Effect of heat treatment on structure, surface composition, infrared emission and surface electrical properties of tourmaline

Crystal structure, surface composition, infrared emission properties and surface electrical properties of tourmaline from Guangxi of China, when subjected to heat treatment in air atmosphere had been studied by some methods, including X-ray fluorescence spectrum (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) meter, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Zeta potential analyzer, etc. Experimental results show that the unit cell of tourmaline would shrink during heat treatment because Fe[Formula: see text] were oxidized. Moreover, the Fe[Formula: see text]/Fe[Formula: see text] inside tourmaline can be raised after treatment. Infrared normal total emissivity of tourmaline reaches 0.87, and infrared radiation energy density is [Formula: see text]. It can maintain excellent infrared emission properties at high temperature. Simultaneously, tourmaline presents negative Zeta potential in the aqueous solution, and its Zeta potential reaches −18.04 mV. Zeta potential of tourmaline was increased to −24.83 mV after heat treatment at 400[Formula: see text]C, and decrease to −11.78 mV after heat treatment at 600[Formula: see text]C. These findings may provide reference data for tourmaline’s application in the field of functional materials.