KINETICS OF THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF METAL ACETATES

The acetates of magnesium, nickel, copper, manganese, sodium and barium were subjected to thermal decomposition by means of thermogravimetric techniques (TG) under a constant flow of nitrogen. The decompositions occurred in steps and the kinetics of every set of reactions was determined by the Coats and Redfern method. These results were analysed to establish the decomposition kinetics and hence to calculate activation energies. The activation energies were also determined by applying the Horowitz-Hugh method, which yielded similar results.