THERMOGRAVIMETRIC STUDY OF ORTHOBORIC ACID, H3BO3. 1. DEHYDRATION AS INFLUENCED BY THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: RATE OF HEATING; DEGREE OF FINENESS AND THICKNESS OF SUBSTANCE; DRY OR HUMID GAS ATMOSPHERE,

The thermogravimetric curves depend to a large extent on the operating conditions, hence it is advisable to approach them with caution neither the plateaus--even if characteristic ones--nor their levels are immovable. Not keeping in mind the various factors capable of modifying the curves may not only lead to serious errors-analytical errors for example--but also to a neglecting of new phenomena e.g. the appearance of the Y plateaus, intermediate between the HBO2 and B2O3 levels--which is normally unpredictable--is capable of throwing light on certain particular aspects of the mechanism of dehydration. The case is the same with the angular inflections. Author