Q50 thermogravimetric analyser

The changes in the chemical structure, morphology, thermal stability, crystallinity, and textural of the aminated brous adsorbent were evaluated and compared with both the pristine PE/PP and the grafted brous substrates. The changes in chemical composition were analysed using a Nicolet iS50 FT-IR spectrometer. The spectra were obtained with 32 scans and a resolution of 4 cm -1 across a frequency range of 500-4000 cm -1 . The morphological changes of the samples with respect to bre diameter were examined using a GEMINISEM 500 microscope. The thermal stability of the samples was tested using a Q50 thermogravimetric analyser (TA Instruments) at a heating rate of 10 o C/min in a temperature range of 30-700 o C. The crystalline structure of the samples was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using a
PANalytical Empyrean analyser at Bragg's angle in the range of 5-70°. BET test was performed with Quantachrome Instrument (Novatouch) to measure surface area and pore analysis. The samples were degassed at 80°C for 4 h before analysis.

The thermal stability of DPV forms I and IV were analysed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) using a TA Instruments Q50™ Thermogravimetric Analyser and a TA Instruments Differential Scanning Calorimeter Q20™ (TA Instruments, UK). For these experiments, 5-10 mg of sample was heated from 25 to 300 °C at 10 °C /min in an open aluminium pan under a nitrogen atmosphere. For differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments, 5-7 mg of sample (either pure polymorph or 10% w/w DPV-loaded silicone elastomer) underwent heat-cool-heat cycles between 20 and 235 °C using a heating rate of 10 °C per min. The temperature range was selected to encompass the molding temperatures commonly used to fabricate DPV matrix-type rings via injection molding processes (160-180 °C). For each sample, onset temperature (°C), peak temperature (°C) and enthalpy (ΔH, J/g) values were recorded for each thermal transition observed.

Freeze-dried samples were analysed for all three types of silica nanoparticles using the Q50 thermogravimetric analyser (TA Instruments, UK) equipped with nitrogen to provide an inert environment. The instrument was zeroed against an empty differential scanning calorimetry aluminium pan. The samples were placed in an aluminium pan and then in a platinum TGA pan and loaded into the instrument. The initial temperature was set at 35 °C and the thermal decomposition of the samples was studied between 35 and 500 °C, at 5 °C /minute heating rate.