Importance of the interlayer orientation in borate-intercalating layered double hydroxides

Thermal decomposition kinetics and mechanism of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalating different amounts and types of borate ions were studied using Coats–Redfern integral and Achar differential methods. The results revealed that the Coats–Redfern integral method is more appropriate than the Achar differential method for evaluation of the nonisothermal thermogravimetric decomposition data. The first-order Avrami-Erofe’ev A₁ mechanism was found to be the best fitting kinetic model for almost all samples. In addition to the amount and type of the intercalated borate ion, interlayer orientation was also of importance in determining the chemical and thermal stabilities and hence the decomposition kinetics of the studied compounds.