THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF COPPER(II) CALCIUM(II) FORMATE

The presence of different stages in the thermal decomposition process of CuCa(HCOO)(4) has been established by means of TGA at different hea ting rates, X-ray powder diffraction of quenched samples, and DSC meth ods, During the first stage, decomposition of one of the two copper fo rmate structural units contained in the unit cell takes place, The pre sence of CuCa2(HCOO)(6) has been detected, Calcium formate structural units break down at higher temperatures; the last decomposition peak c orresponds to the appearance of different calcium-copper oxides. (C) 1 996 Academic Press, Inc.