Ação de colorantes na degradação e estabilização de polímeros

Dyes and pigments are additives used in polymers to improve mainly the aesthetic properties of the material. However, the incorporation of these additives can directly affect polymer stability. The colorants can drastically decrease the lifetime and the performance of the material or can act as a stabilizer, improving significantly the stability of the polymer against degradation. Interaction between colorants and polymers is the cause of the stability changes. Some mechanisms are proposed to explain the action of colorants on polymers. However it is difficult to foresee this action without experiments. This work reviews the main mechanisms involved in the degradation and stabilization of polymers containing colorants.

NMR in Crystals and Powders of Topazes with Different Colours

The present work is a part of the large project with purpose to investigate microstructure and electronic structure of natural topazes using NMR method. To reach this task we determined the relative contents of fluorine and hydrogen in crystals blue, colorless, wine and wine irradiated topazes. Then we determined the electric field gradients in site of aluminium atoms by NMR method, calculated EFG using ab initio method, and measured relaxation time dependence on heating temperature for blue, colorless, Swiss blue and sky blue topazes. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an effective method to investigate the local structure in the crystal. The NMR study of the single crystal gives detailed information especially about the local crystal structure. As a result of this work we have received practical data, which is possible to use in future for making personal dosimetry and for preparation of mullite, which is widely used in traditional and advanced ceramic materials.

Influência do pH sobre a estabilidade de suspensões de alumina estabilizadas eletroestericamente

In this work, aqueous suspensions of aluminas with different particle sizes were evaluated. The effect of pH on the electrosteric stabilization using PMAA-NH4 (ammonium polymethacrylate) as deflocculant was studied. The amount of deflocculant was optimized and rheologic properties were determined at four different pH values. Sedimentation was also evaluated. For suspensions with pH 4, an electrostatic mechanism of stabilization was observed, probably due to a flat adsorption of PMMA- on the alumina surface, leading to a small efficiency in relation to steric stabilization. For a suspension with pH 12, the steric mechanism of stabilization prevails. Suspensions with pH 7 and 9 present a higher flocculation degree. In relation to particle size, A-1000 samples present a smaller particle size, leading to a smaller interparticle distance (IPS), making stabilization more difficult.

Pienitaajuinen radiosekoitin

Normaalisti radiovastaanottimet on luokiteltavissa suoriin vastaanottimiin ja superheterodynevastaanottimiin. Jälkimmäistä nimitetään tavallisesti supervastaanottimeksi. Molemman vastaanottimen oleellisiin osiin kuuluu antennin virityspiiri, supervastaanottimelle lisäksi paikallisoskillaattorin virityspiiri, mikä pitää virittää antennipiirin kanssa samanaikaisesti. Pienillä taajuuksilla, taajuudet luokassa kilo-Hertzejä tai pienemmillä, on antennipiirin viritys resonanssipiirin ominaisuuksista johtuen sitä kapeammalla kaistalla ja sitä hitaampaa mitä pienemmällä taajuudella vastaanotto tapahtuu. Lisäksi virityspiiri hyvyysluku Q on vaikea saada sopivaksi, mikäli viritys on muuten käytännöllinen, säädettävä resonanssipiiri. Vaadittaessa kiinteätaajuista viritystä on käytännöllistä hyödyntää sähkömekaanisia osia, siis keraamisia tai kvartsikiteitä. Koska kiteitten ja korkean hyvyysluvun piirin värähtely jatkuu useita värähtelyjaksoja ennen saapuneitten värähtelyjen sammumista, kestää myös kauan aikaa, ennen kuin värähtely piirissä on loppu. Pienitaajuinen resonanssipiiri saavuttaa maksimivirtansa hitaasti, jos hyvyysluku on iso, kun piiri alkaa johtaa resonanssitaajuista virtaa. Tässä työssä pyritään vastaanotinjärjestelyyn ongelmallisen, pientaajuisen virityspiirin käytön välttämiseksi. Toisena tavoitteena on saada aikaan vastaanotto siten, että tietty pienitaajuinen radiotaajuusalue voidaan kokonaisuudessaan vastaanottaa jatkuva-aikaisesti, ilman antennipiirin jatkuvaa virittämistä erillisille taajuuksille. Laaditaan kytkentä, joka mitoitetaan, simuloidaan ja mitataan.

Decomposição térmica de espumas de poliuretano para fabricação de vitrocerâmica celular de Li2O-ZrO2-SiO2-Al2O3 (LZSA)

Characterization of the thermal decomposition of polyurethane (PUR) foams was performed by Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Three main weight loss paths were observed by TGA, the residue being lower than 3 wt.% for 3 different PUR foams analyzed. FT-IR spectra indicated CO2, CO, NH3 and isocyanides as main decomposition products. PUR foams of different cell sizes were immersed in a slurry of the parent glass ceramic of composition Li2O-ZrO2-SiO2-Al 2O3 (LZSA) and submitted to heat treatment. The LZSA cellular glass ceramics obtained after sintering and crystallization resembled the original morphology of the PUR foams.

