiO₂·(0–17)H₂O·CF-3 is similar to ZSM-39 and melanophlogite, which have a clathrate-type structure.     

Structural investigation in the TiB2-(Na2O·B2O3·Al2O3) system

Composites in the TiB₂-Na₂O·B₂O₃·Al₂O₃ systems, TiB₂-MBA (MB stands for sodium metaborate and A is Al₂O₃), were prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), in simultaneous mode. Selection of these compositions was ruled by the interesting properties of both TiB₂ and double borates of alkali metal and aluminum. The structure of the obtained materials was evaluated by micro-Raman spectroscopy, from room temperature up to 600 °C, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Formation of the TiB₂ and TiO_2−xB_x phases along with TiO₂ as rutile were identified as titanium speciation in the grain phase embedded in a sodium aluminum borate matrix. Integration of the Raman spectra of the grain phases revealed a TiB₂ content of 16.99% and 23.32% for the two composite investigated 2TiB₂·2MBA and 3TiB₂·5MBA. A constrained-width model for the spectral deconvolution of the high-frequency Raman band was forwarded to calculate the proportion of tetrahedral boron atoms (7.424%) in the blank borate matrix Na₂B₂O₄·Al₂O₃ in solid phase.     

Crystallization in the SiO2-Al2O3 System from Amorphous Powders

The crystallization of amorphous chemically homogeneous powders in the SiO₂.Al₂O₃ system has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. Up to 1300°C only one exotherm has been observed. Only mullite crystallizes for compositions ≤69 mol% Al₂O₃ and spinel for those ≤80%. The crystallizations into mullite and spinel are sharp and exothermic, with an enthalpy of 250–300 J/g. The chemical composition of the crystallized mullite regularly increases from 68 to 76 mol% Al₂O₃ with increasing bulk composition from 60 to 75 mol% Al₂O₃.     

Physico-chemical properties of metallosilicate supports and cobalt catalysts based on them

The specific surface and the porosity of silicate supports (SiO₂, ZrO₂ · SiO₂, CoO · SiO₂) were determined. The adsorption properties and the reducing ability of the catalysts containing 10 % Co were studied. The spectra of the thermo-programmed desorption of CO below 250°C possess two signals typical of the adsorption of the catalyst on the oxide and metal phases. The formation of liquid hydrocarbons from CO and H₂ is assumed to proceed at surface bifunctional centers.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 668–672, April, 1993.     

MAS-NMR investigations of the crystallization behaviour of lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glasses containing P2O5 and TiO2 nucleants

Lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glass of composition (mol%) 20.4Li₂O-4.0Al₂O₃-68.6SiO₂-3.0K₂O-2.6B₂O₃-0.5P₂O₅-0.9TiO₂ was prepared by melt quenching. The glass was then nucleated and crystallized based on differential thermal analysis (DTA) data and was characterized by ²⁹Si, ³¹P, ¹¹B and ²⁷Al MAS-NMR. XRD and ²⁹Si NMR showed that lithium metasilicate (Li₂SiO₃) is the first phase to c form followed by cristobalite (SiO₂) and lithium disilicate (Li₂Si₂O₅). ²⁹Si MAS-NMR revealed a change in the network structure already for the glasses nucleated at 550 °C. Since crystalline Li₃PO₄, as observed by ³¹P MAS-NMR, forms concurrently with the silicate phases, we conclude that crystalline Li₃PO₄ does not act as a nucleating agent for lithium silicate phases. Moreover, ³¹P NMR indicates the formation of M-PO₄ (M=B, Al or Ti) complexes. The presence of BO₃ and BO₄ structural units in all the glass/glass-ceramic samples is revealed through ¹¹B MAS-NMR. B remains in the residual glass and the crystallization of silicate phases causes a reduction in the number of alkali ions available for charge compensation. As a result, the number of trigonally coordinated B (BO₃) increases at the expense of tetrahedrally coordinated B (BO₄). The ²⁷Al MAS-NMR spectra indicate the presence of tetrahedrally coordinated Al species, which are only slightly perturbed by the crystallization.     

Mössbauer Spectroscopic Studies of Supported α-Fe2O3 and Fe Catalysts I: Particle Size Determination and Support Effect

The chemical state of particles of 5wt% Fe in α-Fe₂O₃ and the subsequently reduced iron particles supported on different particle size (50–200 mesh) of silica (SiO₂), alumina (Al₂O₃), magnesium oxide (MgO) and carbon (C) was examined by Mössbauer spectroscopy at various stages of calcination and reduction. The particle size of the α-Fe₂O₃ supported on different mesh sizes (50, 100, 140, 200 mesh) of SiO₂ has been determined. The strength of metal-support interaction with respect to the kind of support was found to be MgO>SiO₂>Al₂O₃>C.     

