Methanol adsorption on γ-irradiated SiO2 surface

The adsorption of methanol on γ-irradiated and un-irradiated SiO₂ surfaces pretreated at 473 K was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and pulse methods. Methanol adsorbed only in molecular form on the un-irradiated sample. Treating the pre-irradiated silica surface with methanol at room temperature formaldehyde and hydrogen were formed. The methanol adsorbed on the irradiated silica transformed to formyl groups during a longer time at room temperature and desorbed as formaldehyde simultaneously with CH₃OH (T_max=395 K) on the TPD.     

Isothermal decomposition of γ-irradiated indium acetate

The isothermal decomposition of un-irradiated (pristine) and pre-γ-irradiated indium acetate was studied in the temperature range (298–1273 K) and in air using isothermal thermogravimetric technique. The data were analyzed using various solid-state reaction models. The results showed that the kinetic of isothermal decomposition of indium acetate was governed by random nucleation reaction (Erof’ev equation A₃). The kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of the main decomposition process for un-irradiated and γ-irradiated samples were calculated and evaluated.     

Influence of thermal treatment on the glass transition temperature of thermosetting epoxy laminate

The influence of accelerated thermal treatment of thermosetting epoxy laminate on its glass transition temperature was studied. Lamplex^® FR-4 glass fibre-reinforced epoxy laminate (used for printed circuit board manufacturing) was used in these experiments. The composite was exposed to thermal treatments at temperatures ranging from 170 °C to 200 °C for times ranging from 10 to 480 h. The glass transition temperature (T_g) was analysed via dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It has been proven that the glass transition temperature rapidly decreases in reaction to thermal stress. The obtained T_g data were used for Arrhenius plots for different critical temperatures (T_g-crit. = 105–120 °C). From their slopes (?E_a/R), the activation energy of the thermal degradation process was calculated as 75.5 kJ/mol. In addition to this main relaxation mechanism, DMA also recorded one smaller relaxation process in the most aged samples. Microscopic analysis of the sample structure showed the presence of pronounced small regions of degradation both on the surface and in the inner structure, which are probably the causes of microscopic delamination and the smaller relaxation process.     

Gamma-ray response of a clear,crosslinked PMMA dosimeter,Radix W

Radix W, a clear poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) dosimeter was developed with improved properties compared to the conventional clear PMMA dosimeter, Radix RN15. PMMA with a glass transition temperature (T_g) higher than 120 °C was selected making it possible to measure doses in a wide range of 1 to 150 kGy. Dose rates of 2.5–10 kGy/h were tested and did not affect significantly the dose response. The influence of irradiation temperature was reduced compared with Radix RN15.     

Magnesium lactate mixed with EVA polymer/paraffin as an EPR dosimeter for radiation processing application

The dosimetric characteristics of γ-radiation-induced defects in magnesium lactate (ML) rods (3.5 mm×10 mm) formulated by mixing ML with molten mixtures of paraffin wax and EVA copolymer have been investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The EPR spectrum of irradiated ML rods was characterized by a quartet signal with the spectroscopic splitting g-factor of 2.0048±0.0003 at 0.4 mT. The useful dose range of the rod dosimeter was 100 Gy to 80 kGy. The mass attenuation coefficient, μ/ρ, and the mass energy-absorption coefficient, μ_en/ρ, versus energy in the range of 10 keV to 20 MeV indicate that the prepared ML dosimeter is typically adipose tissue equivalent overall this energy range. The overall combined uncertainties (at 2σ) associated with routine dose monitoring in the dose range of 0.1–10 kGy and 10–80 kGy were found to be 6.14% and 6.36%, respectively.     

Effect of Co60 γ-irradiation on the optical properties of thin films from the system GeSe3–Sb2Se3–ZnSe

Optical transmittance in the range from 200 nm to 1100 nm is measured for fresh and γ-irradiated thermally evaporated chalcogenide films of GeSe₃, Sb₂Se₃, ZnSe, (GeSe₃)₈₀(Sb₂Se₃)₂₀ and (GeSe₃)₇₀(Sb₂Se₃)₁₀(ZnSe)₂₀. The effect of ZnSe incorporation with both GeSe₃, Sb₂Se₃ results in amorphous γ-radiation sensitive (GeSe₃)₇₀(Sb₂Se₃)₁₀(ZnSe)₂₀ composition as obtained from the estimated optical parameters. Optical energy gap, E_g, for (GeSe₃)₇₀(Sb₂Se₃)₁₀(ZnSe)₂₀ film shows a noticeable decrease from 1.81 eV at 0 kGy to 1.52 eV at 690 kGy and conversely the corresponding band tail width, E_e, increases from 0.123 eV at 0 kGy to 0.138 eV at 690 kGy. By contrast, the estimated values of E_g and E_e for (GeSe₃)₈₀(Sb₂Se₃)₂₀ compositions, show no change with different γ-irradiation doses in the same range. The obtained results could be explained in terms of the band edge shift into the energy gap due to either the formation of localized states at the edges or weakening in the composition cohesive energy as reformation of new weaker bonds appear.     

