Heat evolution in hydrating expansive cement systems

Calorimetry was applied to follow the hydration of special cement mixtures exhibiting expansion or shrinkage compensation. The standard, common cements show generally less or more visible shrinkage on setting and hardening but mixed with and expansive agent, usually of aluminate and sulfate nature, they can exhibit the increase of volume. The calcium aluminate cement CAC 40 was ground together with special sulfate–lime sinter to produce an expansive additive to Portland cement (CEM I 42.5R). The expansive additive in the environment of hydrating cement transforms into ettringite at “right time” to give expansion before the final setting and hardening takes place. In the experiments the proportions of components of expansive mixture and basic cement were variable. The rate of hydration versus time for common cements is commonly known and reflects the moderate setting and early hardening during the first days after mixing with water (two peaks and the induction period between them). The aim of measurements presented in this study was to show the course of heat evolution curve and the heat evolved values, equivalent to the acceleration/retardation of hydration, in case of the paste with the expansive mixture, as well as the pastes produced from Portland cement and the components of expansive additives added in variable proportions. It was possible to see how the calorimetric curve and consequently the hydration process itself declines from the controlled setting/hardening. These measurements were supplied by the examples of phase composition studies by XRD.     

Thermal properties,phase transitions,vibrational and reorientational dynamics of [Mn(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript>](NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

[Mn(NH₃)₆](NO₃)₂ crystallizes in the cubic, fluorite (C1) type crystal lattice structure (Fm \( \overline{3} \) m) with a = 11.0056 Å and Z = 4. Two phase transitions of the first-order type were detected. The first registered on DSC curves as a large anomaly at T _C1 ^h  = 207.8 K and T _C1 ^c  = 207.2 K, and the second registered as a smaller anomaly at T _C2 ^h  = 184.4 K and T _C2 ^c  = 160.8 K (where the upper indexes h and c denote heating and cooling of the sample, respectively). The temperature dependence of the full width at half maximum of the band associated with the δ_s(HNH)F_1u mode suggests that the NH₃ ligands in the high temperature and intermediate phase reorientate quickly with correlation times in the order of several picoseconds and with activation energy of 9.9 kJ mol^?1. In the phase transition at T _C2 ^c probably only a some of the NH₃ ligands stop their reorientation, while the remainders continue to reorientate quickly with activation energy of 7.7 kJ mol^?1. Thermal decomposition of the investigated compound starts at 305 K and continues up to 525 K in four main stages (I–IV). In stage I, ²/₆ of all NH₃ ligands were seceded. Stages II and III are connected with an abruption of the next ²/₆ and ¹/₆ of total NH₃, respectively, and [Mn(NH₃)](NO₃)₂ is formed. The last molecule of NH₃ per formula unit is freed at stage IV together with the simultaneous thermal decomposition of the resulting Mn(NO₃)₂ leading to the formation of gaseous products (O₂, H₂O, N₂ and nitrogen oxides) and solid MnO₂.     

Structural and thermal properties of rare earth complexes with 2,2′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid

Rare earth complexes with 2,2′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid (diphenic acid = H₂dpa) were obtained as hydrated precipitates of the general formula Ln₂(C₁₄H₈O₄)₃∙nH₂O, where n = 3 for the of Y(III) and Ce(III)–Er(III) and n = 6 for La(III), Tm(III), Yb(III) and Lu(III) complexes. On heating in air atmosphere complexes lose all water molecules in the temperature range 30–210 °C in one step and form anhydrous compounds, which are stable up to 315–370 °C. During further heating they decompose to oxides. The trihydrated compounds are crystalline powders whereas the hexahydrated are amorphous solids. The trihydrated complexes crystallize in the monoclinic (Pr(III) and Ce(III) complexes) and triclinic (Y(III) and Nd(III)–Er(III) complexes) crystal systems.     

Preparation of Fe2O3-exfoliated graphite composite and its electrochemical properties investigated in alkaline solution

In the present work, a simple method of preparation of FeCl₄⁻- graphite intercalation compounds from HCl/FeCl₃ solution with the aid of chemical oxidant is presented. Based on X-ray diffraction measurements it was concluded, that stages 8, 6, and 5 FeCl₄⁻-graphite intercalation compounds were obtained. The compounds thus obtained were thermally treated to obtain Fe₂O₃-exfoliated graphite composites. The dispersion of Fe₂O₃ in the exfoliated graphite flakes was examined with the aid of the energy dispersive X-ray analysis combined with a scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical behavior of electrodes was investigated in 6 M KOH solution. Electrochemical investigations proved the formation of FeOOH on the surface of exfoliated graphite during the anodic process. Besides, electrochemical investigations showed that the lower limit potential strongly affects the redox behavior of the Fe₂O₃-EG electrode.     

