Phase transition in Sol-Gel processed barium titanate ceramics

Ferroelectric barium titanate (BaTiO₃) ceramics have been prepared from barium acetate [Ba(CH₃COO)₂] and titanium isopropoxide [Ti(CH₃)₂CHO)₄] precursors by sol-gel technique The as-grown powder was found to be amorphous which crystallized to tetragonal phase after annealing at 700°C in air for one hour. The ceramics showed well saturated polarization-field (P-E) hysteresis loops at room temperature. The values of spontaneous polarization(P_s), remanent polarization (P_r) and coercive field (E_c) of the ceramics were found to be19.0, 12.66μC-cm^-2 and 30KVcm^-1 respectively. The room temperature dielectric constant (ε) and loss tangent (tanδ) of the ceramics were found to be 1135 and 0.012 respectively. The dielectric constant and tanδ showed anomaly peaks at 125°C showing ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition. The polarization parameters also vanish at 125°C confirming the phase transition.     

Various approaches to transfers improvement during biphasic catalytic hydroformylation of heavy alkenes

The [HRh(CO)(TPPTS)₃] precursor, where TPPTS is the water-soluble P(m-C₆H₄SO₃Na)₃ ligand, has opened a large area for the Supported-Aqueous-Phase (SAP) catalysed functionalisation of heavy substrates. We investigated several ways to increase the efficiency of heavy alkenes hydroformylation by [Rh₂(μ-S^tBu)₂(CO)₂(TPPTS)₂]. Addition of a cosolvent was shown to lead to a significant leaching of rhodium in the organic phase. Promising results were obtained. First, the Delmas–Chaudhari method of adding small amounts of PPh₃ to [HRh(CO)(TPPTS)₃] to maintain the complex at the interface, was examined for [Rh₂(μ-S^tBu)₂(CO)₂(TPPTS)₂]. Here [Rh₂(μ-S^tBu)₂(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂] was rapidly formed and is operating classically in the organic phase. Moreover, β-cyclodextrin was used as a phase-transfer agent allowing the inclusion of the substrate and its transport to the aqueous phase where the reaction is occurring. Finally, the use of silica with various hydration ratios in SAP catalysis led us to propose that the microreactors containing water, complex and extra TPPTS operate on the surface of the support.     

Reptation in polymer blends

Forward recoil spectrometry (FRES) was used to measure the tracer diffusion coefficients D*_PS and D*_PXE of deuterated polystyrene (d-PS) and deuterated poly(xylenyl ether) (d-PXE) chains in high molecular weight protonated blends of these polymers. The D*s were shown to be independent of matrix molecular weights and to decrease as M⁻², where M is the tracer molecular weight, suggesting that the tracer diffusion of both species occurs by reptation. These D*s were used to determine the monomeric friction coefficients ζ_0,PS and ζ_0,PXE of the individual PS and PXE macromolecules as a function of ф, the volume fraction of PS in the PS:PXE blend. Since ζ_0,PSζ_0,PXE at each ф, the rate at which a PS molecule reptates is much greater than that of a PXE molecule, even though both chains are diffusing in identical surroundings. Part of this difference may be due to the difficulty of backbone bond rotation of the PXE molecule. However, even when measured at a constant temperature increment above the glass transition temperature, ζ_0,PS and ζ_0,PXE were observed to be markedly composition dependent. In addition the ratio ζ_0,PS/ζ_0,PXE varied from a maximum of 4 × 10⁻² near ф=0.85 to a minimum of 5 × 10⁻⁵ for ф=0.0. These results show that intramolecular barriers do not solely determine the ζ₀s of the components in this blend. Clearly, the interactions between the diffusing chains and the matrix chains also influence ζ₀.     

DISPERSION OF MATTER IN FLOW OF A BINGHAM PLASTIC IN A TUBE

The paper is concerned with the dispersion of a solute in a Bingham plastic fluid flowing in a pipe or a parallel plate channel. For pipe flow, the dispersion coefficient K₂ first increases with ξ₀ (the dimensionless radius of the plug flow region), reaches a maximum and then decreases. But in a channel flow, K₂ decreases monotonically with increasing ξ₀. Further K₂ for channel flow is found to be larger than that for pipe flow for all values of ξ₀ except 0.8≤ξ₀≤1.     

