Flame retardant novolac-bisphthalonitrile structural thermosets

Void-free, thermoset networks prepared from phenolic novolacs cured with bisphthalonitrile (BPh) reagents display attractive mechanical, thermal, and fire characteristics. The network properties depend strongly on the novolac-BPh composition. Networks containing 15 wt[percnt] BPh or greater had T_gs above 180 °C and good fracture toughness (K_1c∼0.8 MPa m^1/2). Cone calorimetry results for an 80:20 (wt/wt) novolac/BPh network, at an incident heat flux of 50 kW/m², demonstrated a peak heat release rate of 137 kW/m² and char yields [gt ]50[percnt]. These excellent flame properties are similar to those of phenolic resole networks, which are brittle but known to be flame retardant.The cure reaction between the novolac and BPh was monitored by the disappearance of the nitrile peak at 2200 cm⁻¹ in the FTIR. The nitrile was ≈90[percnt] consumed after 1 h at 200 °C and ∼20 min at 220 °C.The molecular structure of a novolac-BPh crosslink was studied in model reactions using monofunctional phenols. 2-Hydroxydiphenylmethane was reacted with BPh in the melt at 200 °C for 3 h using a 25:1 molar ratio (6.1:1 eq. ratio) of 2-hydroxydiphenylmethane/BPh. FTIR and ¹H NMR suggested that the product generated from the model melt reaction contained a diiminoisoindoline structure.     

Ionene segmented block copolymers containing imidazolium cations: Structure-property relationships as a function of hard segment content

Imidazolium ionene segmented block copolymers were synthesized from 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole) and 1,12-dibromododecane hard segments and 2000 g/mol PTMO dibromide soft segments. The polymeric structures were confirmed using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and resonances associated with methylene spacers from 1,12-dibromododecane became more apparent as the hard segment content increased. TGA revealed thermal stabilities ≥250 °C for all imidazolium ionene segmented block copolymers. These ionene segmented block copolymers containing imidazolium cations showed evidence of microphase separation when the hard segment was 6-38 wt%. The thermal transitions found by DSC and DMA analysis found that the T_g and T_m of the PTMO segments were comparable to PTMO polymers, namely approximately −80 °C and 22 °C, respectively. In the absence of PTMO soft segments the T_g increased to 27 °C The crystallinity of the PTMO segments was further evidence of microphase separation and was particularly evident at 6, 9 and 20 wt% hard segment, as indicated in X-ray scattering. The periodicity of the microphase separation was well-defined at 20 and 38 wt% hard segment and found to be approximately 10.5 and 13.0 nm, respectively, for these ionenes wherein the PTMO soft segment is 2000 g/mol. Finally, the 38 and 100 wt% hard segment ionenes exhibited scattering from correlations within the hard segment on a length scale of approximately 2-2.3 nm. These new materials present structure on a variety of length scales and thereby provide various routes to controlling mechanical and transport properties.     

Flame retardant nanocomposites of polyamide 6/clay/silicone rubber with high toughness and good flowability

A novel flame retardant, silicone elastomeric nanoparticle (S-ENP) with T_g of −120 °C and particle size of ∼100 nm has been developed and used as a modifier for polyamide 6 (nylon-6). It has been found that S-ENP can not only increase the toughness and improve the flame retardancy of nylon-6 but also helps unmodified clay exfoliate in nylon-6 matrix. It has been also found that the S-ENP and exfoliated clay platelet in nylon-6 have a synergistic flame retardant effect on nylon-6. A novel flame retardant nanocomposite of nylon-6/unmodified clay/S-ENP with high toughness, high heat resistance, high stiffness and good flowability has been prepared and a mechanism of synergistic flame retardancy has also been proposed.     

