Thermal properties and kinetics of new-generation posterior bulk fill composite cured light-emitting diodes

In this study, the thermal behavior in terms of glass transition (T _g), degradation, and thermal stability of four commercial new-generation posterior bulk fill composites (Surefill SDR, Dentsply; Quixfill, Dentsply; Xtrabase, Voco; and Xtrafill, Voco) activated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The activation energies (E _a) for the decomposition of the dental resins were calculated based on the Kissinger and Doyle kinetic models from the peaks of the endothermic curves obtained when the specimens were heated at four different temperatures (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1) during DSC. The results show that the Xtrabase composite displayed the highest T _g (120 °C at a 5 °C min^?1 heating rate) and E _a (157.64 kJ mol^?1) values associated with thermal degradation from the main chain of the polymer.     

Thermal analysis kinetics of thermal decomposition of nickel–viscose composite fiber

In this study, the thermal decompositions of nickel composite fibers (NCF) under different atmospheres of flowing nitrogen and air were investigated by XRD, SEM–EDS, and TG–DTG techniques. Non-isothermal studies indicated that only one mass loss stage occurred over the temperature regions of 298–1,073 K in nitrogen. The mass loss was from the decomposition. But after this decomposition, nickel was oxidized in air, when the temperature was high enough. In nitrogen media, the model-free kinetic analysis method was applied to calculate the apparent activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential factor (A). The method combining Satava–?esták equation with one TG curve was used to select the suitable mechanism functions from 30 typical kinetic models. Furthermore, the Coats–Redfern method was used to study the NCF decomposition kinetics. The study results showed that the decomposition of NCF in nitrogen media was controlled by three-dimension diffusion; mechanism function was the anti-Jander equation, the apparent activation energy (E _a) and the pre-exponential factor (A) were 172.3 kJ mol^?1 and 2.16 × 10⁹ s^?1, respectively. The kinetic equation could be expressed as following: $$ \frac{{{\text{d}}\alpha }}{{{\text{d}}T}} = \frac{{ 2. 1 6\times 1 0^{ 9} }}{\beta }{ \exp }\left( {\frac{ - 2 0 7 2 4. 1}{T}} \right)\left\{ {\frac{ 3}{ 2}(1 + \alpha )^{2/3} [(1 + \alpha )^{1/3} - 1]^{ - 1} } \right\}. $$      

Thermal degradation of hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan–Cd complexes

Thermal degradation of hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan–Cd complexes (HTCC–Cd) was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicate that the degradation of HTCC–Cd in nitrogen atmosphere was two-step reaction. For the first step of degradation, the initial temperature of mass loss (T ₀), the final temperature of mass loss (T _f), and the temperature of maximum mass loss (T _p) increase linearly with the rising of heating rate (B). T _o = 1.241B + 220.3, T _p = 1.111B + 245.8, and T _f = 1.335B + 358.2. Using different methods, the kinetic parameters of the two steps were investigated. The results show that the activation energies of the first step of degradation obtained using Friedman and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods are 1.684 × 10⁵ and 1.646 × 10⁵ J mol^?1, and the corresponding activation energies for the second step are 1.165 × 10⁵ J mol^?1 and 1.373 × 10⁵ kJ mol^?1. The results obtained from Phadnis–Deshpande methods indicate that the two degradation processes are both nucleation and growth process, and follow A₄ mechanism with intergral form g(X) = [?ln(1 ? X)]⁴.     

Investigations and molecular modeling of some thermophysical properties of polysulfones

Degradation of commercial polysulfones (PSF) was investigated in air and in inert atmosphere (nitrogen) using thermogravimetric (TG) method. It has been found that the degradation of Udel P-1800 PSF is initiated about 400°C, both in air and in nitrogen. The activation energy of degradation of PSF, (E _a), has been calculated by the Kissinger and Ozawa methods. The value ofE _a about 200 kJ·mol^?1 has been found for both air and nitrogen atmosphere. Experimental results concerning thermal properties of PSF (T _g andT _d,1/2) were compared with those obtained by the computer modeling technique, and a good agreement has been found.     

