Oxidation behaviour of ytterbium sulphides

Abstract

Thermal studies (at up to ~1500 ° C) carried out on some ytterbium sulphides in air or under nitrogen show that complex decomposition processes undergone before the ultimate formation of the ytterbium oxide. The decompositions take place as overlapping and incomplete reactions to give mixtures of various intermediates, such as Yb₂O₂S and Yb₂O₂SO₄. Electron microscopy diffraction studies on the intermediate Yb₂O₂SO₄ reveals a complex microstructure because of intergrowth with small precipitates of cubic phase Yb₂O₃.