Preparation, characterization and mechanical properties of epoxidized soybean oil/clay nanocomposites

New epoxidized soybean oil (ESO)/clay nanocomposites have been prepared with triethylenetetramine (TETA) as a curing agent. The dispersion of the clay layers is investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD and TEM data reveal the intercalated structure of ESO/clay nanocomposites has been developed. The thermogravimetric analysis exhibits that the ESO/clay nanocomposites are thermally stable at temperatures lower than 180 °C, with the maximum weight loss rate after 325 °C. The glass transition temperature, T_g, about 7.5 °C measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and T_g about 20 °C measured by dynamic mechanical study have been obtained. The difference in the T_g between DSC and dynamic measurements may be caused by different heating rate. The nanocomposites with 5-10 wt% clay content possess storage modulus ranging from 2.0×10⁶ to 2.70×10⁶ Pa at 30 °C. The Young's modulus (E) of these materials varies from 1.20 to 3.64 MPa with clay content ranging from 0 to 10 wt%. The ratio of epoxy (ESO) to hydrogen (amino group of TETA) greatly affects dynamic and tensile mechanical properties. At higher amount of TETA, the nanocomposites exhibit stronger tensile and dynamic properties.     

Preparation and properties of halogen-free flame retardant epoxy resins with phosphorus-containing siloxanes

Novel epoxy resin modifiers, DOPO–TMDS and DOPO–DMDP were synthesized by addition reaction of divinylsiloxane with 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO). Halogen-free flame retardant epoxy resins were obtained through modification of o-cresol novolac epoxy resin cured by phenol novolac resin using DOPO–TMDS and DOPO–DMDP which were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ³¹P NMR and FT-IR measurements. Effects of the phosphorus-containing siloxanes on thermal stabilities, mechanical properties and flame retardant properties of the epoxy resins were investigated. The cured epoxy resins exhibited better mechanical properties and greatly improved flame retardant properties due to the presence of phosphorus-containing siloxanes. The cured epoxy resins with phosphorus loading of 2.0 wt% showed LOI values of 32–33 and achieved UL94V-0 ratings.     

Network structures and dynamics of dry and swollen poly(acrylate)s. Characterization of high- and low-frequency motions as revealed by suppressed or recovered intensities (SRI) analysis of C NMR

We recorded temperature-dependent high-resolution ¹³C NMR spectra of dry and swollen poly(acrylate)s [poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), and poly(tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate) (PTHFA)] by dipolar decoupled-magic angle spinning (DD-MAS) and cross-polarization-magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) methods, to gain insight into their network structures and dynamics. Suppressed or recovered intensities (SRI) analysis of ¹³C CP-MAS and DD-MAS NMR was successfully utilized, to reveal portions of dry and swollen polymers which undergo fast and slow motions with fluctuation frequencies in the order of 10⁸ Hz and 10⁴-10⁵ Hz, respectively. Fast isotropic motions with frequency higher than 10⁸ Hz at ambient temperature were located to the portions in which ¹³C CP-MAS NMR signals of swollen PMEA were selectively suppressed. In contrast, low-frequency motion was identified to the portions in which ¹³C DD-MAS (and CP-MAS) signals are most suppressed at the characteristic suppression temperature(s) T_s. Network of PMEA gels (containing 7 wt% of water) turns out to be formed by partial association of backbones only, as manifested from their T_s gradient at lowered temperature, whereas networks of PHEMA (containing 40 wt% of water) and PTHFA (9 wt% of water) gels are tightly formed through mutual inter-chain associations of both backbones and side-chains, as viewed from the raised T_s values for both near at ambient temperature. It is also interesting to note that flexibility of gel network (PMEA > PTHFA > PHEMA) characterized by the suppression temperature T_s (PMEA < PTHFA < PHEMA) is well related with a characteristic parameter for biocompatibility such as the production of TAT (thrombin-antithrombin III complex) as a marker of activation of the coagulation system.     

Isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactic acid): Effects of stereocomplex as nucleating agent

The effects of incorporated poly(d-lactic acid) (PDLA) as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) stereocomplex crystallites on the isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) from the melt were investigated for a wide PDLA contents from 0.1 to 10 wt%. In isothermal crystallization from the melt, the radius growth rate of PLLA spherulites (crystallization temperature (T_c)≥125 °C), the induction period for PLLA spherulite formation (t_i) (T_c≥125 °C), the growth mechanism of PLLA crystallites (90 °C≤T_c≤150 °C), and the mechanical properties of the PLLA films were not affected by the incorporation of PDLA or the presence of stereocomplex crystallites as a nucleating agent. In contrast, the presence of stereocomplex crystallites significantly increased the number of PLLA spherulites per unit area or volume. In isothermal crystallization from the melt, at PDLA content of 10 wt%, the starting, half, and ending times for overall PLLA crystallization (t_c(S), t_c(1/2), and t_c(E), respectively) were much shorter than those at PDLA content of 0 wt%, due to the increased number of PLLA spherulites. Reversely, at PDLA content of 0.1 wt%, the t_c(S), t_c(1/2), and t_c(E) were longer than or similar to those at PDLA content of 0 wt%, probably due to the long t_i and the decreased number of spherulites. This seems to have been caused by free PDLA chains, which did not form stereocomplex crystallites. On the other hand, at PDLA contents of 0.3-3 wt%, the t_c(S), t_c(1/2), and t_c(E) were shorter than or similar to those at PDLA content of 0 wt% for the T_c range below 95 °C and above 125 °C, whereas this inclination was reversed for the T_c range of 100-120 °C. In the non-isothermal crystallization of as-cast or amorphous-made PLLA films during cooling from the melt, the addition of PDLA above 1 wt% was effective to accelerate overall PLLA crystallization. The X-ray diffractometry could trace the formation of stereocomplex crystallites in the melt-quenched PLLA films at PDLA contents above 1 wt%. This study revealed that the addition of small amounts of PDLA is effective to accelerate overall PLLA crystallization when the PDLA content and crystallization conditions are scrupulously selected.     

Preparation and surface characteristics of low-temperature curing fluorinated cathodic electrodeposition coating

Fluorinated cationic cathodic electrodepositing (CED) resins were synthesized by copolymerization of several acrylic monomers including Zonyl. Water dispersible cationic blocked-diisocyanate (denoted as TId) was also synthesized from isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), cationic triethanolamine (TEOA), and dimethylpyrazole as the cross-linker for the low temperature curing at 90–120 °C. The emulsion stability of the cationic fluorinated CED resin was improved by ionization of the cross-linker TId, showing a mean particle diameter of 140–150 nm and a narrow distribution. 0.5 wt% of curing catalyst dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTL) was enough to accelerate the curing reaction and the gel content of the TId cured fluorinated CED film was higher than 90 wt% after being cured at 130 °C for 40 min. The contact angle and XPS spectrum of the CED film demonstrated that the surface enrichment of C–F₂ and C–F₃ groups effectively reduced the surface tension of the fluorinated CED coating and its surface tension γ_sv is even lower than 15 mN m⁻¹ for PTFE. The preheating of the CED film above T_g but below curing temperature promoted this surface enrichment of the fluorinated groups. Thermal fragmentation of the fluorinated side chains in the CED resins was successfully avoided due to using TId for low temperature curing.     

Polyethylenes produced with zirconocene immobilized on MAO-modified silicas

The effect of Al content on MAO-modified silicas was evaluated on catalyst activity, on polymer properties and on residual metal content in the resulting polyethylenes. MAO-modified silicas were prepared by impregnating MAO toluene solutions in concentration range between 0.5 and 20.0 wt% Al/SiO₂. Commercial MAO-modified silica (Witco) containing 24.4 wt% Al/SiO₂ was used for comparative reasons. The resulting modified-silicas were employed as supports for grafting (nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂. Using external MAO as cocatalyst (Al/Zr=2000) no difference in catalyst activity was observed. Nevertheless, for Al/Zr=500, catalyst activities were shown to be higher for supported zirconocene systems containing 0.0-2.0 wt% Al/SiO₂ range. According to DSC analysis, one T_m peak was detected for polymer obtained with catalyst prepared with 0.5 wt% Al/SiO₂ (135 °C), but two T_m peaks were observed for polymers obtained with catalysts prepared with 10.0 wt% Al/SiO₂ (136 and 141 °C) and 20.0 wt% Al/SiO₂ (133 and 141 °C).     

