INVESTIGATION OF THE REACTION BETWEEN FE2O3 AND AL ACCOMPLISHED BY BALL-MILLING AND SELF-PROPAGATING HIGH-TEMPERATURE TECHNIQUES

In this work we investigate the mechanism of product formation of the aluminothermic reaction of Fe2O3 in the presence of Al2O3 using Ball M illing and Self-propagating High-temperature techniques. Results obtai ned by experiments under either argon or air atmosphere are analysed b y X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy, together with microstr ucture observations. It is shown that ball milling products are strong ly affected by the kind of atmosphere, while self-propagating high-tem perature ones are only weakly influenced. Reaction mechanisms taking p lace in these cases are proposed. While ball milling involves only sol id state reactions, the formation of a melt occurs under self-propagat ing high-temperature conditions.