Evolution of BET internal surface area in glassy carbon powder during thermal oxidation

It is demonstrated that glassy carbon powder can be thermochemically activated. During activation, a film with open pores is created on the glassy carbon particles. This film has a large internal surface area, which is accessible to liquids and gases. A simple model for the evolution of the internal surface area in glassy carbon powder during thermochemical gas-phase oxidation is also presented and compared with experimental data. Experimental results are in qualitative agreement with the model. We found that a sharp particle size distribution is desirable with regard to potential technical applications.     

Vinyl acetate monomer—a pilot plant study

The kinetics of the reaction of acetic acid and acetylene over zinc acetate-activated carbon catalyst was investigated over a wide range of process variables in a pilot reactor. Although various catalytic reaction mechanisms were postulated, the rate of reaction was most satisfactorily correlated by a mechanism of surface reaction between charged adsorbed acetic acid and acetylene, which assumes that the rate controlling step was the irreversible charged adsorption of acetylene and acetic acid.     

Rhizobium trifolii capsular polysaccharide: a novel biopolymer with striking physical properties

The physical properties of the capsular polysaccharide of Rhizobium Trifolii (CPS) were investigated. Viscosity measurements provided information about the hydrodynamic volume of single coils, the perturbation of solvent flow and the shear-thinning behaviour of concentrated solutions. Changes in chain geometry and the development of an intermolecular network as a function of temperature were monitored using the techniques of optical rotation and dynamic oscillation. Finally, analysis of calorimetric thermograms elucidated the type of interactions between CPS and the bacterial levan. Overall, the Rhizobium polysaccharide was found to form thermally-reversible gels at an extremely low 'minimum critical gelling concentration' (c_o∼ 0.35gl^-1). At temperatures above the gel melting point (∼ 48°C), however, the compact polymer coils entangled at comparatively high concentrations (about 60 times higher than c_o). In the presence of a highly branched levan, the thermal stability of ordered CPS structures increased as a consequence of thermodynamic incompatibility between the two polymers.     

Dynamic properties of carbon black filled chlorinated polyethylene/hindered phenol blends

Aggregates of carbon black (CB) in a polymer matrix have a tendency to form a CB network. The dynamic mechanical properties of binary systems of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and CB or 3,9‐bis{1,1‐dimethyl‐2[β‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methylphenyl)propionyloxy]ethyl}‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxaspiro[5,5]‐undecane (AO‐80) and their ternary systems were investigated. It was found that the dynamic mechanical properties of those systems depend on the colloidal properties, surface oxides, and surface modification of CB. For binary systems of CPE and CB, oxidized CB gives a high modulus at low strain amplitude and a large Payne effect compared with untreated CB. In contrast, the reverse effect was observed for their ternary systems. Consequently, a good micro‐dispersion is obtainable by surface modification due to physical adsorption of AO‐80 on oxidized CB particles via hydrogen bonds. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of fermentation on ionizable iron in cereal-pulse combinations

The average diet in most developing countries is predominantly cereal based. Wheat, rice and millets are major staple foods. Although these diets are sufficient in iron, their low bioavailability is one of the most significant factors for iron deficiency anaemia. Traditional techniques like fermentation show promise in improving iron bioavailability. In vitro ionizable iron was estimated in 31 different combinations of rice, wheat, sorghum, black gram, bengal gram, green gram and coriander in five replicates with or without, fermentation in steamed products. Results indicate that in general cereal pulse combination and fermentation significantly ( P <0.05) increase the per cent ape of ionizable iron. Combination effects dominated in rice whilst fermentation dominated in sorghum. There was a significant reduction ( P <0.05) in phytate phosphorus on fermentation but no loss of tannin.     

Asbestos replacement aspects: Modification of the fibre-matrix interphase in lonomer based composites

Asbestos fibres, of the chrysotile variety, and chopped carbon fibres were pretreated by an in-situ polycondensation technique eventually resulting in a polyamide coating on the fibre surface. Ionomer based composites containing either carbon or asbestos fibres in random in plane fibre orientation were prepared, and the influence of this coating process on the tensile properties was investigated. It was found that for the asbestos-filled composites the presence of the nylon 6,6 interlayer improves the tensile performance, especially at moderate polyamide depositions. This is not the case with the pretreated carbon-filled composites for which carbon fibres with higher polyamide contents are preferred. Combinations of the treated asbestos fibres with carbon and/or aramid fibres may be used to reduce the asbestos content in asbestos-only based engineering plastics.     

Conducting composites of polythiophene and polyfuran with acetylene black

Conducting composites of polythiophene (PTP) and polyfuran (PF) with acetylene black (AB) were prepared via chemical oxidative polymerization of thiophene and furan in a suspension of AB in CHCl₃ at room temperature using anhydrous FeCl₃ as the oxidant. Formation of PTP and PF and their subsequent incorporation in PTP–AB and PF–AB composite systems were confirmed by FTIR analysis. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed the presence of compact clusters of particles in both composites. Transmission electron micrographs of PTP–AB and PF–AB composites showed formation of globular polymer encapsulated AB particles with average diameters of the order of ～100 nm in both systems. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the overall thermal stability varied in the order: AB > PTP–AB > PTP and AB > PF–AB > PF. DC conductivity values for the PTP–AB and PF–AB composites were of the order of 10^?2 and 10^?3 S cm^?1, respectively. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Kinetic study of the reaction between molybdenum trioxide and gaseous carbon tetrachloride

The kinetics of the chlorination reaction of molybdenum trioxide with gaseous carbon tetrachloride has been studied at temperatures between 713 and 753 K. The effects of temperature, reaction time, residence time and gaseous reactant concentration on conversion were studied throughout the reaction. In all cases, there was an increase in conversion when the above operating variables were increased. The kinetic model proposed is consistent with and correlates the experimental data. In the range studied for the different variables, the step that controls the rate of reaction is the surface chemical reaction. Values of the rate constant and the activation energy were estimated.