Surface analysis of chrysophosphate materials

Abstract

In this paper, we present results from SIMS, XPS and Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) in order to determine the nature of the phosphorus compounds produced by the reaction of POCI, gas and chrysotile asbestos. SIMS ion images show that the phosphorus compounds are evenly distributed over the surface of the chrysotile fibres (within the resolution of the Camem ion microscope). XPS and FTIR-PAS were used to monitor the conversion of the adsorbed POCl, to a proposed polypbospbate coating. The formation of the polyphosphate coating occurs during the beating of the POCI,-treated chrysotile fibres to 300°C for 2 h. The resulting material is known as chrysophosphate. This study relates to the use of chemical coatings to reduce the carcinogenic bebaviour of chrysotile asbestos fibres.