Lime–Alumina–Silica processing incorporating minerals

The use of naturally occurring minerals to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of industrial ceramics such as alumina is an attractive alternative to synthetic materials due to cost, chemical stability and availability. Two systems, have been chosen for investigation, alumina–kyanite to produce an alumina–mullite composite and alumina–wollastonite to produce a lime aluminosilicate. Wet processing conditions were optimised using pH/rheology and microelectrophoresis techniques followed by slip casting. The resulting green compacts were subjected to a variety of sintering regimes to produce the desired composites. Sintered products were characterised by techniques such as electron probe microanalysis, hardness tests and toughness determinations. Results are discussed, both in terms of enhanced properties realised (toughness, wear resistance, dielectric), and with respect to the viability of using natural minerals in this application.     

Mesoporous Silica Functionalized by Cyclam–Metal Groups: Spectroscopic Studies and Numerical Modeling

Mesoporous silica functionalized by cyclam–metal molecules were investigated by spectroscopic methods including Raman, IR, UV–VIS absorption and EPR technique. To analyse quantitatively the physical features, numerical models were developed using the density functional theory method. Thus, the construction of molecular geometries and their optimisation analysis were achieved on the cyclam–metal molecules in vacuum as well as constrained by the host mesoporous silica matrixes. In this context and with regard to the paramagnetic nature of the metals chelated by cyclam molecules, EPR technique allows probing the metal environments which can be compared to theoretical results inferred from numerical models. The vibrational and optical properties were exhaustively investigated and the assignment of the main features was quantitatively discussed thanks to the carried out numerical analyses. The developed approach point out the possibility to define a targeted application of such functional materials based on the possibility to fine tune the absorption features in a wide wavelength range by stabilizing defined configurations of the cyclam–metal groups.     

Silica–Titania mixed Oxides: Si–O–Ti Connectivity, Coordination of Titanium, and Surface Acidic Properties

A series of SiO₂–TiO₂ mixed oxides was prepared by the sol–gel route, and the influence of several important preparation parameters (Ti precursors, content, and calcination temperature) on the Si–O–Ti connectivity, coordination of titanium and surface acidity has been studied using various analytical techniques. The solids obtained were largely amorphous and characterized by Ti enrichment on surfaces with low titanium content; however, the addition of titanium greater than 50 mol% into the SiO₂ matrix led to significant phase separation of crystalline anatase. The Ti atoms are tetrahedrally coordinated with Si/Ti ratios higher than 10 and gradually enter into octahedral positions in the silica matrix with further increase in the titanium content. High-temperature treatment can break Si–O–Ti linkages and eliminate hydroxyl groups, resulting in a decrease in acid site density.     

Michael Reactions Catalyzed by Basic Alkylamines and Dialkylaminopyridine Immobilized on Acidic Silica–Alumina Surfaces

Acid–base bifunctional catalysts were prepared by immobilization of basic amines on acidic silica–alumina (SA) surfaces. Silane-coupling reagents with various amino-functional groups, such as primary, secondary, and tertiary alkylamines, alkyldiamine, and dialkylaminopyridine, were examined as anchoring reagents for the amines in the preparation of catalysts. The obtained immobilized catalysts (SA–NR′R′′) were characterized by solid-state ¹³C and ²⁹Si MAS NMR and elemental analysis. The catalytic activity of tertiary alkylamines for Michael reactions increased dramatically by the immobilization on silica–alumina, whereas a homogeneous tertiary amine scarcely promoted the reaction. Regarding the kind of amines, the dialkylaminopyridine immobilized silica–alumina with low Al content (SA_L) showed the highest catalytic performance among the amine immobilized catalysts. The solid-state ¹³C NMR analysis revealed the interaction between the nitrogen atom on pyridine ring and a surface strong acid site of the silica–alumina support.     

Research Regarding a Correlation Core–Shell Morphology–Thermal Stability of Silica–Silver Nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles repeatedly inhaled lead to acute and chronic lung inflammation and finally to pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer, people with chronic respiratory diseases like asthma or allergic rhinitis being even more susceptible to their toxic effects. In order to reduce these above-mentioned toxic effects, the aim of this study was to engineer the environmental silica nanoparticles with silver and subsequent thermal treatment. Nanometer-sized and spherical silica particles were synthesized in a homogeneous state, using a simple one-pot chemical method. An applicable approach resulted in silver particles forming over the surface of the silica. The outcome was materialized in extremely small silver particles attached to silica core particles. Playing their well-known decisive role, precursors and catalysts effectively controlled the size of silver and silica particles. The synchronized structure of the synthesized particles was revealed by the electrostatic repulsion among the silica spheres and the electrostatic attraction between silica spheres and silver particles. The morphological images are revealed by means of a scanning electron microscope. The formation of silver–silica composite particles was confirmed by using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Following thermal analysis, the results concerning the thermal stability of the prepared particles provided higher temperature applications.     

