Preparation and characterization of cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX) powder: Comparison of microscopy, dynamic light scattering and field-flow fractionation for size characterization

Supercritical carbon dioxide assisted formation of crystalline materials for various energetic applications

This highlight gives an overview of recent advances in production of crystalline materials for high energy density applications for rechargeable batteries and solar cells or energetic compounds in supercritical carbon dioxide medium.

Insights into the correlations between the size of starch at nano- to microscale and its functional properties based on asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

In this study, the starches were isolated from three botanical sources (i.e., rice, sweet potato, and lotus seed). The size distributions of starch granules and molecules were determined by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4), and compared with those measured from optical microscopy (OM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Furthermore, the starches were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). AF4 coupled online with UV-visible, multiangle light scattering (MALS), and differential refractive index (dRI) detectors (AF4-UV-MALS-dRI) was employed for the investigation of the digestion and retrogradation properties of starches. Meanwhile, the relationships between the size of starch at nano- to microscale and its functional properties (i.e., digestibility, retrogradation, and thermal properties) were studied by Pearson correlation analysis. AF4-UV-MALS-dRI was proved to be a rapid and gentle method for the separation and size characterization of starches at both micro- and nano-molecule levels. Moreover, it was demonstrated that AF4-UV-MALS-dRI is a useful tool for the monitoring of the digestion and retrogradation properties of starches. The results suggested that the sizes of starch granules and molecules were to some extent correlated with their thermal properties and digestibility, but not with retrogradation property.

[Development of an asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation system for the size characterization of starch granules]

淀粉颗粒粒径与分子尺寸分别在1~100 μm和20~250 nm之间,是影响淀粉功能特性的重要因素之一。非对称场流分离(AF4)是一种基于样品与外力场相互作用机制的分离技术,已应用于表征淀粉分子尺寸分布。商品化的AF4系统的粒径检测范围为1 nm~10 μm,对于淀粉颗粒粒径表征具有一定的局限性。该文研制了AF4分离系统;考察了其在微米尺度下对红薯、莲子和大米淀粉颗粒粒径表征的性能;采用微米尺寸的聚苯乙烯乳化球(PS)标准样品验证了构建的AF4系统的分离性能。实验结果显示,构建的AF4系统对PS混合样品(粒径2、6、12、20 μm)实现了基线分离,同商品化AF4相比提高了检测上线,具有分离表征淀粉颗粒的潜力。此外,该文研究了载液组成对淀粉颗粒分离表征的影响;通过光学显微镜验证了构建的AF4系统在微米尺度上对淀粉颗粒粒径分布的表征能力。最后,采用商品化的AF4系统串联多角度激光光散射检测器和示差折光检测器对3种淀粉分子进行了分离表征,考察了淀粉的溶解温度对其表征结果的影响。在摩尔质量10 ⁶~10⁸ g/mol范围内,红薯和莲子淀粉的回转半径和水合半径的比值(R_g/R_h)在0.9~1.1之间,大米淀粉的R_g/R_h在1.2~1.4之间。实验结果证明构建的AF4系统是一种快速、准确的淀粉颗粒粒径表征方法,与商品化的AF4系统结合可为研究淀粉尺寸分布与其功能性质之间的关系提供技术支持。

Optimization of the Composition of Silicone Enamel by the Taguchi Method Using Surfactants Obtained from Oil Refining Waste

The aim of this work is to optimize the composition of a two-component silicone enamel consisting of an aluminum pigment and a polyphenylsiloxane polymer to obtain the maximum dispersion of the pigment in the coating. The following products were used as surfactants: AS-1, PEPA, and Telaz. To assess the effect of surfactants on the dispersion of the pigment, computer-optical microscopy was used. The results of the studies showed that all the studied surfactants cause an improvement in the dispersion of the pigment. According to the degree of influence on the dispersion of the pigment, surfactants can be arranged in a row: PEPA > Telaz > AS-1. When the PEPA content in the enamel is 0.25 g/dm³, a decrease in the diameter of the pigment particles by 46% (from 26 to 14 microns) is recorded, with an increase in their specific amount by 2 times (from 258 to 550 pcs). Optimal enamel compositions allow a reduction in the corrosion rate by 11 times (from 0.6 to 0.053 mm/year) and improvement to the decorative properties of coatings (roughness, gloss, etc.). The effectiveness of the AS-1 product (obtained from oil refining waste) as a dispersant additive in silicone enamel has been proven.

