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High density polyethylene (HDPE) is a widely used plastic but it is also a combustible material. One way of reducing flammability is to add fillers, such as magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2). However, this has a deleterious effect on the mechanical properties of composites. It has been found that one possible method of restoring mechanical properties is to modifY the filler particles with coating agents, such as stearic acid. In the present work, this idea was taken a stage further with the use of various metal stearates (e.g. magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, and zinc stearate) for modifying filler. The fillers examined were magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate. A filler loading of 40% w/w was used in all samples. Samples were moulded into a variety of shapes for mechanical testing. Such tests included, tensile, flexural, and impact testing. To obtain deeper understanding of the effect of the coating agents on the fillers, a variety of fundamental tests were carried out. These included Diffuse Reflectance FTIR (DRIFT), Thermal Analysis using a DSC cell, Xray Diffraction (XRD), contact angle measurement. Unfilled HDPE, uncoated filled-HDPE, and coated filled-HDPE were compared using uncoated filled-HDPE as a base line. Uncoated filled-HDPE is more brittle than unfilled HPDE. Surface modification of filler improves the toughness properties. Comparing coated filled-compounds, stearic acid and zinc stearate caused a small improvement, magnesium stearate improved the properties significantly with calcium carbonate while calcium stearate gave the best results for coating magnesium hydroxide. One monolayer coating gave the best compound properties compared to other degrees of coating. Although, tensile/flexural strength was not greatly affected elongation at yield, extension at maximum load, and impact properties increased significantly. DSC was used to observe the disappearance and conversion of coating agents as coating proceeded. X-ray diffraction showed the effect of injection moulding on the orientation of the filler and polymer. During coating of the filler particles, XRD and DSC were used to follow incorporation of stearate particles to produce the monolayer coverage. Surface free energy results showed that surface modification of filler resulted in the reduction of hydrophilicity of filler leading to tougher composites compared with uncoated filled-compounds.

Yes / Fouling on heat transfer surfaces due to scale formation is the most concerned item in thermal desalination industry. Here, a dynamic fouling model is developed and incorporated into the MSF dynamic process model to predict fouling at high temperature and high velocity. The proposed dynamic model considers the attachment and removal mechanisms in the fouling phenomena with more relaxation of the assumptions such as the density of the fouling layer and salinity of the recycle brine. While calcium sulphate might precipitate at very high temperature, only the crystallization of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide are considered in this work. Though the model is applied in a 24 stages brine recycle MSF plant, only the heat recovery section (21 stages) is considered under this study. The effect of flow velocity and surface temperature are investigated. By including both diffusion and reaction mechanism in the fouling model, the results of the fouling prediction model are in good agreement with most recent studies in the literature. The deposition of magnesium hydroxide increases with the increase in surface temperature and flow velocity while calcium carbonate deposition increases with the increase in the surface temperature and decreases with the increase in the flow velocity.

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Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemistry / Kenneth J. Klabunde / First, a new tiara Pd(II) thiolate complex-[Pd(SC[subscript]12H[subscript]25)[subscript]2][subscript]6 has been synthesized and fully characterized. Then the complex was further used as a single-source precursor to prepare nearly monodisperse palladium sulfide (PdS) nanoparticles through the high-temperature-induced decomposition in diphenyl ether. Secondly, the influence of dodecanethiol on the product distribution upon heating a Pd(II)-octylamine system was investigated. The molar ratio of octylamine to Pd(II) was fixed at 20:1, and the concentration of dodecanethiol was changed systematically. Without thiol ligand, only aggregated Pd(0) particles were obtained due to the reduction of Pd(II) by octylamine. When the molar ratio of dodecanethiol to Pd(II) was increased to 0.5, highly monodisperse sulfurized palladium nanoparticles with diameter 7.55 [plus or minus] 0.73 nm were generated. When the molar ratio reached to 2, only a thiolate complex-[Pd(SC[subscript]12H[subscript]25)[subscript]2][subscript]6 was found as the final product. Thirdly, we report a facile method to prepare nearly monodisperse Pd nanoparticles by heating Pd(II) ions in 4-tert-butyltoluene solvent, in the presence of oleylamine and trioctylphosphine (TOP) ligands. It has been found the concentration of TOP ligand was highly pivotal for the formation of Pd nanoparticles. Without TOP, only aggregated Pd particles were obtained due to the reduction of Pd(II) by oleylamine. When the molar ratio of TOP to Pd(II) was less than two, well-protected Pd nanoparticles were obtained. However, when the molar ratio reached to two, only Pd(II)-TOP coordination complexes were obtained as the final product. Fourthly, we present a novel way to synthesize cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles from a heterogeneous system only containing cadmium oxide, trioctylphosphine, and trioctylphosphine selenide. Last, the formation of magnesium oxychloride (Mg[subscript]x(OH)[subscript]yCl[subscript]z•nH[subscript]2O) nanorods from the system MgO-MgCl[subscript]2-H[subscript]2O was investigated. By changing the amounts of the starting materials, short nanorods (< 1 micron) or long nanorods (up to 20 micron) could be obtained readily with the aspect ratio in the range of 10-70. The resulting magnesium oxychloride nanorods could be further transformed to magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)[subscript]2) nanorods by treating with NaOH.