Preparation of Cr–Ti Binary Oxide Anchored Mesoporous Silica by CVD Method and Their Photocatalytic Activities

Cr–Ti binary oxide anchored mesoporous silica (Cr–Ti/MCM-41) was prepared by stepwise CVD treatments of MCM-41 with TiCl₄ and CrO₂Cl₂. Cr–Ti/MCM-41 exhibited higher efficiency for the photocatalytic polymerization of ethylene as well as the oxidation of CO into CO₂ than those on single component Cr⁶⁺-oxide anchored MCM-41 under UV and visible light.     

An Efficient and Recyclable Silica Based Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Zinc Catalyst for Transesterification of β-Ketoesters

A new silica based inorganic–organic hybrid zinc catalyst was synthesized and its catalytic activity was investigated for transesterification of β-ketoesters. Polymer supported catalyst was characterized by various techniques such as surface area (BET), elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, FTIR, ¹³C CPMAS spectral studies and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The reaction proceeded smoothly in the presence of 0.04 mmol of catalyst in toluene at refluxing conditions. The catalyst revealed higher catalytic activity compared to homogeneous catalyst and was reused without appreciable loss in catalytic activity.     

Production and Development of LRCO‘s Silica Bricks

This paper reviews the history of development and production of silica bricks at Luoyang Refrac-tories(Group) Co.,Ltd,(Former Luoyang Refrac-tories Factory). Through the improvement and in-troducing technology from abroad the company‘s management and quality standard on silica bricks production has reached a higher level.The physical and chemical specifications,as well as the appear-ance of silica bricks for coke ovens,hot blast stoves and glass kilns have reached the advanced interna-tional level.Now the company has become producing base and main exporting base various kinds of silica bricks in China.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Silica–Polymer Nanocomposites Functionalized with Piperazine for the Synthesis of β-Nitro Alcohols

Abstract  

In order to compare the activity and selectivity for the synthesis of β-nitro alcohols, piperazine was functionalized directly and after surface modification into the ordered mesoporous SBA-15 framework. The materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, N₂-adsorption–desorption isotherm, FT-IR, SS-NMR and scanning electron microscopy. The catalyst synthesized via surface modification under solvent free conditions showed very high activity and selectivity of β-nitro alcohols compared to the one synthesized by direct functionalization of SBA-15. Finally the possible reaction pathways were explained mechanistically.     

Sol–Gel Assisted Preparation of Chromia–Silica Catalysts for Non-Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

Preparation of continuous silica gel in the presence of dissolved Cr(NO₃)₃ leads to a hard high surface area (710 m²/g) microporous xerogel. Formation of the gel in the pore structure of mesoporous Pore-Expanded MCM-41 (PE-MCM-41) and macroporous commercial Cab–O–Sil silica results in retention of the mesoporous structure in the case of PE-MCM-41, and the formation of a powder with a broad pore size distribution in the case of Cab–O–Sil silica. Comparison of the catalytic activities in non-oxidative dehydrogenation of propane revealed a linear correlation of the initial conversion with the surface area for all three samples. The sample prepared from PE-MCM-41 through a sol–gel assisted procedure was the most active, particularly with respect to the catalysts prepared by simple wet impregnation with chromium nitrate.     

Investigation on Production and Markets of Silica Bricks in China

The annual output of China‘s silica brick amounts up to over 300 thousand tons, which accounts for more than 70% of the total oupout of silica bricks in the world. Besides satisfying domestic markets, China‘s silica bricks have been exported to many countries and retions such as Japan, USA etc. In this paper, the situation of silica bricks production, technology, sales and exporting have been described. Also suggestions on improvement of silica bricks quality and exporting, corporation with foreign partners have been put forward in order to win larger market share both aat home and abroad.     

