Thermal analysis of phase transitions in microemulsions

Differential scanning microcalorimetric measurements on phase transitions in water-oil-surfactant mixtures are presented, demonstrating that this method is highly sensitive towards small heat changes connected with structural transitions in the samples. The values for the latent heat of phase transitions are determined and the results are compared with predictions from mean field theory, emphasizing the role calorimetric experiments can play to identify the most important contributions to the free energy describing the mixtures. Doing this, the present status of the understanding of temperature dependent phase transitions in microemulsions is reviewed.     

Thermal analysis study of the effect of molecular weight on constrained amorphous phase in poly(phenylene sulfide)

We report a thermal analysis study of the effect of molecular weight on the amorphous phase structure of poly(phenylene sulfide), PPS, crystallized at temperatures just above the glass transition temperature. Thermal properties of Fortron PPS, having viscosity average molecular weights of 30000 to 91000, were characterized using temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). We find that while crystallinity varies little with molecular weight, the heat capacity increment at the glass transition decreases as molecular weight decreases. This leads to a smaller liquid-like amorphous phase, and a larger rigid amorphous fraction, in the lower molecular weight PPS. For all molecular weights, constrained fraction decreases as the scan rate decreases.This research is supported by the U. S. Army Research Office through contract DAAH04-96-1-0009. The authors thank Hoechst Celanese for providing different molecular weight Fortron samples and Dr. George Collins for providing sample information. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Elizabeth Oyebode and Leonardo Grimaldi with sample preparation and MDSC work.     

Laser emission in a 3D nanoporous polymer replica of amorphous blue phase III

Wide‐temperature polymer stabilized cubic blue phases (BPI and BPII) facilitated the emergence of practically feasible band‐edge BP lasers. However, the mysterious “blue fog” amorphous BPIII always remained elusive in terms of its applicability to photonic devices due to its random amorphous structure devoid of photonic bandgaps and due to the difficulty in effectively identifying and stabilizing it for practical applications. We present the first photonic device based on amorphous BPIII by demonstrating that a three‐dimensional BPIII polymer scaffold or template, when infiltrated with liquid crystal and laser dye, forms a system where random lasing action is generated due to multiple scattering events occurring in the nanoporous and disordered polymer replica of BPIII. This study represents a facile approach for the development of photonic devices which favorably exploit unique polymer network morphologies for laser emission. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 551–557     

Use of isothermal microcalorimetry in pharmaceutical preformulation studies,Part II. Amorphous phase quantification in a predominantly crystalline phase

Low amounts of amorphous phase present in predominantly crystalline powders were quantified by using various analytical techniques with an emphasis on the use of Isothermal Perfusion Microcalorimetry. The amorphous phase was plasticized using ethanol vapor and enthalpy of re-crystallization of amorphous phase was used for generation of a calibration curve. Amorphous content as low as 5% was quantified using this technique. Although baseline noise was very low, additional processes occurring during re-crystallization confounded quantification of lower amorphous fractions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Physical state of the amorphous phase of polypropylene‐influence on free volume and cavitation phenomenon

Model polypropylene and polypropylene/low molecular weight modifier systems with identical crystalline structure but of different physical state of noncrystalline regions were analyzed. The deformation of reference material was accompanied by a cavitation phenomenon while the deformation of the polypropylene/modifier systems occurred in non‐cavitating manner. Based on X‐ray and PALS measurements the observed change of the intensity of the cavitation phenomenon during the deformation of the analyzed systems was explained. Additionally, the change of interlamellar distance (induced by introducing the modifier molecules and uniaxial stretching) was correlated with the change of average size of the free volume pores of the amorphous phase—this analysis was performed based on experimental data and theoretical estimations. It was proven that the presence of modifier reduce significantly the average size of free volume pores in relation to the system with similar interlamellar distance. Finally, the method enabling specifying the effective content of the modifier in interlamellar regions based on PALS measurements and the observed change of the value of long period was presented. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 531–543     