Enhancing the Solubility of Fenofibrate by Nanocrystal Formation and Encapsulation

Development of techniques to enhance bioavailability of drugs having poor water solubility is a big challenge for pharmaceutical industry. Solubility can be enhanced by particle size reduction and encapsulation using hydrophilic polymers. Fenofibrate (FF) is a drug for regulating lipids. Multi-fold enhancement in solubility of FF has been achieved by nanocrystal formation in the present study. Nanoparticles were prepared by an evaporation-assisted solvent-antisolvent interaction (EASAI) approach. Water-soluble polymers, viz. polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), were used to encapsulate and thus control the particle size of FF nanocrystals. Spherical particles having average particle size well below 30 nm could be prepared under optimum conditions. Almost complete release of the drug molecules from the polymer-stabilized nanocrystals within 2 h was clearly evident from the in vitro drug release studies. Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated the absence of solvent impurities and any strong interaction between the drug and stabilizers. The polymorphic form of raw-FF was retained in the nanoparticles as per the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. Lower crystallinity of the nanoformulated samples compared to raw-FF was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies.

Prospective Symbiosis of Green Chemistry and Energetic Materials

A global increase in environmental pollution demands the development of new "cleaner" chemical processes. Among urgent improvements, the replacement of traditional hydrocarbon-derived toxic organic solvents with neoteric solvents less harmful for the environment is one of the most vital issues. As a result of the favorable combination of their unique properties, ionic liquids (ILs), dense gases, and supercritical fluids (SCFs) have gained considerable attention as suitable green chemistry media for the preparation and modification of important chemical compounds and materials. In particular, they have a significant potential in a specific and very important area of research associated with the manufacture and processing of high-energy materials (HEMs). These large-scale manufacturing processes, in which hazardous chemicals and extreme conditions are used, produce a huge amount of hard-to-dispose-of waste. Furthermore, they are risky to staff, and any improvements that would reduce the fire and explosion risks of the corresponding processes are highly desirable. In this Review, useful applications of almost nonflammable ILs, dense gases, and SCFs (first of all, CO₂ ) for nitration and other reactions used for manufacturing HEMs are considered. Recent advances in the field of energetic (oxygen-balanced and hypergolic) ILs are summarized. Significant attention is paid to the SCF-based micronization techniques, which improve the energetic performance of HEMs through an efficient control of the morphology and particle size distribution of the HEM fine particles, and to useful applications of SCFs in HEM processing that makes them less hazardous.

The longstanding challenge of the nanocrystallization of 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)

Research efforts for realizing safer and higher performance energetic materials are continuing unabated all over the globe. While the thermites - pyrotechnic compositions of an oxide and a metal - have been finely tailored thanks to progress in other sectors, organic high explosives are still stagnating. The most symptomatic example is the longstanding challenge of the nanocrystallization of 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). Recent advances in crystallization processes and milling technology mark the beginning of a new area which will hopefully lead the pyroelectric industry to finally embrace nanotechnology. This work reviews the previous and current techniques used to crystallize RDX at a submicrometer scale or smaller. Several key points are highlighted then discussed, such as the smallest particle size and its morphology, and the scale-up capacity and the versatility of the process.

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation coupled with multiple detections: A complementary approach in the characterization of egg yolk plasma

The capability of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled with UV/VIS, multiangle light scattering (MALS) and quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) (AF4-UV-MALS-QELS) for separation and characterization of egg yolk plasma was evaluated. The accuracy of hydrodynamic radius (Rh) obtained from QELS and AF4 theory (using both simplified and full expression of AF4 retention equations) was discussed. The conformation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and its aggregates in egg yolk plasma was discussed based on the ratio of radius of gyration (Rg) to Rh together with the results from bio-transmission electron microscopy (Bio-TEM). The results indicate that the full retention equation is more relevant than simplified version for the Rh determination at high cross flow rate. The Rh from online QELS is reliable only at a specific range of sample concentration. The effect of programmed cross flow rate (linear and exponential decay) on the analysis of egg yolk plasma was also investigated. It was found that the use of an exponentially decaying cross flow rate not only reduces the AF4 analysis time of the egg yolk plasma, but also provides better resolution than the use of either a constant or linearly decaying cross flow rate. A combination of an exponentially decaying cross flow AF4-UV-MALS-QELS and the utilization of full retention equation was proved to be a useful method for the separation and characterization of egg yolk plasma.