Preparation and characterization of silicate gel glasses containing Cr2O3

The effect of thermal treatment on the structural incorporation of Cr₂O₃ in xCr₂O₃·(100 – x)SiO₂ and 5R _n O·xCr₂O₃·(95 – x)SiO₂ (where x=0.01–1 mol.% and R=Li, Na and Ca) gel glasses was studied by optical absorption spectrophotometry, DTA-TG, XRD and electron microscopy.Samples heat treated at 60°C have green color due to the presence of Cr³⁺ in octahedral coordination. The optical transmission, and color (yellow, orange or ambar), of the samples heat treated between 200 and 700°C prove that Cr³⁺ (octahedrally coordinated) and Cr⁶⁺ (tetrahedrally coordinated) are both present. Segregation of Cr₂O₃ take place at temperatures above 800°C.In reducing conditions the gel glasses were green due to the presence of a high content of Cr³⁺ ions. Samples containing Li or Na show crystalline phases at temperatures below 850°C.     

Calcium aluminates hydration in presence of amorphous SiO2 at temperatures below 90 °C

The hydration behaviour of Ca₃Al₂O₆, Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ and CaAl₂O₄ with added amorphous silica at 40, 65 and 90 °C has been studied for periods ranging from 1 to 31 days. In hydrated samples crystalline phases like katoite (Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_3−x(OH)_4x) and gibbsite, Al(OH)₃, were identified, likewise amorphous phases like Al(OH)_x, calcium silicate hydrates, C-S-H, and calcium aluminosilicate hydrates, C-S-A-H, were identified. The stoichiometry of Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_3−x(OH)_4x (0?3−x?0.334), which was the main crystalline product, was established by Rietveld refinement of X-ray and neutron diffraction data and by transmission electron microscopy.     

High-temperature reactions in systems of interest for spectrochemical analysis

Summary Reactions taking place in the systems graphite—boron carbide—a third component in the controlled temperature range of 1000–2000° C have been investigated by the spectrochemical and X-ray diffraction methods. It has been found that boron evaporates at 1200° C when NaF or LiF were added, at 1600° C when ZnF₂ was added and at 1900° C when CaF₂ was added as a third component.In the boron carbide-graphite-magnesium oxide system, magnesium borate, Mg₃(BO₃)₂, was found to be formed at high temperatures. A new phase, aluminium borate, 9 Al₂O₃·2 B₂O₃, was also found with addition of aluminium trioxide as the third component. Vanadium pentoxide added forms vanadium boride, VB₂. In the graphite—boron carbide—silicon dioxide system several phases are found but not identified. With calcium fluoride as the third component no changes occured up to 1900° C, while at 2000° C there is a hardly visible formation of calcium hexaboride. In the case of sodium fluoride new phases are sometimes found, but not identified.

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Hochtemperaturreaktionen in spektralanalytisch wichtigen Systemen1. Reaktionen in den Systemen von Graphit und Borcarbid mit einer dritten Komponente

Zusammenfassung Die Reaktionen wurden im Bereich von 1000–2000° C durch Spektralanalyse und Röntgendiffraktometrie untersucht. Dabei wurde gefunden, daß Bor bei 1200° C verdampft, wenn NaF oder LiF zugesetzt werden, bei 1600° C bei Zugabe von ZnF₂ und bei 1900° C bei Zusatz von CaF₂. Im System Borcarbid-Graphit-MgO wurde bei hohen Temperaturen Mg₃(B0₃)₂ gebildet. Bei Gemischen mit Al₂O₃ wurde 9 Al₂O₃·2 B₂O₃ gefunden. Bei Zusatz von V₂O₅ wurde VB₂ gebildet. Mehrere Phasen, die aber nicht identifiziert wurden, konnten im System Graphit—Borcarbid—SiO₂ gefunden werden. Mit CaF₂ wurden bis 1900° C keine Veränderungen beobachtet, während bei 2000° C CaB₆ in geringen Mengen auftritt. Im Falle von NaF treten gelegentlich neue Phasen auf, die jedoch nicht identifiziert wurden.

     

High-temperature reactions in systems of interest for spectrochemical analysis

Summary Reactions between graphite and magnesium, silicon, vanadium and aluminium oxides in graphite electrodes have been investigated by spectrochemical and X-ray diffraction methods. Samples were ignited by means of an evaporator up to controlled temperatures. In the range of 1000–1900°C magnesium oxide does not react with graphite. Aluminium trioxide first forms -Al₂O₃ and at 1900°C Al₄C₃. Silicon dioxide forms silicon carbide at about 1400°C. Vanadium pentoxide is first reduced to VO₂ and than at higher temperatures (1200° C) forms -VC. At about 1400° C MgO and SiO₂ mixed with graphite powder form magnesium silicate, Mg₂SiO₄, and this silicate was stable at higher temperatures (up to 2000°C).