Effect of gamma irradiation on the antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activities of Glycyrrhiza glabra root

The efficacy of gamma irradiation as a method of decontamination for food and herbal materials is well established. In the present study, Glycyrrhiza glabra roots were irradiated at doses 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kGy in a cobalt-60 irradiator. The irradiated and un-irradiated control samples were evaluated for phenolic contents, antimicrobial activities and DPPH scavenging properties. The result of the present study showed that radiation treatment up to 20 kGy does not affect the antifungal and antibacterial activity of the plant. While sample irradiated at 25 kGy does showed changes in the antibacterial activity against some selected pathogens. No significant differences in the phenolic contents were observed for control and samples irradiated at 5, 10 and 15 kGy radiation doses. However, phenolic contents increased in samples treated with 20 and 25 kGy doses. The DPPH scavenging activity significantly (p<0.05) increased in all irradiated samples of the plant.     

Cationic concentration effects on electron beam cured of carbon-epoxy composites

Electron beam (e-beam) curing is a technology that offers advantages over the thermal curing process, that usually requires high temperature and are time-consuming. E-beam curing is faster and occurs at low temperatures that help reduce residual mechanical stresses in a thermoset composite. The aim of the present study is to analyze the effects of cationic initiator (diaryliodonium hexafluoroantimonate) ranged from 1 to 3 wt% in DGEBA (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) epoxy resin when cured by a 1.5 MeV electron beam. The specimens were cured to a total dose of 200.4 kGy for 40 min. Analyses by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) show that the e-beam irradiated samples with 2 wt% cationic initiator were 96% cured obtained a glass transition temperature (tan δ) of 167 °C. The same epoxy resin, thermally cured for 16 h with an anhydride hardener, reached a T_g (tan δ) of 136 °C. So, the irradiated sample had its T_g increased approximately 20% and the curing process was much less time consuming.     

Free-volume distribution and glass transition of nano-scale polymeric films

Positron annihilation spectroscopy has been used to measure the ortho-positronium lifetime variation with respect to the temperature in an 80-nm polystyrene film on Si in different depths. The surface and interface glass transition temperatures were found to be significantly suppressed by 18 and 12 K at the depth of 5 and 70 nm from the surface, respectively. The observed T_g-depth dependence is interpreted as a different degree of free-volume distributions at the surface and the interface with Si.     

Optical properties of a-Se90In10−x Snx chalcogenide thin films before and after gamma irradiation

Amorphous Se₉₀In_10?xSn_x (x=2, 4, 6, and 8) thin films of thickness 1000 Å were prepared on glass substrates by the thermal evaporation technique. Optical parameters of the films were investigated, in the wavelength range 400–700 nm, before and after irradiation by 4, 8, and 12 kGy doses of γ-ray. The optical absorption coefficient α for as-deposited and gamma irradiated films was calculated from the reflectance R and transmittance T measurements, which were recorded at room temperature. From the knowledge of α, at different wavelengths, the optical band gap E_g was calculated for all compositions of Se–In–Sn thin films before and after gamma irradiation. Results indicate that allowed indirect optical transition is predominated in as-deposited and irradiated films. Besides, it is found that the band gap decreases with increasing Sn concentration and this is attributed to the corresponding decrease in the average single bond energy of the films. The band gap, after irradiation at different doses of γ-ray, was found to decrease for all compositions of the studied films. This post-irradiation decrease in the band gap was interpreted in terms of a bond distribution model.     

Low-temperature adiabatic calorimetry of salol and benzophenone and microscopic observation of their crystallization: finding of homogeneous-nucleation-based crystallization

An adiabatic calorimetric and direct microscopic observation of crystallization at low temperatures was performed for salol and benzophenone. Both of the materials in the supercooled-liquid phase exhibited a low-temperature crystallization proceeding in the glass-transition temperature ( T_g) region. The crystallization was observed to proceed as the advance of the crystal front into the liquid phase, and stopped suddenly atT =  227 K and T ≈  215 K for salol and benzophenone, respectively. This anomalous temperature dependence of the crystal-growth rate is a characteristic feature of the homogeneous-nucleation-based (HNB) crystallization, which has been reported for o -terphenyl and triphenylethylene, and the presently observed low-temperature crystallization in salol and benzophenone was concluded to be the HNB crystallization, in which the crystal growth is brought about by the coalescence of crystal nuclei to the crystalline phase on the liquid-crystal interface. The substances exhibiting the HNB crystallization were revealed to have almost the same characteristics with respect to configurational entropy, and undergo the HNB crystallization in the same range of temperature normalized by T_g. These results indicate that the HNB crystallization is potentially a universal phenomenon in fragile liquids, and imply that the process is closely related to the liquid structure changing with temperature.     

