The quenching technique in non-quenchable systems: a discussion concerning the alleged thermal decomposition of portlandite at high pressures

Abstract

With reference to data on the thermal decomposition of portlandite published in a paper by C.W.F.T. Pistorius, confirms the validity of the quenching technique used for high-pressure studies of phase relationships in the CaO-CO_2-H_2O system as applied to nonquenchable systems containing volatile components, and reconfirms the conclusion that portlandite does not dissociate at pressures greater than 100 bars, but melts incongruently at low pressures and congruently at slightly higher pressures.