A principal limitação do uso de MgO em refratários é a facilidade com que reage com água formando hidróxido de magnésio (Mg(OH)2) que, devido à sua menor densidade, causa tensões destrutivas nesses materiais. Para outras aplicações, no entanto, a reação de hidroxilação do MgO é necessária, como em produção de agentes antichamas, em compósitos poliméricos e na correção de pH de solos. Observações empíricas na literatura demonstraram que diferentes fontes de MgO possuem reatividades e sensibilidades à hidroxilação distintas. Este estudo analisou o impacto de variáveis externas (por exemplo, a liberação de calor que ocorre durante a reação ou o volume das amostras) que ainda não foi completamente compreendido. O impacto auto-catalítico da temperatura reacional e da exotermia da reação foi avaliado. Por meio de medidas de temperatura in situ e de grau de hidroxilação termogravimétrico, também foram estudados os impactos do volume das amostras testadas e da concentração de sólidos nas suspensões, por meio de medidas de temperatura in situ e termogravimetria. Analisou-se também as principais diferenças estruturais entre duas principais fontes de MgO (sínter de MgO e magnésia cáustica): morfologia de partículas, densidade e área superficial específica. Em seguida, os mecanismos de hidroxilação em suspensões aquosas e seus efeitos foram avaliados por meio de testes de hidroxilação seguidos de termogravimetria, difração de raios-X, medidas de condutividade iônica, densidade, área superficial específica e microscopia eletrônica, e relacionado com as características físico-químicas e morfológicas das respectivas fontes de MgO. Pôde-se constatar que diferenças significativas entre a temperatura nominal do meio reacional e no interior da amostra podem afetar a cinética de hidroxilação do material. O volume e a concentração de sólidos variáveis também podem acentuar consideravelmente os efeitos da exotermia e gerar gradientes de hidroxilação. Também se verificou que a morfologia e a quantidade do Mg(OH)2 formado mudam significativamente dependendo do precursor e em função das condições de tempo-temperatura. / The use of MgO in refractories is restrict due to the easy reaction with water forming magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2). Its lower density causes compressive stresses that can crack their structure. On the other hand, for applications such as the production of flame retardant agents for polymer composites and pH correcting of contaminated soil, this reaction is necessary. Empirical observations in the literature have shown that different sources of MgO have district levels of chemical reactiveness. The present study analyzed the main structural differences between the two main sources of MgO (magnesia sinter and caustic magnesia): particle morphology, density and specific surface area. The mechanisms of hydroxylation of these raw materials in aqueous suspensions and their effects were followed by hydroxylation tests, X-ray diffraction, ionic conductivity, density, specific surface area and scanning electron microscopy. They were associated with the physical characteristics morphological, chemical of these MgO sources. The impact of external variables (e.g., heat release during the reaction or the sample volume), that was not yet completely understood, was also evaluated through temperature measurements carried out in situ and hydroxylation degree accessed by thermogravimetry. The effects of samples volume and solid concentration in aqueous suspension were also investigated. The results showed that differences between the ambient temperature and reaction inside sample temperature can affect the kinetics of hydroxylation of the material. The samples volume and solids concentration can also enhance significantly the effects of heat release and generate gradients of hydroxylation. It was also found out that the morphology and the amount of Mg(OH)2 formed can change depending on the precursor and on the time-temperature conditions.

