Thermal Decomposition of Solids and Melts: New Thermochemical Approach to the Mechanism, Kinetics and Methodology (Hot Topics in Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry Book 7)

This book covers the results of investigations into the mechanisms and kinetics of thermal decompositions of solid and liquid substances on the basis of thermochemical analyses of the processes. In the framework of the proposed ideas, the main features of these reactions are explained and many problems and unusual phenomena, which have accumulated in this field are interpreted. New methods of TA measurement and calculation have been developed, which permit the precision and accuracy of determination of kinetic parameters to be increased substantially. Reliable kinetic characteristics have been obtained and the decomposition mechanisms for several tens of substances have been interpreted. These include different classes of compounds: crystalline hydrates, oxides, hydroxides, nitrides, azides, nitrates, sulfates, carbonates and oxalates. The appearance of this English edition of my book, ?rst published in Russian in mid-2006, is related to the help and support of two prominent scientists: Professor Michael Brown (Rhodes University Grahamstown, South Africa) and Dr. Judit Simon (Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary). The story is as follows. In the winter of 2006, in the process of exchange of views by email with Michael on some problems of decomposition kinetics, I asked him about the possibility of publishing my book in English. He s- gestedthatIshouldcontactJudit,theSeriesEditorof“HotTopicsinThermal Analysis and Calorimetry”. My application was kindly accepted, considered, and approved. As a result, Judit strongly recommended this book to Springer for publication, and Michael kindly agreed to help me with linguistic impro- ments of my hurriedly translated book. In the process of editing, he made some critical comments and questions, which stimulated me to improve and clarify the text, but we did have to agree to put our di?erences of scienti?c opinions aside so as not to delay the process. Without this invaluable help, this book would not be as “readable” as I hope it is now. The author uses this opportunity to express his sincere thanks to Michael and Judit for their signi?cant help and support. Although only about a year has gone after the preparation of the original edition of the book (in Russian), this English version of the manuscript has undergone considerable revision. These changes refer to Sections2. 2, 2. Covers the results of investigations into the mechanisms and kinetics of thermal decompositions of solid and liquid substances on the basis of thermochemical analyses of the processes. This work explains the main features of these reactions, and interprets many problems and unusual phenomena, which have accumulated in this field are interpreted