A systematic study of the influence of high energy attrition milling on the low temperature carbothermic reduction of commercial grade ilmenite has been carried out. The as milled (for different times and intensity) ilmenite-activated carbon mixture and a just mixed powder of the mentioned material with identical composition were annealed up to 1200°C and examined by X-ray and thermal gravimetry (TG) analyzer. It was found that attrition milling has a significant effect on decreasing the temperature of the carbothermic reduction reaction of ilmenite (700°C in lower than 30 min). Higher milling time and intensity leads to higher effect of mechanical milling on the mentioned parameters. The results also show that attrition milling is more efficient than ball milling for this goal. This enhancing effect of mechanical milling results from the intimate mixing, large contact area between ilmenite and carbon powders and increasing their internal energy caused by milling.
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