A systematic investigation of the mechanochemical decomposition of Ag oxalate in rod drop experiments

The present work focuses on the chemical response of Ag oxalate powders to the collision of rods in controlled rod drop experiments performed by using suitably designed reactors. Powder layers of different thickness were submitted to the collision of cylindrical rods with selected radius, mass, and collision velocity. The experimental findings indicate that collisions are able to induce the partial decomposition of Ag oxalate into metallic Ag and gaseous carbon dioxide. The mass of Ag oxalate decomposed is proportional to the collision energy. Being the impact energy the same, the mass decomposed is inversely proportional to the surface area of the powder layer. In addition, it increases irregularly as the thickness of the powder layer increases. The results obtained suggest that rod drop experiments can be profitably used to promote and investigate mechanochemical transformations.

► Ag oxalate powders were mechanically loaded in rod drop experiments.
► Collisions induce the decomposition of Ag oxalate into Ag and gaseous carbon dioxide.
► The mass of Ag oxalate decomposed increases with the rod collision energy.
► It decreases with the rod surface area.