Structural and thermal interpretation of the synergy and interactions between the fire retardants magnesium hydroxide and zinc borate

The mechanism of cooperative action of commercial fire retardants is interpreted as resulting from specific chemical reaction and phase changes. This investigation focuses on the thermally initiated interactions between two forms of commercially available fire retardant compounds. The fire performance of a polyolefin with a metal hydroxide fire retardant, magnesium hydroxide, can significantly reduce the heat release rate through absorption of heat during conversion to its metal oxide. Formation of water, followed by vaporisation, decreases heat and dilutes volatiles from polymer degradation. The second form of fire retardant compounds are zinc borates (2ZnO·3B₂O₃·3H₂O and 4ZnO·B₂O₃·H₂O), that undergo dehydration with increasing temperature. Differential thermal analysis and wide-angle X-ray spectroscopy indicated that various structural changes occurred during heating. Endothermic transitions were observed for all components, while zinc borate (2ZnO·3B₂O₃·3H₂O) showed an exothermic crystallisation transition at relatively high temperature. The exotherm was modified by the development of a new crystalline phase, magnesium orthoborate (3MgO·B₂O₃) that formed on reaction with magnesium oxide (MgO) at temperatures greater than 500 °C. Formation of crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) was also detected. From zinc borate (4ZnO·B₂O₃·H₂O), ZnO was primarily formed. No new crystalline phases were observed in the presence of MgO over the temperature range investigated.     

Reduced curing kinetic energy and enhanced thermal resistance of phthalonitrile resins modified with inorganic particles

The effects of inorganic particles such as Al₂O₃ and B₄C on the solidification kinetics and heat resistance of phthalonitrile resin were investigated. The properties of the blends and the cured products were tested by rheometer, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results revealed that B₄C and Al₂O₃ inorganic particles could prolong the gel time of phthalonitrile resin and broaden the processing window. The curing kinetic analysis showed that the presence of the particles could significantly reduce the curing activation energy of phthalonitrile resins by 72.38 kJ/mol down to 43.03 kJ/mol. Meanwhile, the heat resistance of the phthalonitrile resin was improved. Among them, the blend system combined with 30% B₄C showed prominent thermoresistance. And while the T_d5% weight loss temperature was 600°C, char yield at 1000°C was higher than 86% under nitrogen atmosphere; while the T_d5% weight loss temperature was 581°C, char yield at 1000°C was higher than 80% under air atmosphere. Hence, the resulting resins were good candidate matrix of high‐temperature structural composites.     

Heat Capacities and Thermodynamic Properties of a H2O + Li2B4O7 Solution in the Temperature Range from 80 to 356 K

The molar heat capacities of an aqueous Li₂B₄O₇ solution were measured with a precision automated adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range from 80 to 356 K at a concentration of 0.3492 mol⋅kg⁻¹. The occurrence of a phase transition was determined based on the changes in the curve of the heat capacity with temperature. A phase transition was observed at 271.72 K corresponding to the solid-liquid phase transition; the enthalpy and entropy of the phase transition were evaluated to be Δ H _m = 4.110 kJ⋅mol⁻¹ and Δ S _m = 15.13 J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹, respectively. Using polynomial equations and thermodynamic relationship, the thermodynamic functions [H _T −H _298.15] and [S _T −S _298.15] of the aqueous Li₂B₄O₇ solution relative to 298.15 K were calculated in temperature range 80 to 355 K at intervals of 5 K. Values of the relative apparent molar heat capacities of the aqueous Li₂B₄O₇ solution, C _p,φ, were calculated at every 5 K in temperature range from 80 to 355 K from the experimental heat capacities of the solution and the heat capacities of pure water.     

Thermodynamics of CoAl2O4-CoGa2O4 solid solutions

CoAl₂O₄, CoGa₂O₄, and their solid solution Co(Ga_zAl_1−z)₂O₄ have been studied using high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry in molten 2PbO·B₂O₃ at 973 K. There is an approximately linear correlation between lattice parameters, enthalpy of formation from oxides, and the Ga content. The experimental enthalpy of mixing is zero within experimental error. The cation distribution parameters are calculated using the O’Neill and Navrotsky thermodynamic model. The enthalpies of mixing calculated from these parameters are small and consistent with the calorimetric data. The entropies of mixing are calculated from site occupancies and compared to those for a random mixture of Ga and Al ions on octahedral site with all Co tetrahedral and for a completely random mixture of all cations on both sites. Despite a zero heat of mixing, the solid solution is not ideal in that activities do not obey Raoult's Law because of the more complex entropy of mixing.     

