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Although gypsum belongs to the low-energy environmentally friendly binders, its wider applications in building constructions are limited due to the negative effect of moisture on its mechanical properties. When calcined gypsum (CaSO4·1/2H2O) transforms into its hydrated form (CaSO4·2H2O), it is partially soluble in water and it has a relatively low strength. This problem can be resolved when gypsum is used as a part of binary or ternary binders. In this paper, a system consisting of calcined gypsum, lime, and silica fume is presented as a functional solution for a wider utilization of gypsum in wet environments. For this purpose, the newly designed materials were stored in different environments (laboratory conditions in air or water) up to 182 days. The effect of silica fume on the hydration process and the growth of the main products is evaluated by using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry in the temperature range from 25 to 1000 °C with a heating rate of 5 °C min−1 in an argon atmosphere. The carbonation level of studied materials is also evaluated. Besides this, the information about the thermal stability of studied materials is provided. These results are supported by evolved gas analysis, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The basic physical and mechanical properties are determined to provide more detailed information about the behavior of the designed materials under various conditions at selected days of hydration. The addition of silica fume to the gypsum-lime system activates the pozzolanic reaction of the analyzed pastes, which is proved by the presence of the CSH phase and by the consumption of portlandite in the mixtures. Wet environment speeds up the hydration processes and prevents samples from carbonation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of the studies concerning photo- and thermally initiated copolymerization of bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide (BES-DM) with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) and thermo-mechanical properties of resulting compositions are presented. BES-DM was obtained in the two-step reaction. In the first step, the epoxy resin was synthesized. It was obtained in the reaction of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfide with 2-(chloromethyl)oxirane. In the second step, esterification of the obtained diglycidyl ether was carried out with the use of methacrylic acid. New copolymers with different degrees of crosslinking were obtained. The study describes the effect of crosslinking degree and the method of polymerization initiation on the properties of the new compositions. Density, viscosity, glass temperature, Young's modulus, hardness, tensile strength were determined before and after curing for the compositions of BES-DM and NVP. Moreover, the dynamic-mechanical and thermal properties for the chosen samples of copolymers were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal characterization of materials provides conclusions regarding the identification of materials as well as their purity and composition, polymorphism, and structural changes. Analytical experimental techniques for thermal characterization comprise of a group of techniques, in which physical properties of materials are ascertained through controlled temperature program. Among these techniques, traditional differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a well-accepted technique for analyzing thermal transitions in condensed systems. Modulated DSC (MDSC) is used to study the same material properties as conventional DSC including: transition temperatures, melting and crystallization, and heat capacity. Further, MDSC also provides unique feature of increased resolution and increased sensitivity in the same measurement. 'Hot disk thermal constant analyzer', based on Transient Plane Source (TPS) technique, offers simultaneous measurement of thermal transport properties of specimen, which are directly related to heat conduction such as thermal conductivity ( λ) and thermal diffusivity ( χ). This method enables the thermal analysis on large number of materials from building materials to materials with high thermal conductivity like iron. The temperature range covered so far extends from the liquid nitrogen point to 1000 K and should be possible to extend further. This review also presents some interesting results of phase transition temperature of miscible (CPI/TPI) and immiscible (PS/PMMA) polymeric systems carried out through dynamic mechanical analyzer along with the thermal transport properties obtained for cis-polyisoprene (CPI), trans-polyisoprene (TPI), and their blends determined by TPS technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid-liquid phase equilibrium data of two binary organic systems, namely, urea (U)-3-aminophenol (AP) and 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HB)-β-napthaol (BN) show formation of a eutectic in each case. The enthalpies of fusion of the pure components and binary eutectics have been determined using differential scanning calorimeter (Mettler DSC-4000) system. The thermal properties of the materials such as heat of mixing, entropy of fusion, roughness parameter, interfacial energy and excess thermodynamic functions were computed using the enthalpy of fusion values. The microstructures of eutectics were developed using unidirectional thermal gradient and interested region were photographed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal properties and degree of conversion (DC%) of two composite resins (microhybrid and nanocomposite) and two photo-activation methods (continuous and gradual) displayed by the light-emitting diode (LED) light-curing units (LCUs) were investigated in this study. