A new differential method for determining orders and rates of reactions and its application to solid state reactions. Part I. Some simple decompositions

The thermal dehydroxylation of natural Al-bearing geothite was investigated by IR spectroscopy. Venezuelan lateritic bauxites (which in addition to goethite contain kaolinite, gibbsite, ilmenite and quartz), as well as chemically isolated samples of Al-goethites, were heated to 300, 600 and 1000°C. The spectral features of the iron oxides formed during the thermal treatment depend on the heating temperature, showing that the first dehydroxylation product is Al-bearing protohematite which at temperatures above 600°C is recrystallized to Al-bearing hematite. Part of the aluminum which is occuled in this hematite originates from the gibbsite and to a smaller extent from the kaolinite.     

Leaching test for calcined kaolinite and kaolinite/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> photoactive composite

Kaolinite is a suitable material for fixing TiO₂ nanoparticles in a composite form. The kaolinite/TiO₂ composite has promising photoactive properties which are as important as is the possible impact of the composite on the environment. Accordingly, the stability of the kaolinite/TiO₂ composite dried at 105°C (KTI1) and calcined at 600 °C (KTI6) and the stability of the original kaolinite treated at various temperatures (105–800 °C) were studied by the leaching test in accordance with European standard BS EN 12457-2:2002 (British Standards Institution, 2002). The stability was evaluated on the basis of elements leached from the materials to extraction agents. Atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma was used for determining the concentration of elements. In order to better understand the process of calcination and the structure changes in the kaolinite/TiO₂ composite and calcined kaolinite, the materials were evaluated using X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transformation. The processes of kaolinite dehydroxylation and metakaolinite formation were observed. Kaolinite is an appropriate carrier for composite preparation due to its stability even after its treatment at high temperatures. The experiments confirmed the TiO₂ nanoparticles to be very strongly bound to the kaolinite surface. On the other hand, the experiments demonstrated that the presence of TiO₂ on the kaolinite surface caused the release of Al in high concentrations to the final extracts, especially after kaolinite/TiO₂ composite calcination.     

Crystalline properties and decomposition kinetics of cellulose fibers in wood pulp obtained by two pulping processes

In this study two cellulose fibers, Eucalyptus grandis (CEG) and Pinus taeda (CPT), obtained through the kraft and sulfite pulping processes, respectively, were characterized. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out. From the XRD analysis the interplanar distance, crystallite size and crystallinity index were calculated and the degradation kinetics parameters were determined by TGA at heating rates of 5, 10, 20 and 40 °C min⁻¹ using the Avrami, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Criado methods. The results obtained by FTIR showed that the composition of the fibers is similar, while from the XRD analysis slight differences in the crystallinity were observed. The thermogravimetric analysis showed higher thermal stability for CPT than CEG while the values for the activation energy (E_a) were higher for CEG than CPT. The results obtained by Avrami and Criado methods showed that the degradation mechanism in the CEG samples involves a diffusion process while in the case of CPT the degradation process is a phase boundary controlled reaction. The degradation mechanisms demonstrated that the difference between thermal stability and E_a may be due to differences in the type of crystalline structure of the samples obtained through the two pulping processes.     

The investigation of methyl phenyl silicone resin/epoxy resin using epoxy-polysiloxane as compatibilizer

Styrene–butadiene rubber was subjected to long-term thermal aging treatment at 80 °C with aging period up to 180 days. The degradation kinetics of the aged sample was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis. Multiple heating rate experiments were carried out in nonisothermal conditions and three isoconversional model-free methods (Friedman; Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose; Li and Tang methods) were employed. The results showed that the temperature for 5 % mass loss increased, whereas the maximum mass loss temperature decreased after aging. Activation energies (E _a) derived from the three methods were found to be dependent on conversion degree (α). E _a increased with increasing α in the whole range of conversion for samples aged for 0, 60, and 120 days, while the aged samples displayed higher E _a values. However, samples aged for 180 days showed declining E _a versus α. The changes on the degradation kinetics were associated with the modification on the chemical structure after thermal aging.     

