Decomposition of Al4O4C in the presence of C at high temperatures in vacuum

Abstract The decomposition of Al 4 O 4 C in the presence of C at 1 473–1 873 K in vacuum was researched using the condensation products with high content of Al 4 O 4 C, formed in the carbothermal reduction of Al 2 O 3 , as the raw materials. The results showed that Al 4 O 4 C decomposed into gaseous products at 1 573–1 873 K in vacuum. It was speculated that Al 4 O 4 C decomposed into Al-containing gaseous species, CO and O 2 , and then the O 2 reacted with C to form CO. The reaction of the O 2 with C made the decomposition of Al 4 O 4 C take place more easily. With the decrease in temperature, the Al-containing gaseous species and CO formed condensates mainly consisting of Al 4 O 4 C, Al 4 C 3 and Al 2 O 3 , and also containing Al at experimental temperatures of 1 773 K and 1 873 K.