Thermo-sensitive sol-gel transition of poly(depsipeptide-co-lactide)-g-PEG copolymers in aqueous solution

A series of biodegradable graft copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) side-chains and a poly(depsipeptide-co-dl-lactide) backbone (PDG-dl-LA-g-PEG) were prepared as a novel thermo-gelling system. An aqueous solution of PDG-dl-LA-g-PEG (20 wt%) with a certain PEG length and composition showed instantaneous temperature-sensitive gelation at 33 °C. The sol-gel transition temperature (T_gel) could be controlled from 33 to 51 °C by varying the PEG length and compositions without a decrease in mechanical strength of the hydrogels. The 20 wt% hydrogel was eroded gradually in PBS at 37 °C for 60 days. This research provides a molecular design approach to create biodegradable thermo-gelling polymers with controllable T_gel and mechanical toughness.     

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) copolyester containing ethylene glycol moieties. Part 1: Crystallization kinetics and melting behavior

A copolyester was characterized to have 91 mol% trimethylene terephthalate unit and 9 mol% ethylene terephthalate unit in a random sequence by using ¹³C NMR. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to investigate the isothermal crystallization kinetics in the temperature range (T_c) from 180 to 207 °C. The melting behavior after isothermal crystallization was studied by using DSC and temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC). The exothermic behavior in the DSC and TMDSC curves gives a direct evidence of recrystallization. No exothermic flow and fused double melting peaks at T_c = 204 °C support the mechanism of different morphologies. The Hoffman-Weeks linear plot gave an equilibrium melting temperature of 236.3 °C. The kinetic analysis of the growth rates of spherulites and the morphology change from regular to banded spherulites indicated that there existed a regime II → III transition at 196 °C.     

Electrochemical properties of LaBaCo2O5+δ-Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 composite cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The electrochemical properties of LaBaCo₂O_5+δ-xSm_0.2Ce_0.8O_1.9 (LBCO-xSDC, x = 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, wt%) were investigated for the potential application in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The LBCO-50SDC composite cathode exhibited the best electrochemical performance in the LBCO-xSDC cathodes. With x = 50 wt%, the ASR was 1.308 Ω cm² at 500 °C (0.267 Ω cm² at 600 °C and 0.052 Ω cm² at 700 °C). The maximum of exchange current density i₀ was 0.5630 A cm⁻² at 700 °C. The improved electrochemical properties of LBCO-50SDC were ascribed to the porous structures of the cathode and more cathode/electrolyte/gas triple phase boundary (TPB) areas.     

Microstructural analysis and structure-property relationship of poly(glycolide-co-1,3-trimethylene carbonate)

A series of linear copolymers of glycolide and 1,3-trimethylene carbonate were synthesized by bulk ring-opening polymerization. The copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, viscometry, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The dependency of reaction temperature, reaction time, and the feed composition on the microstructure of the copolymers was examined by ¹³C NMR analysis. The microstructural analysis using ¹³C NMR was useful to calculate the average block length of the glycolyl (L_G) and trimethylene carbonyl (L_T) sequence. The structural change such as transesterification, which was assigned by TGT sequence, was reflected in the average block length and the sequence of each monomeric unit in the copolymer. The average length of glycolyl sequence (L_G) was much longer than that of trimethylene carbonyl sequence (L_T) in polymerization temperature of 100-150 °C. Upon further increasing the polymerization temperature, the L_G decreased, but the change of L_T was insignificant. During the polymerization, transesterification did not occur at 100 °C, but it was observed at a polymerization temperature range of 130-200 °C resulting in the decrease in L_G. As the composition of trimethylene carbonate increased, L_G decreased, but L_T do not show remarkable change. DSC results showed a close relationship between crystallinity and nature of microstructural sequence. The crystallinity of block copolymers was mainly decided by the average length of the glycolyl block.     

