Thermal decomposition of rare earth element enanthates

The conditions of formation of Y, La and lanthanide (from Ce(III) to Lu) enanthates were worked out, their composition and their solubilities in water at 291 K were determined, and the conditions of their thermal decomposition were studied. They were prepared as crystalline solids with general formula Ln(C₇H₁₃O₂)₃·nH₂O, wheren=2–10. On heating, they decompose in two or three steps. They first lose some water molecules and then decompose to the oxides directly (salts of Y and heavy lanthanides) or via the intermediate formation of Ln₂O₂CO₃ (salts of La, Pr, Nd, Sm and Eu). Only yttrium enanthate dihydrate loses 2 water molecules on heating to form an anhydrous complex, which decomposes directly to Y₂O₃. The temperatures of dehydration are similar for all complexes (323–343 K), while the temperatures of oxide formation vary irregularly from 823 K for CeO₂ to 1078 K for La₂O₃.     

Utilization of Derivatograph for Study of Synthesis of New Inorganic Pigments

In our laboratory, the synthesis of new inorganic pigments is followed by thermal analysis using a Derivatograph apparatus. The first information about the temperature region of the formation of the pigments investigated is provided by thermal analysis. The main attention is directed to the preparation of high-temperature colour pigments, lightfastness colour pigments, anticorrosive pigments, new ecological inorganic pigments and luminescent pigments. All inorganic pigments are useful for colouring of ceramic glazes, enamels, plastics, paints, cements and other building systems. The synthesis of all these pigments is based on temperature calcination of starting materials. Tens of new inorganic pigments have been prepared thanks to methods of thermal analysis. These synthesis are described in more than 100 Czech patents. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.