Self-sustaining reduction of MoO3 by the Mg–C mixture

The possibility of the molybdenum oxide (MoO3) reduction by the Mg–C mixture was investigated under the self-sustaining combustion regime. Thermodynamic analyses for the MoO3–xMg–yC system were performed. Optimal ranges of x and y coefficients to ensure complete reduction of MoO3 to metallic molybdenum were found. The influence of x and y values on the process parameters (e.g. temperature, front propagation velocity), phase composition and the structure of products were investigated experimentally. Optimum reduction conditions of MoO3 to fine (1–3 μm) molybdenum powder were defined. Possible mechanism of the molybdenum oxide reduction to metallic molybdenum was proposed.