Thermal decomposition mechanisms of MgCl2·6H2O and MgCl2·H2O

The thermal decomposition mechanisms and the intermediate morphology of MgCl₂·6H₂O and MgCl₂·H₂O were studied using integrated thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and chemical analysis. The results showed that there were six steps in the thermal decomposition of MgCl₂·6H₂O: producing MgCl₂·4H₂O at 69 °C, MgCl₂·2H₂O at 129 °C, MgCl₂·nH₂O (1 ≤ n ≤ 2) and MgOHCl at 167 °C, the conversion of MgCl₂·nH₂O (1 ≤ n ≤ 2) to Mg(OH)Cl·0.3H₂O by simultaneous dehydration and hydrolysis at 203 °C, the dehydration of Mg(OH)Cl·0.3H₂O to MgOHCl at 235 °C, and finally the direct conversion of MgOHCl to the cylindrical particles of MgO at 415 °C. To restrain the sample hydrolysis and to obtain MgCl₂·H₂O, MgCl₂·6H₂O was first calcined in HCl atmosphere until 203 °C when MgCl₂·H₂O was obtained; HCl gas was then turned off and the calcination process continued, producing Mg₃Cl₂(OH)₄·2H₂O calcined at 203 °C, Mg₃(OH)₄Cl₂ at 220 °C and MgO at 360 °C. The temperature of producing MgO from calcination of MgCl₂·H₂O was lower (360 °C) than that from MgCl₂·6H₂O (415 °C) because of its more reactive intermediate products: the irregular shape and tiny needle-like Mg₃Cl₂(OH)₄·2H₂O particles and the uneven surface porous Mg₃(OH)₄Cl₂ particles. The MgO particles obtained at 360 °C had a flake structure.