Effect of hydration andpH on the thermal stability of proteinase K

The effect of hydration andpH on the thermal stability of proteinase K was studied in the temperature range 310–450 K by differential scanning calorimetry. The dependences of the denaturation temperatureT _d, the specific enthalpy of denaturation H _d and the maximum of excess apparent specific heat capacityC _ex ^max upon the degree of hydrationh and thepH of the buffers used are presented. The relation betweenT _d andh is of the Flory-Garrett's type. By means of Ooi's model, the two components of the denaturation enthalpy arising from hydration and conformational change, respectively, were estimated. The fact that the specific denaturation enthalpy of proteinase K is very low may be attributed to its very low enthalpy of conformational change per heavy atom.Dedicated to Prof. Menachem Steinberg on the occasion of his 65th birthdayThis major project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Preparation and microstructure study of borosilicate coatings produced by sol-gel

Borosilicate coatings in the systems (100–x)SiO₂–xB₂O₃ (x=20, 30) and 75SiO₂-20B₂O₃-5Na₂O have been obtained using the dip-coating procedure. Stable solutions were prepared from TEOS and trimethylborate, H₂O/TEOS ratios being changed from 2 to 6. Sodium acetate in aqueous solution was used as Na₂O precursor. Coatings were prepared in an airtight glove-chamber with humidity and temperature control. Good and transparent films were obtained only for RH<20%. Microstructure evolution and phase separation phenomena were investigated by TEM studying their dependence on the water content of the solution, temperature and time of the heat treatment and thickness of the coatings. A comparison with similar melted glasses and bulk glasses prepared by sol-gel has been also established.     

Study on oxidative degradation behaviors of polyesterurethane network

In this study H₂O₂/CoCl₂ system was used as an oxidative environment to investigate the in vitro degradation behavior of a crosslinked polyesterurethane network. Weight loss, water absorption, mechanical properties, swelling degree and gel content were determined as a function of degradation time. The results showed that the H₂O₂/CoCl₂ system could effectively accelerate the degradation of the polyurethanes. The samples had almost completely degraded after 84 days of incubation in a 3% H₂O₂/2% CoCl₂ solution at 37 °C. The weight loss process could be approximately divided into three major phases: the weight decreased slowly during an induction phase (1), which was followed by a phase characterized by accelerated weight loss (2), and finally by a phase showing slow linear weight loss until complete erosion (3). The attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra of degraded polyurethane networks showed that the polyurethane underwent chain scission of the copolyester segment chains, and the joints of copolyester and 2,2,4- and 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene during degradation in the oxidative environment. The glass transition temperature of degraded polyesterurethane networks decreased significantly with increasing degradation time. From these results the H₂O₂/CoCl₂ system can be used as an oxidative condition to evaluate the in vitro degradability of polyesterurethane.     

Hydration heat capacities of hydrophobic solutes at 248–373 K

A new equation is suggested to define the temperature dependence of the Gibbs energy of hydration of hydrophobic substances: ΔG ⁰ = b ₀ + b ₁ T + b ₂lnT. According to this equation, the hydration heat capacity is in inverse proportion to temperature. Consistent values of hydration heat capacity of nonpolar solutes have been obtained for different temperatures using data on solubility and dissolution enthalpy. The contributions of the hydrocarbon radicals and OH group to the heat capacity of hydration of the compounds were found for the temperature range 248–373 K. The hydration heat capacity of the hydroxyl group has a weak dependence on temperature and increases by only 12 J/(mol·K) in the specified temperature interval. Changes in the hydration entropy of hydrophobic and OH groups are calculated for the temperature increasing from 248 K to 373 K.     

Combined DTA and XRD Study of Sintering Steps Towards YAl3(BO3)4

Sintering processes in the Y₂O₃–Al₂O₃–B₂ O₃ system and its subsystems (Y₂O₃–B₂O₃ and Al₂ O₃–B₂O₃) have been investigated by using combined DTA and XRD measurements to get a better understanding of solid state chemical changes resulting in the formation of yttrium aluminum borate (YAl₃(BO₃)₄, YAB) phase and to study the possible role and contribution of various simple borates formed also in the former processes. Two new exothermic heat effects of YBO₃ formation have been detected by DTA in the Y₂O₃–B₂O₃ system between 720 and 980°C. In the Al₂O₃–B₂O₃ system a new experimental XRD profile of Al₄B₂O₉ was observed. Formation of these borates seems to promote the nucleation of double borate YAB below 1000°C. Conversion of Al₄B₂O₉ to Al₁₈B₄ O₃₃ was observed after a long term (10 h) sintering at 1050°C. Similarly, an increased formation of YAB has been observed as a product of the sintering reaction between YBO₃ and Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ at 1150°C. The two latter single borates are found to be identical with the high temperature decomposition products of YAB. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Enthalpies of reaction of calcium chloride and sodium oxalate in an aqueous NaCl solution