Exploring Reversible Quenching of Fluorescence from a Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline Derivative by Protonation

Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline derivatives are reported to be highly efficient organic fluorescent materials suitable for applications in light‐emitting devices. Although their fluorescence remains stable in organic solvents or in aqueous solution even in the presence of H₂O, halide salts (LiCl), alkali (NaOH) and weak acid (acetic acid), it suffers an efficient quenching process in the presence of protic acid (HCl) in aqueous or ethanolic solution. This quenching process is accompanied by a change in the UV spectrum, but it is reversible and can be fully recovered. Both steady‐state and transient fluorescence spectra of 1‐phenyl‐3,4‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazolo‐[3,4‐b]quinoline (PAQ5) during quenching are measured and analyzed. It is found that a combined dynamic and static quenching mechanism is responsible for the quenching processes. The ground‐state proton‐transfer complex [PAQ5 ??? H⁺] is responsible for static quenching. It changes linearly with proton concentration [H⁺] with a bimolecular association constant K_S=1.95 M ^?1 controlled by the equilibrium dissociation of HCl in ethanol. A dynamic quenching constant K_D=22.4 M ^?1 is obtained by fitting to the Stern–Volmer equation, with a bimolecular dynamic quenching rate constant k_d=1.03×10⁹ s^?1 M ^?1 under ambient conditions. A change in electron distribution is simulated and explains the experiment results.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel 2-benzimidazolylthioureas: adducts of natural isothiocyanates and 2-amino-1-methylbenzimidazole

Adducts of natural allyl, phenethyl, and benzyl isothiocyanates and 2-amino-1-methylbenzimidazole were synthesized. After optimization of the reaction conditions, the target 2-benzimidazolylthioureas were obtained in reasonable yields. The detailed molecular and crystal structures of these compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray methods. Spectral analysis demonstrated that N-(1-methylbenzimidazolyl)-N′-allylthiourea, N-(1-methylbenzimidazolyl)-N′-benzylthiourea, and N-(1-methylbenzimidazolyl)-N′-phenethylthiourea exist in solution in an unprecedented three tautomeric forms, whose structures were corroborated unambiguously.     

Bis(tetraethylammonium) tetrabromocobaltate(II) and bis(tetrabutylammonium) tetrabromomanganate(II): structure and magnetic properties

The crystal structures of tetrabromocobaltate(II) and tetrabromomanganate(II) salts of general formula [(C₂H₅)₄N]₂[CoBr₄] (1) and [(C₄H₉)₄N]₂[MnBr₄] (2) were determined. The manganese and cobalt cations are four-coordinated by bromide anions and they adopt a slightly distorted tetrahedral coordination. In the structure of both compounds there are neither hydrogen bonds nor any unusual short-range intermolecular interactions. Magnetic measurements of the powdered samples gave negative values of the Weiss constants equal to −4.9 and −1.1 K for (1) and (2), respectively, which suggest antiferromagnetic interactions to be transferred within the crystal lattice.     

Solid state NMR spectroscopy as a precise tool for assigning the tautomeric form and proton position in the intramolecular bridges of o-hydroxy Schiff bases

Two analogous Schiff bases, (S,E)-2-((1-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,1-diphenylbutan-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol (1) and (S,Z)-2-hydroxy-6-((1-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,1-diphenylbutan-2-ylamino)methylene)cyclohexa-2,4-dienone (2), exist in the solid state as phenol-imine and keto-amine tautomers, respectively. Their crystal structures were solved using the X-ray diffraction method. Sample 1 forms orthorhombic crystals of space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), while 2 forms monoclinic crystals of space group P2(1). In each sample, one molecule is in the asymmetric unit of the crystal structure. One-dimensional and two-dimensional solid state NMR techniques were used for structure assignment and for inspection of the (13)C and (15)N δ(ii) of the chemical shift tensor (CST) values. NMR study indicates that the span (Ω = δ(11)-δ(33)) and the skew (κ = 3(δ(22)-δ(iso)/Ω) are extremely sensitive to change in the tautomeric form of the Schiff bases. Theoretical calculations of NMR shielding parameters for 1 and 2 and a model compound with reduced aliphatic residue were performed using the GIAO method with B3LYP functional and 6-311++g(d,p) basis sets. From comparative analysis of the experimental and theoretical parameters, it was concluded that the position of hydrogen in the intramolecular bridge has tremendous influence on (13)C and (15)N CST parameters. Inspection of Ω and κ parameters allowed for the establishment of the nature of the hydrogen bonding and the assignment of the equilibrium proton position in the intramolecular bridges in the solid state.     

Basis set and method dependence in quantum theory of atoms in molecules calculations for covalent bonds

The influence of various small- and medium-size basis sets used in Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP calculations on results of quantum theory of atoms in molecules based (QTAIM-based) analysis of bond parameters is investigated for several single, double, and triple covalent bonds. It is shown that, in general, HF and DFT/B3LYP methods give very similar QTAIM results with respect to the basis set. The smallest 6-31G basis set and DZ-quality basis sets of Dunning type lead to poor results in comparison to those obtained by the most reliable aug-cc-pVTZ. On the contrary, 6-311++G(2df,2pd) and in a somewhat lesser extent 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis sets give satisfactory values of QTAIM parameters. It is also demonstrated that QTAIM calculations may be sensitive for the method and basis set in the case of multiple and more polarized bonds.