F. Mohseni - Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶۸۳۱۱۱, Iran.
M. Abbasi - Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶۸۳۱۱۱, Iran.
M. Panjepour - Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan ۸۴۱۵۶۸۳۱۱۱, Iran.

The effect of mechanical activation on structural changes and kinetics of carbothermic reduction of hematite with graphite was studied in this research. Hematite powder mixture with graphite (with stoichiometry ratio C/O=۱) was milled for the time periods of zero to ۵۰ hours, and the structural changes were studied using X ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of mechanical activation on the kinetics of hematite carbothermic reduction was studied by performing thermal analysis tests and by employing model-free and constant slope methods. The activation energy as well as the reaction mechanism was then determined. The results showed that by mechanical activation for a time period of ۵۰ h, the activation energy is decreased from ۳۸۷ kJ/mol-۱ to ۱۸۶ kJ/mol-۱, and the starting temperature of the reaction is decreased from ۱۱۲۵ to ۶۲۰°C. The Boudouard chemical reaction was determined as the rate controlling step.

Mechanical activation, Thermal Analysis, Kinetic analysis, Activation Energy, Hematite, Carbothermic reduction