Alkaline earth peroxides, i. e. MgO
2·
nH
2O, CaO
2, SrO
2 and BaO
2 were synthesized, and the influence of atmosphere on the thermal decomposition of the peroxides was examined by means of measurement of active oxygen content, X-ray diffraction, TG and DTA.
In O
2 or Ar, magnesium peroxide decomposed in two steps, but other peroxides in one step. The decomposition temperatures of Sr and Ba peroxides were elevated by the presence of O
2, and the linear relationship was found between the reciprocal of decomposition temperature and the logarithm of partial pressure of oxygen. On the other hand, the decomposition of all peroxides was accelerated under the atmospheres of H
2O (P =23. 7 mmHg) and CO
2.
From the results of X-ray diffraction analysis, magnesia produced on decomposition of the peroxide was initially amorphous and turned into a crystalline form. In the course of decomposition of Ca and Sr peroxides, each peroxide and oxide coexisted. It was found that the lattice constant of c-axis of Ba peroxide decreased at the intermediate step of decomposition.
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