The application of a milling map in the mechanochemical synthesis of ceramic oxides

We have evaluated the use of a milling map in the mechanochemical synthesis of ceramic oxides. In order to do this we constructed a milling map for NaNbO3, mechanochemically synthesized from a powder mixture of Na2CO3 and Nb2O5. Based on the milling map, we determined the critical or minimum cumulative kinetic energy for the formation of NaNbO3. In addition, we made a comparison between several oxide systems by constructing the milling map on the basis of the experimental data found in the literature. It is shown that a milling map is essential for a comparison of the results of mechanochemical synthesis when different planetary mills and milling conditions are used. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.