Quantitative thermogravimetric analysis of binary mixtures

Thermogravimetric analysis is used to determine the amounts of Mg(OH)₂ and Mg(CH₃COO)₂in a mixture thereof. The application and suitability of different analysis methods are discussed. In the first method the mass losses in the temperature ranges as indicated by the decomposition of the pure compounds were used. Results obtained using these temperature ranges were unusable. The percentage mass losses due to the decomposition of Mg(OH)₂ and Mg(CH₃COO)₂ were then determined in a second method using the minimum in the derivative mass vs. temperature curves. The results obtained by this method compared well with the actual values for mixtures containing more than 15% magnesium acetate. The third method employed the total experimental mass loss of both decomposition reactions. The results obtained using this method compared well to the actual values, giving a R ² value of more than 0.99. This method of using the total mass losses can however only be used for binary mixtures that consist only of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium acetate. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Extraction of extra-framework aluminium from stabilized y-zeolites. Evaluation by t-plot method

Evaluation of microporosity by t-plot method of a series of NH₄Y samples stabilized by different hydrothermal treatments with subsequent HCl extraction shows the strong influence of stabilizing conditions on the solubility of extraframework aluminium species created.     

Preparation of Small Particle Sized ZnAl-Hydrotalcite-Like Compounds by Ultrasonic Crystallization

Ultrasonic technology has been intensively studied recently due to its special features. In this paper, an ultrasonic crystallization method was introduced for the preparation of ZnAl-Hydrotalcite-Like compounds (ZnAl-HTLcs). Samples with high crystallinity, small particle size and narrow particle size distribution were obtained and fully characterized using conventional techniques of XRD, FT-IR and TGDTA. The results prove that both ultrasonic frequency and ultrasonic power have effects on the sizes of the product particles. By varying the ultrasonic power from 250 W to 88 W, with the ultrasonic frequency fixed at 59 kHz, the median particle size of the samples increased from 0.37 μm to 0.82 μm. By altering the hydrothermal treatment time from 1 h to 5 h at 110℃, the median particle size of ZnAl-HTLcs synthesized via ultrasonic crystallization increased from 0.88 μm to 1.11 μm.     

Effects of polystyrene-encapsulated magnesium hydroxide on rheological and flame-retarding properties of HIPS composites

In this study, polystyrene (PS)-encapsulated magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) was successfully prepared by in situ polymerization of styrene on the surface of Mg(OH)₂ in a high-speed mixer. A large amount of PS chemically bonded on Mg(OH)₂ surface was confirmed by means of FT-IR, TGA and SEM. A series of composites of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) were prepared by melt blending in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The effects of PS-encapsulated filler on the properties of HIPS composites were studied by SEM, rheology and combustion tests (horizontal burning tests and cone calorimetry). The dispersion and adhesion patterns of PS-encapsulated Mg(OH)₂ in HIPS matrix were investigated through FT-IR and SEM. The experimental results demonstrated that comparing to the composites containing untreated filler, the rheological and flame retardant properties of those containing PS-encapsulated filler were found to be significantly improved. This improvement is mostly attributed to a better dispersion of the encapsulated filler and a strong adhesion between the filler and matrix.     

Morphology-controlled nonaqueous synthesis of anisotropic lanthanum hydroxide nanoparticles

