Physical properties of a hybrid and a nanohybrid dental light-cured resin composite.

This work was aimed at the study of some physical properties of two current light-cured dental resin composites, Rok (hybrid) and Ice (nanohydrid). As filler they both contain strontium aluminosilicate particles, however, with different size distribution, 40 nm-2.5 mum for Rok and 10 nm-1 mum for Ice. The resin matrix of Rok consists of UDMA, that of Ice of UDMA, Bis-EMA and TEGDMA. Degree of conversion was determined by FT-IR analysis. The flexural strength and modulus were measured using a three-point bending set-up according to the ISO-4049 specification. Sorption, solubility and volumetric change were measured after storage of composites in water or ethanol/water (75 vol%) for 1 day, 7 or 30 days. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed in air and nitrogen atmosphere from 30 to 700 degrees C. Surface roughness and morphology of the composites was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The degree of conversion was found to be 56.9% for Rok and 61.0% for Ice. The flexural strength of Rok does not significantly differ from that of Ice, while the flexural modulus of Rok is higher than that of Ice. The flexural strengths of Rok and Ice did not show any significant change after immersion in water or ethanol solution for 30 days. The flexural modulus of Rok and Ice did not show any significant change either after immersion in water for 30 days, while it decreased significantly, even after 1 day immersion, in ethanol solution. Ice sorbed a higher amount of water and ethanol solution than Rok and showed a higher volume increase. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that Rok contains about 80 wt% inorganic filler and Ice about 75 wt%.

Properties and microstructure of GGBS-magnesia pastes

Reactive magnesia (MgO) was used as an alkali activator for ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and its activating efficiency was investigated compared with hydrated lime. GGBS-MgO and GGBS-hydrated lime paste samples with different compositions and different water to solid ratios were prepared and cured for different periods. A range of tests was conducted to investigate the properties and microstructure of the pastes, including compressive strength, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the reactive MgO acts as an effective alkali activator of GGBS, achieving higher 28-day compressive strength than that of the corresponding GGBS-hydrated lime system. The extensive microstructural investigation indicated that the main hydration product of reactive MgO-activated GGBS and hydrated lime-activated GGBS systems was hydrated calcium silicate, but there was much more hydrotalcite present in the former, which contributed to its superior 28-day compressive strength.

Strength and hydration products of reactive MgO-silica pastes

The reaction between MgO and microsilica has been studied by many researchers, who confirmed the formation of magnesium silicate hydrate. The blend was reported to have the potential as a novel material for construction and environment purposes. However, the characteristics of MgO vary significantly, e.g., reactivity and purity, which would have an effect on the hydration process of MgO-silica blend. This paper investigated the strength and hydration products of reactive MgO and silica blend at room temperature up to 90 days. The existence of magnesium silicate hydrate after 7 days' curing was confirmed with the help of infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. The microstructural and elemental analysis of the resulting magnesium silicate hydrate was conducted using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. In addition, the effect of characteristics of MgO on the hydration process was discussed. It was found that the synthesis of magnesium silicate hydrate was highly dependent on the reactivity of the precursors. MgO and silica with higher reactivity resulted in higher formation rate of magnesium silicate hydrate. In addition, the impurity in the MgO affects the pH value of the blends, which in turn determines the solubility of silica and the formation of magnesium silicate hydrate. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low-temperature heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of crystalline 2-chloro-5-trichloromethylpyridine

The low-temperature heat capacities of 2-chloro-5-trichloromethylpyridine were measured with a high-precision automated adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range from 80 K to 345 K. A solid-liquid phase transition was observed from 318.57 K to 327.44 K with peak temperature 324.67 K; the molar enthalpy and entropy of phase transition, DeltaH(m) and DeltaS(m), were determined to be 14.50 +/-0.02 kJ mol(-1) and 44.66 +/- 0.07 kJ K-1 mol(-1), respectively. The thermal stability was investigated through thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The TG and DTG results reveal that 2-chloro-5-trichloromethylpyridine starts to lose mass at 332 K due to evaporation and completely changes into vapour at 483 K under the present experimental conditions.

