Particle size effects on the thermal behavior of hematite

Hematite with different particle sizes was obtained through isothermal annealing and mechanochemical ball-milling methods. The hematite phase is very stable under air atmosphere. The thermal stabilities of hematite under argon atmosphere were characterized by thermal analysis studies up to 800 °C using a simultaneous DSC–TG technique. The lattice parameters a and c of hematite with different particle sizes were extracted from the Rietveld structural refinement of powder X-ray diffraction patterns. Decomposition of hematite into a lower oxidation state in inert argon atmosphere was studied by the TG experiments for the first time and the enthalpy associated with the decomposition reaction was determined from the DSC studies. Particle size has a strong effect on the thermal behavior of hematite samples. Ball-milled hematite samples with smaller particle size showed that the phase transformation was extended to higher temperature range with larger enthalpy. Hematite with larger average particle size showed higher stability under argon atmosphere.