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On the goethite to hematite phase transformation

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Abstract

This study deals with some microstructural and crystallographic aspects of the thermally induced transformation of goethite (α-FeOOH) into hematite (α-Fe2O3), occurring at about 300 °C. Powder specimens of goethite have been annealed in air at different temperatures, ranging from 200 °C up to 1,000 °C. The resulting products have been analyzed for a complete characterization of the changes brought about by the thermal treatments, using a multianalytical approach, based on: thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. At lower temperatures, the transition to hematite produces no important changes in size and shape of the original goethite grains. Recrystallization, and partial sintering, occurs only at temperatures in excess of 800 °C. The relevant evolution of pores present in both phases has been also considered, as it may provide important indications on the actual formation mechanism of hematite.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Provincia Autonoma di Trento for financial support through the Projects: PAT-CRS2006 (DIGITEM); MATIS; PAT-CRS2008 (Analisi micro-Raman di materiali).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Ingegneria dei Materiali e Tecnologie Industriali, Università degli Studi di Trento, Mesiano, Trento, 38050, Italy

    Stefano Gialanella, Fabrizio Girardi, Gloria Ischia & Ivan Lonardelli

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Trento, Povo, Trento, 38050, Italy

    Maurizio Mattarelli & Maurizio Montagna

Authors
  1. Stefano Gialanella
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  2. Fabrizio Girardi
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  3. Gloria Ischia
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  4. Ivan Lonardelli
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  5. Maurizio Mattarelli
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  6. Maurizio Montagna
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Correspondence to Stefano Gialanella.

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Gialanella, S., Girardi, F., Ischia, G. et al. On the goethite to hematite phase transformation. J Therm Anal Calorim 102, 867–873 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-0756-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-0756-2

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