Derivatographic study of the thermal behaviour of 13 rare earth element oxides

The simultaneous TG-DTG-DTA thermoanalytical curves of 13 rare earth (4f) element oxides, namely, CeO₂, Dy₂O₃, Er₂O₃, Gd₂O₃, HfO₂, Ho₂O₃, Nd₂O₃, Pr₆O₁₁, Sm₂O₃, Tb₄O₇, Tm₂O₃, Yb₂O₃ and Y₂O₃, were recorded with a MOM derivatograph under static air atmosphere over the temperature range from ambient to 1050°C. Only HfO₂, Nd₂O₃, Pr₆O₁₁, Sm₂O₃ and Tb₄O₇ showed appreciable weight losses due to the liberation of small amounts of oxygen. X-ray diffractometry was used to identify the thermal degradation products and their precursors.