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal analysis technique was used to investigate the glass transition temperature ( T) and degradation temperature. The DC% was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results showed that the microhybrid composite resin presented the highest T and degradation temperature values, i.e., the best thermal stability. Gradual photo-activation methods showed higher or similar T and degradation temperature values when compared to continuous method. The Elipar Freelight 2 LCU showed the lowest T values. With respect to the DC%, the photo-activation method did not influence the final conversion of composite resins. However, Elipar Freelight 2 LCU and microhybrid resin showed the lowest DC% values. Thus, the presented results suggest that gradual method photo-activation with LED LCUs provides adequate degree of conversion without promoting changes in the polymer chain of composite resins. However, the thermal properties and final conversion of composite resins can be influenced by the kind of composite resin and LCU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a low profile additive, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), on the thermal and mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester resins (UP) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and tensile tests. The morphology of the systems has been studied by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Two PCL molecular mass were selected (PCL2: M = 2000 g mol and PCL50: M = 50000 g mol) to analyze the influence of the molecular mass and the content of PCL on the UP resins and to establish the relation between thermomechanical behavior and morphology. DSC and DMTA glass transition temperatures ( T) of the UP cured samples containing PCL indicate that PCL2 is miscible with UP whereas for UP + PCL50 system, T values are very close to the ones corresponding to neat UP. Besides in UP + PCL2 systems, one phase morphology is observed in which PCL2 would act as solvent of the reacting mixture along curing process; however, UP + PCL50 systems present phase-separated morphology. The presence of PCL2 and PCL50 in UP resin leads to a decrease of the tensile strength and the Young′s modulus as much notorious as the PCL concentration increases. For UP + PCL2 system the elongation at fracture increases in relation to neat UP, increasing as well with the PCL content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase change nanocomposites were prepared by dispersing γ-AlO nanoparticles into melting paraffin wax (PW). Intensive sonication was used to make well dispersed and homogeneous composites. Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and transient short-hot-wire (SHW) method were employed to measure the thermal properties of the composites. The composites decreased the latent heat thermal energy storage capacity, L, and melting point, T, compared with those of the PW. Interestingly, the composites with low mass fraction of the nanoparticles, have higher latent heat capacity than the calculated latent heat capacity value. The thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites was enhanced and increased with the mass fraction of AlO in both liquid state and solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal behavior of modified starches (MS) produced by biosynthetic pathway is described based on a comparative analysis with native starches (NS). MS were produced by fermentation in presence of Ophiostoma spp. cultures. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) with successive derivatives (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for this study. NS results showed a single peak dominating both the TG (DTG) and DSC plots. A double thermal transition event was detected in samples of MS. The procedural decomposition temperature ( Ti– Tf; lowest onset temperature of initial and final mass change) was carried out within a narrow interval of temperatures for NS (610–640 °C). This interval could not be reached within the 1,000 °C range in MS. Residues higher than 10% were recorded for MS at this temperature. The presence of the double thermal transition in MS is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase behavior of semicrystalline, aliphatic nylons is analyzed on the basis of differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, and quasi-isothermal, temperature-modulated DSC, TMDSC. The data of main interest are the apparent heat capacities, C p, in the temperature range from below the glass transitions to above the isotropization. Based on the contributions of the vibrational motion to C p, as is available from measurements in our laboratory, the ATHAS Data Bank, and multifaceted new TMDSC results, as well as on information on the crystal structures, NMR, molecular dynamics simulation of paraffin crystals, and quasi-elastic neutron scattering, the following observations are made: (a) In semicrystalline nylons the glass transition of the mobile-amorphous phase is broadened to higher temperature. The additionally present rigid-amorphous phase, RAF, undergoes a separate, broad glass transition at somewhat higher temperature. (b) The transition of the RAF, in turn, overlaps usually with an increase in large-amplitude motion of the CH2-groups within the crystals and latent heat effects due to melting, recrystallization, and crystal annealing. (c) Above the glass transitions of the two non-crystalline phases, C p of the crystals approaches and exceeds that of