Mechanochemical synthesis of Fe-TiC composite from Egyptian ilmenite ore

Fe-TiC powder composite was successfully synthesized from mixtures of ilmenite concentrate (FeTiO3) and carbon black through mechanical activation and subsequent reduction at a temperature that was considerably lower than that used in conventional carbothermic reduction synthesis. Mixed ilmenite powder and carbon black were milled in a planetary ball mill for 10-40 h milling time. The activated powders were then synthesized at 1200 and 1300 degrees C for 3 h in tube furnace under argon atmosphere. The synthesized powders were characterized using TGA-DTA, XRD and SEM techniques. It was found that the formation of TiC at 1200 degrees C increases by increasing mechanical activation time up to 30 h and no significant change was observed with increasing the milling time to 40 h. On the other hand increasing the reduction temperature up to 1300 degrees C leads to a lower formation of TiC. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.