Preparation of BaTiO3 by the hydrothermal method

The results of hydrothermal preparation of BaTiO₃ fine powders are reported. The effects of the reaction temperature, the molar ratio of Ba/Ti in the precursors, the chemical form of the precursors on the phase composition, the size and the morphology of the products are presented. The higher the temperature, the higher the basicity and the greater the molar ratio of Ba/Ti in the precursor, the easier the formation of the perovskite type BaTiO₃ crystallite will be. It was found that BaTiO₃ microcrystals(150–300 nm) could be synthesized through the hydrothermal reaction of commercial TiO₂ with Ba(OH)₂ aqueous solution, while the hydrothermal reaction of the newly prepared Ti(OH)₄ gel with the Ba(OH)₂ solution produced highly crystallized, well dispersed perovskite type BaTiO₃ crystallites with very fine (< 100 nm) particles. The newly prepared Ti(OH)₄ gel proved to be suitable precursor for the hydrothermal preparation of BaTiO₃ fine powders. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the hydrothermal BaTiO₃ powders reveals a simple cubic perovskite structure. Above that, the lattice constant decreased with the increase of the reaction temperature. These abnormal crystallographic features are assumed to result from lattice defects, due to OH⁻ incorporation in the perovskite lattice.     

Sol-gel processed barium titanate thin films

Ferroelectric barium titanate (BaTiO₃) thin films have been prepared by sol-gel technique from barium acetate [Ba(CH₃COO)₂] and titanium (IV) isopropoxied [Ti(CH₃)₂CHO)₄] precursors. The as-grown films were found to be amorphous which crystallized to tetragonal phase after annealing at 700°C for one hour in air. The room temperautre dielectric constant (ε) and loss tangent (tanδ) of the films were found to be 370 and 0.02 respectively. The values of the spontaneous polarization (P_s), remanent polarization (P_r) and coercive field (E_c) of the films determined from the polarization-field (P-E) hysteresis were found to be 14.0, 3.2μC-cm^-2 and 53KV-cm^-1 respectively. The coercive field of the film determined from the capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics is slightly lower than that determined from the P-E hysteresis loop.     

Effect of macromolecular length on anisotropic scattering of light in an electric field

Light scattering by monodisperse solutions of rigid rod-like anisotropic macromolecules, with linear dimensions l of the order of incident wavelength λ, oriented in an external d.c. electric field, →E has been analysed. The relative variations δV^E_v, δH^E_v, δV^E_h, δH^E_h of the scattered light components are discussed for the three values [l/λ] = 1, 0·5, 2, and various reorientation parameters, p = [μE/kT] of the permanent dipole moment μ and q = [(₃ − ₁)E²/2kT] of the moment induced by the principal polarizabilities ₁ = ₂ ≠ ₃. The saturation orientation field strength has been calculated for certain macromolecules with the aim of determining their optical anisotropy numerically.     

EFFECT OF FILLER TREATMENT ON THE RHEOLOGICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES

Mechanical and Theological properties of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) filled with mica flakes, rutile and carbon black are investigated. Experimental results show that the Young modulus and the tensile strength of mica and rutile-HDPE composites are significantly enhanced by surface treatment of fillers with silane and titanate coupling agents. Surface treatments are shown to reduce the peak of the loss tangent (tan δ) and slightly increase the glass transition temperature (T_g). This is an indication of improved adhesion at the filler-matrix interface. The carbon black composites, however, hardly show any improvement by these treatments. The Theological properties are also effected by surface treatments, particularly at low shear rates. The low-shear rate viscosities (η _O) and characteristic time (λ ₀) of these systems are determined and compared. It is found that η ₀ and λ ₀ of carbon black composites are much higher than those of mica composites. This is probably due to the poor dispersion and/or agglomerates formation of the carbon black in the HDPE matrix. It is also suggested that the coupling agent, depending on its chemical structure and nature of the filler, may act as an adhesion promoter or as a lubricating agent.     

Raman spectroscopic studies on the sulfation of cerium oxide

In the present study, we have examined sulfation of cerium oxide via impregnation of (NH₄)₂SO₄, followed by heating in the temperature range of 220–720°C, using Raman Spectroscopy. Based on the SO and SO stretching frequencies in the range of 900–1400 cm⁻¹, a wide range of surface oxysulfur species and bulk cerium-oxy-sulfur species are identified. At 220°C, a mixture of (NH₄)₂SO₄ crystals, SO²⁻_4(aq) and HSO¹⁻_r(aq) is found to have formed on ceria's surface, whereas complete conversion of (NH₄)₂SO₄ to SO²⁻_4(aq) and HSO¹⁻_4(aq) occurs at 280°C. At 350°C, formation of a mixture of surface pyrosulfate S₂O²⁻_7(surf.0, consisting of two SO oscillators and a bulk type compound identified as Ce(IV)(SO₄)_x(SO₃)_2−x (0 < x < 2) have been observed. Upon introduction of moisture, the former transforms to HSO¹⁻_4(surf.), whereas the latter remains unchanged. At 400°C, only the bulk type compound can be observed. At 450°C, only Ce₂(SO₄)₃ is generated and remains stable until 650°C. Further increase in the temperature to 720°C results in the formation of CeOSO₄. The present study not only provides a more thorough understanding of the sulfation of cerium oxide at a molecular level, but also demonstrates that Raman spectroscopy is a highly effective technique to characterize sulfation of metal oxides.     

