Interaction of MgH2 with AlCl3 under mechanical milling and hydrolysis properties of synthesized composites

During mechanical milling, the interaction of magnesium hydride and aluminum chloride with the formation of aluminum hydride is possible. The composition of the milled mixtures and the possibility of AlH3 formation depend on the milling procedure. The stoichiomet¬ric mixture (3MgH2 + 2AlCl3), which was mill in hydrogen using the “Fritsch Pulverisette P6”, contained significant amounts of MgCl2, which indicated the possibility of an exchange reaction between the initial components and the formation of AlH3. The formation of aluminum hydride was confirmed by thermal desorption according to the characteristic peak of hydrogen evolution at 105°C. The hydrolysis of hydrogen generation from the resulting mixtures was studied. The rate of evolution and the degree of conversion for mixtures with a content of 5–15% AlCl3 increased with an increase in the content of the latter, and the stoichiometric mixture interacted with water almost instantly. The degree of conversion (>90%) for the mixture with 15% AlCl3 significantly exceeded those for reactions where the chloride was introduced as a soluble additive.