Dielectric relaxation of poly(phenylene sulfide) containing a fraction of rigid amorphous phase

The dielectric relaxation behavior of poly(phenylene sulfide), PPS, has been investigated from room temperature to 180°C. This study was undertaken to examine the mobility of the amorphous phase through the glass transition region, to determine the contribution that rigid amorphous phase material makes to the relaxation process. Semicrystalline samples contain a fraction of the rigid amorphous phase, which was determined from the heat capacity increment at the glass transition, using degree of crystallinity determined from x-ray scattering. In the dielectric experiment, we measured the temperature and frequency dependence of the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function. ε″ vs. ε′ was used to determine the dielectric relaxation intensity, δε = ε_s–ε∞, at temperatures above the glass transition. For amorphous PPS, δε decreases as temperature increases, while for all semicrystalline PPS, δε increases with temperature. The ratio of semicrystalline intensity to amorphous intensity determines the total fraction of dipoles which are already relaxed at a given temperature. Results indicate that more and more rigid amorphous phase material relaxes as the temperature is increased. This provides the first evidence that rigid amorphous phase material in PPS contains chains that possess different levels of molecular mobility. Finally, to the temperature of the loss peak maximum, at a given frequency, we assign the value of the dielectric T_g. For both melt and cold crystallization, the dielectric T_g systematically decreases as the crystallization temperature increases, and as the fraction of rigid amorphous phase decreases.     

A tolbutamide–metformin salt based on antidiabetic drug combinations: synthesis,crystal structure analysis and pharmaceutical properties

A drug–drug anhydrous pharmaceutical salt containing tolbutamide {systematic name: 3‐butyl‐1‐[(4‐methylbenzene)sulfonyl]urea, TOL, C₁₂H₁₈N₂O₃S} and metformin (systematic name: 1‐carbamimidamido‐N,N‐dimethylmethanimidamide, MET, C₄H₁₁N₅) was created based on antidiabetic drug combinations to overcome the poor pharmaceutical properties of the parent drugs. Proton transfer and the proportion of the two components were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Comprehensive characterization of the new pharmaceutical salt crystal, 2‐[(dimethylamino)(iminiumyl)methyl]guanidine (butylcarbamoyl)[(4‐methylbenzene)sulfonyl]azanide, C₄H₁₂N₅⁺·C₁₂H₁₇N₂O₃S^?, was performed and showed enhancement of the pharmaceutical properties, such as lower hygroscopicity and greater accelerated stability than the parent drug MET, and higher solubility and dissolution rate than TOL. The property alterations were correlated with the crystal packing features and potential hydrogen‐bonding sites through observed changes in the crystal structures.     

Sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene: sorption of ionic liquid in the amorphous phase and of organic guests in the crystalline phase

Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Wide‐Angle X‐Ray Diffraction (WAXD) measurements have clearly established the occurrence of a dual sorption ability of sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene samples, which exhibit the nanoporous δ crystalline phase. In fact, large uptake (up to 20–30 wt%) of ionic liquid (IL; e.g. 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium dicyanamide) occurs only in the hydrophilic amorphous sulfonated phases and does not disturb the hydrophobic nanoporous crystalline δ phase. On the other hand, a large uptake of organic guests (e.g. naphthalene) occurs prevailingly in the nanoporous hydrophobic crystalline phase, independently of the presence of the IL in the amorphous phase, eventually leading to the formation of syndiotactic polystyrene co‐crystalline phases. The thermal stability of IL can be largely increased by their inclusion in the amorphous phase of sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene films. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

电化学发光免疫传感技术在生物药物分析中的研究进展

随着生物及药物分析领域的不断扩展,发展高灵敏度及高选择性的分析手段以解决复杂样品体系中低浓度待测物的分析测试问题是十分迫切的需求.电化学发光分析方法由于具有线性范围宽,灵敏度高及可控性强等优点,是处理低浓度样品的有效工具.这种方法与免疫传感技术相结合,有利于实现生物体液等复杂样品中极低含量生化物质与药物的高选择性、高灵敏度检测.本文综述了电化学发光免疫传感技术的发展状况,介绍了近年来在电化学发光免疫传感中出现的新型固相载体、电化学发光探针和共反应物、以及多组分免疫传感技术等,并对其在生物药物分析中的应用情况进行了总结.     