PAC Characterization of Nontransformable Tetragonal t′ Phase in Arc-Melted Zirconia–2.8 mol% Yttria Ceramics

Tetragonal compact bodies obtained by quenching from the melt a ZrO₂–2.8 mol% Y₂O₃ commercial powder have been investigated between room temperature and 1150°C, using mainly perturbed angular correlations spectroscopy. The resulting nontransformable t′ phase observed by optical micrography is characterized at nanoscopic level by a hyperfine interaction describing defective and disordered Zr⁴⁺ neighborhoods very different from those of the regular tetragonal phase. A small amount of remaining Zr⁴⁺ sites corresponds to a scarcely distorted tetragonal structure. As the compacts are heated, two processes activate: the movement of vacancies and the gradual and irreversible conversion of t′ defective sites into less defective ones, probably resulting from oxygen absorption.     

Confined Iron Nanoparticles on Mesoporous Ordered Silica for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

Iron oxide particles were deposited in an ordered mesoporous material (SBA-15) with the aim of studying its behavior in the catalytic hydrogenation of CO (Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis). Bulk iron oxide, and iron supported on porous silica with different textural properties (Aerosil^®-200) were used for comparison. The characterization of the materials showed that in the Fe@SBA-15 material, iron nanoparticles were confined inside the mesopores of the SBA-15 support (pore diameter ~?8 nm), and Fe@Aerosil^®-200 material also presented iron oxide nanoparticles highly dispersed on the material. In situ Synchrotron radiation XRD studies were performed in order to study the evolution of iron phases in the Fe@SBA-15 and the bulk iron oxide under hydrogen and hydrogen/carbon monoxide conditions. DFT calculations were performed on bare Fe(100) and a Fe₁₆ cluster in CO activation and C_xH_y hydrogenation. Catalytic microactivity tests, performed at conversions of ~?6–8%, showed important differences in the selectivity of the materials. Higher selectivity to methane and light hydrocarbons were observed in the supported catalysts (Fe@SBA-15 and Fe@Aerosil^®-200) than in bulk Fe catalyst. Moreover, the supported catalysts showed selectivity to ethylene (Fe@SBA-15) and propylene (Fe@Aerosil^®-200), products that were not observed in the bulk iron catalyst. On the other hand, bulk iron showed a major selectivity to higher hydrocarbons (C₅–C₉) and oxygenates.

     

Nanoindentation of Soda Lime–Silica Glass: Effect of Loading Rate

Structural and mechanical reliability of glass for both conventional and advanced applications is determined by the rate at which it can deform and sustain externally applied static or dynamic strain at the microstructural length scale. Hence, a large number of nanoindentation experiments were conducted on a thin (∼300 μm) commercial soda lime–silica glass with a 150 nm radius Berkovich tip at a constant load of 10,000 μN as a function of variations in the loading rates in the range of 10–20,000 μN/s. The results showed that the nanohardness of the soda lime–silica glass increased by as much as 74% as the loading rate was increased from 10 to 20,000 μN/s. Further, the presence of serrations in load–depth plots and deformation band formations inside the nanoindentaion cavities were more vividly observed in the nanoindentation experiments conducted at lower loading rates rather than those conducted at higher loading rates. These results are explained in terms of shear stress acting underneath the indenter as well as the time scale of interaction between the nanoindenter and the weak links at local microstructural length scale, which owe their origin to the subtle variations in the composition of the given glass.     

Multi-level Modeling of Silica–Template Interactions During Initial Stages of Zeolite Synthesis

Zeolite synthesis is driven by structure-directing agents, such as tetrapropyl ammonium ions (TPA⁺) for Silicalite-1 and ZSM-5. However, the guiding role of these organic templates in the complex assembly to highly ordered frameworks remains unclear, limiting the prospects for advanced material synthesis. In this work, both static ab initio and dynamic classical modeling techniques are employed to provide insight into the interactions between TPA⁺ and Silicalite-1 precursors. We find that as soon as the typical straight 10-ring channel of Silicalite-1 or ZSM-5 is formed from smaller oligomers, the TPA⁺ template is partially squeezed out of the resulting cavity. Partial retention of the template in the cavity is, however, indispensable to prevent collapse of the channel and subsequent hydrolysis.

Recovery and Recycling Silica Flux in Submerged Arc Welding – Acceptable Properties and Economical Correlation

Silicon - This research aims at optimum utilization of waste recycled submerged arc welding slag along with virgin flux in place of pure virgin flux without compromising the quality of welding and...     

Pd(II)/Pd(0) Anchored on Magnetic Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: A Nanocatalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura and Heck–Mizoroki Coupling Reactions

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - 3-Chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (CPTMS) was grafted on the surface of silica coated Fe3O4 core (Fe3O4@MCM-41) and then condensed with...