Metals hydroxide

Metal hydroxides, particularly aluminum trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide, contribute to several fire-retardant actions. They first decompose endothermically and release water. The endothermic decomposition serves to remove heat from the surroundings of the flame and, thus, cool the flame. This is often referred to as the heat sink phenomenon. Pyrolysis decreases in the condensed phase as a result of 

Hydrates (Al, Mg, Ca) Metal Oxides Phosphorus Nitrogen (Melamines)  

The centrosymmetric structures of LiOH and NaOH, both containing two formula units per unit cell, gives rise to two OH stretching modes, one of which is IR active and the other Raman active. In the case of KOH, whose structure is not centrosymmetric and contains two formula units per unit cell, a split of both IR and Raman active peaks is detectable. The positions of these peaks (in the 3680-3600cm region) shows that no hydrogen bonding occurs in these structures. 

Consequently, the IR spectrum is expected to contain 17 fundamental modes, only partly resolved. A typical feature of the spectra of these compounds is the 

ATH is the market leader among FRs in volume terms because of its low cost. Its high consumption reflects the very high dose level required. One serious limitation of ATH has been its low decomposition temperature, which rules it out for polymers that need processing above 190 °C. Several companies have now produced special new ATH grades that decompose at a higher temperature. They are made by pre-heating to remove some of the water of hydration. 

This has obvious disadvantages. The water removed in this way would, if kept, have helped to reduce flammability as well as increase the specific surface area, thus increasing the hygroscopic character and the oil absorption, and it would also have moderated the adverse effect on polymer viscosity. The practical significance is that ATH can be used in environmentally-friendly, halogen-free printed circuit boards, achieving a UL-94 V-0 fire rating. 

Albemarle s Martinal ATH has also been modified to deal with the problem of loss of powder flow properties and the decrease in bulk density after conveying aroimd a plant. Fine grades made by precipitation are marketed as Martinal OL-104/LFF and 107-LFF the company s constant bulk density grades have LCD suffixes. 

An organic modified bentonite nanoclay called Nanofil has been developed for cable compoimds by Siid-Chemie. It enables less aluminium trihydroxide to be used in cable compounds because it contributes to flame retardancy. 

A number of manufacturers have introduced ATH grades that are claimed to offer better dispersibility and mould flow. The Dutch company Ankerpoort has marketed a synthetic ATH called Portaflame SG40 for use in cable jackets, resilient flooring, SMC and BMC thermoset compositions, epoxies and carpet backing. 

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The hydroxides M (OH)2 are generally less soluble and are of lower base strength. The Group I hydroxides are almost unique in possessing good solubility—most metal hydroxides are insoluble or sparingly soluble hence sodium hydroxide and, to a lesser extent potassium hydroxide, are widely used as sources of the hydroxide ion OH" both in the laboratory and on a large scale. 

Carbon dioxide reacts with a solution of a metal hydroxide giving the carbonate, which may he precipitated, for example... 

In addition to the abnormal properties already discussed, aqueous hydrofluoric acid has the properties of a typical acid, attacking metals with the evolution of hydrogen and dissolving most metallic hydroxides and carbonates. 

Addition of an alkali metal hydroxide solution to an aqueous solution of a nickel(II) salt precipitates a finely-divided green powder. nickel(II) hydroxide NilOHfj on heating this gives the black oxide. NiO. which is also obtained by heating nickel(II) carbonate or the hydrated nitrate. Black nickel(II) sulphide, NiS, is obtained by passing hydrogen sulphide into a solution of a nickel(II) salt. 

Direct Titrations. The most convenient and simplest manner is the measured addition of a standard chelon solution to the sample solution (brought to the proper conditions of pH, buffer, etc.) until the metal ion is stoichiometrically chelated. Auxiliary complexing agents such as citrate, tartrate, or triethanolamine are added, if necessary, to prevent the precipitation of metal hydroxides or basic salts at the optimum pH for titration. Eor example, tartrate is added in the direct titration of lead. If a pH range of 9 to 10 is suitable, a buffer of ammonia and ammonium chloride is often added in relatively concentrated form, both to adjust the pH and to supply ammonia as an auxiliary complexing agent for those metal ions which form ammine complexes. A few metals, notably iron(III), bismuth, and thorium, are titrated in acid solution. 

Strong and Weak Bases Just as the acidity of an aqueous solution is a measure of the concentration of the hydronium ion, H3O+, the basicity of an aqueous solution is a measure of the concentration of the hydroxide ion, OH . The most common example of a strong base is an alkali metal hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide, which completely dissociates to produce the hydroxide ion. 

Metal organic decomposition (MOD) is a synthesis technique in which metal-containing organic chemicals react with water in a nonaqueous solvent to produce a metal hydroxide or hydrous oxide, or in special cases, an anhydrous metal oxide (7). MOD techniques can also be used to prepare nonoxide powders (8,9). Powders may require calcination to obtain the desired phase. A major advantage of the MOD method is the control over purity and stoichiometry that can be achieved. Two limitations are atmosphere control (if required) and expense of the chemicals. However, the cost of metal organic chemicals is decreasing with greater use of MOD techniques. 