the melt. This effect is due to additional entropy contributions (disordering) within the crystals, which may for some nylons lead to a mesophase. In case a mesophase is formed, the C p drops to the level of the melt as is common for mesophases. (d) Some locally reversible melting is present on the crystal surfaces, but seems to be minimal for the mesophase. (e) The increasing amount of large-amplitude motion in the crystals is described as a third glass transition, occurring over a broad temperature range below the melting or disordering transition from crystal to mesophase. The assumption of a separate glass transition in ordered phases was previously discovered on analyzing aliphatic poly(oxide)s such as poly(oxyethylene), POE, and in the broad class of mesophase-forming small and large molecules. To attain a full description of the globally-metastable, semicrystalline phase-structure of nylons and to understand its properties, one needs quantitative information about the glass transitions of the two non-crystalline phases and that of the crystal, as well as the various irreversible and locally reversible order/disorder transitions and their kinetics. Finally, with different substitutions in the α-position of the backbone structure of nylon 2, one describes poly(amino acid)s which on proper copolymerization yield proteins. This links the present study to the earlier thermal analyses of all naturally occurring poly(amino acid)s, a number of copoly(amino acid)s, and globular proteins in their dehydrated states. It will be of importance to check by quantitative thermal analysis if similar glass transitions and phase structures as seen in the aliphatic nylons are also present in the poly(amino acid)s to possibly gain new information about the nanophase structure of proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of silicon containing poly(ester imide)s [PEIs] were synthesized using novel vinyl silane diester anhydride (VSEA) and various aromatic and aliphatic dimines by two-step process includes ring-opening polyaddition reaction to form poly(amic acid) and thermal cyclo-dehydration process to obtain poly(ester imide)s. VSEA was synthesized by using dichloro methylvinylsilane and trimellitic anhydride in the presence of K2CO3 by nucleophilic substitution reaction. The PEIs were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The thermal properties of PEIs were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) methods. The prepared PEIs showed glass transition temperatures in the range of 320–350°C and their 5% mass loss was recorded in the temperature range of 500–520°C in nitrogen atmosphere. These had char yield in the range of 45–55% at 800°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal analysis of fusion and decomposition processes were carried out on recently synthetized pharmaceutical compounds in order to establish thermal stability criteria. This study was carried out using thermogravimetry, TG, and differential scanning calorimetry, DSC. Degradation and fusion temperatures have been produced as thermal data with the aim of to study the thermal stability of the compounds. Relationship is found among stability and a series of effects of structure of the compounds. The compounds which present an amide functional group in the central molecule are more stable because they have a comparatively higher fusion and degradation temperature. In addition, the stability of this type of compounds depends on the position of the electrophilic substitution (in ortho, meta or para). Likewise, the groups linked to the aromatic ring with high electronic density give stability, and therefore are able to delocalize the charge in a greater spacial interval. Therefore, criteria for the selection of substituents have established that improve the stability of compounds [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica nanoparticles of various sizes have been incorporated by melt compounding in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix to enhance its thermal and mechanical properties. In order to improve nanoparticles dispersion, PMMA grafted particles have been prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from well-defined silica nanoparticles. This strategy was expected to ensure compatibility between both components of the PMMA nanocomposites. TEM analysis have been performed to evaluate the nanosilica dispersion whereas modified and non-modified silica/PMMA nanocomposites thermal stability and mechanical properties have been investigated by both thermogravimetric and dynamical mechanical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal properties of the single crystals have been investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy and enthalpy and thermal stability temperature of the samples were calculated from the differential thermal analysis (DTA) and TG data. The activation energies for first peak of DTA curves were found as 496.65 (for Cd–Pd) and 419.37 kJ mol–1 (for Zn–Pd). For second peak, activation energies were calculated 116.56 (for Cd–Pd) and 173.96 kJ mol–1 (for Zn–Pd). The thermal stability temperature values of the Cd–Pd and Zn–Pd compounds at 10°C min–1 heating rate are determined as approximately 220.7 and 203°C, respectively. The TG results suggest that thermal stability of the Cd–Pd complex is higher than that of the Zn–Pd complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BTAw ( bis-(1(2)H-tetrazol-5yl)-amine monohydrate) has recently been considered for use as a low-smoke pyrotechnic fuel. There is relatively little information available in the literature concerning the thermal properties of BTAw or its precursors. In