A formação de espinélio de aluminato de magnésio (\'MG\'\'AL IND.2\'\'O IND.4\'; espinélio), através da combinação de óxido de alumínio (\'AL IND.2\'\'O IND.3\'; alumina) com geradores de poros à base de óxido de Magnésio (\'MG\'\'O\'; magnésia) ou hidróxido de magnésio (\'MG\'(\'OH)IND.2\'; HM), resulta em estruturas de elevada porosidade (acima de 50%) e com baixa tendência a densificar mesmo em temperaturas elevadas (1500-1650°C). Devido a isso, esse sistema tem grande potencial de aplicação tecnológica para isolamento térmico e filtração em altas temperaturas. Considerando sua utilização em larga escala como isolante térmico verifica-se a necessidade de desenvolvimento de novas rotas de síntese mais eficazes. A reação de hidroxilação do \'MG\'\'O\' pode ser controlada, utilizando como matéria-prima tanto a magnésia sínter como com a magnésia caustica, desta forma, a expansão de peças de cerâmicas porosas feitas a base de \'MG\'\'O\' também podem ser controladas. Deste modo, neste trabalho pretende-se investigar uma nova rota para a obtenção de espinélio utilizando o \'MG\'\'O\' como ligante hidráulico e incorporar poros, in situ, utilizando-se da decomposição do HM em uma matriz de alumina. Os resultados mostraram que a área superficial específica (ASE) da magnésia influencia fortemente nas propriedades mecânicas do material moldado, comprovando que para as ASEs maiores a magnésia é viável como ligante hidráulico, sendo 0,6 MPa para o modulo de ruptura por compressão diametral, o melhor resultado deste trabalho, enquanto o sistema à base de cimento de aluminato de cálcio (CAC) teve 0,5 MPa de módulo de ruptura, e o sistema à base de \'alfa\'-Bond teve 0,3 MPa de módulo, ambos sistemas de ligantes hidráulicos conhecidos na literatura. A grande diferença no módulo de ruptura por compressão diametral mostrou que o tempo de cura e a ASE da magnésia influenciaram-no fortemente.Enquanto, as amostras com alta ASE de magnésia, em torno de ~60 \'M POT.2\'/g, tiveram 0,6 MPa de módulo de ruptura, as amostras com baixa ASE, ~1 \'M POT.2\'/g, não tiveram alteração no módulo de ruptura. Verificou-se também um aumento gradual no módulo de ruptura segundo a ASE, para um valor intermediário de ASE, ~30 \'M POT.2\'/g, o módulo foi de 0,4 MPa, valor ainda comparável a outros sistemas que se utilizam ligantes hidráulicos. Observou-se que a expansão das amostras durante a cura foi influenciada pela sua ASE, quanto maior a ASE, maior a expansão. Os resultados de PTG e do módulo de ruptura combinados com as imagens de MEV e os difratogramas, das amostras calcinadas, mostraram a influência da temperatura e da ASE na formação da cerâmica porosa por essa rota, sendo a temperatura uma variável de controle já conhecida, observada no diagrama de equilíbrio de fases. Entretanto, a influência da ASE do \'MG\'\'O\' para o controle da formação do espinélio é desconhecido da literatura / Magnesium aluminate spinel (\'MG\'\'AL IND.2\'\'O IND.4\'; spinel) formation by the combination of aluminum oxide (\'AL IND.2\'\'O IND.3\'; alumina) with magnesium oxide (\'MG\'\'O\', magnesium) or magnesium hydroxide (\'MG\'(\'OH) IND.2\'; HM), results in structures of high porosity (above 50%) and with low tendency to densify even at elevated temperatures (1500-1650°C). Due to this, this system has great potential of technological application for thermal insulation and filtration in high temperatures. Considering its large scale use as thermal insulation, it is necessary to develop new and more efficient routes of synthesis. The hydroxylation reaction of \'MG\'\'O\' can be controlled using both sinter magnesia and caustic magnesia as a feedstock, so the expansion of porous ceramic pieces made with \'MG\'\'O\'can also be controlled. Thus, in this work we intend to investigate a new route to obtain spinel using \'MG\'\'O\' as a hydraulic binder and to incorporate pores, in situ, using the decomposition of HM in an alumina matrix. The results showed that the specific surface area (ASE) of the magnesia strongly influences the mechanical properties of the molded material, proving that for the larger ASEs the magnesia is viable as a hydraulic binder, being 0.6 MPa for the diametral compression rupture modulus, the best result of this work, while the calcium aluminate cement (CAC) system had 0.5 MPa of modulus of rupture, and the \'alfa\'-Bond based system had 0.3 MPa of modulus, both systems of hydraulic binders known in the literature. The large difference in the diametral compression rupture modulus showed that the curing time and the ASE of the magnesia strongly influenced it. While high ASE magnesia samples, around ~60 \'M POT.2\'/g, had 0.6 MPa of modulus of rupture, samples with low ASE, ~1 \'M POT.2\'/g, had no change in modulus of rupture. There was also a