Equal channel angular pressing processing routes and associated structure modification: a differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray line profile analysis

The effectiveness of different routes of equal channel angular pressing (A, B-c, and C) is studied for commercially pure copper. The stored energy and the activation energy of recrystallization for the deformed samples were quantified using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction line profile analysis. Results of the study revealed that the dislocation density and the stored energy are higher in the case of route B-c deformed sample. The activation energy for recrystallization is lower for route B-c. (C) 2012 International Centre for Diffraction Data doi:10.1017/S0885715612000310]

Calorimetric study on two biphenyl liquid crystals

The molar heat capacities of the two biphenyl liquid crystals, 3BmFF and 3BmFFXF3, with a purity of 99.7 mol% have been precisely measured by a fully automated precision adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range between T = 80 and 350 K. Nematic phase-liquid phase transitions were found between T = 297 K and 300 K with a peak temperature of T-peak = (298.071 +/- 0.089) K for 3BmFF, and between T = 316 and 319 K with a peak temperature of T-peak = (315.543 +/- 0.043) K for 3BmFFXF3. The molar enthalpy (Delta(trs)H(m)) and entropy (Delta(trs)S(m)) corresponding to these phase transitions have been determined by means of the analysis of the heat capacity curves, which are (15.261 +/- 0.023) U mol(-1) and (51.202 +/- 0.076) J K-1 mol(-1) for 3BmFF, (31.624 +/- 0.066) kJ mol(-1) and (100.249 +/- 0.212) J K-1 mol(-1) for 3BmFFXF3, respectively. The real melting points (TI) and the ideal melting points (TO) with no impurities of the two compounds have been obtained from the fractional melting method to be (298.056 +/- 0.018) K and (298.165 +/- 0.038) K for 3BmFF, (315.585 +/- 0.043) K and (315.661 +/- 0.044) K for 3BmFFXF3, respectively. In addition, the transitions of these two biphenyl liquid crystals from nematic phase to liquid phase have further been investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) technique; the repeatability and reliability for these phase transitions were verified. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Calorimetric study and thermal analysis of crystalline nicotinic acid

As one primary component of Vitamin B-3, nicotinic acid [pyridine 3-carboxylic acid] was synthesized, and calorimetric study and thermal analysis for this compound were performed. The low-temperature heat capacity of nicotinic acid was measured with a precise automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature rang from 79 to 368 K. No thermal anomaly or phase transition was observed in this temperature range. A solid-to-solid transition at T-trs = 451.4 K, a solid-to-liquid transition at T-fus = 509.1 K and a thermal decomposition at T-d = 538.8 K were found through the DSC and TG-DTG techniques. The molar enthalpies of these transitions were determined to be Delta(trs)H(m =) 0.81 kJ mol(-1), Delta(fus)H(m) 27.57 kJ mol(-1) and Delta(d)H(m) = 62.38 kJ mol(-1), respectively, by the integrals of the peak areas of the DSC curves.

Calorimetric study and thermal analysis of berberine sulphate

The heat capacities of berberine sulphate [(C20H18NO4)(2)SO4.3H(2)O] were measured from 80 to 390 K by means of an automated adiabatic calorimeter. Smoothed heat capacities,{H-T-H-298.15} and {S-T-S-298.15} were calculated. The loss of crystalline water started at about 339.3+/-0.2 K, and its peak temperature was 365.8+/-0.6 K. The peak temperature of decomposition for berberine sulphate was at about 391.4+/-0.4 K by DSC curve. TG-DTG analysis of this material was carried out in temperature range from 310 to 970 K. TG and DSC curves show that there is no melting in the whole heating process.

Comparison between laser scanning tomography and computerised image analysis of the optic disc

Aims - To study the interchangeability of the measurements of the optic disc topography obtained by one computerised image analyser and one confocal laser tomographic scanner. Methods - One eye of 28 patients with glaucoma or glaucoma suspects was studied. All cases had simultaneous stereoscopic disc photographs taken with the fundus camera Topcon TRC-SS and optic disc examination with the Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT) during the same visit. The optic disc photographs were digitised and analysed with the Topcon ImageNet (TI) system. Three variables of the optic disc topography provided by the TI and the HRT were compared - cup volume (CV), rim area (RA), and cup area to disc area ratio (CA/DA). Results - The mean values of CV and RA provided by the TI (0.52 (SD 0.32) mm and 1.58 (0.39) mm , respectively) were greater (p <0.01) than the mean values of CV and RA determined by the HRT (0.32 (0.25) mm , and 1.33 (0.47) mm , respectively). The mean value of CA/DA provided by the TI (0.42 (0.14)) and the HRT (0.42 (0.18)) was similar (p = 0.93). Correlation coefficients between measurements obtained by the two methods ranged from 0.53 to 0.73. Conclusion - There was a significant discrepancy in the measurements of rim area and cup volume of the optic disc obtained by a computerised image analyser and a laser scanning tomograph.