Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, Vol.128, 110-118, 2019
Thermal-alteration interphase transformations in natural and synthetic arsenic sulfide polymorphs
Thermal-alteration interphase transformations in natural (realgar alpha-As4S4 of two mineral origins) and synthetic (commercial powdered high-temperature beta-As4S4 modification synthesized from elemental constituents and subjected to high-energy mechanical ball milling) arsenic monosulfide polymorphs are studied exploring temperature-modulated DSC TOPEM (R) method. Specific heat capacity and non-reversing heat flow variations in realgar alpha-As4S4 demonstrate two endothermic events, these being ascribed to interphase alpha -> beta transformation at similar to(540-550) K, and melting of this newly-formed high-temperature beta-As4S4 phase at 581-582 K. This polymorph originated from thermal alteration of mineral realgar possesses congruent melting in contrast to synthetic beta-As4S4 polymorph, which shows non-equilibrium melting due to accompanied generation of compositionally-authentic amorphous phase. Calorimetric studies on synthetic b-As4S4 in powdered coarse-grained and milled states demonstrate complicated non-equilibrium melting in principally different crystalline-amorphous environments along with crystal-to-glass transformation. Structural-chemical heterogeneity of beta-As4S4 crystallites results in incongruent double-peak melting through two endothermic events at similar to 578 K and similar to 588 K. The amorphous phase formed under high-energy milling of synthetic b-As4S4 possesses a dual nature due to stabilization of As-rich glassy substances with low-and high-temperature glass transition mid-points. This process in the powdered synthetic beta-As4S4, identified as re-amorphization of initial amorphous phase and direct vitrification from beta-As4S4 crystallites, was parameterized as compared to calorimetric thermal-alteration events in orpiment As2S3 mineral. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords:Thermal alteration;Interphase transformation;Specific heat capacity;Amorphization;Mechanical milling;Realgar alpha-As4S4