Kinetics of gypsum dehydration

The kinetics of gypsum dehydration in non-isothermal conditions with constant heating rate as well in quasi-isotherm, quasi-isobar regime, was investigated. The latter ones of these methods allowed putting in evidence the autocatalytic character of the dehydration, as well as the change of the activation energy with the conversion. The activation energy change was explained by the crystal growth and sample compaction observed by optical microscopy. Microscopic observations show that at higher conversions a compaction occur. This process is probably favoured by the accumulation of the water vapour from the dehydration (autogenerate atmosphere). These are the reason for step III characterised by higher activation.