Study of the mechanochemical reduction of ilmenite concentrate by addition of aluminum

Abstract

Mechanochemical reduction of ilmenite concentrate (FeTiO 3) with elemental aluminum powder was performed by high-energy milling in an industrial eccentric vibratory ball mill ESM 656-0.5 ks (Siebtechnik, Germany). The mechanochemically reduced ilmenite with various times of milling was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, which confirmed the presence of the Al 2 O 3 and Fe 2 Ti phases after 120 min of milling. Thermal analysis evidenced the completion of a mechanochemical reduction during milling. After 360 min of milling, the Fe 2 Ti phase decomposed to α-(Fe,Ti) alloy, which was proven by 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy detected the amorphous TiO phase in product after mechanochemical reduction, which is in accordance with thermodynamic prediction. Decreasing of specific surface area after 60 min of milling resulted from growing layers of the solid products of FeTiO 3 mechanochemical reduction.