Influence of the Degree of Dehydroxylation of Kaolinite on the Properties of Aluminosilicate Glasses

The degree of dehydroxylation of kaolinite, D_TG and D_IR, respectively, is characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The relation between DTG and DIR based on the infrared absorptions at 3600–3700, 915, 810, and 540 cm⁻¹ is established. Three regions can clearly be distinguished: the dehydroxylation region (D_TG<0.9), the metakaolinite region (0.9<D_TG<1) and the ‘spinel’ region(D_TG=1). The effect of the degree of dehydroxylation of kaolinite on the amount of reactive material is measured by the reaction enthalpy, ΔH, of the low-temperature reaction of the dehydroxylated kaolinite with a potassium silicate solution using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). |ΔH| increases almost linearly with DTG in the dehydroxylation region. In the metakaolinite region, ΔH and thus the amount of reactive material, becomes constant. |ΔH| is sharply decreasing when metakaolinite transforms into other phases in the ‘spinel’ region. No significant differences in the reactivity of the dehydroxylates is detected with DSC. According to FTIR, the use of partially dehydroxylated kaolinite is not influencing the molecular structure of the low-temperature synthesized aluminosilicates, but residual kaolinite is retrieved as an additive. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of poly(vinyl alcohol)/kraft lignin derivative blends

A kraft lignin derivative (KLD) obtained by reaction with p-aminobenzoic acid/phthalic anhydride, was blended with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by solution casting from DMSO. PVA and PVA/KLD films were exposed to ultraviolet radiation (Hg lamp, 96 h) and analyzed by thermogravimetry (TG) in inert and oxidative atmosphere. Typical multi-step decomposition profiles were obtained. The apparent activation energy (E_a) of the thermal degradation of the samples was computed by the Vyazovkin method. The KLD degradation presented only small intervals of decomposition degree with constant E_a values. PVA and blends showed intervals of up to 50% in decomposition degree with nearly constant E_a, and smaller intervals in which E_a varies drastically. The influences of samples irradiation and of surrounding gas in TG analysis on E_a are also shown.     

Thermosetting polymers from epoxy resin and a Nickel catalyst of diethylenetriamine

The kinetics and mechanism of cure reaction of DGEBA using a chelate of Ni(II) with diethylenetriamine (dien), Ni(dien)₂I_2, as a curing agent was studied by DSC. TG curve of the complex curing agent showed mass loss in two region of temperature: 200–320 and 450–550 °C. Dynamic DSC measurements showed only one exothermic peak with a maximum about 250 °C depending on the heating rate. According to the methods of KAS and Ozawa–Flynn–Wall the values of E _a were 92.5 and 96.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The isoconversional kinetic analysis in whole range of conversion, α = 0.02–0.95, showed small changes in the E _a values in the region of α = 0.04–0.6 and most likely represent some average values (E _a = 110 kJ/mol) between the values of E _a of non-autocatalyzed and autocatalyzed reactions. Using the sole dependence of E _a on α, the time required to reach fully cured materials under isothermal conditions were also predicted and compared with the experimental results.     

Differentially heated capillary for thermal dissociation of noncovalently bound complexes produced by electrospray ionization

A heated capillary consisting of two independently heated segments is used to dissociate gas-phase complexes of peptides and β-cyclodextrin. By fixing the temperature in the first segment and varying it in the second segment, the complex is first desolvated and then dissociated. The results indicate that the complex is dissociated in the gas phase rather than in the solution phase of an intact droplet. The thermal dissociation profile, the dissociation temperature and apparent Arrhenius parameters E_a and A are obtained. These values are compared to E_a obtained from blackbody infrared radiation dissociation.     

Estimation of kinetic parameters for the phase change memory materials by DSC measurements

The non-isothermal method for estimating the kinetic parameters of crystallization for the phase change memory (PCM) materials was discussed. This method was applied to the perspective PCM material of Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ with different Bi contents (0, 0.5, 1, 3 mass%) for defining the kinetic triplet. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to carry out elemental and phase analysis of the deposited films. Differential scanning calorimetry at eight different heating rates was used to investigate kinetics of thermally induced transformations in materials. Dependences of activation energies of crystallization (E _a) on the degree of conversion were estimated by model-free Ozawa–Flynn–Wall, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, Tang and Starink methods. The obtained values of E _a were quite close for all of these methods. The reaction models of the phase transitions were derived with using of the model-fitting Coats–Redfern method. In order to find pre-exponential factor A at progressive conversion values, we used values of E _a already estimated by the model-free isoconversional method. It was established that the crystallization processes in thin films investigated are most likely describes by the second and third-order reactions models. Obtained kinetic triplet allowed predicting transition and storage times of the PCM cells. It was found that thin films of Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ + 0.5 mass% Bi composition can provide the switching time of the phase change memory cell less than 1 ns. At the same time, at room temperature this material has a maximum storage time among the studied compositions.     

