Polymorphism and solidification kinetics of the binary system POS-SOS

As a first approach to modeling the crystallization behavior of cocoa butter, the binary system of its two major components, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-3-stearoyl-s n-glycerol (POS) and 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-s n-glycerol (SOS), was studied. Differential scanning calorimetry, coupled with polarized light microscopy, was used to determine the phase diagrams of the various polymorphic forms (the most metastable sub-α and α, intermediate δ and β′, and stable β). Associated theoretical phase diagrams were also built. The presence of a solid solution for β and the ideal behavior of α were confirmed. Kinetics of isothermal solidification as a function of temperature were studied for three compositions of the POS-SOS system. Results were displayed as time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams and crystal morphology maps. Dependence of the crystallization kinetics on composition of the binary system was interpreted in terms of nucleation and growth mechanisms. The asymmetry of the POS molecule induces a slower growth rate of the mixture when the concentration of this triacylglycerol is increased. Solidification kinetics during continuous cooling were studied at various cooling rates for the system POS-SOS 25:75. Experimental results were compared with numerical predictions of a solidification model based upon TTT data and an additivity principle. The calculated and measured volume fractions of the different phases formed and times of onset and finish of the solidification were in good agreement.     

Thermal and structural properties of sn-1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoylglycerol and sn-1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol binary mixtures examined with synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction

Thermodynamic and polymorphic behavior of POP (sn-1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoylglycerol) and OPO (sn-1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol) binary mixtures was examined using differential scanning calorimetry and conventional and synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction. A molecular compound, β_C, was formed at the 1:1 (w/w) concentration ratio of POP and OPO, giving rise to two monotectic phases of POP/compound and compound/OPO in juxtaposition. β_C has a long-spacing value of 4.2 nm with a double chainlength structure and the melting point of 31.9°C. A structural model of the POP-OPO compound is proposed, involving the separation of palmitoyl and oleoyl chain leaflets in the double chainlength structure. In the polymorphic occurrence of the POP-OPO mixtures, the POP fraction transformed from α to β′ with no passage through γ, then transformed to β. The presence of OPO in POP promoted the β′-β transformation of POP during the melt-mediated crystallization.     

Devitrification Kinetics and Mechanism of K2O–CaO–SrO–BaO–B2O3–SiO2 Glass-Ceramic

The devitrification kinetics and mechanism of a low-dielectric, low-temperature, cofirable K₂O–CaO–SrO–BaO–B₂O₃–SiO₂ glass-ceramic have been investigated. Crystalline phases including cristobalite (SiO₂) and pseudowollastonite ((Ca,Ba,Sr) SiO₃) are formed during firing. Activation energy analysis shows that the nucleation of the crystalline phases is controlled by phase separation of the glass. The crystallization kinetics of both cristobalite and pseudowollastonite obey Avrami-like behavior, and the results show an apparent activation energy close to that of the diffusion of alkaline and alkali ions in the glass, suggesting that diffusion is rate limiting. The above conclusion is further supported by analysis of measured growth rates.     

Crystallization Behavior of Molecular Compound in Binary Mixture System of 1,3‐Dioleoyl‐2‐Palmitoyl‐sn‐Glycerol and 1,3‐Dipalmitoyl‐2‐Oleoyl‐sn‐Glycerol

Previous studies showed that the stable β‐form of molecular compound (MC) crystals having a double‐chain‐length structure is formed in a binary mixture system of 1,3‐dioleoyl‐2‐palmitoyl‐sn‐glycerol (OPO) and 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycerol (POP) with a 1:1 concentration ratio of OPO and POP. The use of MC crystals made of POP and OPO for edible applications, such as margarine, is advantageous due to no‐trans, low‐saturated, and high‐oleic fats. Industrial manufacturing technology involves rapid cooling processes, and the kinetic properties of crystallization of MC of OPO and POP are required. In this study, we clarified the crystallization of MC of OPO and POP under rapid cooling at rates of 1–150 °C min^?1, using synchrotron radiation time‐resolved X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry methods. The main results are as follows: (1) POP and OPO crystallized in separate manners without the formation of MC crystals under rapid cooling (>40 °C min^?1), while MC crystals started to form with decreasing rates of cooling in addition to the POP and OPO crystals (<30 °C min^?1); (2) metastable and stable forms sub‐α, α, β′, and β of POP and OPO were formed, whereas the MC crystals of β were formed during the cooling processes; and (3) the heating processes after crystallization by rapid cooling caused separate melting of the metastable and stable forms of POP and OPO crystals and the formation of MC crystals of β made of POP and OPO, as well as melting of the MC crystals alone.     

