Microwave assisted low temperature synthesis of sodium zirconium phosphate (NaZr<Subscript>2</Subscript>P<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>)

Sodium zirconium phosphate [NaZr₂P₃O₁₂], a potential ceramic matrix for fixation of high level nuclear waste, was synthesized by heating the mixture of sodium carbonate [Na₂CO₃], zirconyl nitrate hydrate [ZrO(NO₃)₂·5H₂O] and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate [NH₄H₂PO₄] in air, in a resistance heated furnace and a microwave heating system respectively in the temperature range 450 to 650°C. The mixture heated for 1 h in a resistance furnace at 450°C yielded a poorly crystalline NaZr₂P₃O₁₂ [NZP]. Increasing the temperature to 650°C produced a highly crystalline product. The same mixture heated in a microwave oven at 450°C for 1 h however, yielded the most crystalline NZP.In an alternate method, the mixture of sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH₂PO₄), zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) and diammonium hydrogen phosphate [(NH₄)₂HPO₄] heated in resistance furnace at 650°C for the same period did not react in air. It also did not yield the pure product at 450°C when heated in microwave assembly for 1 h.The authors thank the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for the financial support for this work under the project No. 2000/37/19/BRNS/1959 dtd09-02-02.     

PBT／PET共混体系的协同效应

ＰＢＴ、ＰＥＴ具有良好相容性，且两种聚合物分子链间存在相互作用，它们的共混体系在熔体降温结晶过程中以及溶液中均表现出协同效应。虽然ＰＢＴ、ＰＥＴ在共混体系中各自形成晶区，但熔体降温结果过程中只能观察到一个结晶放热峰，当ＰＢＴ／ＰＥＴ共混物中两组份分子链段数目相近时，熔体降温结晶峰温较低，峰形变宽，共混体系的结晶程度降低在溶液中两组份分子链段数目相近时，共混物特性粘度（η）值最大，分子链的均方根末端     

Differential scanning calorimetry and the advanced solidification processing of metals and alloys

This paper describes some examples of the use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in providing information for advanced solidification processing of metals and alloys. Spray forming, squeeze casting, grain refinement and crystallization of amorphous alloys are all discussed. DSC measurements are shown to be valuable for testing kinetic theories of nucleation and growth, and validating solidification process models.     

Micropatterning of semicrystalline poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) solutions

Micropatterning of a semicrystalline poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) solution was performed by a temperature controlled capillary micromolding where the rate of solvent evaporation was controlled by substrate temperature. In order to choose proper solvents for micropatterning, we have investigated the solubility of PVDF in various organic solvents and crystal structures of the PVDF bulk films cast from the solvents. The films prepared from the polar solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) dominantly showed γ type crystals regardless of preparation temperature, while the films from tetrahydrofuran (THF) exhibit α type crystals and the ones from acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) show the characteristics of both α- and γ-PVDF. The quality of micropatterns and shapes of the PVDF crystals in the patterns significantly depend on solvent evaporation rates. Micropatterns of PVDF formed in DMF at 120 °C showed the best uniformity in shape. Crystals of the PVDF nucleated at the center regions of microchannels tended to be elongated with the b-axis of γ-PVDF crystals along the channels as the concentration of the solution decreased. In contrast, crystals nucleated at the corner regions of the channels had their b-axis oriented perpendicular to the channels. In line patterns with the width of 2 μm, the corner nucleated crystals were dominant and a resulting bamboo-like crystalline microstructure was observed in which the b-axis of γ-PVDF crystals, fast growth direction, is oriented normal to the microchannels. The crystal structures of the bulk films and the micropatterns were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope in Attenuated Total Reflection mode, Polarized Optical and Scanning Electron Microscope.     

Ester interchange reactions catalyzed by tin compounds in reactive processing: NMR contribution via reactions with model compounds

Interchange reactions involving esters were used in reactive processing with a view to obtaining polymer blends with stabilized morphology. Dibutyltinoxide (DBTO) appeared to be an excellent catalyst for these reactions. In fact, it was shown that the true catalytic entity is a dimeric alkoxy, acyloxy distannoxane entity formed in situ, during processing, by the reaction of the DBTO with the polymer ester groups. This compound was first obtained with model esters and characterized by multinuclear NMR analysis (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn). The catalytic efficiency of the in situ polymeric distannoxane was compared with other added parent distannoxanes. Later on – still with model compounds – ligand exchanges at the tin sites were investigated and it was shown that these exchanges are not essential to the catalyst activity, but when they take place it increases the catalytic efficiency. Then, this type of catalysis was successfully used for interchange reactions in reactive extrusion of different polymer blends, some applications are briefly presented. To cite this article: M.-F. Llauro and A. Michel, C. R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