the present work, various thermoanalytical experiments were performed on BTAw and BTA ( bis-(1(2)H-tetrazol-5yl)-amine) in an effort to better characterize the thermal stability and decomposition of these compounds. Variable heating rate studies were carried out on BTAw samples in a helium atmosphere using DSC and TG. Two steps were seen in the results: dehydration followed by decomposition. Kinetic parameters were determined for both of these steps using a number of methods. Experiments using simultaneous TG-DTA coupled with FTIR and MS were performed on BTAw in both helium and dry and CO2 free air atmospheres, and evolved gas analysis was used to determine the gaseous decomposition products. The thermal stability of BTAw and BTA was examined using accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat effects arising at heating of Spirulina platensis cell culture containing different quantity of water (from 98.2 to 10.5 mass% H2O) have been studied. The hydration of Sp. pl. cells determined by the method of microcalorimetry at 25°C (Δ n) was equal to 0.32±0.02 g H2O/g of dry biomass. The heat (– Q) evolved by cells in the temperature range 5–52°C decreased exponentially at decrease of mass% H2O and reached zero value at 30.5±3.0 mass% H2O. The total heat of cell denaturation did not change in the range 98.2–40.5 mass% H2O and it sharply dropped at lower values of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two complexes, [Ln(Ala)2(Im)(H2O)](ClO4)3 ( Ln=Pr, Gd), were synthesized and characterized. Using a solution-reaction isoperibol calorimeter, standard enthalpies of reaction of two reactions: LnCl3⋅6H2O( s)+2Ala( s)+Im( s)+3NaClO4( s)=[Ln(Ala)2(Im)(H2O)](ClO4)3( s)+3NaCl( s)+5H2O( l) ( Ln=Pr, Gd), at T=298.15 K, were determined to be (39.26±0.10) and (5.33±0.12) kJ mol–1 , respectively. Standard enthalpies of formation of the two complexes at T=298.15 K, Δf H Θ m {[Ln(Ala)2(Im)(H2O)](ClO4)3( s)} ( Ln=Pr, Gd), were calculated as –(2424.2±3.3) and –(2443.4±3.3) kJ mol–1 , respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermodynamic properties of the ADP- and ATP-actin filaments were compared by the method of differential scanning calorimetry. The lower melting point for the ADP-F-actin filament (58.4 vs. 64.5°C for ATP-F-actin) indicated that compared to the ATP-actin filaments its structure was less resistant to heat denaturation. The detailed thermodynamic characterisation of the proteins was carried out by the analysis of the calorimetric enthalpy, the entropy and the free enthalpy changes. All of the determined parameters gave lower values to the ADP-actin filaments than to the ATP-actin filaments. The calculated values of the activation energy also demonstrated that compared to the ADP-F-actin the ATP-F-actin was thermodynamically more resistant to the denaturing effect of heat. Based on all of this information we have concluded that the actin filament prepared from ADP containing magnesium saturated actin monomers at pH 8.0 is thermodynamically less stable than the ones obtained from ATP-actin monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the results of thermal analysis and flammability of butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber, Perbunan NT 1845 of Bayer, cross-linked with iodoform. The properties of the iodoform vulcanizate have been compared with those of peroxide vulcanizate. The thermal analysis has been performed in air with use of a derivatograph under air and nitrogen atmosphere as well as dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC). The flammability of vulcanizates has been determined by the method of oxygen index and in air. The toxicity of the thermal decomposition and combustion products of the vulcanizates under investigation has been also determined. Based on complementary examinations, DTA and DSC curves have been interpreted from the point of view of thermal transitions of the conventionally and non-conventionally cross-linked nitrile rubbers. The glass transition temperature of the cross-linked polymer both in cooling and heating has been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal and structural characteristics of two crystal forms of ambroxol, (trans-((amino-2-dibromo-3,5-benzyl)amino)-4-cyclohexanol), a drug with remarkable mucolytic and expectorant properties marketed in several drug products, were investigated. Form II (m.p. 92.4°C) is obtained by spontaneous cooling from a hot water/ethanol solution while Form I (m.p. 99.5°C) slowly separates from the mother liquor. The two forms can be identified by PXRD and DSC analyses. On the basis of both thermal and structural data the thermodynamic relationship of enantiotropy was deduced. No metastable (Form I)?stable (Form II) conversion was observed upon storage at ambient conditions. Form I crystallizes in the space group P21/n (alternative setting of P21/c) with Z=8. Form II crystallizes in the space group P21/c with Z=4 and a significantly different crystal packing arrangement from that in Form I. A third crystalline modification, Form III (space group P21/c with Z=16) was detected on cooling a single crystal of Form I down to -70°C. On warming to ambient temperature Form III was found to revert to Form I. This reversible single crystal to single crystal transition was structurally characterised and found to involve subtle changes in the types and extent of molecular disorder as well as the hydrogen bonding arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactivity of FeVO4 towards Ni2V2O7 and Ni3V2O8 in the solid state was investigated. On the base of XRD and DTA results, phase diagrams in subsolidus area of the FeVO4-Ni2V2O7 and