Fibril formation of 1,3:2,4‐Di(3,4‐dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol in polymer melts

1,3:2,4‐Di 3,4‐dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol (DMDBS) is a known nucleator and clarifier for polypropylene (PP). It is also known that in the useful concentration range of roughly 0.2–2%, it forms nanofibrillar structures within the PP melt. The kinetics of the DMDBS solidification process within the PP melt and formation of the ensuing nanofibrillar structure are studied by in‐situ small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) analysis. The dynamic lag of the fibrillar structure formation kinetics and its temperature dependence indicate a nucleation and growth mechanism, controlled by the rate of nucleation. Examination of the polystyrene (PS)/DMDBS system indicate structure formation only in compounds containing 2.5% DMDBS, as evident in the rheological behavior. Light microscopy reveals that the fibrillar cross‐section in this case is larger by an order‐of‐magnitude in comparison to the structure in PP. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Modification of the Avrami model for application to the kinetics of the melt crystallization of lipids

The Avrami model was developed to model the kinetics of crystallization and growth of a simple metal system. The original assumptions of the model do not apply for high-volume-fraction crystallizing lipids, although it is incorrectly and frequently applied. A modified form of the Avrami model, wellsuited to complex lipid crystallization kinetics, is developed. It produces excellent fits to experimental data and allows the prediction of physically meaningful parameters, such as changes in nucleation rate and type, growth rate, morphology, and dimensionality. Morphological changes highlighted by time-resolved temperature-controlled polarized light microscopy support its application to crystallizing lipids. The kinetics of crystallization for six separate lipid samples were monitored by pulsed NMR, and fits were performed using the classical and modified Avrami model. In all cases, the modified model provided superior fits to the data compared with that of the classical model. The modified model supports the theory that lipids crystallize and grow into networks via very specific growth modes. Furthermore, the case is made that it is useful for interpreting crystallization kinetics of other systems such as polymer melts, which have nonconstant growth rates, dimensionalities, and nucleation conditions, and whose growth become diffusion-limited within specific regimes.     

Crystallization Behaviors of PbSe Quantum Dots in Silicate Glasses

This study, composed of three parts, aims at studying the crystallization behaviors of PbSe quantum dots (QDs) in silicate host glasses. Firstly, due to the importance of the choice of base glass for the QDs' crystallization, the selection of base glass compositions, the glass fragility, and glass formation ability (GFA) are discussed in details, and the results show that the selected glass compositions have an intermediate fragility and accordingly an intermediate glass transition temperature range among a wide variety of inorganic glass systems together with a good GFA/glass stability (GS). Thus, this base glass is suitable as the host glass in which PbSe QDs crystallize. Secondly, the experimental results on PbSe QDs' crystallizations are presented, and the results show that PbSe QDs can precipitate from silicate glasses favorably with no other chemical compounds precipitation, and the optimized temperature for PbSe QDs crystallization is 600°C. Lastly, the classical nucleation theory is used to analyze the PbSe QD crystallization behaviors in host glasses. The steady‐state nucleation rates and the growth rates of PbSe QDs as well as the time–temperature transformation (TTT) curves are calculated. The results indicate that the free surface energy between the PbSe nuclei and the host glass has great influence on the nucleation rates of PbSe QDs, while it has less effect on the growth rates of PbSe QDs; the crystallization behaviors of PbSe QDs with different volume fractions can be described well by the TTT curves while keeping the dimensionless empirical constant, α, unchanged for one certain curve.     

Quantification of non-isothermal,multi-phase crystallization of isotactic polypropylene: The influence of cooling rate and pressure

The structure of semi-crystalline polymers is strongly influenced by the conditions applied during processing and is of major importance for the final properties of the product. A method is presented to quantify the effect of thermal and pressure history on the isotropic and quiescent crystallization kinetics of four important structures of polypropylene, i.e. the α-, β-, γ- and mesomorphic phase. The approach is based on nucleation and growth of spherulites during non-isothermal solidification, described by the Schneider rate equations combined with the Komogoroff-Avrami expression for space filling. Using an optimization routine the time-resolved multi-phase structure development is accurately described using crystal phase dependent growth rates and an overall nucleation density, all as function of temperature and pressure. It is shown that the maximum growth rate of the α-, and γ-phase increases with applied pressure, while it decreases for the mesomorphic phase. Addition of β-nucleation agent is interpreted as a secondary nucleation density with a coupled β-phase growth. This complete crystallization kinetics characterization of isotactic polypropylene allows prediction of the multi-phase structure development for a wide range of quiescent processing conditions.     