Post-steam-treatment of Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts: An alternative and effective approach for enhancing their catalytic performances of methane dehydroaromatization

Post-steam-treatment is a facile and effective method for improving the catalytic performances of Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts in methane dehydroaromatization under nonoxidative conditions. The treatment can enhance the stability of the catalyst and also give a higher methane conversion and a higher yield of light aromatics, as well as a decrease in the formation rate of carbonaceous deposits. (27)Al, (29)Si, and (1)H multinuclear magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis measurements as well as catalytic reaction evaluations were employed to conduct comparative studies on the properties of the catalysts before and after the post-steam-treatment. The results revealed that the number of free Bronsted acid sites per unit cell decreased, while more Mo species migrated into the HZSM-5 channels for the 6Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts after the post-steam-treatment. In addition, the average pore diameter was also larger for the post-steam-treated catalysts, and this was advantageous for mass transport of the reaction products. However, a severe post-steam-treatment, i.e., with longer treating time, of the 6Mo/HZSM-5 catalyst will lead to the formation of the Al(2)(MoO(4))(3) phases, which is detrimental to the reaction.

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/clay-SO3H hybrid proton exchange membranes for direct methanol fuel cells Journal of Power Sources

A new type of sulfonated clay (clay-SO3H) was prepared by the ion exchange method with the sulfanilic acid as the surfactant agent. The grafted amount of sulfanilic acid in clay-SO3H was 51.8 mequiv. (100 g)(-1), which was measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK)/clay-SO3H hybrid membranes which composed of SPEEK and different weight contents of clay-SO3H, were prepared by a solution casting and evaporation method. For comparison, the SPEEK/clay hybrid membranes were produced with the same method.

Surface-modified Nafion membranes with mesoporous SiO2 layers via a facile dip-coating approach for direct methanol fuel cells

In this study. Nafion (R) 117 membrane is surface-modified with mesoporous silica layers through in situ surfactant-templated sol-gel reaction. The reaction makes use of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) under acidic condition via dip-coating technique on both sides. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) are employed to characterize the resultant membranes. Proton conductivity and methanol permeability of the membranes are also studied.

Syntheses of opened hollow clay microspheres through a spray-drying approach and their derivative clay/carbon nanotubes composites

Opened hollow microspheres of organoclays were prepared via spray drying the suspension of modified Na+-montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) with alkylsulfonate. The microstructure and thermal properties of these opened hollow spheres were characterized by means of wide-angle X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the organoclays had larger interlayer spacing compared with pure Na+-MMT and higher thermal stability relative to the alkylsufonate.

Energy transfer and tunable luminescence properties of Eu3+ in TbBO3 microspheres via a facile hydrothermal process

Tb(1-x)BO3:xEu(3+) (x = 0-1) microsphere phosphors have been successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal process directly without further sintering treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), photoluminescence (PL), low-voltage cathodoluminescence (CL), and time-resolved emission spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the samples.

Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of LuBO3: Tb3+ microflowers

Hexagonal vaterite-type LuBO3:Tb3+ microflower-like phosphors have been successfully prepared by an efficient surfactant- and template-free hydrothermal process directly without further sintering treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), photoluminescence(PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the samples.

One-pot green synthesis of biocompatible arginine-stabilized magnetic nanoparticles

A green one-step approach has been developed for the synthesis of amino-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles. The synthesis was accomplished by simply mixing FeCl2 with arginine under ambient conditions. It was found that the Fe2+/arginine molar ratio, reaction duration and temperature greatly influence the size, morphology and composition of magnetic nanoparticles. The arginine-stabilized magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques.

A strategy of fabricating exfoliated thermoplastic polyurethane/clay nanocomposites via introducing maleated polypropylene

By reducing the attraction between the platelets of octaclecylammonium chloride modified montmorillonite (OMMT-C18) via pre-intercalation of maleated polypropylene (MAPP), OMMT-C18 was exfoliated in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix during melt-mixing. Wide angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to investigate the microstructure of TPU nanocomposites. Three factors (including introducing sequence, the kind and the content of MAPP) showed important effects on the dispersion degree of OMMT-C18 in TPU matrix. The results confirmed that the pre-intercalation of MAPP was necessary for the exfoliation of OMMT-C18; however, the role of MAPP in TPU nanocomposites was different from that in polypropylene nanocomposites.

STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION AND COMPOSITION CHANGE IN THE SURFACE REGION OF POLYPROPYLENE/CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES ANNEALED AT HIGH TEMPERATURES

A model experiment was done to clear the formation mechanism of protective layers during combustion of polypropylene (PP)/organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites. The investigation was focused on the effects of annealing temperature on the structural changes and protective layer formation. The decomposition of OMMT and degradation of PP/OMMT nanocomposites were characterized by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The structural evolution and composition change in the surface region of PP/OMMT nanocomposites during heating were monitored by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ATR-FTIR and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).