Real‐time lock‐in energy loss imaging with a novel high‐speed image processing CCD video camera

We have developed a high‐speed image processing CCD video camera for real‐time energy‐loss imaging using a conventional electron microscope with an energy‐loss imaging facility. As an initial demonstration of real‐time lock‐in energy‐loss imaging, a background‐subtracted energy‐loss image was observed by attaching the high‐speed image processing CCD video camera to an analytical electron microscope equipped with a floating‐type energy‐loss imaging analyser. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Processing and error analysis of signals in flow-injection analysis

The processing and error analysis of signals in flow-injection systems were systematically studied by simulation and experimental measurements. The content includes an error analysis for peak-height and peak-area signal, a least-squares filtering procedure applied to the flow-injection curve and a peak recognition to remove interferences from air bubbles. Simulation results were obtained by statistical processing of peak-height and peak-area values from Gaussian curves to which noise had been added. The experimental measurements were done by an automatic flow-injection device to obtain detailed information for each individual point of a peak. 2-(2-Arsenophenylazo)-7-(2,6-dichlorophenylazo-4-sulphonic acid)-1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulphonic acid (DCSA) was used for measuring physical dispersion alone, and Fe(II)-o-phenanthroline for the measurement of both physical dispersion and chemical reaction. The results from computer simulation and experiments agreed well.     

Optimization of a GFAAS method for determination of total inorganic arsenic in drinking water

The new 10 μg l⁻¹ arsenic standard in drinking water has been a spur to the search for reliable routine analytical methods with a limit of detection at the μg l⁻¹ level. These methods also need to be easy to handle due to the routine analyses that are required in drinking water monitoring. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) meets these requirements, but the limit of detection is generally too high except for methods using a pre-concentration or separation step. The use of a high-intensity boosted discharge hollow-cathode lamp decreases the baseline noise level and therefore allows a lower limit of detection. The temperature program, chemical matrix modifier and thermal stabilizer additives were optimized for total inorganic arsenic determination with GFAAS, without preliminary treatment. The optimal furnace program was validated with a proprietary software. The limit of detection was 0.26 μg As l⁻¹ for a sample volume of 16 μl corresponding to 4.2 pg As. This attractive technique is rapid as 20 samples can be analysed per hour. This method was validated with arsenic reference solutions. Its applicability was verified with artificial and natural groundwaters. Recoveries from 91 to 105% with relative standard deviation <5% can be easily achieved. The effect of interfering anions and cations commonly found in groundwater was studied. Only phosphates and silicates (respectively at 4 and 20 mg l⁻¹) lead to significant interferences in the determination of total inorganic arsenic at 4 μg l⁻¹.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(propylene carbonate)/montmorillonite nanocomposites by solution intercalation

Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is a new biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonate. However, the poor thermal stability and low glass transition temperatures (T_g) have limited its applications. To improve the thermal properties of PPC, organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) was mixed with PPC by a solution intercalation method to produce nanocomposites. An intercalated-and-flocculated structure of PPC/OMMT nanocomposites was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal and mechanical properties of PPC/OMMT nanocomposites were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), and electronic tensile tester. Due to the nanometer-sized dispersion of layered silicate in polymer matrix, PPC/OMMT nanocomposites exhibit improved thermal and mechanical properties than pure PPC. When the OMMT content is 4 wt%, the PPC/OMMT nanocomposite shows the best thermal and mechanical properties. These results indicate that nanocomposition is an efficient and convenient method to improve the properties of PPC.     

N-Nosyl-α-amino acids in solution phase peptide synthesis

A highly efficient and practical synthesis of peptides in solution phase has been developed. The procedure is based on the use of p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl (nosyl) group for the protection of the amino function of α-amino acids. Every step of the procedure, protection of the amino function by the nosyl group, formation of the peptide bond, and removal of the sulfonamide group, is characterized by high yields and excellent purity of the final products. The described strategy allows the preparation of short peptide sequences keeping the chiral integrity of amino acid precursors. Compatibility of nosyl group with the side-chain protecting groups used in Fmoc-based strategy is demonstrated. The method here presented is an alternative strategy that could provide advantages for future peptide synthesis.