THE DEHYDRATION OF TRICALCIUM ALUMINATE HEXAHYDRATE

Abstract
Samples of the isotropic hexahydrate of tricalcium aluminate were dehydrated in a current of dry air at various temperatures up to 1050°. The water retained and the lime liberated were determined. The results of earlier preliminary studies in this laboratory were confirmed. At low temperatures an isotropic hydrate of the composition [Formula: see text], having a refractive index of 1.543 ± 0.003, is formed. This hydrate is stable in dry air up to a temperature of approximately 275° and when once formed at lower temperatures has a very slow rate of decomposition below 350°. On continued dehydration above 275° decomposition occurs with the liberation of calcium oxide. Between 550° and 950° quantitative decomposition occurs into calcium oxide and an aluminate of the composition 12CaO7Al2O3. In the upper part of this temperature range prolonged heating causes slow recombination of the solid decomposition products, and above 950° this effect becomes marked. Dehydration of the hexahydrate in a current of dry nitrogen gives similar results. The experiments indicate that the system [Formula: see text] would serve as an efficient drying agent at temperatures below 100°.