Thermal degradation of metal novolak precursors for high temperature superconductors: thermogravimetric and mass spectroscopy studies

High temperature superconductor (HTS) materials were prepared from novolak metal precursors in a special annealing process. In the present paper the thermal behaviour of pure cresol novolaks and novolak metal salt (nitrate) precursors was investigated by means of simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis and mass spectroscopy in air. The results show significant differences in thermal stability between the pure novolaks and the novolak metal precursors, with respect to the process as well as the products of decomposition. The main volatile products for the precursors are CO 2, H 2O and NO, thus indicating that the thermal degradation results in the formation of metal oxides at a temperature of about 300 °C.