Kinetic compensation effect and thermolysis mechanisms of organic polynitroso and polynitro compounds

The present study starts from the published values of the Arrhenius parameters E_a and log A of thermolysis in the condensed state of seven nitrosamines and one hundred organic polynitro compounds. On the basis of the linear relationship between E_aand log A, the set studied has been divided into several reaction series, each of which is characterized by a mechanism of primary thermolysis. For compounds with intense intermolecular interactions in a crystal, the classification mentioned is codetermined by the stabilizing effect of the crystal lattice. In the context of this effect, the absence of an effect of solid-liquid transition on thermal reactivity of octogen (HMX) has been confirmed. The idea also presented is that, in the primary homolysis in thermolyses of polynitro compounds, there takes place a mutual interaction of molecules of the given compound, which is analogous to termination interactions of nitroarenes in radical polymerizations.     

Are pore size distributions in microfiltration membranes measurable by two-phase flow porosimetry?

The issue of evaluating equivalent pore diameter distributions in membrane microfilters from gas-liquid (g-l) porosimetry data has been critically examined. Experiments performed with one isotropic and one composite anisotropic membrane in both possible orientations revealed conspicous dependence of the obtained (g-l) porosimetry peaks on imposed pressure ramp rates, p. Interference of this kinetic effect can be eliminated from the measured data by extrapolation to p = 0. The ramp rate effect is most likely caused by tortuous pore length distribution, and relatively long times required for liquid expulsion. For two experiments, the observed effects of p could be reconciled with predictions of the Schlesinger-Bechhold theory [Bechold et al., Kolloid Z., 55 (1931) 172–198]. The data obtained with the thin top layer of the composite membrane facing intruding air directly did deviate somewhat from the theory. Pores characterized by (g-l) porosimetry are likely of the “throat type”, and their size distribution is considerably more narrow than that obtained for the “node-type” pores by SEM-image analysis [Zeman and Denault, J. Membrane Sci., 71 (1992) 221–231]. A single bivariate distribution function was constructed for these two distinct pore populations. Flow-weighted or number fraction distributions can be calculated from the extrapolated porosimetry data. For narrow ranges of “throat” diameters, these distributions are fairly similar.     

Missing Member in the MIIMIIISi4N7 Compound Class: Carbothermal Reduction and Nitridation Synthesis Reveal Substitution of Nitrogen by Carbon and Oxygen in CaLu[Si4N7–2xCxOx]:Eu2+/Ce3+ (x≈0.3)

The nitridosilicate CaLu[Si₄N_7–2xC_xO_x] (x≈0.3) was synthesized by carbothermal reduction and nitridation starting from CaH₂, Lu₂O₃, graphite and amorphous Si₃N₄ at 1550 °C in a radiofrequency furnace. CaLu[Si₄N_7–2xC_xO_x] (x≈0.3) crystallizes isotypically to many previously known M^IIM^IIISi₄N₇ compounds in the space group P6₃mc, as was confirmed by Rietveld refinement based on powder X-ray diffraction data. Incorporation of carbon into the crystal structure as a result of the carbothermal synthesis route was confirmed by ¹³C and ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy. For the first time in the M^IIM^IIISi₄N₇ compound class, complementary EDX measurements suggest that simultaneous incorporation of oxygen compensates for the negative charge excess induced by carbon, resulting in an adjusted sum formula, CaLu[Si₄N_7–2xC_xO_x] (x≈0.3). When excited with UV-to-blue light, CaLu[Si₄N_7–2xC_xO_x] (x≈0.3) shows an emission maximum in the blue spectral region (λ_em=484 nm; fwhm=4531 cm⁻¹) upon doping with Ce³⁺, whereas Eu²⁺-doped CaLu[Si₄N_7–2xC_xO_x] (x≈0.3) exhibits a yellow-green emission (λ_em=546 nm; fwhm=3999 cm⁻¹).     

