XRD study of thermal stability of hydroxyl-aluminium chloride

Abstract

An XRD study of hydroxyl - aluminium chloride has been carried out at different temperatures in a dry atmosphere. It has been observed that solid hydroxyl-aluminium chloride, obtained from an aqueous solution by drying under very mild conditions, gives an XRD pattern characteristic of a crystalline material. The transition from crystalline to semi-crystalline state at temperatures above 8O^oC gives evidence of the role of coordiriated water molecules and hydroxyl groups in building up the crystalline structure at lower temperatures. SEM pictures of hydroxyl-aluminium chloride dried under mild heating show platy habits.