Effects of mechanical activation on structural and microwave absorbing characteristics of high titanium slag

• Mechanical activation was applied to the pre-treatment process of the high titanium slag.
• Microwave absorbing properties of high titanium slag was investigated using microwave cavity perturbation technique.
• Ti2O3 is transformed partially from Fe3Ti3O10 under moderate mechanical activation.
• The optimum mechanical activation time of high titanium slag is chosen to be 12 h.

The present work attempts to investigate the influence of mechanical activation on structural and microwave absorbing properties of high titanium slag. Microwave absorbing properties of high titanium slag were investigated by using microwave cavity perturbation technique and the digital signal processing technique. The crystal structures and the molecular structure of high titanium slag before and after mechanical activation were also analyzed using XRD and Raman spectra, respectively. The results of microwave absorbing properties indicated an optimum mechanical activation duration of 12 h. The results of XRD and Raman spectra showed that Ti2O3 is transformed partially from Fe3Ti3O10 under moderate mechanical activation, which can be better used for the production of synthetic rutile. The results demonstrate effectiveness of mechanical milling as pre-treatment process for production of high titanium slag.

X-ray diffraction patterns of high titanium slag before and after mechanical activation. (a) Mechanical activation time of 0 h, (b) mechanical activation time of 6 h, (c) mechanical activation time of 12 h, and (d) mechanical activation time of 18 h.It can be seen from the figure that the mechanically activated high titanium slag has peaks at 2θ = 23.81°, where the strongest peaks of Ti2O3 phase occur. With increasing mechanical activation time, the amount of phase crystallized in the form of Ti2O3 also increases, which is confirmed by an appearance of its band with a low intensity of preferential orientation of (1 1 2) planes of Ti2O3 phase.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide