INVESTIGATION OF CARBOTHERMAL REDUCTION OF MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED CHROMITE WITH THERMAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Ferrochromium is one of the important alloying materials used in the production of stainless and high-alloy ferritic steels. The carbothermal reduction of chromite with graphite under argon atmosphere was studied by differential thermal analysis up to 1350 degrees C and the effects of mechanical activation on the chromite structure was investigated using of X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the carbothermal reduction temperatures of reducible oxides in the chromite spinel were decreased after mechanical activation, due to structural disordering in chromite spinel.