History of one discovery: Collaboration was difficult but rewarding

The history of the formation and development of the theory of solid-state decomposition reactions, based on the mechanism of congruent dissociative vaporization (CDV) of solids with simultaneous condensation of the supersaturated vapors of the low-volatility products, is described here in the form of recollections. The review covers a 30-year period (1983–2013), beginning with experimental studies in the decomposition process by electrothermal quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS) and ending with investigations of the decomposition kinetics and catalysis by methods of thermal analysis. •History of discovery of the mechanism of solid decomposition was discussed.•Early experiments in ET AAS contributed to the appearance of thermochemical model.•Fall of activation energy model was predicted.•The mechanisms and kinetics of many decomposition reactions have been reconsidered.•General theory of heterogeneous reactions and catalysis has been developed.