Composição elementar do material particulado presente no aerossol atmosférico do município de Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais

The main objective of this study was the identification of sources generating particulate matter in the atmospheric aerosols of Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais. The measurement of the mineral composition was accomplished by X-ray diffractometry and the elemental concentration by neutron activation analysis. The results showed that Al, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg and Na are the predominant chemical elements in the total suspended particles (TPS). The presence of Na, Ba, Cl, Cu, Eu, Fe and Sm in those particles with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 µm (PM10), indicates that soil dust and ceramic and pig iron industries are the main sources of air quality degradation in the region.

Estudo da capacidade de complexação e sua relação com algumas variáveis ambientais em cinco represas do Rio Tietê/Brasil

The copper and cadmium complexation properties in natural sediment suspensions of reservoirs of the Tietê River were studied using the solid membrane copper and cadmium ion-selective electrodes. The complexation and the average conditional stability constants were determined under equilibrium conditions at pH=6.00 ± 0.05 in a medium of 1.0 mol L-1 sodium nitrate, using the Scatchard method. The copper and cadmium electrodes presented Nernstian behavior from 1x10-6 to 1x10-3 mol L-1 of total metal concentration. Scatchard graphs suggest two classes of binding sites for both metals. A multivariate study was done to correlate the reservoirs and the variables: complexation properties, size, total organic carbon, volatile acid sulfide, E II and pH.

Cério: propriedades catalíticas, aplicações tecnológicas e ambientais

Cerium based-compounds have great importance in a wide range of technological applications, such as: fuel cell devices development; metallurgic processes, petroleum refining; glass and ceramic production. Recently, its catalytic properties have been also explored for environmental applications, especially those to prevent or to control atmospheric and water pollution. Subjects covered in this work include a brief description of the fundaments of cerium catalytic properties and some relevant technological applications. Special attention is given to its photocatalytic activity and its ability to degrade pollutants. Recent results and future prospect about these applications are also evaluated.

Tempo de vida útil de propelentes base-simples

The purpose of this work was to determine the safe shelf life of single-base propellants. The kinetic parameters relative to the consumption of the stabilizer diphenylamine (DPA) added to the propellant were determined as a function of the storage and ageing time. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with spectrophotometric detection was used to determine the DPA percentage before and after the artificial ageing at 60, 70 and 80 ºC. The experimental data were very well adjusted to a pseudo-first order kinetic model and the respective kinetic constants are 8.0-10-3 day-1 (60 ºC); 1.9-10-2 day-1 (70 ºC); 1.2-10-1 day-1 (80 ºC). The activation energy was calculated as 130 kJ mol-1 and the half-time for depletion of the DPA at the hypothetical temperature of 40 ºC of storage was estimated as being 6 years.

Happaman hydrometallurgisen PLS-liuoksen puhdistaminen kiintoaineesta kalvosuodatustekniikalla

Tässä diplomityössä tutkittiin keraamisten mikrosuodatuskalvojen soveltuvuutta kiintoaineen erottamiseen happamasta PLS-liuoksesta eri huokoskoon omaavilla mikrosuodatuskalvoilla. Koelaitteistolla suodatettiin puhdasta vettä, kaoliinipitoista vesiliuosta sekä hapanta kuparia, kalsiumia ja kaoliinia sisältävää malliliuosta. Koeajojen tavoitteena oli saada tietoa permeaattivuon maksimimäärästä eri mikrosuodatuskalvoilla sekä tuotteen puhtaudesta. Näiden lisäksi saatiin tietoa kalvojen likaantumisesta ajon aikana. Teoriaosassa käsiteltiin yleisesti kalvosuodatusta, esitettiin yleiset kalvotekniset menetelmät ja sovellukset sekä käytiin läpi tutkimuksia samankaltaisiin kalvoihin ja sovelluksiin liittyen. Lisäksi teoriaosuudessa pohdittiin mahdollisuutta käyttää myös muita, kuin putkimoduulisia mikrosuodatuskalvoja. Myös työhön oleellisena taustana kuuluvaa hydrometallurgiaa tarkasteltiin teoreettiselta kannalta. Puhtaan veden suodatuskoetuloksista havaittiin, että kaikki kalvot jäivät selvästi valmistajan ilmoittamista arvoista. 1,0 µm CoMetas CoMem® kalvon teoreettinen vesivuo on 10 m3/(h bar) ja 3,0 µm CoMetas CoMem® teoreettinen vesivuo on yli 50 m3/(h bar). Näistä parhaimman vuon arvon sai 1,0 µm CoMetas CoMem® mikrosuodatuskalvo. Tämä kalvo oli paras sekä veden suodatuksissa että malliliuoksella tehdyillä suodatuksilla. Malliliuoksella saavutettiin n. 2000 L/(m2 h) paineen ollessa 2,0 bar ja virtausnopeuden ollessa 4,4 m/s. Vastaavat vesiajon tulokset olivat n. 1100 L/(m2 h) paineen ollessa 1,0 bar ja virtausnopeuden 2,9 m/s. Kaikki kolme käytettyä kalvoa pidättivät kaoliiniliuoksen 81–100 %:sesti. Kuparipitoista malliliuosta suodatettaessa pystyttiin vastaavasti erottamaan 77–99 % kiintoaineesta. Koeajoissa kuitenkin havaittiin huomattava vuon arvojen putoaminen, joka johtui kalvon likaantumisesta. Huomioitavaa oli kuitenkin, että hapanta malliliuosta suodatettaessa permeaattivuon arvot olivat kaoliiniliuoksen suodatuksessa saatuja vastaavia arvoja korkeammat.

