Thermodynamic Modeling of Multicomponent Rare Earth Nitrates Aqueous Systems

Solubility constants of rare earth (RE) nitrates crystalline hydrates are determined in a wide temperature range (−30 to 120°C), salts solubilities and phase diagrams of water–RE nitrate systems are calculated. For multicomponent (n > 5) solutions of RE nitrates the assessment of solution properties as well as phase diagrams are shown to be feasible within experimental uncertainty. In case of mixtures of RE nitrates with similar hydrodynamic radii of ions, the parameters of RE1–RE2 interparticle interaction can be ignored without losing accuracy of thermodynamic modeling.

The Influence of Activated Dispersed Additives on Electrical Conductivity of Anhydrite Compositions

The paper presents the results of studies of the structure and properties of a fluorohydrite binder modified by a chrysotile nanotubes dispersion in a medium of calcium nitrate solution. It is shown that addition of this modifier into the anhydrite composition leads to a 106-fold decrease in electrical resistance. Microstructural analysis of the fluorohydrite composition showed changes in the morphology of new formations with the creation of crystalline hydrates of increased density. The presence of elongated nanocrystals on the surface of the hardened matrix was noted. In addition, IR spectrum absorption lines, prove the presence of calcium nitrate in the pore space of the composition, which contributes to a significant decrease in the electrical resistance of the developed composite.

UNUSUAL TYPES OF LAYERED ORGANIC CRYSTAL HYDRATES

In molecular crystalline hydrates with a high content of crystallization water infinite H2O...OH2 nets or finite fragments of such nets are formed. As a rule, these nets contain 5- and 6-membered cycles (H2O)n. Brand new topological types of layered organic crystal hydrates among the structures included in the Cambridge Structural Database in 2009–2019 were found and investigated. The discovered nets were deposited to the Topological Types Database. Topological characteristics of new nets are described, in particular, the maximum possible symmetry, information indices, vertex, edge and face transitivity of the nets

Non-porous organic crystals and their interaction with guest molecules from the gas phase

Some organic molecules encapsulate solvents upon crystallization. One class of compounds that shows a high propensity to form such crystalline solvates are tetraaryladamantanes (TAAs). Recently, tetrakis(dialkoxyphenyl)-adamantanes have been shown to encapsulate a wide range of guest molecules in their crystals, and to stabilize the guest molecules against undesired reactions. The term ‘encapsulating organic crystals’ (EnOCs) has been coined for these species. In this work, we studied the behavior of three TAAs upon exposition to different guest molecules by means of sorption technique. We firstly measured the vapor adsorption/desorption isotherms with water, tetrahydrofuran and toluene, and secondly, we studied the uptake of methane on dry and wet TAAs. Uptake of methane beyond one molar equivalent was detected for wet crystals, even though the materials showed a lack of porosity. Thus far, such behavior, which we ascribe to methane hydrate formation, had been described for porous non-crystalline materials or crystals with detectable porosity, not for non-porous organic crystals. Our results show that TAA crystals have interesting properties beyond the formation of conventional solvates. Gas-containing organic crystals may find application as reservoirs for gases that are difficult to encapsulate or are slow to form crystalline hydrates in the absence of a host compound. Wet tetraaryladamantane crystals take up methane in form of methane hydrate structure I, even though they appear non-porous to argon.

Structure and properties of modified gypsum binder

PurposeThe purpose of the study is regarding the development of eco-oriented technologies for obtaining the building gypsum materials with the involvement of industrial by-products or waste.Design/methodology/approachThe scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis and IR spectral analysis were used to study the structure of gypsum matrix. The method of comparison of modified and unmodified gypsum matrix was used. Physical modeling of gypsum matrix crystallization is used to study changes in the morphology of hydration products.FindingsThe experimental results show that the addition of technical soot into a gypsum binder leads to a change in the morphology of crystalline hydrates of calcium sulfate dihydrate. Results of the scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis and IR spectral analysis confirm the change of physical and mechanical characteristics of the gypsum binder due to the structural modification of the gypsum matrix with ultrafine carbon soot. The achieved degree of the structural modification of the gypsum matrix is compatible with the results obtained when the gypsum binder was modified with dispersions of carbon nanotubes.Originality/valueThe morphology of the crystalline hydrates of the gypsum matrix with the addition of 0.04%, 0.06% and 1% of the carbon soot is characterized by the transition of the classical needle-like structure of gypsum dihydrate to the lamellar structure of increased density. One can observe the formation of intergrowths around ultrafine carbon soot particles. The studied carbon additive can improve strength characteristics of the gypsum matrix.

Luminescent materials in the form of glass ceramic

In this paper an original method for obtaining glass ceramic samples based on iodides of alkaline-earth elements activated by Eu2+ is proposed, their structural and spectral-luminescent properties are studied. The formation of glass ceramic samples containing both anhydrous iodides of alkaline-earth elements and crystalline hydrates of iodides of alkaline-earth element is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis when using in the synthesis process from 30 to 60 wt .% BaI2 : Eu2+, from 40 to 50 wt. % SrI2 : Eu2+ and 40 wt. % CaI2 : Eu2+. The possibility of adjusting the resulting color of glass ceramic samples emission (from blue to purple-red) by varying its composition is shown.