Thermal decomposition kinetics of strontium oxalate

The thermal decomposition behavior in air of SrC2O4 · 1.25H2O was studied up to the formation of SrO using DTA-TG-DTG techniques. The decomposition proceeds through four well-defined steps. The first two steps are attributed to the dehydration of the salt, while the third and fourth ones are assigned to the decomposition of the anhydrous strontium oxalate into SrCO3 and the decomposition of SrCO3 to SrO, respectively. The exothermic DTA peak found at around 300°C is ascribed to the recrystallization of the anhydrous strontium oxalate. On the other hand, the endothermic DTA peak observed at 910°C can be attributed to the transition of orthorhombic-hexagonal phase of SrCO3. The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of anhydrous strontium oxalate and strontium carbonate, which are formed as stable intermediates, have been studied using non-isothermal TG technique. Analysis of kinetic data was carried out assuming various solid-state reaction models and applying three different computational methods. The data analysis according to the composite method showed that the anhydrous oxalate decomposition is best described by the two-dimensional diffusion-controlled mechanism (D2), while the decomposition of strontium carbonate is best fitted by means of the three-dimensional phase boundary-controlled mechanism (R3). The values of activation parameters obtained using different methods were compared and discussed.