EFFECT OF ATMOSPHERE ON THE KINETICS OF DECOMPOSITION OF MnO2

The decomposition of manganese dioxide MnO2 to the sesquioxide Mn2O3 was investigated using a non-isothermal method. Samples of MnO2 were heated at different constant rates and under different oxygen partial pressures until decomposition to Mn2O3. Results showed that increasing the rate of heating or the oxygen partial. pressure lead to an increase in the decomposition temperature. The application of the Coates-Redfern method of kinetic analysis showed that decomposition follows a first order reaction and that the activation energy increases with an increase in oxygen partial pressure.