Application of isoconversional calculation procedure to non-isothermal kinetics study

The kinetics of thermal decomposition of NH₄CuPO₄·H₂O was studied using isoconversional calculation procedure. The iterative isoconversional procedure was applied to estimate the apparent activation energy E _a; the values of apparent activation energies associated with the first stage (dehydration), the second stage (deamination), and the third stage(condensation) for the thermal decomposition of NH₄CuPO₄·H₂O were determined to be 117.7 ± 7.7, 167.9 ± 8.4, and 217.6 ± 45.5 kJ mol^?1, respectively, which demonstrate that the third stage is a kinetically complex process, and the first and second stages are single-step kinetic processes and can be described by a unique kinetic triplet [E _a, A, g(α)]. A new modified method of the multiple rate iso-temperature was used to define the most probable mechanism g(α) of the two stages; and reliability of the used method for the determination of the kinetic mechanism were tested by the comparison between experimental plot and model results for every heating rate. The results show that the mechanism functions of the two stages are reliable. The pre-exponential factor A of the two stages was obtained on the basis of E _a and g(α). Besides, the thermodynamic parameters (ΔS ^≠, ΔH ^≠, and ΔG ^≠) of the two stages were also calculated.     

The interrelation between transfer and relaxation processes in aqueous solutions of electrolytes and hydration numbers and activation energies of molecular motions

The influence of transfer processes and activation energies on the electrical conductivity and nuclear magnetic relaxation rate of a reference aqueous solution of KCl and sea water at 15°C was studied. The closest agreement between the calculated and experimental conductivity values was obtained with the coordination numbers n _S of the K⁺ and Cl^? ions equal to 4 and 1, respectively, and the activation energy close to E _a for vapor (3.38 kcal/mol). According to nuclear magnetic relaxation rate, viscosity, diffusion, and self-diffusion measurements, the n _S values of these ions are 8 and 4, respectively, and E _a ≈ 4.6 kcal/mol. The main reasons for the difference in the n _S and E _a values for transfer processes in aqueous solutions of strong electrolytes are discussed. The temperature and concentration dependences of NMR relaxation rates and the other parameters related to molecular mobility are best described by a function which is the sum of exponential functions whose number depends on solution concentration.     

Formate incorporation in the structure of Ca-deficient apatite: Rietveld structure refinement

Two sets of non-stoichiometric apatites (Ca-deficient apatites) were prepared from calcium phosphate solutions by homogeneous precipitation through the hydrolysis of formamide at 95°C. One set of products contained monetite (CaHPO₄) and apatite, whilst the second, with more formamide, contained only apatite. Rietveld whole pattern fitting structure refinements were undertaken on all samples, and chemical analyses, IR and NMR spectroscopy, on the second set of samples. The Ca/P mol ratio was 1.596. Rietveld analysis gave lattice parameters a=9.4729(20) and c=6.8855(9) Å and showed that Ca²⁺ ions were lost exclusively from Ca2 sites, and that the PO₄ tetrahedron volume and P-O bonds were 4.4% and 1.4% smaller, respectively, than in hydroxyapatite (OHAp). Formate, HCO₂⁻, was clearly visible in the IR and NMR spectra, but the diffraction studies showed it was not present as a separate crystalline phase. Chemical analysis gave 5.8 wt % formate. We propose that the enlarged a-axis compared with OHAp (a=9.4243(55) Å) and reduced PO₄ dimensions and P occupancy are, respectively, caused by the partial replacement of OH⁻ and PO₄³⁻ ions in the structure by HCO₂⁻ ions. These substitutions would parallel the similar known substitutions of CO₃²⁻ ions in precipitated carbonate apatites.     

Unexpected synthesis of a novel heterocyclic system – (7E,10aE)-2,7-Dimethylfuro[3′,4′:6,7]cycloocta[1,2,3-cd]indole-8,10(2H,6H)-dione

The first derivative of a novel heterocyclic system, (7E,10aE)-2,7-dimethylfuro[3′,4′:6,7]-cycloocta[1,2,3-cd]indole-8,10(2H,6H)-dione, was synthesized based on the Stobbe condensation of 3-chloro-1-methylindole-2-carbaldehyde with diethyl isopropylidenesuccinate. Cyclization of the 2-indolyl-containing diacid, formed by subsequent hydrolysis of the condensation product, did not lead to the expected fulgide, but rather to an unprecedented tetracyclic compound, the structure of which was established by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, IR spectroscopy, mass-spectrometry and single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Mechanism of dehydroxylation temperature decrease and high temperature phase transition of coal-bearing strata kaolinite intercalated by potassium acetate

