Formation of TIB2 from rutile by room temperature ball milling

A mixture of rutile, boron oxide and magnesium has been ball milled together with the intention of inducing a reaction to form titanium diboride. The resultant powders were examined by differential thermal analysis, isothermal annealing and X-ray diffraction to determine the effect of milling on the formation of TiB2. Complete reaction was found to occur in the mill between 10 and 15 h forming TiB2 and MgO with no residual Mg. The unwanted phase, MgO, was readily removed by leaching in acid leaving a fine powder composed of aggregates of TiB2. The feasibility of using this relatively simple, low technology route to value add for minerals is also discussed.