We have successfully synthesized GexSe1-x (x = 0.225) glass samples and incorporated commercially produced (Protein Mods) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the glass samples. We investigated the glass transition temperature (Tg) using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). CNTs, being a very hygroscopic material as well as oxygen absorbing material, needed to be cleaned under vacuum with the hot water-bath to get rid of contaminants. We used contaminant-free CNTs for our study. The same cleaning process was used to prepare GexSe1-x (x = 0.225) glass samples with and without CNTs. The base GexSe1-x (x = 0.225) glass sample has a Tg of 220°C. The Tg was found to be independent of starting materials (germanium and selenium) from different sources as well as hot water-bath temperature. The Tg was found to be lower when 5% CNT's by mass was added to the base GexSe1-x (x = 0.225) glass sample. For 10% incorporation, the Tg was found to increase from that of 5% and it was found to decrease from that of 10% when 15% CNTs was added to the base glass sample. We also found that the Tg for GexSe1-x (x = 0.225) glass samples with the incorporation of 5% not-cleaned CNTs was 10oC higher, indicating the sensitivity of Tg on contaminants. Further, it was found that the variation of Tg with the incorporation of bulk carbon into the GexSe1-x (x = 0.225) glass samples was inconsistent compared to the contaminant-free CNTs incorporation.

As determined by bioassay of segmented soil columns, a,a,a-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin), N-butyl-N-ethyl-a,a,a-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine (benefin), and 4-(methylsulfonyl)-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropylaniline (nitralin) varied in their leachability in a clay loam soil, even though their water solubility is the same. Nitralin was by far the more easily leached, benefin was least leached, and trifluralin slightly more so than benefin. Four A-in or more of water readily leached nitralin deep enough into the soil in amounts great enough to adversely affect the root growth of sensitive crop plants. Trifluralin and benefin were leached into the soil in relatively minute amounts, and these amounts were not great enough to affect root growth of sensitive crop plants when at least 0.5-in of untreated soil separated the seed from the layer of soil in which the herbicides had been mixed. The apparent breakdown product of nitralin present in moist soil was leached as readily as nitralin.