In earlier studies (24), the reaction was carried out at temperatures above 200°C under autogenous pressure conditions usiag alkaU metal hydroxide or alkoxide catalysts significant amounts of carboxyUc acid, RCH2COOH, were formed as were other by-products. More recent reports describe catalysts which minimize by-products MgO—K CO —CUC2O2 (25), less basic but stiU requiring high temperatures Rh, Ir, Pt, or Ru complexes (26) and an alkaU metal alkoxide plus Ni or Pd (27), effective at much lower temperatures. 

Chlorine reacts with alkaU and alkaline earth metal hydroxides to form bleaching agents such as NaOCl ... 

In order for a soHd to bum it must be volatilized, because combustion is almost exclusively a gas-phase phenomenon. In the case of a polymer, this means that decomposition must occur. The decomposition begins in the soHd phase and may continue in the Hquid (melt) and gas phases. Decomposition produces low molecular weight chemical compounds that eventually enter the gas phase. Heat from combustion causes further decomposition and volatilization and, therefore, further combustion. Thus the burning of a soHd is like a chain reaction. For a compound to function as a flame retardant it must intermpt this cycle in some way. There are several mechanistic descriptions by which flame retardants modify flammabiUty. Each flame retardant actually functions by a combination of mechanisms. For example, metal hydroxides such as Al(OH)2 decompose endothermically (thermal quenching) to give water (inert gas dilution). In addition, in cases where up to 60 wt % of Al(OH)2 may be used, such as in polyolefins, the physical dilution effect cannot be ignored. 

Inert Gas Dilution. Inert gas dilution involves the use of additives that produce large volumes of noncombustible gases when the polymer is decomposed. These gases dilute the oxygen supply to the flame or dilute the fuel concentration below the flammability limit. Metal hydroxides, metal carbonates, and some nitrogen-producing compounds function in this way as flame retardants (see Flame retardants, antimony and other inorganic compounds). 

Thermal Quenching. Endothermic degradation of the flame retardant results in thermal quenching. The polymer surface temperature is lowered and the rate of pyrolysis is decreased. Metal hydroxides and carbonates act in this way. 

A fourth mechanism is called sweep flocculation. It is used primarily in very low soflds systems such as raw water clarification. Addition of an inorganic salt produces a metal hydroxide precipitate which entrains fine particles of other suspended soflds as it settles. A variation of this mechanism is sometimes employed for suspensions that do not respond to polymeric flocculants. A soHd material such as clay is deUberately added to the suspension and then flocculated with a high molecular weight polymer. The original suspended matter is entrained in the clay floes formed by the bridging mechanism and is removed with the clay. 

Sodium fluorosulfate may be prepared by the action of fluorosulfuric acid on powdered, ignited sodium chloride (13) or of sulfur trioxide on sodium fluoride (48). In general, the alkah metal fluorosulfates may be prepared from the ammonium salt by evaporating a solution containing that salt and an alkah metal hydroxide (77). The solubiUties of some Group 1 and 2 fluorosulfates in fluorosulfuric acid have been deterrnined (93). 

Difluoroethanol is prepared by the mercuric oxide cataly2ed hydrolysis of 2-bromo-l,l-difluoroethane with carboxyHc acid esters and alkaH metal hydroxides ia water (27). Its chemical reactions are similar to those of most alcohols. It can be oxidi2ed to difluoroacetic acid [381-73-7] (28) it forms alkoxides with alkaH and alkaline-earth metals (29) with alkoxides of other alcohols it forms mixed ethers such as 2,2-difluoroethyl methyl ether [461-57-4], bp 47°C, or 2,2-difluoroethyl ethyl ether [82907-09-3], bp 66°C (29). 2,2-Difluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether [32778-16-8], made from the alcohol and chlorodifluoromethane ia aqueous base, has been iavestigated as an inhalation anesthetic (30,31) as have several ethers made by addition of the alcohol to various fluoroalkenes (32,33). Methacrylate esters of the alcohol are useful as a sheathing material for polymers ia optical appHcations (34). The alcohol has also been reported to be useful as a working fluid ia heat pumps (35). The alcohol is available ia research quantities for ca 6/g (1992). 

The primary and secondary alcohol functionahties have different reactivities, as exemplified by the slower reaction rate for secondary hydroxyls in the formation of esters from acids and alcohols (8). 1,2-Propylene glycol undergoes most of the typical alcohol reactions, such as reaction with a free acid, acyl hahde, or acid anhydride to form an ester reaction with alkaU metal hydroxide to form metal salts and reaction with aldehydes or ketones to form acetals and ketals (9,10). The most important commercial appHcation of propylene glycol is in the manufacture of polyesters by reaction with a dibasic or polybasic acid. 

Xenates and Perxenates. Alkali metal xenates of composition MHXe04-1.5H20, where M is sodium, potassium, mbidium, or cesium, have been prepared by free2e-dryiQg mixtures of xenon trioxide and the corresponding metal hydroxides ia 1 1 molar ratios. The xenates are unstable, explosive solids. 