Pressure effects on an organic radical ferromagnet γ-phase BBDTA · GaCl4

A radical cation salt, BBDTA (= benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d′]bis[1,3,2]dithiazole) · GaCl₄, has three polymorphs, labeled α, β and γ. The γ-phase shows a ferromagnetic ordering at 7.0 K, and this Curie temperature (T_C) is eminently high, in contrast to those of the other organic radical ferromagnets. We have investigated the pressure effects on the γ-phase of BBDTA · GaCl₄ through ac magnetic susceptibility measurements under hydrostatic pressure up to 16.2 kbar. The value of T_C increases with linear fashion against pressure and exceeds 14 K at 16.2 kbar. By applying further pressure, it may exceed 16 K of the organic ferromagnet, TDAE-C₆₀, which has the highest T_C in organic materials. However, the real component of the ac susceptibility below T_C is remarkably suppressed with increasing pressure and, at around 2 kbar, it decreases down to 3.5% of that at ambient pressure. Those pressure effects might originate from the pressure-induced structural transformation from the ferromagnetic γ-phase to the diamagnetic α- and/or β-phases and the enhancement of the intermolecular interactions in the surviving γ-phase.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous l-methionine at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K,molalities from (0.0125 to 1.0) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of l-methionine,methioninium chloride,and sodium methioninate

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of l-methionine, l-methionine plus equimolal HCl, and l-methionine plus equimolal NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, at molalities 0.0125 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0 as solubilities allowed, and at p = 0.35 MPa using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a twin fixed-cell differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values from the literature for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), and NaCl(aq) and the molar heat capacity change Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for ionization of water to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the two proton dissociations from protonated aqueous cationic l-methionine. We integrated these results in an iterative algorithm using Young’s Rule to account for the effects of speciation and chemical relaxation on V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m). This procedure yielded parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for methioninium chloride {H₂Met⁺Cl⁻(aq)} and for sodium methioninate {Na⁺Met⁻(aq)} which successfully modeled our observed results. Values are given for Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, pQ_a, Δ_rS_m, and Δ_rV_m for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous l-methionine as functions of T and m.     

Glass transition behaviour of ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate–H2O mixed solutions

Here, we have measured the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate–H₂O mixed solutions as a function of H₂O concentration (x mol% H₂O). The glass-forming composition region was also determined. Contrary to the results of the quaternary ammonium type of ionic liquid, N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium tetrafluoroborate–H₂O mixed solutions, we did not observed the multiple glass transition behaviour. We also measured the glassy Raman spectra of the solutions at T = 77 K. We find that the “nearly free” hydrogen bonded Raman band of water molecules in the aqueous [bmim][BF₄] solution exists up to around x = 60 mol% H₂O, even at T = 77 K.     

Development and assessment of experimental dental polymers with enhanced polymerisation,crosslink density and resistance to fluid permeability based on ethoxylated-Bisphenol-A-dimethacrylates and 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate

The formulation of appropriate dental adhesives is critical to achieve efficient polymerisation and reduced fluid permeability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of conversion, the crosslink density and the fluid permeability of experimental 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-containing or HEMA-free resin adhesives formulated with the use of a hydrophilic ternary photoinitiator system (DPIHP: diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate). The final FTIR/Raman degree of conversion (DC), DSC glass transition temperature (T_g) and the resin permeability (rP) were then characterised. The inclusion of the hydrophilic ionic salt DPIHP increased the affinity between amphiphilic monomers and binary photoinitiator system enhancing the DC, T_g and the resistance to fluid permeability (p < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between rP and FTIR/Raman-DC or T_g (p < 0.05). In conclusion, new generation resin adhesives containing hydrophilic monomers and solvents should be formulated on a ternary photoinitiator system including hydrophilic ionic accelerator in order to achieve enhanced physical–chemical characteristics especially when light-cured in a relatively short period time (10–20 s).     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous threonine and isoleucine at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K,molalities from (0.01 to 1.0) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of zwitterionic,protonated cationic,and deprotonated anionic forms

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of isoleucine, threonine, and equimolal solutions of these two amino acids with HCl and with NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, at molalities 0.01 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a twin fixed-cell differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values from the literature for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), and NaCl(aq) and the molar heat capacity change Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for ionization of water to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the two proton dissociations from each of the protonated aqueous cationic amino acids. We used Young’s Rule and integrated these results iteratively to account for the effects of equilibrium speciation and chemical relaxation on V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m). This procedure gave parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for threoninium and isoleucinium chloride and for sodium threoninate and isoleucinate which modeled our observed results within experimental uncertainties. We report values for Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, pQ_a, Δ_rS_m, and Δ_rV_m for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous threonine and isoleucine as functions of T and m.     

