4 research outputs found
Crossing the Traditional Boundaries: Salen-Based Schiff Bases for Thermal Protective Applications
A broad
spectrum of applications of āSalenā-based Schiff bases
tagged them as versatile multifunctional materials. However, their
applicability is often bounded by a temperature threshold and, thus,
they have rarely been used for high temperature applications. Our
investigation of a classical Schiff base, <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>ā²-bisĀ(4-hydroxysalicylidene)Āethylenediamine (L2),
reveals that it displays an intriguingly combative response to an
elevated temperature/fire scenario. L2 resists and regulates thermal
degradation by forming an ablative surface, and acts as a thermal
shield. A polycondensation via covalent cross-linking, which forms
a hyperbranched cross-linked resin is found to constitute the origin
of the ablative surface. This is a unique example of a resin formation
produced with a Schiff base, that mimicks the operational strategy
of a high-heat resistant phenolic resin. Further applicability of
L2, as a flame retardant, was tested in an engineering polymer, polyamide-6.
It was found that it reinforces the polymer against fire risks by
the formation of an intumescent coating. This paves the way for a
new strategic avenue in safeguarding polymeric materials toward fire
risks. Further, this material represents a promising start for thermal
protective applications
Fe<sup>II</sup> Spin Transition Materials Including an AminoāEster 1,2,4-Triazole Derivative, Operating at, below, and above Room Temperature
A new family of one-dimensional Fe<sup>II</sup> 1,2,4-triazole
spin transition coordination polymers for which a modification of
anion and crystallization solvent can tune the switching temperature
over a wide range, including the room temperature region, is reported.
This series of materials was prepared as powders after reaction of
ethyl-4<i>H</i>-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl-acetate (Ī±EtGlytrz)
with an iron salt from a MeOH/H<sub>2</sub>O medium affording: [FeĀ(Ī±EtGlytrz)<sub>3</sub>]Ā(ClO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> (<b>1</b>); [FeĀ(Ī±EtGlytrz)<sub>3</sub>]Ā(ClO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>Ā·CH<sub>3</sub>OH (<b>2</b>); [FeĀ(Ī±EtGlytrz)<sub>3</sub>]Ā(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>Ā·H<sub>2</sub>O (<b>3</b>); [FeĀ(Ī±EtGlytrz)<sub>3</sub>]Ā(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> (<b>4</b>); [FeĀ(Ī±EtGlytrz)<sub>3</sub>]Ā(BF<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>Ā·0.5H<sub>2</sub>O (<b>5</b>); [FeĀ(Ī±EtGlytrz)<sub>3</sub>]Ā(BF<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> (<b>6</b>); and [FeĀ(Ī±EtGlytrz)<sub>3</sub>]Ā(CF<sub>3</sub>SO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>Ā·2H<sub>2</sub>O (<b>7</b>). Their spin transition properties were investigated by <sup>57</sup>Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy, superconducting quantum interference device
(SQUID) magnetometry, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
The temperature dependence of the high-spin molar fraction derived
from <sup>57</sup>Fe MoĢssbauer spectroscopy in <b>1</b> reveals an abrupt single step transition between low-spin and high-spin
states with a hysteresis loop of width 5 K (<i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 296 K and <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 291 K). The properties drastically change with
modification of anion and/or lattice solvent. The transition temperatures,
deduced by SQUID magnetometry, shift to <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 273 K and <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 263 K for (<b>2</b>), <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 353 K and <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 333 K for (<b>3</b>), <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 338 K and <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 278 K for (<b>4</b>), <i>T</i><sup>ā</sup> = 320 K and <i>T</i><sup>ā</sup> = 305 K for (<b>5</b>), <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 106 K and <i>T</i><sub>c</sub><sup>ā</sup> = 92 K for (<b>6</b>), and <i>T</i><sup>ā</sup> = 325 K and <i>T</i><sup>ā</sup> = 322 K for (<b>7</b>). Annealing experiments of <b>3</b> lead to a change of the morphology, texture, and magnetic properties
of the sample. A dehydration/rehydration process associated with a
spin state change was analyzed by a mean-field macroscopic master
equation using a two-level Hamiltonian Ising-like model for <b>3</b>. A new structural-property relationship was also identified
for this series of materials [FeĀ(Ī±EtGlytrz)<sub>3</sub>]Ā(anion)<sub>2</sub>Ā·<i>n</i>Solvent based on MoĢssbauer
and DSC measurements. The entropy gap associated with the spin transition
and the volume of the inserted counteranion shows a linear trend,
with decrease in entropy with increasing the size of the counteranion.
The first materials of this substance class to display a complete
spin transition in both spin states are also presented
Salen Complexes as Fire Protective Agents for Thermoplastic Polyurethane: Deep Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Investigation
The
contribution of copper complexes of <i>salen</i>-based Schiff
bases <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>ā²-bisĀ(salicylidene)Āethylenediamine
(C1), <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>ā²-bisĀ(4-hydroxysalicylidene)Āethylenediamine
(C2), and <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>ā²-bisĀ(5-hydroxysalicylidene)Āethylenediamine
(C3) to the flame retardancy of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is
investigated in the context of minimizing the inherent flammability
of TPU. Thermal and fire properties of TPU are evaluated. It is observed
that fire performances vary depending upon the substitution of the
salen framework. Cone calorimetry [mass loss calorimetry (MLC)] results
show that, in TPU at 10 wt % loading, C2 and C3 reduce the peak of
heat release rate by 46 and 50%, respectively. At high temperature,
these copper complexes undergo polycondensation leading to resorcinol-type
resin in the condensed phase and thus acting as intumescence reinforcing
agents. C3 in TPU is particularly interesting because it delays significantly
the time to ignition (MLC experiment). In addition, pyrolysis combustion
flow calorimetry shows reduction in the heat release rate curve, suggesting
its involvement in gas-phase action. Structural changes of copper
complexes and radical formation during thermal treatment as well as
their influence on fire retardancy of TPU in the condensed phase are
investigated by spectroscopic studies supported by microscopic and
powder diffraction studies. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)
spectroscopy was fully used to follow the redox changes of CuĀ(II)
ions as well as radical formation of copper complexes/TPU formulations
in their degradation pathways. Pulsed EPR technique of hyperfine sublevel
correlation spectroscopy reveals evolution of the local surrounding
of copper and radicals with a strong contribution of nitrogen fragments
in the degradation products. Further, the spin state of radicals was
investigated by the two-dimensional technique of phase-inverted echo-amplitude
detected nutation experiment. Two different radicals were detected,
that is, one monocarbon radical and an oxygen biradical. Thus, the
EPR study permits to deeply investigate the mode of action of copper
salen complexes in TPU
Selective and Reusable Iron(II)-Based Molecular Sensor for the Vapor-Phase Detection of Alcohols
A mononuclear
ironĀ(II) neutral complex (<b>1</b>) is screened for sensing
abilities for a wide spectrum of chemicals and to evaluate the response
function toward physical perturbation like temperature and mechanical
stress. Interestingly, <b>1</b> precisely detects methanol among
an alcohol series. The sensing process is visually detectable, fatigue-resistant,
highly selective, and reusable. The sensing ability is attributed
to molecular sieving and subsequent spin-state change of iron centers,
after a crystal-to-crystal transformation