FeVO4-Ni3V2O8 intersections of the ternary system NiO-V2O5-Fe2O3 have been worked out and the phase diagram of this ternary system in subsolidus area in the whole component concentration range has been verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compound of the formula Fe3Mg2Mo2V3O20 has been obtained as a result of a reaction between FeVO4 and MgMoO4 taken at a molar ratio of 3:2. This compound crystallises in the monoclinic system and its unit cell parameters are the following:a=0.6971 nm,b=0.9055 nm,c=1.2542 nm,g=102.00°,Z=2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alumina, zirconia and titania pillared montmorillonites additionally modified with silver were tested as catalysts of NO reduction with NH3 or C2H4. Ammonia was much more effective reducer of NO than ethylene. The silver containing TiO2-pillared clay has been found to be the most active catalyst for NO reduction both with NH3 or C2H4. Oxidation of the reducing agents by oxygen limited the NO conversion in the high temperature region. The ammonia and nitric oxide adsorption sites were studied by the temperature programmed desorption methods (TPD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents research results on dehydration properties and thermal behaviour of zeolites synthesized from fly ash, applying TG (thermogravimetry), DTG (derivative thermogravimetry) and SDTA (simultaneous differential thermal analysis) methods. In result of the analysis conducted water contents in zeolite samples were defined. On the basis of the data obtained from the thermogravimetric analysis, thermal behaviour of zeolites was assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of heat evolution as well as total heat output are strongly affected by other components of hydrating mixture, apart from neat portland cement, such as slag, fly ash and other industrial by-products; among them the wastes from fluidised bed combustion (FBC) has been taken into account recently. In this study the calorimeter was applied to follow the early hydration of cements produced with these materials. They interact with cement paste in a few ways: as set controlling agent and as active pozzolanic admixtures. Thus the rate of heat evolution/hydration is modified, depending on the composition of clinker and percentage of waste in the mixture. After the series of measurements for clinker-waste mixture hydrated systems also some 'model' mixtures were investigated to separate the effects from particular waste components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so-called pozzolanic activity of waste catalysts from fluidised cracking was investigated. For this purpose a series of cement mixtures with this waste material were prepared and subsequently the pastes and mortars were produced. Waste aluminosilicate catalyst was used both in raw form and after grinding in a ball mill for 60 min. The hydrating mixtures were subjected to the calorimetric measurements in a non-isothermal/non-adiabatic calorimeter. After an appointed time of curing the hydrating materials were studied by thermal analysis methods (TG, DTG, DTA). The pozzolanic activity factors were determined, basing on the compressive strength data. The increased activity of cement - ground pozzolana systems has been thus proved. An accelerated Ca(OH)2 consumption as well as higher strength were found for materials containing ground waste catalyst, as compared to those, mixed with the raw one. Thus grinding was also proved to result in mechanical activation in the case of the waste catalyst from fluidised cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calorimetry has been used in the investigations of cementitious systems with different set controlling admixtures. The kinetics andmechanism of hydration process was thus characterized on two different cement clinkers mixed with calcium sulphate containing materials. These admixtures were collected as a residue in the fluidised bed combustion (FBC) of coals with simultaneous desulphurisation process - so-called bottom ash. Apart from anhydrite/gypsum, they were composed mainly of alumina and silica containing material of disordered structure, originating from the coal contaminations of clay character. Anhydrite/gypsum acts as set controlling admixture. The aluminosilicate component reacts with calcium ions released to the solution from the calcium silicate clinker minerals. It has been found that fluidised bed combustion wastes can be successfully used as set controlling admixture. There is no other harmful effects; those could be easily detectable by calorimetry. However the effect is dependent upon the composition of cement clinker. At low calcium aluminate content a slight acceleration of hydration process can be easily observed, particularly at higher amount of admixture. In the mixtures with high calcium aluminate clinker the heat evolved is slightly reduced in the presence of admixture. The dominating role of aluminate phase in heat evolution process within the first hours of hydration process has been thus proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal decomposition of magnesium-aluminum hydrotalcites intercalated with four different polyoxometalate anions (V10O286-,Cr2O72-, W7O246-or Mo7O246-) was examined. The studied samples were prepared by the ion-exchange procedure starting from the parent carbonate-containing hydrotalcite. The successful synthesis was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis. The samples decomposed in two or three essential steps forming finally mixed metal oxides. The dichromate-containing hydrotalcite showed a thermal reduction of Cr6+ to Cr3+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work