The thermal decomposition and dehydroxylation process of coal-bearing strata kaolinite-potassium acetate intercalation complex (CSKK) has been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal analysis, mass spectrometric analysis and infrared emission spectroscopy. The XRD results showed that the potassium acetate (KAc) have been successfully intercalated into coal-bearing strata kaolinite with an obvious basal distance increase of the first basal peak, and the positive correlation was found between the concentration of intercalation regent KAc and the degree of intercalation. As the temperature of the system is raised, the formation of KHCO(3), KCO(3) and KAlSiO(4), which is derived from the thermal decomposition or phase transition of CSKK, is observed in sequence. The IR results showed that new bands appeared, the position and intensities shift can also be found when the concentration of intercalation agent is raised. The thermal analysis and mass spectrometric analysis results revealed that CSKK is stable below 300°C, and the thermal decomposition products (H(2)O and CO(2)) were further proved by the mass spectrometric analysis. A comparison of thermal analysis results of original coal-bearing strata kaolinite and its intercalation complex gives new discovery that not only a new mass loss peak is observed at 285 °C, but also the temperature of dehydroxylation and dehydration of coal bearing strata kaolinite is decreased about 100 °C. This is explained on the basis of the interlayer space of the kaolinite increased obviously after being intercalated by KAc, which led to the interlayer hydrogen bonds weakened, enables the dehydroxylation from kaolinite surface more easily. Furthermore, the possible structural model for CSKK has been proposed, with further analysis required in order to prove the most possible structures.     

Quantum chemical calculations of intracell potential profile in superionic transition range in LaF3

The results of quantum chemical calculations of the potential profile in the LaF₃ crystal lattice in the range of superionic phase transition are presented for clusters containing 24 to 1200 ions. It is found that the values of formation energy E _a of vacancy-interstitial fluoride ion defects and potential barriers E _d hindering the movement of fluoride ions and determining the efficiency of charge transport in the lattice grow monotonously from the minimum values E _a = 0.12 eV and E _d = 0.22 eV for a 24-ion cluster to the maximum E _a = 0.16 eV and E _d = 0.26 eV for clusters of 576 and 1200 ions. It is shown that the values of E _a and E _d obtained for the dielectric phase (T < T _c) are several times the values of E _a and E _d for the superionic state (T ≥ T _c) of LaF₃. The values of E _a and E _d obtained by quantum chemical calculations from clusters of 576 and 1200 ions agree well with energies E _a and E _d obtained from the analysis of the data of the Raman and quasielastic light scattering.     

Quantitative characteristics of structure inhomogeneity of water

Inhomogeneity of the local surroundings of molecules was studied for water models obtained by the molecular dynamic method. For all 3456 molecules in an independent unit cell, the volume of the Voronoi polyhedron (VVP) constructed around the oxygen atom, the tetrahedricity index (T), and the potential energy of the molecule (E _pot) were calculated. Based on the values of these parameters, the molecules were grouped into two classes. The first class included molecules for which this parameter was smaller than a certain critical value; the second included molecules for which the parameter exceeded the critical value. The critical value was chosen (for each configuration) such that each class contained exactly 50% of all molecules. Then it was investigated how many molecules belonged to each of these classes among the four nearest neighbors of the given sort. Deviation from the value obtained for random distribution of molecules of two sorts can serve as a measure of structure inhomogeneity, which shows itself as the tendency of a molecule to be surrounded by alike molecules. Since approximately half of all molecules are donors (and acceptors) for two hydrogen bonds at room temperature (a ₂ d ₂ type of coordination), a similar procedure is applicable to types of coordination of molecules. Molecules with a ₂ d ₂ coordination can be assigned to one class, while all other molecules can be considered as belonging to the other. Inhomogeneity of structure is most conspicuous for distribution of molecules with low and high values of the VVP (this is especially true of the surroundings of molecules with small values of VVP). The environment of molecules with high values of E _pot and of molecules with surroundings other than a ₂ d ₂ is nearly random.     

The Structure and Properties of Phenol-2,4-disulfonic Acid Dihydrate

The crystal and molecular structure of phenol-2,4-disulfonic acid dihydrate was determined by X-ray structure analysis. All hydrogen positions in the crystal structure were found using difference Fourier syntheses. Oxonium cations and acid anions were linked in the crystal structure by short H-bonds, and the phenol OH group participated in two weak H-bonds with sulfo group oxygens simultaneously. The IR frequency corresponding to ν_{s, as} (H₃O⁺) vibrations decreased to 2700 cm^?1 under the influence of short H-bonds between oxonium cations and anions. The contour of the corresponding absorption band became anomalously broad. A discrete maximum was observed at 3412 cm^?1 on the high-frequency wing of this band; this maximum was assigned to OH stretching vibrations of the phenol group. The protonic conductivity of the compound measured by impedance spectroscopy was 2.5 × 10^?6 Ω^?1 cm^?1 at 298 K in a vacuum, E _a = 0.37 ± 0.01 eV. An increase in the humidity of the environment to 15% at room temperature increased conductivity from 10^?6 to 10^?5 Ω^?1 cm^?1, E _a = 0.27 ± 0.02 eV.     