The preparation of lanthanum hydroxide and manganese oxide nanoparticles is presented, based on a nonaqueous sol-gel process involving the reaction of La(OiPr)₃ and KMnO₄ with organic solvents such as benzyl alcohol, 2-butanone and a 1:1 vol. mixture thereof. The lanthanum manganese oxide system is highly complex and surprising results with respect to product composition and morphology were obtained. In dependence of the reaction parameters, the La(OH)₃ nanoparticles undergo a shape transformation from short nanorods with an average aspect ratio of 2.1 to micron-sized nanofibers (average aspect ratio is more than 59.5). Although not directly involved, KMnO₄ plays a crucial role in determining the particle morphology of La(OH)₃. The reason lies in the fact that KMnO₄ is able to oxidize the benzyl alcohol to benzoic acid, which presumably induces the anisotropic particle growth in [0 0 1] direction upon preferential coordination to the ±(1 0 0), ±(0 1 0) and ±(−110) crystal facets. By adjusting the molar La(OiPr)₃-to-KMnO₄ ratio as well as by using the appropriate solvent mixture it is possible to tailor the morphology, phase purity and microstructure of the La(OH)₃ nanoparticles. Postsynthetic thermal treatment of the sample containing La(OH)₃ nanofibers and β-MnOOH nanoparticles at the temperature of 800 °C for 8 h yielded polyhedral LaMnO₃ and worm-like La₂O₃ nanoparticles as final products.     

Tetra(μ3-hydroxo)hexa(μ2-carboxylato-O,O′)-bridged tetranuclear terbium(III) cubane complex

A novel tetranuclear terbium(III) complex [Tb₄(OH)₄(pybet)₆(H₂O)₈][Tb₄(OH)₄(pybet)₆(H₂O)₇ (NO₃)](ClO₄)₁₄·6H₂O has been synthesized and shown by X-ray crystallography to have a cubane-like Tb₄(μ₃-OH)₄(μ₂-carboxylato-O,O′)₆ core. The ligand pybet is pyridinoacetate, C₅H₅⁺N-CH₂CO₂⁻. Magnetic susceptibility data were measured for this Tb₄ complex in the range of 2.0–320 K and in fields of 1.0 G to 50.0 kG. It is concluded that either there is very weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction (J = −0.015 cm⁻¹) or there is a small crystal-field splitting of the ⁷F₆ Tb^III ground state.     

The Binary System BaF2/AlF3

The system BaF₂/AlF₃ is investigated by X-ray and D.T.A., and the liquid-solid phase diagram is established. Five ternary fluorides are disclosed: trimorphic BaAlF₅, Ba₃Al₂F₁₂, Ba₅AlF₁₉, polymorphic Ba₃AlF₉ and Ba₅AlF₁₃. Neutron thermodiffractometry experiments are performed to specify some parts of the diagram. The cell parameters of the fluorides are given and the results are discussed and compared with those of the previous works.     

Convenient procedure of Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination for the synthesis of simple and functionalized α,β-unsaturated nitriles

A mild and practical procedure of Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination promoted by lithium hydroxide and α-cyano phosphonates has been set up for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated nitriles. The reaction conditions are tolerated by functionalized ketones and the exclusive formation of E-γ-hydroxy α,β-unsaturated nitriles has been observed.     

Phenol methylation over CrPO4 and CrPO4?AlPO4 catalysts

The vapor-phase catalytic alkylation of phenol with methanol and dimethyl carbonate on a series of differently prepared CrPO₄ (Cr/P=1) and CrPO₄-AlPO₄ (CrAIP) catalysts, has been studied at different temperatures (473–673 K). The reaction is first order in phenol, giving a mixture of O- and C-alkylated products (C-alkylation taking place preferentially at theortho-position). Moreover, dimethyl carbonate is a better methylating agent than methanol.     

Formation of YAG from coprecipitated yttrium aluminium hydroxides

Thermal decomposition of the amorphous coprecipitate of yttrium and aluminium hydroxides forming yttrium aluminium garnet has been investigated employing thermal analyses, X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. On heating, the coprecipitate progressively loses water forming a stable but highly disordered hydroxy garnet which crystallizes at 1180 K and decomposes to YAG at 1290 K. Nucleation of the crystalline phase appears to begin at 800 K.The authors thank Dr. P. V. Ravindran of the Analytical Chemistry and Shri N. K. Kulkarni of the Fuel Chemistry Divisions of BARC for their assistance in the thermoanalytical experiments.