A new tantalum sulfur compound as electrode material for non-aqueous alkali metal batteries

Polycrystalline (PbS)_1.14(TaS₂)₂, a misfit layer sulfide, was used as cathodic material for lithium secondary battery. One molar LiClO₄ in propylene carbonate (PC) was used as electrolyte. The cell could be galvanostatic discharged down to x = 4.6 [Li_x(PbS)_1.14(TaS₂)₂] when the current density was 65 μA cm⁻² and the cell was cycled more than 100 times between 3.5 and 1.5 V at a current density of 260 μA cm⁻². Lattice expansion increased linearly with lithium content and was less than that reported for the Li/TaS₂ system. Chemical diffusion coefficients were determined by a modified version of the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique and they were fairly constant in the composition range 0.2 < x < 1, and an average value of 8.1 × 10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹ was calculated. Sodium intercalation was also accomplished, but the uptake of this ion resulting in a significant lattice expansion compared with that observed for lithium ions. Moreover, a similar dependence of the sodium chemical diffusion coefficient on the composition was observed with an average value of 1.4 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm² s⁻¹, somewhat higher than that of lithium ion. We believe that differences in lattice expansion may be responsible for the differences found in the chemical diffusivity values.     

DIFFUSIVITY DETERMINATION FROM THE RESPONSE TO INJECTION INTO LAMINAR LIQUID FLOW IN A CAPILLARY

A method for the determination of diffusivities in liquids is described; the method is based on measurements of the response to injection in a laminar flow of liquid in a capillary. By injection of δ-type, the component whose diffusivity is to be measured is introduced into the inlet part of a capillary of internal diameter 1.6 mm. The response to the injection is measured at the end of the capillary by a flow-through refractometer, the output signal of which is recorded on tape at 16-s intervals. The output signal is compared with a theroetical model of the time dependence of the response, based on Taylor's analysis of the dispersion of an injected component in laminar flow. The diffusivity is calculated from one of the model parameters, which were evaluated by the method of maximum likelihood. The calibration of the instrument was performed by measuring the diffusivity of KC1 in aqueous solution. The following diffusivities at 25°C were determined: n-butanol 971 μm²/s, dioxane 1093μm²/s, caprolactame 948 μm²/s, Na₂SO₄, 1126 μm²/s, salicylaldoxime 895 μm²/s, cyclohexanone 960 μm²/s, acetone 1316μm²/s, oxine 820.5 μm²/s, all in water; caprolactame in trichlorethylene 1958μm²/s, caprolactame in 10% aqueous (NH₄4)₂,SO₄ solution 1148 μm²/s, salicylaldoxime in chloroform 1878 μm²/S.     

Preparation of new solid superacid catalyst, zirconium sulfate supported on γ-alumina and activity for acid catalysis

Zirconium sulfate supported on γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by impregnation of powdered γ-Al₂O₃ with zirconium sulfate aqueous solution followed by calcining in air at high temperature. For Zr(SO₄)₂/γ-Al₂O₃ samples, no diffraction line of zirconium sulfate was observed up to 50 wt.%, indicating good dispersion of Zr(SO₄)₂ on the surface of γ-Al₂O₃. The acidity of catalysts increased in proportion to the zirconium sulfate content up to 40 wt.% of Zr(SO₄)₂. 40-Zr(SO₄)₂/γ-Al₂O₃ calcined at 400 °C exhibited maximum catalytic activities for 2-propanol dehydration and cumene dealkylation. The catalytic activities for both reactions, 2-propanol dehydration and cumene dealkylation were correlated with the acidity of catalysts measured by ammonia chemisorption method.     

