A review of the role of DSC analysis in the design of fluorozirconate glasses for fibre optic applications

The relatively poor thermal stability of fluorozirconate glasses is a major factor preventing the realisation of their true potential for fibre optic applications. A range of methods based on both isothermal and non-isothermal DSC techniques, which can be employed to evaluate the thermal stability of fluorozirconate glasses, are described. The relevance of these thermal stability criteria to the design of fluorozirconate compositions capable of yielding high quality optical fibres is discussed.     

A new class of aromatic polyetheraroylhydrazides. I. Synthesis and chemical–physical characterization

A series of new aromatic polyetheraroylhydrazides incorporating 4-oxybenzoyl units has been synthesized, whose general formula was [CONHNHCO? O? O–(CH₂)_x? O? phenyl O-CONHNHCOO]_n with x values in the range of 2 to 12. The increasing number of methylene units in the backbone gave rise to polymers which melted before the hydrazidic linkage underwent thermal cyclation to oxadiazole. Moreover, many polymers showed multiple endotherms on melting. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed a crystalline organization of polyhydrazides for methylene units above 4. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal Behaviour of the N-donor Adducts of Metal Saccharinates III. Imidazole saccharinates of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II)

The complexes [M(HIm)₄(H₂O)₂](sac)₂ (M=Co, Ni) and [Cd(HIm)₂(sac)₂]₂ with saccharin (sac) and imidazole (HIm) were synthesized and their thermal (TG, DTG and DTA) behaviour in the interval from room temperature up to 1000°C in a static air atmosphere was investigated. Irrespectively of whether the deprotonated saccharinato residues are present as ligands or ions or both as ligands and ions, the anhydrous complexes regularly decompose in two stages. The thermal data of 16 saccharinato complexes (including the title compounds) were correlated with the respective structural data. The general thermal stability order of the saccharinato complexes can be represented as: Pb(II)<Zn(II)<Co(II)Ni(II)<Cd(II) (the stability of the Cu saccharinates depends on the particular compound) and is dictated by several structural factors, e.g. metal ionic radii, participation of the water in the coordination sphere of the metal and other structural characteristics. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis of non-equilibrium PtxOs1−x Solid solutions. Crystal structure of [Pt(NH3)4][OsCl6]

Several non-equilibrium solid solutions belonging to the platinum-osmium systems Os_0.9Pt_0.1, Os_0.8Pt_0.2, Os_0.5Pt_0.5, Os_0.7Pt_0.3, Os_0.75Pt_0.25 are prepared and studied. The thermal decomposition of [Pt(NH₃)₄][OsCl₆] in the hydrogen and helium atmosphere is investigated. It is found that the Pt_0.5Os_0.5 solid solution develops through the formation of (NH₄)₂[OsCl₆] and a metallic phase based on Pt. The crystal structure of a double complex salt [Pt(NH₃)₄][OsCl₆] is studied (X8-APEX Bruker, 1508 independent reflections, R = 2.04%). Crystal data for PtOsN₄Cl₆H₁₂ are: a = 11.6216(5) Å, b = 11.0016(5) Å, c = 10.3819(5) Å, V = 1327.4(1) ų, space group Cmca, Z = 4, d _x = 3.333 g/cm₃. The coordination polyhedron around Os is octahedral: 〈Os-Cl〉 2.357 Å, ∠Cl-Os-Cl 89.5–90.5°, while around Pt it is square-planar: Pt-N 2.046 Å, ∠ N-Pt-N 89.59° and 90.41°.     