Eutectic Solidification of MgO-MgAl2O4

Directional solidification of the MgO-MgAl₂O₄ eutectic yields MgO whiskers in a spinel matrix. Microstructures produced at solidification rates of 0.4 to 30.0 cm/h were studied. The interlamellar spacing agrees with the inverse-square-root dependence on solidification rate. Colony-free microstructures formed in all ingots solidified at rates of <2.0 cm/h. For ingots solidified with planar growth, the orientation relation of the phases is:      

Multi-length-Scale Elucidation of Kinetic and Symmetry Effects on the Behavior of Stearic and Oleic TAG. I. SOS and SSO

Positional isomerism in triacylglycerols (TAG), present in a molecular ensemble arising from genetic, environmental or processing-induced changes, can result in significant differences in the macroscopic physico-chemical functionality of crystallized networks of the ensemble. The differences in phase behavior induced by positional isomerism and levels of unsaturation of pure oleoyl-distearoyl TAG (SOS, SSO) were detailed at different length scales. The effect of cooling rate on the polymorphism, thermal properties and microstructure were systematically investigated between 0.1 and 5 °C/min. The symmetrical SOS presented a complex polymorphism and microstructure, which varied predictively with cooling rate. The crystal phases and transitions observed for this TAG are similar to those of cocoa butter. In contrast, the cooling rate had limited effect on the phase behavior of the asymmetrical SSO. The differences between the crystallization of SSO and SOS induced by kinetics are related to the kinked oleic acid at the outer position in the SSO molecule and favorable end group structure for SOS. The fundamental understanding gained from such model systems can be used in many industrial formulations, particularly foods.     

Solidification and phase transformation behaviour of food fats — a review

Recent studies on physical behaviour of food fats have been reviewed, with an emphasis on solidification properties in bulk and emulsion states. It was shown that the use of synchrotron radiation X-ray beam highlighted the solidification behaviour of polymorphic fats, which was not unveiled by traditional X-ray beams on a laboratory scale as summarised in the following: (a) kinetic processes of molecular ordering of lamella-structured fat crystals, (b) mixing behaviour of different triacylglycerols forming miscible, eutectic, and molecular compound crystals, and (c) remarkable influences of shearing forces on the rapid solidification of the more stable forms of cocoa butter. These results have given some indications to the physical control of fat solidification, and the blending and fractionation of solid fats. The influences of hydrophobic emulsifiers on the solidification of fat crystals in O/W emulsions, which were in-situ monitored by an ultrasound velocity technique, have shown that the addition of highly hydrophobic emulsifiers having long-saturated acid moieties accelerated the nucleation of the fats at the interface areas of the emulsions. These effects are also indicative for the selection of the emulsifier for the control of the fat solidification in the emulsion phases.     

A new hydration kinetics model of composite cementitious materials,part 1: Hydration kinetic model of Portland cement

This work is the first part of an overall research project that aims to model the hydration kinetics of modern composite cementitious materials. The aim of this part is to build a hydration kinetic model to characterize the hydration behavior of cement at all ages. In this paper, the nucleation and growth of CSH and the diffusion of water are described by a modified BNG model and a modified Jander's model. The kinetic parameters are obtained by simulative fitting of the model to the experimental data. The linear functions between the nucleation and growth rates and the W/C ratios are given in this paper. The apparent activation energy of the nucleation rate constant, growth rate constant, and generalized diffusion constant are approximately 36.0, 37.5, and 42.0 kJ/mol, respectively. Finally, the phase compositions of hardened cement paste are calculated according to the kinetic model and the reaction formula of cement.     

Influence of Na2O content on the nucleation kinetics in glasses of compositions close to the Na2O · 2CaO · 3SiO2 stoichiometry

The kinetics of nucleation and growth of Na₂O · 2CaO · 3SiO₂ crystals in glasses with small deviations from the stoichiometric composition is studied. The stationary nucleation rate, induction period, and crystal growth rate as functions of the temperature and Na₂O content in the glass are measured. It is found that relatively small variations in the glass composition significantly affect the crystal nucleation rate. The experimental data are analyzed within the framework of the classical nucleation theory. It is shown that an increase in the Na₂O content in the glass brings about a decrease in the kinetic and thermodynamic barriers of nucleation. Deceased.     

Effect of agglomeration of triacylglycerols on the stabilization of a model cream

This study has been carried out on solidification of a model cream using palm oil as a sole fat source. It was found that the addition of 1‐palmitoylglycerol to palm oil promoted the solidification of the model cream while the addition of 1‐oleoylglycerol had no such effect. Solid fat content of palm oil in the cream with 1‐palmitoylglycerol was found to be lower than those of palm oil and palm oil with 1‐oleoylglycerol after cooling from 60 to 5 °C. Crystallization behaviors of bulk palm oil and mixture of 1, 3‐dipalmitoyl‐ 2‐oleoyl‐glycerol (POP) and 1‐palmitoyl‐2, 3‐dioleoyl‐glycerol (POO) were then studied in the presence of monoacylglycerols. Formation of granular crystals was observed for palm oil and POP/POO mixture in the presence of 1‐palmitoylglycerol. HPLC of the granular crystals revealed that agglomeration of higher melting point triacylglycerols (TAGs) around 1‐palmitolyglycerol took place, which promoted the formation of granular crystals. It was suggested that the agglomeration of higher melting point TAGs around 1‐palmitoylglycerol which was preferentially adsorbed at the oil‐water interface of oil droplets in the model cream led to destabilization of oil‐in‐water emulsion and the solidification of the model cream. At the same time, it was suggested that the fatty acid moiety of emulsifiers played an important role in the agglomeration of TAGs and stabilization of o/w emulsions.     