SOL SYNTHESIS OF THE PRECURSOR OF ZIRCONIUM OXIDE IN CITRIC ACID-AMMONIA SOLUTION

The precursor of zirconium oxide is synthesized by the sol-gel method by reacting zirconyi chloride octahydrate (ZrOCl₂ 8H₂O) and citric acid in ammonia solution. The ionized complex compounds (R(COO^-+NH₄)₃) were first formed from the reaction of complex agent (citric acid) and ammonium hydroxide. Zirconyi chloride octahydrate first hydrolyzed to produce zirconium tetranuclear complex molecule [Zr₄(OH)₈(OH₂)_l6(—OOC)₃R]⁸⁺ which subsequently produced a large complex molecule ([Zr₄(OH)₅(OH₂)|₆(—OOC)₃R)⁵⁺ or [Zr₄(OH)₈(OH₂)₁₃(—OOC)₃R]⁵⁺) through the polymerization of zirconium tetramer with the ionized complex agent. The effect of the reaction conditions on the precursor solution's viscosity and average particle size were investigated in order to understand the kinetics of the reaction. A rational reaction mechanism is proposed satisfactorily to explain the formation and growth of the particles and viscosity of the sol.     

Analysis of the thermal hysteresis in partially deuterated tryglicine selenate

Dielectric constant data on partially deuterated triglycine selenate (TGSe)_1-x, (DTGSe)_x for x = 0, 0.35, 0.80 show a steady increase of thermal hysteresis ΔT(x) with deuteration, in agreement with previous data by Gesi. In this work we correlate this observed thermal hysteresis with the parameter g(x) = (γ/β)N²μ² obtained from hysteresis loops data, in order to characterize the ferroelectric transition. For x = 0, the transition is close to a tricritical point (g ≌ 1/3) and we see that cooling very slowly through T_c under these quasitricritical conditions results in a very large residual contribution to the dielectric constant at the ferroelectric phase.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of Ba(Ti, Sn)O3 fine powders and dielectric properties of the corresponding ceramics

Fine powders of submicron-sized crystallites of BaTiO₃ were prepared at 85–130°C by the hydrothermal method, starting from TiO₂.ξH₂O gel and Ba(OH)₂ solution. The products obtained below 110°C incorporated considerable amounts of H₂O and OH⁻ in the lattice. As-prepared BaTiO₃ is cubic and converts to the tetragonal phase after heat treatment at 1200°C, accompanied by the loss of residual OH⁻ ions. Hydrothermal reaction of SnO₂.ξH₂O gel with Ba(OH)₂ at 150–260°C gives rise to the hydrated phase, BaSn(OH)₆.3H₂O, due to the amphoteric nature of SnO₂.ξH₂O which stabilises Sn(OH)₆²⁻ anions in basic media. On heating in air or releasing the pressure in situ at 260°C, BaSn(OH)₆.3H₂O converts to BaSnO₃ through an intermediate, BaSnO(OH)₄. Solid solutions of Ba(Ti,Sn)O₃ are directly formed from (TiO₂ + SnO₂)..ξH₂O gel up to 35 mol% SnO₂. At higher Sn contents, the hydrothermal products are mixtures of BaSn(OH)₆.3H₂O and BaTiO₃, which on annealing at 1000°C result in monophasic Ba(Ti,Sn)O₃. The sintering characteristics and the dielectric properties of the ceramics prepared out of these fine powders are presented. The dielectric properties of fine-grained Ba(Ti,Sn)O₃ ceramics are explained on the basis of the prevailing diffuse phase transition behaviour.     

Kinetics of PdO combustion catalysis

The kinetics of the catalytic combustion of methane by supported palladium oxide catalysts (2 wt.-% Pd/La₂O₃·11A1₂O₃ and 5 wt.-%Pd/ γ-A1₂0₃ were examined for several oxygen partial pressure levels over the temperature range from 40–900°C using temperature-programmed reaction and slow ramp and hold temperature-time transient techniques. Combustion rates were measured by differential reaction in a fixed bed of powdered catalyst at lower temperatures (200–500°C). Also, by preparing the catalysts as thin (ca. 10 μm) coatings on an alumina tube and conducting the experiments with very high flows of dilute methane and oxygen in helium, the rate measurements were extended up to 900°C without significant contribution from gas phase reactions. The specific combustion activity of supported PdO shows a persistent hysteresis between 450 and 750°C, i.e., the rate of combustion between these temperature limits depends strongly on whether the catalyst is cooling from above 750°C or heating from below 450°C. This region is also notable for negative apparent activation energy in the rate of methane oxidation, i.e., the rate increases with decreasing temperature during reoxidation of the Pd metal and decreases with increasing temperature (especially with low oxygen partial pressure) prior to decomposition of the bulk oxide. Detailed time-temperature transient kinetic analyses were performed for supported PdO catalysts within the 450–750°C temperature range. The hysteresis in methane combustion rate is caused by a higher activation energy for reduction of oxygen chemisorbed on metallic Pd and by suppressed reoxidation of Pd metal relative to PdO decomposition.     

