Study of the thermal decomposition of iron and barium citrates

Abstract

Iron citrate decomposes to give α −Fe₂O₃ as an end product at 460° C via a four-step process. Barium citrate has been found to decompose to a stable barium carbonate at 412° C. It is, however, observed that a mixture of iron and barium citrates decomposes to BaO and either γ -Fe₂O₃ or Fe₃O₄ or a mixture of these two oxides. Thus, the mixture does not decompose to give α −Fe₂O₃ and BaCO₃ as obtained in the individual decomposition of iron citrate and barium citrate, respectively. The iron and barium oxides obtained as a result of decomposition of the mixture then chemically combine to form barium ferrite at 600° C.