Thermal analysis and synthesis of pentazinc hexahydroxide dicarbonate: Investigations by thermogravimetry, thermo molecular beam analysis and x-ray measurements

Abstract A combination of thermobalance and X-ray camera is described which allows simultaneous thermogravimetric (TG) and X-ray measurements under high vacuum. During these measurements the sample is positioned in the sample holder of the camera in the usual fashion and is X-raved while the temperature is varied. The molecular beam of the gaseous decomposition products flows through a connecting tube which acts as a molecular beam former between camera and thermobalance. The molecular beam is directed towards the empty balance pan. The orifice through which the beam exits as well as the pan have special shapes that allow transfer of the angular momentum of the decomposition beam to the balance. The exerted force is a function of time and corresponds to the first derivative of the TG curve. i.e. to the DTG curve. The integrated curve is directly proportional to the change in mass of the probe. A quantitative evaluation is possible if the molecular composition of the beam is known. The calibration of the molecular beam and the evaluation of the measurements will be discussed. The results show that simultaneous detection of X-ray scattering and indirect TG curves allows a better interpretation of decomposition reactions. An additional investigation shows that thermal synthesis of chemical com- pounds can also be studied by thermogravimetry. Based on the same compound as described in the analysis. the pyrosynthesis is demonstrated. The special instrumentation and the test conditions are discussed.