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Hochtemperaturreaktionen in spektralanalytisch wichtigen SystemenII. Reaktionen von Graphit mit den Oxiden von Magnesium, Silicium, Vanadium und Aluminium

Zusammenfassung Die Reaktionen wurden durch Spektralanalyse und Röntgendiffraktometrie untersucht. Die Proben wurden in einem Evaporator auf kontrollierte Temperaturen erhitzt. Im Bereich von 1000–1900° C reagiert MgO nicht mit Graphit. Al₂O₃ bildet zunächst -Al₂O₃ und bei 1900°C Al₄C₃. SiO₂ bildet bei etwa 1400°C SiC. V₂O₅ wird zunächst zu VO₂ reduziert und geht dann bei höheren Temperaturen (1200°C) in -VC über. MgO und SiO₂ im Gemisch mit Graphit bilden Mg₂SiO₄, das bei hohen Temperaturen (bis 2000°C) noch beständig ist.

     

MAS-NMR studies of lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glasses and glass-ceramics having different Li2O/Al2O3 ratio

Emergence of phases in lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glasses of composition (wt%) xLi₂O-71.7SiO₂-(17.7−x)Al₂O₃-4.9K₂O-3.2B₂O₃-2.5P₂O₅ (5.1≤x≤12.6) upon heat treatment were studied. ²⁹Si, ²⁷Al, ³¹P and ¹¹B MAS-NMR were employed for structural characterization of both LAS glasses and glass-ceramics. In glass samples, Al is found in tetrahedral coordination, while P exists mainly in the form of orthophosphate units. B exists as BO₃ and BO₄ units. ²⁷Al NMR spectra show no change with crystallization, ruling out the presence of any Al containing phase. Contrary to X-ray diffraction studies carried out, ¹¹B (high field 18.8 T) and ²⁹Si NMR spectra clearly indicate the unexpected crystallization of a borosilicate phase (Li,K)BSi₂O₆, whose structure is similar to the aluminosilicate virgilite. Also, lithium disilicate (Li₂Si₂O₅), lithium metasilicate (Li₂SiO₃) and quartz (SiO₂) were identified in the ²⁹Si NMR spectra of the glass-ceramics. ³¹P NMR spectra of the glass-ceramics revealed the presence of Li₃PO₄ and a mixed phase (Li,K)₃PO₄ at low alkali concentrations.     

Structural effects of Zn+2/Mg+2 ratios on crystallization characteristics and microstructure of fluorophlogopite mica-containing glass-ceramics

We report the effect of Mg⁺² substitution (by Zn⁺²) on crystallization kinetics, microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties of boroaluminosilicate glass. Zn²⁺ was selected for Mg²⁺ on the basis of similar ionic radius in six coordination system (Mg²⁺∼0.72 Å, Zn²⁺∼0.75 Å). The melt-quenched glasses with SiO₂–(1 − x) MgO–Al₂O₃–K₂O–B₂O₃–MgF₂ (BPAS)/x ZnO system, have been investigated to establish the effect of Zn⁺²/Mg⁺² ratios. It is found that the density of BPAS glass without zinc content is 2.52 g/cm³ and increased linearly on substitution of Mg²⁺ by 5–32 mol% ZnO. T_g and T_d of BPAS glass initially increased on adding 5 mol% ZnO and then decreased on further addition. From DSC study, it is found that the crystallization exotherm changes significantly in the temperature range 750–1000 °C, where different crystalline phases are formed, and the activation energy of crystallization (E_C) varies in the range of 254–388 kJ/mol. The crystalline phases formed in opaque BPAS glass-ceramic, derived by controlled heat treatment at 800 and 1050 °C (4 h), are identified as fluorophlogopite [KMg₃(AlSi₃O₁₀)F₂] mica and willemite (Zn₂SiO₄) by XRD technique, and confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The change of crystallization phenomena varying Zn⁺²/Mg⁺² ratios correspond to significant microstructural change. A wide range of thermal expansion (CTE) values are obtained for the BPAS glasses and corresponding glass-ceramics. CTE (50–500 °C) of BPAS glass without zinc content is 7.76 × 10⁻⁶/K, and decreased sequentially on increasing Zn⁺²/Mg⁺² ratio. The density of glass-ceramics after heating at 800 and 1050 °C increased linearly with increasing Zn⁺² substitution for Mg⁺². Microhardness of the BPAS glasses is in the range of 4.26–6.15 GPa and found to be increased to 4.58–6.78 GPa after crystallized at 1050 °C.     

Synthesis and thermochemistry of MgO·3B2O3·3.5H2O

A new magnesium borate MgO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O has been synthesized by the method of phase transformation of double salt and characterized by XRD, IR and Raman spectroscopy as well as by TG. The structural formula of this compound was Mg[B₆O₉(OH)₂]·2.5H₂O. The enthalpy of solution of MgO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl was determined. With the incorporation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation of MgO(s), H₃BO₃(s), and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(5595.02±4.85) kJ mol⁻¹ of MgO·3B₂O₃3.5H₂O was obtained. Thermodynamic properties of this compound was also calculated by group contribution method.     

Synthesis of High-Ratio Mordenite

Synthesis of a mordenite-like zeolite from reaction mixtures of composition 2.5R ·. (2.2-7.3)Na₂O · Al₂O₃ · (12-40)SiO₂ · (300-1200)H₂O, where R is monoethanolamine, was studied. The crystallization conditions under which mordenite with a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of 13 to 22 can be synthesized were determined.