Synthesis, structure analysis and thermodynamics of [Ni(H2O)4(TO)2](NO3)2·2H2O (TO = 1,2,4-triazole-5-one)

A novel complex [Ni(H₂O)₄(TO)₂](NO₃)₂·2H₂O (TO = 1,2,4-triazole-5-one) was synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystal diffraction analysis. The decomposition reaction kinetic of the complex was studied using TG-DTG. A multiple heating rate method was utilized to determine the apparent activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential constant (A) of the former two decomposition stages, and the values are 109.2 kJ mol^?1, 10^13.80 s^?1; 108.0 kJ mol^?1, 10^23.23 s^?1, respectively. The critical temperature of thermal explosion, the entropy of activation (ΔS ^≠), enthalpy of activation (ΔH ^≠) and the free energy of activation (ΔG ^≠) of the initial two decomposition stages of the complex were also calculated. The standard enthalpy of formation of the new complex was determined as being ?1464.55 ± 1.70 kJ mol^?1 by a rotating-bomb calorimeter.     

Dehydration characteristics of struvite-K pertaining to magnesium potassium phosphate cement system in non-isothermal condition

Struvite-K (KMgPO₄·6H₂O) is the main hydration product of magnesium potassium phosphate cement. Its thermal stability is critical to the properties of magnesium potassium phosphate cement. Therefore, in this study, the dehydration behavior of struvite-K was investigated at N₂ atmosphere in non-isothermal condition. The process was conducted and controlled in a simultaneous TG/DTA analyzer, at heating rates of 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 K min^?1. The residual mass was always around 58.5% of the initial one, regardless of the heating rate, which corresponds to the dehydration reaction through one step, KMgPO₄·6H₂O → KMgPO₄. The activation energy (E _a) corresponding to the dehydration of struvite-K was evaluated by non-isothermal kinetic analysis based on the application of isoconversional methods (Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose methods). The calculated results show that Flynn–Wall–Ozawa has slightly higher values of activation energy (E _a) and correlation coefficients (R ²). Both methods have been proved to be suitable for analyzing dehydration behavior of struvite-K.     

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.     

Pyrolysis kinetics of elephant grass pretreated biomasses

The Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) was pretreated by two independent processes, through washing with hot water (W-EG) and acid solution (AW-EG) to improve its energy properties to apply it in a thermochemical process conversion into fuel. The biomasses were analyzed by proximate and ultimate analysis; and the pyrolysis kinetics, before and after pretreatments, were evaluated by the apparent activation energy (E _a) for decomposition in the temperature range of greater volatile matter through the Model-free kinetics using thermogravimetric analysis data. The kinetics of the microcrystalline cellulose Avicel PH-101 was performed to evaluate the E _a result of pure cellulose. The pretreatments were efficient in increasing the volatile matter and heating value, decreasing moisture and ash content, and improving its energetic power to the application in fast pyrolysis process for bio-oil production. The TG results have shown that the reduction in ash content facilitates the pyrolysis process, increasing the volatile matter and decreasing the apparent activation energy required to biomasses degradation, due to less diffusional resistances to heat and mass transfer of W-EG and AW-EG. The Avicel PH-101 showed the highest value of apparent activated energy (E _a = 276.2 kJ mol^?1) which could be explained by its crystallinity, suggesting that crystalline cellulose regions are less accessible to heat diffusion than amorphous regions, requiring more energy to its degradation.     

Growth,structural, crystallisation,thermal decomposition and dielectric behaviour of melaminium bis(hydrogen oxalate) single crystal