Metal Acetylides. The replacement of a hydrogen atom on acetylene by a metal atom under basic conditions results in the formation of metal acetyhdes which react with water in a highly exothermic manner to yield acetylene and the corresponding metal hydroxide. Certain metal acetyUdes can be... 

Vinyl ethers are prepared in a solution process at 150—200°C with alkaH metal hydroxide catalysts (32—34), although a vapor-phase process has been reported (35). A wide variety of vinyl ethers are produced commercially. Vinyl acetate has been manufactured from acetic acid and acetylene in a vapor-phase process using zinc acetate catalyst (36,37), but ethylene is the currently preferred raw material. Vinyl derivatives of amines, amides, and mercaptans can be made similarly. A/-Vinyl-2-pyrroHdinone is a commercially important monomer prepared by vinylation of 2-pyrroHdinone using a base catalyst. 

Iodine dissolves without reaction in concentrated sulfuric acid and with concentrated nitric acid it reacts to form iodine pentoxide (47). Iodine reacts with alkah metal hydroxide solutions to form the corresponding hypoiodite and the rate of the reaction increases with the alkaU concentration and temperature. At 50°C, the reaction is almost instantaneous ... 

In the three-step process acetone first undergoes a Uquid-phase alkah-cataly2ed condensation to form diacetone alcohol. Many alkaU metal oxides, metal hydroxides (eg, sodium, barium, potassium, magnesium, and lanthanium), and anion-exchange resins are described in the Uterature as suitable catalysts. The selectivity to diacetone alcohol is typicaUy 90—95 wt % (64). In the second step diacetone alcohol is dehydrated to mesityl oxide over an acid catalyst such as phosphoric or sulfuric acid. The reaction takes place at 95—130°C and selectivity to mesityl oxide is 80—85 wt % (64). A one-step conversion of acetone to mesityl oxide is also possible. 

Nloha.tes, Niobic acid is amphoteric and can act as an acid radical in several series of compounds, which are referred to as niobates. Niobic acid is soluble in solutions of the hydroxides of alkaH metals to form niobates. Fusion of the anhydrous pentoxide with alkaH metal hydroxides or carbonates also yields niobates. Most niobates are insoluble in water with the exception of those alkaH metal niobates having a base-to-acid ratio greater than one. The most weU-known water-soluble niobates are the 4 3 ad the 7 6 salts (base acid), having empirical formulas MgNb O c, (aq) and M24Nb2202y (aq), respectively. The hexaniobate is hydrolyzed in aqueous solution according to the pH-dependent reversible equiHbria (130), when the pH is ca 9. 

Peroxides, superoxides, and chlorates are oxidising compounds and should not contact organic materials, eg, oil, greases, etc. This is especially tme while oxygen is being produced. Caustic residues that may remain after use of peroxides and superoxides require disposal appropriate to alkaH metal hydroxides. Spent candles containing barium may require special disposal considerations. 

Alkali metal peroxides are stable under ambient conditions in the absence of water. They dissolve vigorously in water, forming hydrogen peroxide and the metal hydroxide. They are strong oxidizing agents and can react violendy with organic substances. Only lithium peroxide and sodium peroxide have been commercialized. 

Preparation of phlorogluciaol or its monomethyl ether by reaction of a halogenated phenol with an alkaU metal hydroxide in an inert organic medium by means of a benzyne intermediate has been patented (142). For example, 4-chlororesorcinol reacts with excess potassium hydroxide under nitrogen in refluxing pseudocumene (1,2,4-trimethylbenzene) with the consequent formation of pure phlorogluciaol in 68% yield. In a version of this process, the solvent is omitted but a small amount of water is employed (143). 

Fig. 7. Dependence of zeta potential on pH for a typical metal hydroxide particle ia water. The isoelectric pH (pH ) is at low pH for acidic hydroxides and...

The health ha2ard presented by metal alkoxides reflects the toxicity of the metals they contain and the metallic hydroxides and alcohols they form on hydrolysis. 

Aqueous ammonia also acts as a base precipitating metallic hydroxides from solutions of their salts, and in forming complex ions in the presence of excess ammonia. For example, using copper sulfate solution, cupric hydroxide, which is at first precipitated, redissolves in excess ammonia because of the formation of the complex tetramminecopper(TT) ion. 

Alkali metal xanthates are prepared in high yield from reaction of amyl alcohols with alkah metal hydroxide and carbon disulfide (39—42). The xanthates are useful as collectors in the flotation of minerals and have minor uses in vulcani2ation of mbber and as herbicides (39,41). 

Vinyl Pyrroles. Relatively new synthetic routes based on a one-pot reaction between ketoximes and acetjiene ia an alkaU metal hydroxide—dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) system have made vinyl pyrroles accessible. It requires no pyrrole precursors and uses cheap and readily available ketones (42). 

Hydrolysis is the interaction of the ion or ions of a salt with water to produce a weak acid, weak base, or both. When a metal hydroxide is brought into equihbrium with water the following occurs ... 

From the solubiUty product data the thermodynamic tendency of a metal hydroxide to precipitate as a function of pH can be deterrnined. The actual solubihties on complex samples must be deterrnined empirically however, general predictions can be made regarding metal—metal separations by hydrolysis. 

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