Effect of the partial pressures of oxygen and water vapour on the dispersity of α-Cr2O3 obtained by thermal decomposition of hydrated chromium(III) oxide

Abstract

The effect of water vapour and oxygen partial pressure on the thermal decomposition of hydrated chromium (III) oxide has been studied. A decrease in the water vapour partial pressure from 20 to 1 × 10−3 mm Hg has been found to produce a sharp increase in the specific surface area of the decomposition product (α-Cr2O3). Decomposition in an argon atmosphere leads to highly dispersed α-Cr2O3 even at relatively high temperatures (400–500 °C).