Single crystals of melaminium bis (hydrogen oxalate) (MOX) single crystals have been grown from aqueous solution by slow solvent evaporation method at room temperature. X-ray powder diffraction analysis confirms that MOX crystallises in monoclinic system with space group C2/c. The calculated lattice parameters are a = 20.075 ± 0.123 Å b = 8.477 ± 0.045 Å, c = 6.983 ± 0.015 Å, α = 90°, β = 102.6 ± 0.33°, γ = 90° and V = 1,159.73 (Å)³. Thermogravimetric analysis at three different heating rates 10, 15 and 20 °C min^?1 has been done to study the thermal decomposition behaviour of the crystal. Non-isothermal studies on MOX reveal that the decomposition occurs in two stages. Kinetic parameters [effective activation energy (E _a), pre-exponential factor (ln A)] of each stage were calculated by model-free method: Kissinger, Kim–Park and Flynn–Wall method and the results are discussed. A significant variation in effective activation energy (E _a) with conversion progress (α) indicates that the process is kinetically complex. The linear relationship between the ln A and E _a was established (compensation effect). DTA analyses were conducted at different heating rates and the activation energy was determined graphically from Kissinger and Ozawa equation. The average effective activation energy is calculated as 276 kJ mol^?1 for the crystallization peak. The Avrami exponent for the crystallization peak temperature determined by Augis and Bennett method is found to be 1.95. This result indicates that the surface crystallization dominates overall crystallization. Dielectric study has also been done, and it is found that both dielectric constant and dielectric loss decreases with increase in frequency and is almost a constant at high frequency region.     

Synthesis,thermal decomposition and dielectric behavior of bis(thiourea)silver(I)nitrate

New semi-organic bis(thiourea)silver(I)nitrate (TuAgN) single crystals have been grown from slow evaporation solution growth technique. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study reveals that the crystal belongs to orthorhombic system with the non-centrosymmetric space group C2221 and the calculated cell parameters are a = 33.3455 (6) Å, b = 45.2957 (7) Å, c = 20.3209 (5) Å, α = β = γ = 90°, and V = 30692.8 (10) Å ³. The thermal stability and decomposition behavior of TuAgN compound have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis at three different heating rates 5, 10, and 15 °C min^?1. The effective activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential factor (ln A) of thermal decomposition of thiourea from TuAgN compound at three different heating rates are estimated by model free methods: Arrhenius, Flynn–Wall, Kissinger, and Kim–Park. The calculated effective activation energies were found to vary with the fraction (α) reacted. The compensation effect between the (ln A) and (E _a) has also been studied. Dielectric properties of TuAgN crystal have been studied in a wide range of frequencies and temperatures. AC conductivity has also been carried out.     

Influence of annealing temperature on microstructural and electrochemical properties of rf-sputtered LiMn2O4 film cathodes

The microstructural and electrochemical properties of rf-sputtered LiMn₂O₄ films were investigated as a function of post-deposition process. The degree of crystallization in the films gradually increased with the increase of annealing temperature (T _a). The films annealed at T _a?=?973 K exhibited characteristic peaks with predominant (111) orientation representing the cubic spinel structure of Fd3m symmetry. The estimated Mn–Mn and Mn–O distances obtained from the X-ray diffraction data were observed to be increased slightly with T _a. Characteristic changes in surface morphological features were observed as a function of T _a as evidenced from scanning electron microscopy. The estimated root mean square (RMS) roughness of the films increased from 97 to 161 nm with augmentation of T _a. The electrochemical studies, viz. cyclic voltammetry (CV), specific discharge capacity and Li ion diffusion coefficient were carried out for annealed LiMn₂O₄ films in saturated aqueous electrolyte (Li₂SO₄) in the potential window of 0–1.2 V and correlated with surface morphology and grain size. The LiMn₂O₄ films annealed at T _a?=?973 K exhibited better electrochemical performance and demonstrated a discharge capacity of about 53.5 μA h cm^?2 μm^?1 with diffusion coefficient of 1.2?×?10^?13 cm² s^?1.     

Kinetic study of the thermal and thermo-oxidative degradations of polylactide-modified films for food packaging

In this study, the thermal degradations of some commercial polylactide (PLA) films, pure and subjected to various superficial treatments, were investigated in both inert (flowing nitrogen) and oxidative (static air) atmospheres. Degradations were carried out in a thermobalance, in the scanning mode, at various heating rates, and the obtained thermogravimetric curves were discussed and interpreted. Experiments, performed in the temperature range of 35–700 °C, showed similar behavior in both the atmospheres used. The initial decomposition temperature (T _i) and the apparent activation energy (E _a) of degradation of the differently treated PLA films were determined and compared with each other and with those of untreated PLA. The E _a of degradation was obtained by Kissinger’s method, and the values were found increased linearly as a function of crystallinity percentage (%c) as well as the T _i values. The glass transition temperature (T _g) was also determined by differential scanning calorimetry. All the investigated parameters showed dependence on different treatments made to the films. The results obtained for the degradations of PLA films were compared with each other, and a classification of thermal stability in the studied environments were made.     

