Etude de la decomposition thermique de fluorapatites carbonatees

Using a precipitation method, variably carbonated samples of fluorapatite-like francolite were prepared from solutions containing diammonium phosphate, ammonium fluoride and ammonium carbonate. Thermal analysis, gas chromatography and IR spectroscopy were performed. The results show that cyanate ions (CNO^?) appear between 400 and 500 °C, probably as a result of the thermal evolution of ammonium ions. Above 500°C, nitrogen gas was detected with CO₂. N₂ arises presumably from cyanate ion decomposition. Decarbonation of these apatites occurs in three steps, the first of these is attributed to carbamate ions.