Nanocompósitos cerâmicos a partir do processo de moagem mecânica de alta energia

Pb/Ti, Sn and Mg-based nanocomposite materials were prepared by the high-energy mechanical milling of commercial powders. The surface of these ceramic compounds was strongly influenced by the doping, diameter of the milling spheres and time of the mechanical milling (amorphization process). Such milling leads to the formation of nanocrystalline materials. The mechanical processing parameters of these compounds were investigated through Brunauer, Emmett and Teller isotherms, wide angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and CO2 adsorption.

Síntese do pigmento cerâmico verde vitória (Ca3Cr2Si3O12) a partir de CaCO3, Cr2O3 e SiO2

The synthesis of the ceramic pigment Victoria Green (Ca3Cr2Si3O12 ) is described. As raw materials CaCO3, Cr2O3, and SiO2 obtained from rice husk were used. Borax was used as mineralizer. Raw materials were formulated stoichiometrically and calcined from 1000 to 1200 ºC for 180 min. The main phase detected was uvarovite with particle size below 45 mm. The pigments were applied on ceramic tiles and sintered at 1150 ºC for 40 min. The synthesis process showed to be adequate to produce the green pigment, whose characteristics resemble those of a commercial pigment.

Caracterização de bauxita ativada antes e depois da saturação com óleo mineral isolante

A characterization of activated bauxite and of activated bauxite impregnated with insulating mineral oil was made. The activated bauxite is used as adsorbent material in percolators during the regeneration of insulating mineral oil. After regeneration an insulating mineral oil is obtained with physical and chemical characteristics similar to those of the new oil. Moreover, saturated activated bauxite impregnated with insulating mineral oil is also produced. It is a dangerous residue according to NBR 10004 (Class I) and, thus, harmful to the environment. An alternative use of this waste in the ceramic industry is discussed.

Validação de métodos para determinação de fluoxetina em cápsulas

A UV spectrophotometric method was developed and validated and a chromatographic method was adapted from the American Pharmacopeia for the analysis of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsules. Ethanol was used as solvent for the spectrophotometric method, with detection and determination at 276 nm. The separation for the chromatographic method was carried out using the reversed-phase column LC-8, triethylamine buffer, stabilizer free tetrahydrofuran and methanol (5:3.5:1.5), pH 6.0 as mobile phase and detection at 227 nm. The results obtained for both methods showed to be accurate, precise, robust and linear over the concentration range 100.00 - 300.00 µg/mL and 40.00 - 80.00 µg/mL of fluoxetine hydrochloride for the spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods, respectively. The accuracy of the methods was evaluated by a recovery test and showed results between 98.89 and 101.10%.

Avaliação da biodegradação de matrizes porosas à base de hidroxiapatita para aplicação como fontes radioativas em braquiterapia

Porous ceramic materials based on calcium phosphate compounds (CPC) have been studied aiming at different biomedical applications such as implants, drug delivery systems and radioactive sources for brachytherapy. Two kinds of hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders and their ceramic bodies were characterized by a combination of different techniques (XRF, BET method, SEM, ICP/AES and neutron activation analysis - NAA) to evaluate their physico-chemical and microstructural characteristics in terms of chemical composition, segregated phases, microstructure, porosity, chemical and thermal stability, biodegradation and incorporation of substances in their structures. The results revealed that these systems presented potential for use as porous biodegradable radioactive sources able to be loaded with a wide range of radionuclides for cancer treatment by the brachytherapy technique.