Thermal study on decomposition of LiBH4 at non-isothermal and non-equilibrium conditions

Thermal decomposition measurements for lithium borohydride (LiBH₄) are performed at non-isothermal and non-equilibrium conditions by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA). A simplified alternative procedure is introduced for evaluating thermodynamic and kinetic parameters simultaneously using a single set of measurements. Rate constant (k) and enthalpy (ΔH = ?102.1 ± 0.7 kJ mol^?1 LiBH₄) are archived. Temperature dependence for activation energy (E _a) is found taking advantage of Guggenheim–Arrhenius method; the mean activation energy is $ \overline{E}_{a} $  93.9 ± 0.9 kJ mol^?1 LiBH₄ in the range of heating rate β 1–50 K min^?1.     

Reactions of the HO2 radical with OH,H, Fe2+ and Cu2+ at elevated temperatures

The temperature dependence of the rate constant for the reactions of HO₂ with OH, H, Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺ has been determined using pulse radiolysis technique. The following rate constants, k (dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) at 20°C and activation energies, E_a (kJ mol⁻¹) have been found. The reaction with OH was studied in the temperature range 20–296°C (k=7.0×10⁹, E_a=7.4) and the reaction with H in the temperature range 5–149°C (k=8.5×10⁹, E_a=17.5). The reaction with Fe²⁺ was studied in the temperature range 16–118°C (k=7.9×10⁵, E_a=36.8) and the reaction with Cu²⁺ in the temperature range 17–211°C (k=1.1×10⁸, E_a=14.9).     

Study of the thermal decomposition of cellulose-hyphan and its complexes with some transition and indium metal ions

The studied complexes formed by the chelating ion exchanger were characterized by reflectance and infrared spectrometry. The thermal degradation of pure cellulose-hyphan (CH) and its complexes with Hg²⁺, In³⁺, Cr³⁺, Mo⁴⁺ and Mn²⁺ under an atmosphere of air has been studied using thermal gravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTG). The results showed that four different stages are accompanying the decomposition of (CH) and its complexes with the studied metals. These stages were found to be affected by the presence of the investigated metal ions. On the bases of the applicability of a non-isothermal kinetic equation it was found to be a first-order reaction with the rate of degradation,k, ranging from 8.3·10^?5 to 6.2·10^?3 for (CH) and from 1.7·10^?5 to 6.6·10^?3 s^?1 for its complexes. The activation energy,E _a, the entropy change, ΔS°, the enthalpy change, ΔH° and Gibbs free energy, ΔG° are calculated by applying the rate theory of the first-order reaction. The effect of the different central metal ions on the calculated thermodynamic parameters is discussed.     

Theoretical study on the isomerization and tautomerism in barbituric acid

Isomerization and tautomerism of 16 isomers of barbituric acid (BA) were studied at the MP2 and B3LYP levels of theory. Activation energies (E _a), imaginary frequencies (υ), and Gibbs free energies (ΔG ^#) of the amine-imine and keto-enol tautomerisms and O–H internal rotations were calculated. The activation energies of amine-imine tautomerisms were in the range of 110–200 kJ/mol and for keto-enol tautomerisms were larger than 200 kJ/mol. The calculated activation energies of internal O–H rotations were smaller than 60 kJ/mol. Effect of micro-hydration on the transition state structures and activation energies of the tautomerisms were also investigated. Water molecule catalyzed the tautomerisms and decreased the activation energies of both the amine-imine and keto-enol tautomerisms about 100–120 kJ/mol.     

