Thermal analysis of magnesium tris(maleato) ferrate(III) dodecahydrate. Physico-chemical studies

Thermal analysis of magnesium tris(maleato) ferrate(III) dodecahydrate has been studied from ambient to 700 degreesC in static air atmosphere employin g TG, DTG, DTA, XRD, Mossbauer and infrared spectroscopic techniques. The p recursor decomposes to iron(II) intermediate species along with magnesium m aleate at 248 degreesC. The iron(II) species then undergo oxidative decompo sition to give alpha -Fe2O3 at 400 degreesC. At higher temperatures magnesi um maleate decomposes directly to magnesium oxide, MgO, which undergoes a s olid state reaction with alpha -Fe2O3 to yield magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) at 600 degreesC, a temperature much lower than for ceramic method. The resu lts have been compared with those of the oxalate precursor.