The phase structure and electric properties of low-temperature sintered (K,Na)NbO3-based piezoceramics modified by CuO

0.25 wt% CuO-doped (Li,K,Na)(Nb,Ta)O₃–AgSbO₃ lead-free piezoceramics with pure perovskite structure were successfully prepared at a sintering temperature below 1000 °C. The sintering temperature of KNN-based piezoceramics was effectively reduced by about 100 °C due to the enhanced densification process induced by the addition of CuO. Besides, the acceptable sintering temperature window was broadened by the addition of CuO. It is found that the CuO-doped samples show slightly higher tetragonal–orthorhombic phase transition point (T_T−O) but a lower Curie point (T_c), compared to undoped ones. The KNN-based piezoceramics became “hard” as CuO was added, supported by an increase of Q_m. Fairly good electrical properties of d₃₃^*=383 pm/V, ε_r=860, Q_m=188 and T_c=215 °C could be obtained in dense CuO-modified KNN-based piezoceramics sintered at 970 °C, demonstrating promising potential in practical applications.     

Lamella reorientation in thin films of a symmetric poly(l-lactic acid)-block-polystyrene upon crystallization at different temperatures

The thin films of a symmetric crystalline-coil diblock copolymer of poly(l-lactic acid) and polystyrene (PLLA-b-PS) formed lamellae parallel to the substrate surface in melt. When annealed at temperatures well above the glass transition temperature of PLLA block (T_g^PLLA), the PLLA chains started to crystallize, leading to reorientation of lamellae. Such reorientation behavior exhibited dependence on the correlation between the crystallization temperature (T_c), the glass transition temperature of PS (T_g^PS), the peak melting point of PLLA crystals (T_m^PLLA), and the end melting point of PLLA crystals (T_m,end^PLLA). When annealed at (T_c=) 80 °C (T_c < T_g^PS < T_ODT, order-disorder transition temperature), 123 °C (T_g^PS < T_c < T_m^PLLA < T_ODT), 165 °C (T_g^PS < T_m^PLLA < T_c < T_m,end^PLLA < T_ODT), the parallel lamellae became perpendicular to the substrate surface, exclusively starting at the edge of surface relief patterns. Meanwhile, the corresponding lamellar spacing was significantly enhanced. The PLLA crystallization between PS layers was hypothesized to account for the lamella reorientation during annealing. The crystallization, chain conformation, and possible chain folding mechanisms were discussed, based on detailed analysis of the lamellar structure before and after crystallization.     

Synthesis,characterization and self-crosslinking of glycidyl carbamate functional resins

Multifunctional glycidyl carbamate functional resins were synthesized, characterized, and self-crosslinked coatings were prepared and characterized. Coatings based on glycidyl carbamate (GC) functional oligomers are attractive because they combine polyurethane properties with epoxide reactivity. The glycidyl carbamate functional resins were synthesized via reactions of the biuret adduct and isocyanurate trimer of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) with glycidol. Resins were characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Coatings were prepared to study the self-crosslinking reaction without additional hardener. Self-crosslinked coatings had an excellent combination of solvent resistance, good hardness and high impact resistance. The glycidyl carbamate resin from the biuret isocyanate adduct (BGC) was found to be more reactive during cure than glycidyl carbamate from the isocyanurate isocyanate trimer (IGC) as determined by hardness, solvent resistance, and T_g measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the resins did not show thermal decomposition below 250 °C.     

Synthesis and properties of a series of cyanate resins based on phenolphthalein and its derivatives

Two new cyanate monomers simultaneously containing phthalide group and different alkyl substituents on the phenylene rings (o-PCY and t-PCY) and the Phenolphthalein-based cyanate (p-PCY) were successfully synthesized by the reaction of o-cresolphthalein, thymolphthalein and phenolphthalein with cyanogen bromide in the presence of triethylamine, respectively. Their chemical structures were confirmed by means of FTIR, NMR and elemental analysis methods. All these monomers owned sufficiently wide processing temperature windows and could be readily cured without the addition of catalyst. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results showed that the introduction of phthalide structure into the polycyanurate network could effectively improve the thermal properties of the cyanate ester (CE) resin. Especially, the T_g values of the fully cured p-PCY, o-PCY and t-PCY resins are 362 °C, 328 °C and 298 °C, respectively, which are apparently higher than that of most bisphenol-based cyanate resins reported in the literatures (190-290 °C). The thermal and thermo-oxidative properties as well as the water absorptions of the cured products were compared with those of the bisphenol A cyanate resin (BACY), and the structure-property relationships were explained according to the chemical structures and crosslinking densities of the formed polymer networks. The high-T_g thermosetting materials thus prepared are expected to expand the usage of CEs to areas where higher temperature requirements are encountered.     