Theoretical study of spin–orbit coupling and kinetics in spin-forbidden reaction between Ta(NH2)3 and N2O

The activation mechanism of the nitrous oxide (N₂O) with the Ta(NH₂)₃ complex on the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces has been investigated using the hybrid exchange correlation functional B3LYP. The minimum energy crossing point (MECP) is located by using the methods of Harvey et al. The rate-determining step of the N–O activation reaction is the intersystem crossing from ¹ 2 to ³ 2. The reacting system will change its spin multiplicities from the singlet state to the triplet state near MECP-1, which takes place with a spin crossing barrier of 32.5 kcal mol^?1, and then move on the triplet potential energy surface as the reaction proceeds. Analysis of spin–orbit coupling (SOC) using localized orbitals shows that MECP-1 will produce the significant SOC matrix element, the value of SOC is 272.46 cm^?1, due to the electron shift between two perpendicular π orbitals with the same rotation direction and the contribution from heavy atom Ta. The rate coefficients are calculated using Non-adiabatic Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM). Results indicate that the coefficients, k(E), are exceedingly high, k(E) > 10¹² s^?1, for energies above the intersystem crossing barrier (32.5 kcal mol^?1); however, in the lower temperature range of 200–600 K, the intersystem crossing is very slow, k(T) < 10^?6 s^?1.     

Structural and electrical properties of chemical solution deposited (Bi0.9Tb0.1)(Fe0.975 TM 0.025)O3±δ (TM = Ni, Mn and Ti) thin films

Effects of Tb and transition metal (TM = Ni, Mn and Ti) ions co-doping on the structural, electrical and ferroelectric properties of the BiFeO₃ thin films prepared by using a chemical solution deposition method were reported. From X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering analyses, distorted rhombohedral perovskite structures were observed for all thin films. Improved electrical and ferroelectric properties were observed for the co-doped thin films. Among the thin films, the lowest leakage current density of 2.67 × 10^?6 A/cm² (at 100 kV/cm), large remnant polarization (2P _r ) of 82.2 μC/cm² and low coercive field (2E_c) of 680 kV/cm (at 1,036 kV/cm) were measured for the (Tb, Mn) co-doped thin film.     

A study of non-isothermal kinetics of limestone decomposition in air (O2/N2) and oxy-fuel (O2/CO2) atmospheres

The non-isothermal experiments of limestone decomposition at multi-heating rates in O₂/N₂ and O₂/CO₂ atmospheres were studied using thermogravimetry. The limestone decomposition kinetic model function, kinetic parameters of apparent activation energy (E), and pre-exponential factor (A) were evaluated by Bagchi and Malek method. The results shown that in 20 % O₂/80 % N₂ atmosphere, the limestone decomposed slowly following the contracting sphere volume model controlled by boundary reaction (spherical symmetry) in two stages, and the E increased by about 50 kJ mol^?1 in the second decomposition stage. But in 20 % O₂/80 % CO₂ atmosphere, the presence of high-concentration CO₂ significantly inhibited the limestone decomposition, and made the decomposition process occur at high temperature with a rapid rate; the decomposition kinetics was divided into three stages, the first stage was an accelerated decomposition process following the Mampel Power law model with the exponential law equation, the second stage followed the nth order chemical reaction model as an α–t deceleration process, and the third stage belonged to the random nucleation and nuclei growth model with the Avrami–Erofeev equation. And with the heating rate increasing, the reaction order n showed a slight rise tendency. The E was about 1,245 kJ mol^?1 in 20 % O₂/80 % CO₂ atmosphere, but was only about 175 kJ mol^?1 in 20 % O₂/80 % N₂ atmosphere. The E and A increased markedly in the O₂/CO₂ atmosphere.     

Effect of nanosilica on thermal oxidative degradation of SBR

The effect of silica content on thermal oxidative stability of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR)/silica composites has been studied. Morphologies of silica in SBR with different contents are investigated by scanning electron microscopy, which indicates that silica can well disperse in SBR matrix below the content of 40 %, otherwise aggregates or agglomerates will generate. Composites with around 40 % silica content show excellent mechanical properties and retention ratios after aging at 85 °C for 6 days. The values of activation energy (E _a) of pure SBR and its composites are calculated by Kissinger and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods based on thermogravimetric (TG) results, which suggests that composite with about 20 % silica has minimum E _a, and composite with 30–40 % silica has maximum E _a. According to TG curves, it is found that silica can suppress the formation of char leading to decline in stability to some extent. On the other side, silica also has positive effect on improving thermal stability of the matrix as filler. Thus, the SBR/silica composites with silica content of 30–40 % can possess both excellent resistance to thermal oxidative degradation and superior mechanical properties.