gradual increase in the ASE burst modulus, for an ASE intermediate value ~30 \'M POT.2\'/g, the modulus was 0.4 MPa,a value still comparable to other systems using hydraulic binders. It was observed that the expansion of the samples during curing was influenced by their ASE, the higher the ASE, the greater the expansion. The results of PTG and the rupture modulus combined with SEM images and the diffractograms of the calcined samples showed the influence of temperature and ASE on the formation of the porous ceramic by this route, the temperature being a known control variable, observed in the phase equilibrium diagram. However, the influence of \'Mg\'\'O\' ASE on the control of spinel formation is unknown in the literature

A principal limitação do uso de MgO em refratários é a facilidade com que reage com água formando hidróxido de magnésio (Mg(OH)2) que, devido à sua menor densidade, causa tensões destrutivas nesses materiais. Para outras aplicações, no entanto, a reação de hidroxilação do MgO é necessária, como em produção de agentes antichamas, em compósitos poliméricos e na correção de pH de solos. Observações empíricas na literatura demonstraram que diferentes fontes de MgO possuem reatividades e sensibilidades à hidroxilação distintas. Este estudo analisou o impacto de variáveis externas (por exemplo, a liberação de calor que ocorre durante a reação ou o volume das amostras) que ainda não foi completamente compreendido. O impacto auto-catalítico da temperatura reacional e da exotermia da reação foi avaliado. Por meio de medidas de temperatura in situ e de grau de hidroxilação termogravimétrico, também foram estudados os impactos do volume das amostras testadas e da concentração de sólidos nas suspensões, por meio de medidas de temperatura in situ e termogravimetria. Analisou-se também as principais diferenças estruturais entre duas principais fontes de MgO (sínter de MgO e magnésia cáustica): morfologia de partículas, densidade e área superficial específica. Em seguida, os mecanismos de hidroxilação em suspensões aquosas e seus efeitos foram avaliados por meio de testes de hidroxilação seguidos de termogravimetria, difração de raios-X, medidas de condutividade iônica, densidade, área superficial específica e microscopia eletrônica, e relacionado com as características físico-químicas e morfológicas das respectivas fontes de MgO. Pôde-se constatar que diferenças significativas entre a temperatura nominal do meio reacional e no interior da amostra podem afetar a cinética de hidroxilação do material. O volume e a concentração de sólidos variáveis também podem acentuar consideravelmente os efeitos da exotermia e gerar gradientes de hidroxilação. Também se verificou que a morfologia e a quantidade do Mg(OH)2 formado mudam significativamente dependendo do precursor e em função das condições de tempo-temperatura. / The use of MgO in refractories is restrict due to the easy reaction with water forming magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2). Its lower density causes compressive stresses that can crack their structure. On the other hand, for applications such as the production of flame retardant agents for polymer composites and pH correcting of contaminated soil, this reaction is necessary. Empirical observations in the literature have shown that different sources of MgO have district levels of chemical reactiveness. The present study analyzed the main structural differences between the two main sources of MgO (magnesia sinter and caustic magnesia): particle morphology, density and specific surface area. The mechanisms of hydroxylation of these raw materials in aqueous suspensions and their effects were followed by hydroxylation tests, X-ray diffraction, ionic conductivity, density, specific surface area and scanning electron microscopy. They were associated with the physical characteristics morphological, chemical of these MgO sources. The impact of external variables (e.g., heat release during the reaction or the sample volume), that was not yet completely understood, was also evaluated through temperature measurements carried out in situ and hydroxylation degree accessed by thermogravimetry. The effects of samples volume and solid concentration in aqueous suspension were also investigated. The results showed that differences between the ambient temperature and reaction inside sample temperature can affect the kinetics of hydroxylation of the material. The samples volume and solids concentration can also enhance significantly the effects of heat release and generate gradients of hydroxylation. It was also found out that the morphology and the amount of Mg(OH)2 formed can change depending on the precursor and on the time-temperature conditions.

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