Fatty acid-based monomers as styrene replacements for liquid molding resins

One method of reducing styrene emissions from vinyl ester (VE) and unsaturated polyester resins (UPE) is to replace some or all of the styrene with fatty acid-based monomers. Methacrylated fatty acid (MFA) monomers are ideal candidates because they are inexpensive, have low volatilities, and free-radically polymerize with vinyl ester. The viscosity of VE resins using these fatty acid monomers ranged from 700-2000 cP, which is considerably higher than that of VE/styrene resins (∼100 cP). In addition, the T_g of VE/MFA polymers were only on the order of 80 °C, which is significantly lower than that of VE/styrene polymers. Decreasing the length of the base fatty acid chains from 18 to 12 carbon atoms improved the T_g by 20 °C, while lowing the resin viscosity from ∼2500 to ∼1000 cP. Residual unsaturation sites on the fatty acid backbone decreased the cure rate of the resins thereby decreasing polymer properties. Ternary blends of VE, styrene, and fatty acid monomers also effectively improved the flexural, fracture, and thermo-mechanical properties and reduced the resin viscosity to acceptable levels, while using less than 15 wt% styrene, far less than commercial VE resins.     

Gelation behaviors of cellulose solution dissolved in aqueous NaOH/thiourea at low temperature

Cellulose was dissolved rapidly in 9.5 wt% NaOH/4.5 wt% thiourea aqueous solution pre-cooled to −5 °C, as a result of the formation of an inclusion complex (IC) associated with cellulose, NaOH and thiourea, which could bring cellulose to the aqueous system. To clarify the rheological behaviors of the system dissolved at low temperature, this cellulose solution was investigated by dynamic viscoelastic measurement. The shear storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) as a function of the angular frequency (ω), concentration (c), temperature (T) and weight-average molecular weight (M_w) were analyzed and discussed. The results revealed that gels could form in the cellulose solution at either high temperature or low temperature, or for longer time. Interestingly, 4 wt% cellulose solution having cellulose M_w of 12.0 × 10⁴ remained at liquid state for longer time (12 days) at the temperature ranging from 0 to 5 °C. The gels already formed at elevated temperature were irreversible, i.e., after cooling to lower temperature including the temperature of cellulose dissolution (−5 °C), they could not be dissolved to become liquid. The Arrhenius analysis of the temperature dependence of viscosity in the cellulose solution indicated that a high apparent activation energy (E_a) occurred at 0 to −5 °C, suggesting the relatively stable IC structure. However, the viscosity of the cellulose solution increased slowly with an increase in the temperature at 0-40 °C, leading to the negative E_a values. The results suggested that the cellulose solution in NaOH/thiourea system is complex to differ from normal polymer systems.     

Formation of filamentous carbon during methane decomposition over Co-MgO catalysts

The carbon formation during methane decomposition was investigated at 900 °C over the 48 wt% Co-MgO catalysts as a function of the calcination temperature T_c used in their preparation. Examination of the carbonaceous deposits by transmission electron microscopy revealed three kinds of structures: shapeless tangles, shell-like materials, and carbon filaments. In another set of experiments, the structural characteristics of the calcined catalysts were investigated using temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Co₃O₄, Co₂MgO₄, and (Co, Mg)O (solid solution of CoO and MgO) were identified for T_c≤700 °C, Co₃O₄ and (Co, Mg)O for T_c=800 °C and only (Co, Mg)O for T_c=900 °C. It was found that the metal particles originated from the reduction of the solid solution favored the formation of filamentous carbon. A possible explanation is proposed.