Potential use of the activation energy value calculated from the thermoluminescence glow curves to detect irradiated food

We herein report on the calculation of the activation energy (E _a) from the thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves performed by the initial rise method that allows us to discriminate between irradiated and non-irradiated sesame seeds. E _a values of natural TL (0.68 ± 0.03 eV) and gamma-induced TL (never lower than 0.82 ± 0.02 eV) appear as a complementary criterion to be used differentiating between irradiated and non-irradiated foodstuffs with the position and the intensity of the main peak of the TL emission. In addition, E _a values taken from irradiated sesame samples at different doses (1, 5 and 10 kGy) and stored up to 15 months after being processed were compared to a ‘positive’ Spanish blend (i.e. at least one component was commercially irradiated).     

Determination of the kinetic parameters for the electrothermal atomization of gold with and without chemical modifiers

The effect of various experimental parameters and the presence of chemical modifiers on the atomization kinetics of gold have been investigated. The dissipation process of the atomic vapour is also studied and the diffusion parameters calculated in the absence and in the presence of chemical modifiers. The chemical modifiers studied are ascorbic acid, rhenium, palladium and rhodium. In the absence of chemical modifiers, a two-precursor atomization mechanism is observed in distinctive different temperature regions. When a long pyrolysis step and low masses of gold are employed, an atomization from dispersed particles with low E_a value is observed in the low temperature region (LT region). At high masses of gold, a fractional order atomization from gold agglomerates with high, mass-dependent, E_a values, approaching the heat of vaporization, ΔH_vap, is observed in the high temperature region (HT region). In the presence of ascorbic acid, a high E_a value is obtained in the LT region, suggesting a fast atomization from surface particles at the active sites produced by the pyrolysis of ascorbic acid and a low E_a value is obtained in the HT region, with first-order kinetics, which indicates a desorption process through the micropores of the amorphous carbon residue of ascorbic acid. In the presence of 5 μg Re, a two-precursor mechanism is also found, with a high E_a value in the LT region, suggesting vaporization from small clusters, and a low E_a value in the HT region with a first-order kinetics, indicating vaporization of disperse particles from the graphite surface. In the presence of 0.1–1 μg Pd, a two-precursor mechanism is also observed. The first process, in the LT region, has a low E_a value, which indicates vaporization of disperse particles from the available free active sites of the graphite surface. The second process, in the HT region, begins at the appearance temperature of Pd and shows a high E_a value and first-order kinetics, which means that release of gold atoms occurs only after the vaporization of Pd has begun. In the presence of Rh, a mass-dependent E_a value is found in the LT region, suggesting atomization from gold clusters. However, in the HT region, the generation of atomic vapour of Au is kinetically controlled by the release of the Rh modifier.     

Thermal,spectroscopic and XRD studies on nitroaminoguanidine (NAG)

Nitroaminoguanidine (NAG) has been investigated as regards its thermal decomposition characteristics using simultaneous thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and polarising microscopy. XRD studies show thatNAG crystal belongs to the tetragonal system. The crystal structure parameters are found to be:a=17.063±0.005Å,b=17.063±0.005Å,c=5.155±0.005Å andc/a axial ratio=0.302. Under non-isothermal conditions,NAG decomposed apparently in one stage with a loss in weight of 80%. But the thermal decomposition ofNAG in the solid phase under isothermal conditions proceeded through three stages. Both the first and the second stages obeyed theA-E (Avrami Erofee'v) equation forn=1. The 3rd stage is too slow and kinetics has not been attempted. The rate parameters for the first and second stages have been evaluated. Gaseous decomposition products detected using the IR gas cell are NH₃, NO₂, HCN, N₂O, CO and CO₂. High temperature IR studies indicate preferential deamination reaction initially indicating breaking of N?NH₂ and C?NH₂ bonds leading to NH₂ radical formation. Addition of diphenylamine, a known chain inhibitor, decelerated the thermal decomposition, supporting a radical chain reaction.