Obtaining Kinetic Parameters by Modulated Thermogravimetry

A new technique, called modulated thermogravimetry, is introduced as a tool for obtaining continuous kinetic information for decomposition and volatilization reactions. The approach makes use of an oscillatory temperature program to obtain kinetic parameters during a mass loss. MTGA™ may be used under quasi-isothermal conditions to observe a single mass loss or may be combined with linear heating rate or Hi-Res™ controlled rate thermogravimetry to scan from one mass loss region to another. Results obtained are in agreement with those obtained by other kinetic methods. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A study of PBT/PC blends by modulated DSC and conventional DSC

Two poly(butylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate (PBT/PC) blends with different formulations were analyzed by modulated DSC (MDSC) and conventional DSC to determine differences in crystallization behavior. A significant difference (30°C in cold crystallization temperature) between the two samples was detectable by MDSC while no significant difference was seen by conventional DSC. That indicatesthe total heat flow from MDSC is not always equivalent to the heat flow from conventional DSC as we have assumed or seen before. The reason has not been fully understood, but may be related to unusual nucleation and crystallization induced by modulation. Alternative conventional DSC methods were developed and compared to the MDSC results.Dedicated to Professor Bernhard Wunderlich on the occasion of his 65th birthdayThe authors like to thank Drs. Bernhard Wunderlich and Robert Gallucci for helpful discussion, David Shaker and Mary Parsonage for some DSC experiments. Technical support from TA Instruments is also greatly appreciated.     

二氧化碳和氧气的快速电化学方法联合测定

根据Ｏ２和ＣＯ２在二甲亚砜（ＤＭＳＯ）介质中Ｐｔ电极上的伏安特性，采用微电极并结构计算机控制的电位调制技术，建立了快速联合测定ＣＯ２和Ｏ２的调制电位脉冲库仑法和调制电位脉冲电流法，取得了满意的结果。一次测量时间快达４０ｍｓ。ＣＯ２检测范围０￣１０％（体积百分比）；Ｏ２检测范围不受限制。通过编程设计特定的调制电位－时间波形，可保持连续检测的长期稳定性。     

Non isothermal heat capacities and chemical reactions using a modulated DSC

An evaluation of measurements of heat capacities by modulated differential scanning calorimetry, MDSC is presented. Heat capacities were obtained from 130 to 550 K by a non isothermal technique in which a periodic modulation was added to the linear heating rate. Effects of amplitude and period of modulation, sample weight, sample type, pan type, and cell imbalance are described. Results are compared with those obtained using the isothermal technique. Heat capacity could be measured well into the decomposition region and separated from the non reversing signal due to chemical reaction (degradation), thus allowing a precise detection of onsets of the thermal degradation. This additional information will aid in the interpretation of the degradation chemistry, a field vital for the petroleum-industry.Dedicated to Professor Bernhard Wunderlich on the occasion of his 65th birthdayPart of this paper was presented at the 23rd Conference of the North American Thermal Analysis Society, Toronto, Canada, September 25–28, 1994.The author (MVN) acknowledges the experimental assistance provided by J. Balogh of Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Linden. Helpful discussions with A. Boller of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Dr. Y. Jin, General Electrical, and Dr. S. Sauerbrunn formerly of TA Instruments are also acknowledged.     

Gaussian,non-Gaussian critical fluctuations in the Curie-Weiss model

It is known that at the critical temperature the Curie-Weiss mean-field model has non-Gaussian fluctuations and that internal fluctuations can be Gaussian. Here we compute the distribution of theq-mode magnetization fluctuations as a function of the temperature, the wave vectorq, and a fading out external field. We obtain new classes of probability distributions generated by this external field as well as new critical behavior in terms of its rate of fading out. We discuss also the susceptibility as the limitq tending to zero.     

Where are the Sn atoms in LaSb2Snx, 0.1?x?∼0.75?

The composition range and (composite modulated) structure of compounds within the wide range non-stoichiometric LaSb₂Sn_x, 0.1?x?0.75, solid solution is carefully investigated via a combined electron diffraction, XRD and electron probe microanalysis study. Evidence for metastability of the LaSb₂Sn_x phase at the low x composition end of the solid solution is presented. Direct evidence is found for a reasonably (although by no means perfectly) well ordered Sn sub-structure which is, in general, mutually incommensurable with respect to a very well ordered underlying LaSb₂ sub-structure along both a and c directions. The overall (3+2)-d superspace group symmetry is given along with a discussion of the consequences as regards the arrangement of the Sn atoms. The Sn sub-structure c-axis cell dimension shows very little variation with composition x providing direct experimental evidence of the importance of Sn-Sn metallic bonding (along one-dimensional [001] Sn strings) for the stability of the phase.     

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.     

A twin optically-pumped far-infrared CH3OH laser for plasma diagnostics

A twin optically-pumped far-infrared CH₃OH laser has been constructed for use in plasma diagnostics. The antisymmetric doublet due to the Raman-type resonant two-photon transition is reproducibly observed at 118.8 m. With the 118.8-m line, it is obtained from the frequency separation of the anti-symmetric doublet that CH₃OH absorption line center is 16±1 MHz higher than the pump 9.7-m P(36) CO₂ laser line center. It is shown that the Raman-type resonant two-photon transition is useful in order to get several-MHz phase modulation for the far-infrared laser interferometer. Some preliminary performances of this twin laser for the modulated interferometer are described.This work was carried out under the collaborating research program at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464, Japan.     

Greater insight into the MTDSC technique involving fundamental sinusoidal heat flow equations

Summary Modulated temperature DSC was investigated, comparing data found experimentally to that derived from theory. Deviation from theory was found with regard to the amplitude of the modulated heat flow signal when large modulation amplitudes were employed in the experiment. These deviations were determined to be dependent on the absolute temperature and it was concluded that further investigation of the heat flow signal obtained during MTDSC experiments is required.     

A modulated dsc study on the in situ polymerization of cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomers

The polymerization of a cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) oligomer was studied as a function of temperature (T=200 and 260°C, respectively) by modulated DSC (MDSC). The first heating was followed by cooling after various holding times (5, 15 and 30 min) prior to the second heating which ended always at T=260°C. This allowed us to study the crystallization and melting behavior of the resulting polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), as well. In contrary to the usual belief, the CBT polymerization is exothermic and the related process is superimposed to that of the CBT melting. The melting behavior of the PBT was affected by the polymerization mode (performed below or above the melting temperature of the PBT product) of the CBT. Annealing above the melting temperature of PBT yielded a product featuring double melting. This was attributed to the presence of crystallites with different degrees of perfection. The crystals perfection which occurred via recrystallization/remelting was manifested by a pronounced exothermic peak in the non-reversing trace.