The heats of mixing of dilute aqueous solutions of calcium chloride and sodium oxalate with additions of 1–5 wt % NaCl at 298.15 K and the heats of dilution of calcium chloride solutions were measured. Increasing the sodium chloride content in a solution noticeably increases the time of precipitation of calcium oxalate. A fine precipitate of CaC₂O₄ formed in solutions containing 3 and 5 wt % NaCl is difficult to remove from the parts of a calorimeter cell. The enthalpies of precipitation of CaC₂O₄ depend slightly on the content of the “background electrolyte,” whereas the enthalpies of dilution, owing to ion association, significantly decrease in magnitude and become positive in a 5% NaCl solution. The “standard” enthalpy of precipitation in water, determined by extrapolation of the experimental values to the zero concentration of the background electrolyte, differs noticeably from the enthalpy of precipitation in water.     

Low temperature heat capacity of the system “silica gel–calcium chloride–water”

Heat capacity was measured for two composite systems based on silica gel KSK and calcium chloride confined to its pores. One corresponds to an anhydrous state, while another contains water bound with the salt to give the composition of CaCl₂·2.04H₂O. The measurements were performed in the temperature range of 6–300 K with a vacuum adiabatic calorimeter. The smoothed experimental curves C _p (T) were used for calculating the calorimetric entropy and the enthalpy increment for both studied systems as well as the effective heat capacity associated only with water in the hydrated composite. The heat capacities C _p (298.15 K) of both composites were compared with those calculated as a linear addition of the heat capacities of silica gel and bulk calcium chloride (or its dihydrate) with appropriate weight coefficients.     

The effect of ball-milling on the thermal behavior of anatase-doped hematite ceramic system

High energy ball-milling methods were employed in the synthesis of anatase-doped hematite xTiO₂(a) · (1−x)α-Fe₂O₃ (x = 0.1, 0.5, and 0.9) ceramic system. The thermal behavior of as obtained ceramic system was characterized by simultaneous DSC–TG. The pure anatase phase was found to be stable below 800 °C, but there is a 10.36% mass loss due to the water content. Two exothermic peaks on DSC curves of pure anatase indicate the different crystallization rates. The pure hematite partially decomposed upon heating under argon atmosphere. Ball-milling has a strong effect on the thermal behaviors of both anatase and hematite phases. For x = 0.1 and 0.5, there is gradual Ti substitution of Fe in hematite lattice, and the decomposition of hematite is enhanced due to the smaller particle size after ball-milling. The crystallization of hematite was suppressed as the enthalpy values decreased due to the anatase-hematite solid–solid interaction. For x = 0.9, most of the anatase phase converted to rutile phase after long milling time. The thermal behavior of xTiO₂(a) · (1−x)α-Fe₂O₃ showed smaller enthalpy value of the hematite transformation to magnetite and anatase crystallization due to the small fraction of hematite phase in the system and hematite–anatase interaction, while the mass loss upon heating increased as a function of milling time due to more water content absorbed by the smaller particle size.     

Temperature and Concentration Dependence of the Electrical Conductance,Diffusion, and Kinetics Parameters of the Ions in Aqueous Solutions of Sulfuric Acid,Selenic Acid,and Potassium Tellurate

The temperature and concentration dependences of the electrical conductance of aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid, selenic acid, and potassium tellurate were studied. The coefficients of the corresponding empirical equations were determined, and the values of equivalent conductances of the anions were evaluated at infinite dilution at the experimental temperatures. The values of the coefficients in the Fuoss and Onsager equation were evaluated for the three electrolytes at 298 K. The values of the molecular and ionic coefficients of self-diffusion at infinite dilution were calculated in the temperature range 288–318 K. The change of the translational energy Δ E∘_tr. of water molecules in the ionic hydration sphere was determined. The number of water molecules participating in the ionic hydration sphere at 298 K and the changes of Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of activation of ionic conductance were calculated. The results obtained were interpreted according to the Samoylov’s theory of positive and negative hydration of ions. The differences observed in the temperature dependences of the mentioned parameters were explained in terms of the different radii and hydration numbers of the ions.     

Thermodynamic study of poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) hydration at temperatures close to lower critical solution temperature

The lower critical solution temperature of aqueous solutions of poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) falls in the 305–307 K range and depends on the molecular weight of the polymer. The thermodynamic functions of mixing at 298 K have been calculated from measurements of vapor pressures and heats of dissolution and dilution. Partial Gibbs energy, partial enthalpy, and partial entropy of mixing were negative over the entire range of composition. Increasing temperature resulted in a decrease in the exothermal character of mixing. Excessive heat capacity values, calculated from the dependencies of enthalpy of mixing on temperature, were positive over the entire composition range. Heat capacity of dilute solutions was measured at 298 K and partial heat capacity of poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) at infinite dilution was shown to be positive. The data obtained point out the hydrophilic and hydrophobic hydration of poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) in aqueous solutions. Hydrophobic hydration dominates at temperatures close to binodal curve. As a result, the mutual mixing of the polymer with water is decreased and phase separation takes place.     