demonstrates a proof of application of the modulated-temperature dilatometry (MTDIL) to the stresses investigations of the well known and commonly used hard coatings e.g. TiN, TiCN, TiAlN thin films deposited mainly on different type of tools for its higher performances. In the PVD (physical vapour deposition) processes such kind of coatings are formed in meta stable state caused, between other, by strong stresses between coating and substrate. These stresses have an important influence on the fundamental properties of the coatings, for example, adherence to the substrate, so they are the subject of many investigations by use of different methods, mainly XRD (X-ray diffraction). For the purpose of presentation of application of MTDIL for such kind of investigation two reference substrate materials were chosen: ARMCO steel and cemented carbide in the form suitable for dilatometric analysis covered, by actually the most conventional, TiN hard coating. In the article the experimental results are presented, discussed and compared with simple model formed by means of finite elements method (FEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat capacities of binary aqueous solutions of 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol and 1,2-butanediol were measured at temperatures ranging from 283.15 to 338.15 K by differential scanning calorimetry. The partial molar heat capacities at the infinite dilution were then calculated for the respective alkanediols. For 1,2-ethanediol or 1,2-propanediol, the partial molar heat capacities at the infinite dilution of increased with increasing temperature. In contrast, the partial molar heat capacities of 1,2-butanediol at the infinite dilution decreased with increasing temperature. Heat capacity changes by dissolution of the alkanediols were also determined. Heat capacity changes caused by the dissolution of 1,2-ethanediol or 1,2-propanediol were increase with increasing temperature. On the other hand, heat capacity changes caused by the dissolution of 1,2-butanediol are decrease with increasing temperature. Thus our results indicated that the structural changes of water caused by the dissolution of 1,2-butanediol differed from that of the two other alkanediols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiblock terpolymers -(PBT-b-PTMO-b-PA12.10)n- comprising the polymer systems in which one of the three blocks (PBT) is not soluble in the hard phase of PA12.10 blocks but is slightly soluble in the soft phase of PTMO blocks have been obtained. The DSC and DMTA method was applied to investigate the thermal properties of these polymers and it was found that the PBT block acts as an element that produce stiffness of -(PBT-b-PTMO-b-PA12.10)n- structure. The terpolymers were compared with the previously described [5] -(PBT-b-PTMO-b-PA12)n- elastomers, in which the rigid PBT block (DP>7) dissolves in the hard phase of PA12 blocks and partly dissolves in the soft phase. It was found that even a small change in the chemical structure of the amide block influences significantly on the structure, phase separation and the properties of terpolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, several small-scale screening test methods were discussed on evaluating the thermal hazard of reactive substances. Generally the sensitivities of DSC and ARC are not high enough to evaluate the thermal hazards for all reactive substance, especially, for those of complex reactions containing a phase and/or chemical reaction mechanism change in the lower temperature range. Using the C80, however, the reaction can easily be detected in the lower temperature range due to its high sensitivity. Therefore, the C80 gives generally more accurate results than DSC and ARC. Data from C80 and Dewar vessel were compared and it indicates that the Dewar vessel has also high enough sensitivity to evaluate the thermal hazard and determine the heat flux in lower temperature range of reactive substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverse numerical techniques have been applied in a range of different thermal studies in the past. These techniques require measurements of boundary conditions and temperatures at known position within the sample in order to determine thermal properties of the material of interest. Typically, they have been applied to highly specific applications and designs. In the current work the authors have designed a novel instrument in order to measure apparent specific heats of a range of different materials during continuous heating. Measurements of surface heat flux, surface and centre temperatures of the sample were obtained under controlled heating for temperatures of up to 1000°C. Measured data was used to quantify specific and latent heats by employing inverse numerical modelling technique. The instrument was calibrated with calorimetric calibration materials and results were compared with the literature values. The average experimental error was estimated to be approximately 0.9% for the reaction peak temperatures and 1.7% for the latent heats. Detailed experimental and calculation procedures as well as measured results of specific heat and enthalpy for a number of materials are presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This issue of Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry contains selected papers based on presentations in the field of thermal characteristics of advanced polymer systems presented at the 8th International Symposium on Polymers for Advanced Technologies (PAT 2005) held in Budapest, September 2005. Guest Editors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]