Thermal Decomposition of Sodium Alkoxides

Literature survey The only study on the decomposition of sodium methoxide is a patent by Pfeifer et al. [36]. These authors have reported that the sodium methoxide decomposed at 393 and 413 K. The only study on the decomposition of sodium ethoxide has been reported by Blanchard et al. [19]. According to them, the decomposition commenced at temperatures above 570 K. There are no reports on the decomposition of other sodium alkoxides (for example, sodium n-propoxide and iso-propoxide). Even for sodium methoxide and sodium ethoxide, data on the kinetic parameters are not available. The kinetic parameters of the decomposition of sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, sodium n-propoxide and sodium iso-propoxide were determined and discussed in this chapter. 

Thermogravimetry Thermogravimetry (TG) is a technique in which the mass of the sample is monitored against time or temperature while the temperature of the sample in a specified atmosphere is changed. 

Balance The balance used in many of the commercial instruments is a modified microbalance. The light weight arm is pivoted about an electrical coil suspended in a magnetic field. The position of the arm is measured by an optical sensor and any 

The movement of the gas surroimding the sample due to convection may cause noise and affect the observed mass. This may be reduced by introducing baffles within the sample enclosure. Usually experiments are conducted in flowing atmosphere to reduce convective effects. 

Programmer Programmer is directly linked to the furnace and remains in its control throughout the experiment. There is a temperature sensor in direct contact with the furnace sending information to the programmer and thereby controlling the electrical 

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