Energetics of La1−xAxCrO3−δ perovskites (A=Ca or Sr)

A series of perovskites with the general formula La_1−xA_xCrO_3−δ (A=Ca or Sr) have been synthesized in the solid solution range 0.0<x?0.3 and 0.0?δ?0.5x with a variety of heat treatments. High-temperature drop solution calorimetry in molten 2PbO·B₂O₃ at 1080 K was performed to determine their enthalpies of formation from oxides at room temperature. The enthalpy of oxidation involved in the reaction is roughly independent of oxygen nonstoichiometry (δ) in each series with a given dopant composition, but varies with composition (x). The values change from −620±260 to −280±80 kJ/mol O₂ when x=0.1-0.3 for Ca-doped samples, and from −440±150 to −290±50 kJ/mol O₂ for Sr-doped ones. This dependence of enthalpy of oxidation on composition suggests oxygen vacancies are increasingly short-range ordered in reduced samples. The higher oxidation state of chromium is stabilized by the substitution of alkaline earth ions, but with increasing doping, the enthalpy of formation of the fully oxidized sample in both Ca and Sr-doped systems becomes more endothermic. This destabilization effect is attributed to the large endothermic enthalpy of oxygen vacancy formation (395±30 kJ/mol of ) for the reaction (A=Ca or Sr) that over-rides the exothermic enthalpies of oxidation. At a given composition, Sr-doped LaCrO₃ is more stable than its Ca-doped counterpart, which is consistent with basicity arguments.     

Ho(NO3)3(C2H5O2N)4·H2O的低温热容和热力学函数

合成了稀土(钬, Ho)-氨基酸(甘氨酸, C₂H₅O₂N)二元配合物Ho(NO₃)₃(C₂H₅O₂N)₄·H₂O, 并且通过化学分析、元素分析和红外(IR)光谱对配合物进行了表征. 用高精度全自动绝热量热仪, 测定了该配合物在80-390 K温度区间的定压摩尔热容(C_p,m). 利用实验测定的热容数据, 采用最小二乘法, 将热容曲线上热容峰以外的两段平滑区的摩尔热容对折合温度进行拟合, 建立了热容随折合温度变化的多项式方程. 根据热容与焓、熵的热力学关系,计算出了配合物在80-390 K温度区间内,每隔5 K,相对于298.15 K的摩尔热力学函数(H_T,m-H_298.15,m)和(S_T,m-S_298.15,m). 通过热容曲线分析, 计算出了350 K附近转变过程的焓变(Δ_trsH_m)和熵变(Δ_trsS_m). 用差示扫描量热法(DSC)测定了配合物的热稳定性.     

Phase Transitions in YBa2Cu3Ox AT 300–900 K: Thermochemical and Structural Aspects

The thermochemical and structural aspects of the occurrence of two anomalies in the temperature dependence of the specific heat of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.91 are considered. The anomalies were found at T = 300–500 K and T > 600 K. The specific heat was measured by mixing calorimetry in the temperature range 300–900 K. Analytical expressions for the temperature dependences of enthalpy and specific heat were obtained. The observed anomalies were confirmed by structural data and measurements of the temperature dependence of the linearexpansion coefficient. The appearance of the anomalies is explained by the presence of apical oxygen.     

Influence of mechanical grinding on pozzolanic characteristics of circulating fluidized bed fly ash (CFA) and resulting consequences on hydration and hardening properties of blended cement

This paper investigates the influence of mechanical grinding on pozzolanic characteristics of circulating fluidized bed fly ash (CFA) from the dissolution characteristics, paste strength, hydration heat and reaction degree. Further, the hydration and hardening properties of blended cement containing different ground CFA are also compared and analyzed from hydration heat, non-evaporable water content, hydration products, pore structure, setting time and mortar strength. The results show that the ground CFA has a relatively higher dissolution rate of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ under the alkaline environment compared with that of raw CFA, and the pozzolanic reaction activity of ground CFA is gradually improved with the increase of grinding time. At the grinding time of 60 min, the pozzolanic reaction degree of CFA paste is improved from 6.32% (raw CFA) to 13.71% at 7 days and from 13.65 to 28.44% at 28 days, respectively. The relationships of pozzolanic reaction degree and grinding time of CFA also conform to a quadratic function. For ground CFA after a long-time grinding such as 60 min, the hydration heat and non-evaporable water content of blended cement containing CFA are significantly improved. Owing to relatively smaller particle size and higher activity of ground CFA, the blended cement paste has more hydration products, narrower pore size distribution and lower porosity. For macroscopic properties, with increase in grinding time of CFA, the setting time and strength of blended cement are gradually shortened and improved, respectively.