Combining thermal analysis with other techniques to monitor the decomposition of poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide)

The pyrolysis behaviour of Nomex, poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) fibres under argon has been investigated up to a temperature of 1173 K with different methods to get direct information on the progressive changes taking place in the solid material and its carbon fibre residues. The main stages of the pyrolytic degradation of the fibres were determined by thermal analysis (TG and DTA) and their chemical and morphological evolution through the different steps was subsequently followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements, respectively, on samples treated to various temperatures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pyrolysis Analysis and Kinetics of Crude Oils

This research presents the results of an experimental study on the determination of pyrolysis behaviour and kinetics of six crude oils by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG/DTG). Crude oil pyrolysis indicated two main temperature ranges where loss of mass was observed. The first region between ambient to 400°C was distillation. The second region between 400 and 600°C was visbreaking and thermal cracking. Arrhenius-type kinetic model is used to determine the kinetic parameters of crude oils studied. It was observed that as crude oils gets heavier (°API decreases) cracking activation energy increases. Activation energy of cracking also show a general trend with asphaltene content. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cathodoluminescence Depth Profiling in SiO2:Ge Layers

 For investigation of the luminescent center profile cathodoluminescence measurements are used under variation of the primary electron energy E ₀ = 2…30 keV. Applying a constant incident power regime (E ₀·I ₀ = const), the depth profiles of luminescent centers are deduced from the range of the electron energy transfer profiles dE/dx. Thermally grown SiO₂ layers of thickness d = 500 nm have been implanted by Ge⁺-ions of energy 350 keV and doses (0.5–5)10¹⁶ ions/cm². Thus Ge profiles with a concentration maximum of (0.4 – 4) at% at the depth of d_m≅240 nm are expected. Afterwards the layers have been partially annealed up to T _a = 1100 °C for one hour in dry nitrogen. After thermal annealing, not only the typical violet luminescence (λ = 400 nm) of the Ge centers is strongly increased but also the luminescent center profiles are shifted from about 250 nm to 170 nm depth towards the surface. This process should be described by Ge diffusion processes, precipitation and finally Ge nanocluster formation. Additionally, a Ge surface layer is piled-up extending to a depth of roughly 25 nm.     

Preparation and Characteristics of Porous Silica Films by a Modified Base-Catalyzed Sol-Gel Process Containing PVA: II. Film Preparation

Porous SiO₂ films were successfully deposited on silicon substrates by a modified base-catalyzed Sol-Gel process (MBCP) containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The process conditions, such as the gelation time, the synthesis temperature, the stabilizing agent of the precursor solution and the spin coating speed, the heat-treatment, the annealing temperature of the film on the microstructure and porosity of porous SiO₂ films were systematically investigated by SEM, XRD and ellipsometry techniques. This study provides a novel preparation technique for the porous SiO₂ film. Using this process, the resultant film can reach a thickness of 3.6 m for one layer, a porosity of 25–50%, a low thermal conductivity of 0.11 W/m·K. This film will be used as a low dielectric layer, an thermal-insulating layer and a low refractive index layer.     

Azocalixarenes: Synthesis, Characterization, Complexation, Extraction, Absorption Properties and Thermal Behaviours

Azocalixarenes, which have a conjugated chromophore azo (–N=N–) group in p-positions, are synthesized in “one-pot” procedures in satisfactory yields. Their structures in the solid and solution are elucidated by UV–vis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods as well as elemental analysis techniques. Some of them are complexed with metal ions (alkali, alkaline-earth and transition metal ions) under neutral conditions. A wide variety of applications is expected by the functionalization of the side arms. The selective liquid–liquid extraction of various alkali, alkaline-earth and transition metal cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase is carried out by using azocalixarenes. Furthermore, the synthesized azocalixarenes are utilized for selective extraction of Fe³⁺ cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. The effects of varying pH and solvent upon the absorption ability of azocalixarenes substituted with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups at their o-, m-, p-positions are examined. The thermal behaviours of azocalixarenes containing upper rim functionalized groups are investigated by means of thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG).     

Thermal decomposition of ammonium fluoroferrates (NH4)xFeF2x (2≤x≤3)

Different ammonium fluoroferrates (NH₄)_xFeF_2x (2≤x≤3) have been investigated. The thermal decomposition of the compounds obtained can be interpreted by their identical crystal structures (cryolite type). The decomposition products of all ammonium fluoroferrates formed in initial stage are isostructural of NH₄FeF₄. The decomposition is accompanied by the partial reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II) by ammonium isolated. The end product of the thermal decomposition is FeF₂ and FeF₃ mixture.