Bentonite stability,speciation and migration behaviour of some critical radionuclides

The contribution is focused on chemical, geochemical and mineralogical research of bentonite stability with the aim to determine the effect of saturation medium composition and loading by heat on bentonite stability. The main part of the research is directed to the experimental results of bentonite and bentonite leachate samples obtained for the bentonite interaction under laboratory experiments. Computer-modeling methods were used to calculate equilibrium thermodynamic principles, the distributions of predominant aqueous species, and potential solubility controls for the environmentally important oxidation states of each investigated radioactive contaminants. The Eh–pH diagrams of individual chemical species of the tested radionuclides were calculated by the geochemical software tool Geochemist’s Workbench that included the actual chemical compositions of the solid–liquid systems under the given experimental conditions. It was confirmed that smectites are transformed to more stable silicate phases, such as illite/smectite mixed layers, illite. The data obtained from the model calculations conform with experimental results. The effect of the variable aqueous phase composition on bentonite stability using Ca–Mg and Na–Ca bentonites for the experiments was studied. The synthetic granitic waters with the higher concentration of the K⁺ and Mg²⁺ cations were applied for the study of bentonite stability.     

Cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene in dichloromethane initiated with system 2,5-dichloro-2,5-dimethylhexene-BCl3. II. Continuous addition of monomer into initiator,quasiliving polymerization

A slow continuous addition of dichloromethana solutions of α-methylstyrene (α-MeSt) into a dichloromethane solution of 2,5-dichloro-2,5-dimethylhexane (DDH) with BCI₃ (initiating system II) prepared in advance resulted, in the temperature range between ?20 and ?40°, in a quasilving polymerization of α-MeSt. At ?20°C and a 100% conversion a polymer with a very narrow molecular weight distribution is formed, M?_w/M?_n - 1.1. Quasiliving polymerization of α-MeSt has not been achieved with freshly prepared dischloromethane solutions of DDH with BC₃ (initiating sytem I), or with solutions of BCI₃ alone (initiating system III). Polarity of the polymerization medium affected molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the polymer, and the polydispersity index decreased with decreasing polarity. MWD of the polymer samples were studied by the GPC method, the structure of poly (α-methylstyrene) (Pα-MeSt) was investigated by the ₁H-NMR analysis     

The relationship between the kinetic data of the low-temperature thermolysis and the heats of explosion of inorganic azides

The primary chemical processes of the thermal decomposition and detonation change of inorganic azides possessing explosive character is considered by means of the linear relationship between the activation energies, E, of the initial stage of low-temperature thermolysis, and the heats of explosion of these substances. Also, the possibility of applying E values in the estimation of the initiation capability of azides is considered.     

Facile One-step Synthesis of Zn1–xMnxSiN2 Nitride Semiconductor Solid Solutions via Solid-state Metathesis Reaction

We report on the synthesis of the II-IV-N₂ semiconductors ZnSiN₂, MnSiN₂, and the Zn_1–xMn_xSiN₂ solid solutions by a one-step solid-state metathesis reaction. The successful syntheses were carried out by reacting the corresponding metal halides with stoichiometric amounts of silicon nitride and lithium azide in sealed tantalum ampoules. After washing out the reaction byproduct LiCl, powder X-ray diffraction patterns were indexed with orthorhombic space group Pna2₁. Single phase products were obtained without applying external pressure and at a moderate reaction temperature of 700 °C. The resulting ZnSiN₂ was found to consist of nano-sized grains and needle-shaped nano-crystals. With increasing manganese content in the Zn_1–xMn_xSiN₂ solid solution, we found the reaction product to be increasingly crystalline. Both the cell parameters and the bandgap values across the different compositions of the solid solutions change linearly. The sample Zn_0.95Mn_0.05SiN₂ synthesized by means of solid-state metathesis reaction is an intense red emitter with a broad emission maximum at λ_max ≈ 619 nm when excited with ultraviolet light after annealing the sample at a pressure of 6 GPa and a temperature of 1200 °C.