Short chain lead (II) alkanoates as ionic liquids and glass formers: A d.s.c., X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy study

Three members of the lead (II) n-alkanoates (from etanoate to n-butanoate) have been synthesized, purified and studied by d.s.c., X-ray diffraction, and FTIR spectroscopy. Lead (II) acetate, propanoate, and butanoate present only a melting transition at T = (452.6, 398.2, and 346.5) K, with Δ_fH = (16.0, 13.1, and 15.6) kJ · mol⁻¹, and Δ_fS = (35.3, 32.8, and 45.1) J · mol⁻¹ · K⁻¹, respectively. These temperature data correct to a great extent the historical values reported in the literature. These three members readily quench into a glass state. Their corresponding T_g values are (314.4, 289.0, and 274.9) K, respectively, measured by d.s.c. at a heating rate of 5 K · min⁻¹.     

Infrared,Raman and XPS spectroscopic studies of Bi2O3–B2O3–GeO2 glasses

Glasses with composition 50Bi₂O₃–(50 ? x) B₂O₃–xGeO₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 mol%) were prepared by conventional melting method. The thermal properties were investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and the structures of the glasses were probed by Infrared, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that density, refractive index and optical basicity increase with the increase of GeO₂. The glass transition temperature (T_g), onset crystallization temperature (T_x) and ΔT (T_x ? T_g) increase as well. The cut-off edges in ultraviolet and infrared shift to longer wavelength by the addition of GeO₂. Infrared, Raman and XPS results indicate that the glass network consists of [Bi–O₆] octahedron, [BO₃] triangle, [BO₄] tetrahedron and [GeO₄] tetrahedron and borate oxide mainly exists in [BO₃] units. XPS result indicates Ge⁴⁺ ions form steady [GeO₄] tetrahedra units in the glass network and the number of non-bridging oxygens decreases with the addition of GeO₂.     

Electrical properties of a novel fluorinated polycarbonate

The relative permittivity, loss and dielectric strength have been measured for a polycarbonate-based material, tetraaryl bisphenol A polycarbonate, that has been fluorine substituted (DiF p-TABPA-PC). The new material has a glass transition temperature, T_g = 489 K, that is higher than that for either conventional bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPA-PC) for which T_g = 421 K or for a copolymer of tetraaryl bisphenol A (TABPA) and bisphenol A (BPA) (TABPA-BPA-PC) for which T_g = 464 K. In addition, the dielectric strength of DiF p-TABPA-PC is almost identical to that for purified BPA-PC and slightly larger than the value for TABPA-BPA-PC. The relative permittivity and loss measurements were carried out from 10 to 10⁵ Hz over a wide temperature range and at pressures up to 0.25 GPa. Variable temperature results for the α relaxation and both temperature and pressure results for the γ relaxation regions are reported. The α relaxation exhibits standard behavior. The γ relaxation exhibits unusual characteristics such as a strong increase in peak height as temperature increases and a strong decrease in peak height with increasing pressure. The data for the γ relaxation have been analyzed using several formulations. Expressions for the peak height and peak position based on a two state (inequivalent well) model and the resulting parameters are discussed in terms of the insight they provide into the molecular mechanisms responsible for the sub-T_g relaxation. Ab initio SCF results for a related model compound are presented. Finally, the real part of the relative permittivity for the new polymer is about 10% higher than for BPA-PC.     

Study of the glass transition on viscous-forming and powder materials using dynamic mechanical analysis

The investigation of the glass transition in materials that become too viscous or are difficult to prepare in a solid compact form, is not straightforward using dynamic mechanical analysis, DMA. In this work, metallic pockets are used to envelop samples in order to resolve the loss factor peak, tan δ, in the region of T_g. Experiments with indium were carried out at different heating rates in order to correct the temperature in such isochronal measurements. The proof of concept of the utility of such methodology was done by investigating the glass transition dynamics of poly(d,l-lactic acid), PDLLA, a biodegradable amorphous polyester widely investigated for biomedical applications. The glass transition peaks obtained at scanning rates below 4 °C min^?1 shifted to the same temperature region after correction. DMA tests on PDLLA at different frequencies allowed construction of a relaxation plot where the glass transition dynamics followed Vogel–Fulcher–Tamman–Hesse behaviour. Inclusion complexes, ICs, of PDLLA with α-cyclodextrin were obtained, exhibiting a very organized arrangement at the nano-scale level. DMA experiments on the ICs powder packed in the metallic pocket revealed a loss factor peak located at a higher temperature as compared with PDLLA, indicating that the segmental mobility of the polymer chains is highly restricted in this supra-molecular organization.