Complex Weblike Hydrogen Bonding in Large “Drain Pipe” Channels of Wightmanite Revealed by New X-Ray and Spectroscopic Measurements

Abstract

The wallpaper-type crystal structure of wightmanite, Mg5(BO3)O(OH)5·1–2H2O, has been reanalyzed in order to better understand the position and bonding of hydrogen atoms. Single-crystal structure refinement yielded the monoclinic I2/m unit cell a = 13.5165(18), b = 3.0981(3), c = 18.170(3)Å, ß = 91.441(6)°, and V = 760.65(17)Å3, Z = 4. Hydrogen atoms of OH groups pointing to the inside of the elliptical channels oriented parallel to [010] are arranged in the form of two overlying, a–c parallel planar pentagons. The two pentagons point in opposite directions. Hydrogen-bond analysis shows that the hydroxyl groups are linked by complex polyfurcated, intra-molecular hydrogen bonds forming a web-like network coating the walls of the channels. The longest distance between hydrogens (7.226 Å) is observed in the pentagonal planes of the channel. The anisotropically refined oxygen atoms of the zeolitic water show their strongest vibration parallel to the b axis and in the direction of the largest diameter of the elliptical channel and similarly form a complex inter-molecular hydrogen-bond system to the hydroxyl groups coating the channel walls. This complex bonding is expressed in the Raman spectrum by a broad band between 3100 and 3300 cm–1 that is assigned to the OH / H2O stretching mode and one strong band at 3661 cm–1 attributable to an OH-stretching mode. Infrared spectra also show a pronounced broad band between 3200 and 3700 cm–1 attributed to H2O and OH-stretching modes. The weak bands around 1600 cm–1 observed in the Raman and IR spectra are probably due to relatively weakly bound water in the channels.

Effect of secondary vulcanization process on hydrophobic properties of fluororubber

“…Such functional groups have stable chemical characteristics, and are not easy to combine with water molecules, thus resulting in water repellency. There are hydroxyl functional groups in FKM surface after primary vulcanization, which are easily destroyed by hydrogen bonds in water molecules and combine with water molecules, 29 making the matrix hydrophilic. The secondary vulcanization process uses high‐temperature heating to make the hydroxyl chain break of FKM surface disappear after the primary vulcanization, so that FKM achieved the effect of enhancing hydrophobic property.…”