Investigation of the impurity effect on the kinetics of thermal decomposition of natural gypsum at high temperatures

• The reaction kinetics of natural gypsum decomposition was investigated by TG-DTA. • Multiple heating rate approach was used to obtain kinetic parameters. • Both model-free and model-fitting methods were utilized for kinetic computations. • The decomposition mechanism of gypsum was discussed. • The decomposition is described by models of the n-dimensional Avrami-Erofeev equation. Natural gypsum is the most common sulfate on our planet, which is widely used in construction due to its excellent astringent properties, environmental friendliness, thermal and fire resistance, accessibility in nature and low price. Currently, the influence of modifiers, impurities and additives that can improve the strength, acoustic and thermal insulation characteristics of gypsum, which is so important in modern architecture, construction and reducing power consumption, is being increasingly studied. However, additives and impurities, controlled and uncontrolled, as in natural gypsum, can unpredictably affect the thermal stability and fire resistance of gypsum. The purpose of our work is to study the thermal characteristics of gypsum from various deposits in a wide temperature range. Our work shows that the temperature and rate of dissociation of gypsum directly depends on impurities that can change the process of its decomposition. As a result of the decomposition of natural gypsum with impurities, new phases are formed. It has been experimentally shown that the process of thermal destruction of gypsum with impurities has a complex multistage character, which is described by successive reactions of the nth order of the Avrami-Erofeev equation. It can be assumed that the reaction mechanism consists in the rapid formation of numerous nucleation centers on the surface of solid anhydrite. Kinetic parameters of thermal decomposition of gypsum of complex composition and phase formation at high temperatures are calculated. This experimental study shows the dependence of thermal stability on the amount and grade of impurities in gypsum. The results obtained contribute to the improvement of the basic concepts of the mechanism of decomposition of gypsum, as well as the explanation of some high-temperature phase formation processes in nature.