Thermal behaviors of amorphous calcium carbonates prepared in aqueous and ethanol media

Two different samples of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) hydrates were prepared respectively by mixing aqueous solutions of CaCl₂ and Na₂CO₃-NaOH and by allowing the diffusion of (NH₄)₂CO₃ sublimate into ethanol solution of CaCl₂. Thermal behaviors of the synthetic ACCs were investigated comparatively by means of thermoanalytical techniques complimented by powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectrometry and microscopic observations. The anhydrous ACCs produced by the thermal dehydration of the respective samples were crystallized to calcite in different ways. The sample prepared in aqueous medium was crystallized at around 600 K in a single step. Crystallization in two separated steps at around 600 and 825 K was observed for the sample prepared in ethanol medium. Characteristics of the crystallization processes were discussed from thermodynamic and kinetic points of view.     

A calorimetric study of phase evolution in a WE43 Mg alloy

A DSC investigation has been performed on a Mg–RE–Y–Zr (RE=rare earth) technical alloy WE43. Hardness trend during isothermal treatments has been correlated to the calorimetric traces evolution and to the forming β phases with its precursors. Oversaturation of solute elements occurs at temperatures higher than 150±C, on cooling at room temperature after the anneals. Activation energies, found under non-isothermal conditions on artificially aged samples, suggest a slow transformation velocity, while the hardness response is relatively fast.     

Crystal structure,phase transitions,and IR spectroscopic investigations of a new sulfate templated by diethylene triammonium

A novel organic sulfate (C₄H₁₆N₃)SO₄?HSO₄ has been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The structure consists of linked HSO₄^? and SO₄^2? anions assembled into clusters. Organic triple-protonated diethylene triammonium cations are interconnected to these clusters via N–H?O hydrogen bonds to create the three dimensional arrangement. The Hirshfeld surface and associated fingerprint plots of the compound were presented to explore the nature of intermolecular interactions and their relative contributions to building the solid-state architecture. TG-DTA and DSC studies showed the presence of two phase transitions. Infrared spectrum is reported and discussed on the basis of group theoretical analysis and on Density Functional Theory calculations.     

Identification and quantitative analysis of the intermediate phase in a linear high-density polyethylene

The observation of chain conformation and mobility in polyethylene by solid-state ¹³C magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) permits unambiguous identification and quantitative analysis of an intermediate phase. The carbon-carbon bonds in the intermediate phase adopt, on the average, an all-trans conformation and are more mobile than in the crystalline state (room temperature rate of reorientation ≈ 10⁷ Hz). Comparisons of crystallinities by differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle x-ray diffraction, and NMR support the high orientation of the intermediate phase and suggest a lower heat of fusion than for the crystals. Results from ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation and ¹H spin diffusion show that the mass fractions are ≈ 20% and the domain sizes ≈ 36 Å. Both change with crystallization and annealing conditions. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Evaluation of electron capture detection in reversed‐phase HPLC for pharmaceutical analysis

The coupling of RP‐LC to electron capture detection (ECDNi⁶³) is described. To reduce the amount of mobile phase entering into the detector, interfacing was performed via a Scott‐type spray chamber. The performance of RP‐LC/ECDNi⁶³ was evaluated for pharmaceutical analysis and the results show that the system is able to work in a routine environment using columns with 2 mm id and common amounts of the organic modifiers methanol or ACN in the mobile phase. Because of the high sensitivity and selectivity toward electrophilic compounds, the use of this detector opens possibilities for the analysis of impurities down to the 0.05% level of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).     

