EFFECT OF WATER VAPOR ON THE FORMATION OF MODIFICATIONS

Abstract

The two recognized forms of calcium sulfate hemihydrate can be identified by the position of a relatively small exothermic peak in their differential thermograms. Hemihydrates prepared at various water vapor pressures up to 760 mm Hg were found to produce this exothermic peak in a position which is characteristic for the β-form. These results indicate that α-hemihydrate cannot be made at atmospheric pressure, as was previously suggested on the basis of heat solution measurements. The typical differential thermogram of α-hemihydrate is only obtained with material made by dehydration in solution or by autoclaving. The effect of ambient water vapor pressure on the position of the three peaks that occur in the differential thermogram of CaSO4•2H2O has also been studied. It was found that the incipient temperature of the second endothermic peak, corresponding to the transition of hemihydrate to soluble anhydrite, is displaced independent of the rate of heating from 145 °C to 187 °C with increasing water vapor pressures up to 760 mm Hg. This indicates that, for each temperature, a threshold water vapor pressure exists, above which soluble anhydrite cannot be formed.