Studies on the thermal decomposition of basic lead(II) carbonate by Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis

The thermal decomposition of basic lead(II) carbonate 2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2 in static air under atmospheric conditions has been studied for the first time using a combination of thermoanalytical, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic techniques. New intermediate compounds of the type 4PbCO3·3PbO and PbCO3 have been observed in addition to previously reported ones of the type 2PbCO3·PbO, PbCO3·PbO and PbCO3·2PbO. Post-decomposition studies have identified the presence of the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition in PbO. Results are also presented for the decomposition processes in nitrogen and oxygen atmospheres. Oxidative decomposition studies have shown that Pb3O4 forms in oxygen and in flowing air.