Thermal characterization of polyethylene glycols applied in the pharmaceutical technology using differential scanning calorimetry and hot stage microscopy

In the present study, the effect of the molecular weight and thermal treatments on commercial polyethylene glycols (PEG) samples used in the pharmaceutical processing technology, has been analyzed using DSC and HSM. The molecular weight of these polymers range from 1500 to 200000. Thermal investigations on the melting behavior of original PEG samples (as received from the manufacturer) showed only one single melting DSC endotherm effect before 373 K. This fact was associated to the presence of only one type of polymeric chain. Using standard conditions, PEG samples were solidified from the melt at 373 K, either by flash cooling (using liquid nitrogen and an ice bath) and by slow cooling, soaked and by slow cooling at room temperature. They were further studied by DSC. It was found that after cooling, PEG with molecular weight 1500 and 15000 showed DSC thermograms with a single endothermic peak. However, thermograms for PEG 4000 and 6000 produced a splitted melting endotherm. This fact was attributed to the presence of two types of chains, that are the folded and extended chains.Ageing time influences also the shape of the DSC endothermal effects. It was concluded that the endotherms obtained after heating these PEG indicate that the thermal history determine the structure (extended or folded chain type forms) and the degree of crystallinity, as evidenced by changes in heat of fusion values, melting points and structures after crystallization. The relationships between melting enthalpies and melting points, as deduced from DSC diagrams, with molecular weight of the polymers are also presented.     

Strain induced homeotropic alignment in the smecticA phase of liquid crystals

We present a method to align liquid crystal (LC) samples in their SmecticA phase, useful to obtain permanent homeotropic single domains even in compounds where the nematic phase is absent. It is based on the application of a strain field, within the sample volume, which tends to align the molecules all towards a common direction. The study was carried out in samples of 4-decyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (10CB), 4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) and n-hexyl-4′-n-pentyloxy biphenyl-4-carboxylate (65OBC) LCs, and the alignment efficiency was monitored by polarisation microscopy observations and by thermal diffusivity measurements.     

Raman spectroscopic investigation of the phase behavior and phase transitions in a poly(methyl methacrylate)‐carbon dioxide system

Laser Raman spectroscopy, in conjunction with an optical high‐pressure cell, was used to investigate the poly(methyl methacrylate)‐carbon dioxide system. The Raman shifts associated with carbon dioxide molecules in the gas phase and those dissolved in the polymer were used to derive sorption kinetics of carbon dioxide and the carbon dioxide‐induced phase changes in the polymer. Measurements were made in the temperature and pressure ranges in which this system is known to exhibit retrograde vitrification behavior. The Raman results on the sorption kinetics and on the onset of plasticization were in agreement with those obtained by gravimetric and calorimetric techniques, respectively. This technique provides a versatile and rapid way of characterizing polymer‐gas systems and information that so far has been obtainable only through painstaking and time‐consuming techniques. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2214–2217, 2003     

The analysis of basic pharmaceutical compounds by capillary electrochromatography using continuous bed stationary phase

Summary Capillary electrochromatography (CEC) is classed as a hybrid technique between CE and HPLC and it combines the advantages of both these techniques. However, in some cases the disadvantages are also brought to light and some of these are difficult to resolve. For example the analysis of basic compounds using CEC. The problems of tailing peaks during HPLC analysis of basic compounds was resolved by end capping the residual silanol groups, but in CEC these are the groups that generate the electroosmotic flow. The analysis of basic compounds is crucial within the pharmaceutical industry where a high percentage of the drug actives are basic. Specially designed Continuous Beds stationary phases (CB) can mean that each application can have a specific stationary phase. In order to overcome the problem associated with the analysis of basic compounds using electrochromatography, we have designed a CB stationary phase with a positive charge, which could be operated using negative voltage. The resulting chromatography showed almost gaussian peaks for bases like nortriptyline which tail significantly using stationary phase typically used in CEC.