青霉素亚砜结晶生长与成核动力学

利用Mydlarz 和 Jones 模型（MJ2）,对乙酸丁酯中青霉素亚砜的成核与生长动力学进行研究。通过矩量法对MJ2模型进行处理后,利用晶体产品的粒度分布计算得到青霉素亚砜的生长速率与成核速率,然后利用最小二乘法拟合回归求解出成核与生长动力学方程参数。通过实验设计考察了过饱和度、温度与搅拌速度对青霉素亚砜晶体成核和生长过程的影响。研究表明青霉素亚砜晶体生长速率随过饱和度比的增加呈现指数型增长,确定青霉素亚砜晶体生长属于晶体表面生长控制过程。由于高速搅拌会增加青霉素亚砜晶体的破碎,促进了二次成核过程,随着搅拌速度的增加,晶体生长速率出现小幅下滑,而成核速率则明显升高。青霉素亚砜成核与生长动力学研究将有助于工业生产过程优化。     

Crystallization behavior of 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol and 1‐palmitoyl‐2,3‐dioleoyl‐glycerol

A model margarine was stored under a temperature fluctuation cycle of 5—20 °C until granular crystals were observed. Using information obtained from the granular crystals, the crystallization behaviors of major triacylglycerols of palm oil, 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol (POP), 1‐palmitoyl‐2,3‐dioleoyl‐glycerol (POO), and their mixtures were then investigated. It was shown that in the model margarine, the POP content in the granular crystals was higher than in their surrounding materials, and the X‐ray diffraction pattern of the granular crystals revealed that they were the most stable polymorph, β. 99% pure POP, POO, and their mixtures were then stored under the above‐mentioned temperature cycle. POP was found to form the unstable polymorph, α, when cooled rapidly from the melt. Within 24 hours transformation into the γ polymorph and then into the β polymorph was observed. POO was shown to transform into the β' polymorph from α. When POP and POO were mixed, the β polymorph did not emerge, instead it was shown that POP and POO were both agglomerated in the mixtures, giving rise to the formation of granular crystals.     

Morphological modeling of polymer solidification

A physical model of semicrystalline polymer solidification is proposed, along with an outline of general theoretical aspects of morphological modeling. Computational modeling, based on the proposed envelop evolution equation associated with a primary nucleation model and the elastic energy equation of the lamellae director field, predicts the nucleation‐growth processes, domain patterns and internal lamellae organization of spherulitic structures in semicrystalline polymer solidification. Results of computer simulation are reported and compared with experimental observations.     

海底沉积物层CO2封存中水合物研究进展

海底沉积物层内CO2封存被认为是缓解全球气候变暖的有效途径,本文介绍了CO2封存时水合物自封机理、水合物形成条件和水合物稳定带范围,描述了水合物生成动力学研究现状,包括成核动力学、生长动力学以及水合物结晶过程驱动力,水合物的成核模型有成簇成核模型、成簇成核扩展模型、界面成核模型、Chen-Guo模型,水合物生长动力学模型有Englezos、Kvamme生长模型、指数增长模型、流体流动模型以及LB模型,水合驱动力有化学势差、温差、吉布斯自由能差、浓度差、压差或逸度差。总结了多孔介质渗透率和孔隙度随水合物成核和生长的演化关系,有KC模型、NR模型、平行毛细管束模型、渗透率下降模型和Morisdis相对渗透率模型,最后介绍了CO2水合实验情况,展望了CO2海底沉积物层内封存与水合物相关的科学问题。     

Reduction kinetics of a fluidizable nickel–alumina oxygen carrier for chemical‐looping combustion

This study investigates the kinetic modelling of oxygen carrier reduction by methane in the combustion reactor of the chemical‐looping combustion process. The species being reduced and the stability of the fluidizable oxygen carrier sample over repeated reduction–oxidation cycles are established using the temperature programmed reduction and oxidation and the pulse chemisorption characterization methods. The power‐law relation, the nucleation and nuclei growth model and the shrinking‐core models are considered to interpret the experimental kinetics of the oxygen carrier reduction. The obtained results show that the nucleation and nuclei growth model best describes the experimental data providing parameters with adequate statistical fitting indicators.