Thermal transformation of quaternary compounds in NaF–CaF2–AlF3 system

Details of quaternary compounds formation in the system NaF-CaF{sub 2}-AlF{sub 3} are specified. To achieve this aim, the samples of phases NaCaAlF{sub 6} and Na{sub 2}Ca{sub 3}Al{sub 2}F{sub 14} have been obtained by high-temperature solid-phase synthesis. Their thermal behavior when heated up to 800 deg. C has been studied using the methods of high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis (TA). The system under consideration can be regarded as a quasibinary section CaF{sub 2}-NaAlF{sub 4}, where at T=745-750 deg. C invariant equilibrium is implemented with the phases CaF{sub 2}-NaCaAlF{sub 6}-Na{sub 2}Ca{sub 3}Al{sub 2}F{sub 14}-(liquid melt)-(NaAlF{sub 4}). The peculiarity of the equilibrium is NaAlF{sub 4} metastability at normal pressure. Below the equilibrium temperature the quaternary phase Na{sub 2}Ca{sub 3}Al{sub 2}F{sub 14} is stable and NaCaAlF{sub 6} above this temperature. The phase NaCaAlF{sub 6} fixed by rapid quenching from high temperatures and when heated up to 640 deg. C decomposes, yielding Na{sub 2}Ca{sub 3}Al{sub 2}F{sub 14}. Further heating in vacuum at temperature up to 740 deg. C results in decomposition of Na{sub 2}Ca{sub 3}Al{sub 2}F{sub 14} into CaF{sub 2} and Na{sub 3}AlF{sub 6}. The expected reverse transformation of Na{sub 2}Ca{sub 3}Al{sub 2}F{sub 14} into NaCaAlF{sub 6} has not been observed under experimentalmore » conditions. Transformations in bulk samples reveal direct and reverse transformation of quaternary phases. Synopsis: Thermal transformation of the quaternary compounds in system (NaF-CaF{sub 2}-AlF{sub 3}) was investigated using high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis (TA). In the system the invariant equilibrium is implemented with the phases CaF{sub 2}-NaCaAlF{sub 6}-Na{sub 2}Ca{sub 3}Al{sub 2}F{sub 14}-(liquid melt)-(NaAlF{sub 4}) at T=745-750 deg. C. - Graphical Abstract: The paper concerns of a small piece of the ternary system (NaF-CaF{sub 2}-AlF{sub 3}) which is very important for aluminum production. Details of phase relations were not fully understand up till now because of experimental difficulties: aggressive reagents and high temperature. However, the phase diagram is very important for production control.« less