Thermal analysis of magnesium tris(maleato) ferrate(III) dodecahydrate. Physico-chemical studies

Thermal analysis of magnesium tris(maleato) ferrate(III) dodecahydrate has been studied from ambient to 700 degreesC in static air atmosphere employing TG, DTG, DTA, XRD, Mossbauer and infrared spectroscopic techniques. The precursor decomposes to iron(II) intermediate species along with magnesium maleate at 248 degreesC. The iron(II) species then undergo oxidative decomposition to give alpha -Fe2O3 at 400 degreesC. At higher temperatures magnesium maleate decomposes directly to magnesium oxide, MgO, which undergoes a solid state reaction with alpha -Fe2O3 to yield magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) at 600 degreesC, a temperature much lower than for ceramic method. The results have been compared with those of the oxalate precursor.