Microwave dielectric characteristics of ceramics in Mg2SiO4–Zn2SiO4 system

(Mg_1−xZn_x)₂SiO₄ ceramics were prepared and characterized. The densification temperatures of the present ceramics are much lower than those for Mg₂SiO₄ and Zn₂SiO₄ end-members. Small solid solution limits of Zn in Mg₂SiO₄ and Mg in Zn₂SiO₄ are observed, and the bi-phase structure is confirmed in (Mg_1−xZn_x)₂SiO₄ ceramics with x = 0.1–0.9. Even though, it is clear that the Qf value of Zn₂SiO₄ ceramics can be significantly improved together with a suppressed temperature coefficient of resonant frequency τ_f by substituting Mg for Zn. (Mg_0.4Zn_0.6)₂SiO₄ ceramics indicate a good combination of microwave dielectric characteristics: _r = 6.6 Qf = 95,650 GHz, and τ_f = −60 ppm/°C.     

Einfluss der säurekonzentration auf die anodische auflosung des indiumamalgams

The effect of HClO₄ concentration on the rate of electrode processes on a stationary indium amalgam electrode in stirred In(ClO₄)₃ solutions at constant ionic strength (3 M NaClO₄) has been investigated. Alongside with the measurement of polarization curves, the exchange current and the true rate of the anodic process of amalgam dissolution (i_a at different potentials (φ) were determined by a radiochemical method. With an increase in the HClO₄ concentration, a sharp decrease in the exchange current is observed; at HClO₄ concentrations below 0.2 M at constant φ, the i_a values are inversely proportional to the HClO₄ concentration. The experimental results are expressed by the equation p] i_a = k[In][H⁺]⁻¹ exp (βφF|RT),

where [In] is the concentration of the indium amalgam. The rate of the cathodic process at constant φ also decreases with a decrease in pH. A hypothesis is advanced according to which partially hydrolysed In(H₂O)₅OH²⁺ ions, rather than In(H₂O)₆³⁺ which are predominant in the solution, participate in the electrode process. The OH⁻ ions, like some other anions, appear to be capable of facilitating the transfer of electrons between the electrode surface and the reacting particle. An analysis of the results obtained (and of data in the literature) shows that partially hydrolysed metal ions play an essential role in electrode processes.     

The glass temperature of polymer blends

The entropy theory of glasses is used to derive the glass temperature, T_g, of a binary polymer blend in terms of the glass temperatures of the two substituents. The formula is T_g = B₁T_g1 + B₂T_g2, where B_i is the fraction of flexible bonds of substituent i. A bond is flexible if rotation about it changes the shape of the molecule. Bonds in side groups as well as in the backbone are to be counted. This formula assumes that the free volume, taken here to be the volume fraction of empty lattice sites, is the same for each of the three materials. It has no parameters. The above equation expressed in weight fractions, W_i, is (T_g − T_g1)W₁(γ₁/ω₁) + (T_g − T_g2)W₂(γ₂/ω₂) = 0, where ω_i is the weight of a monomer unit and gg_i is the number of flexible bonds per monomer unit. A more general treatment is given. One variation of the more general treatment which expresses the properties of the blend in purely additive terms gives T_g = B₁T_g1 + B₂T_g2 + KB₁B₂(T_g1 − T_g2)(V₀₁ − V₀₂), where V_0i are the free volume fractions of the homopolymers at their glass temperatures and K is a constant. The added term is usually small. The most general form of the equation requires the energy of interaction between the two unlike molecules, which can be estimated by volume measurements on the blend.     

Dielectric and ferroelectric properties of lead indium niobate ceramic prepared by wolframite method

The dielectric and ferroelectric properties of lead indium niobate (Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃, PIN) ceramic prepared by an oxide-mixing method via wolframite route were investigated. The 98.5% perovskite fine-grained PIN ceramics with average grain sizes of 1–2 μm were obtained by sintering at 1050 °C for 2 h. The dielectric properties of the PIN were of relaxor ferroelectric behavior with temperature of dielectric maximum (T_m) 53 °C and dielectric constant (_r) 4300 (at 1 kHz). The P–E hysteresis loop measurements at various temperatures showed that the ferroelectric properties of the PIN ceramic changed gradually from the paraelectric behavior at temperature above T_m to slim-loop type relaxor behavior at temperature below T_m. Moreover, the P–E loop became more open at temperatures much lower than T_m. At −25 °C, the maximum polarization is found to be 8 μm/cm² at a field of 30 kV/cm, with P_r value of 2.5 μm/cm² and E_c of +7.5 kV/cm.