Pyrolyses of yttrium organic acid salts, i. e., caprylate, laurate, stearate, naphthenate and octylate, were studied in the temperature range of 25∼600°C in Ar or air flow by thermogravimetry (TG)-differential thermal analysis (DTA), infrared and X-ray analyses. Pyrolysis in Ar flow was found to take place in two stages; decomposition reaction of the salt and subsequent evaporation of the organic component; on the other hand, rapid decomposition and simultaneous combustion of the organic component take place in air. Pyrolysis temperatures in Ar were significantly dependent on the organic part of the salts as follows.
normal chain < cyclic < branched chain
The solid product of the pyrolysis at 400∼500°C was amorphous Y2O3, which was crystallized above 550°C both in Ar and air.