Behaviour of CaO coating of gas atomized Mg powders using mechanical milling process

Abstract

In order to synthesize a thermally stable Mg powder as a desulfurizer of iron, pure Mg was gas atomized to powders and coated by CaO powders, to produce a thermally stable desulfurizer using a mechanical milling process. Since the effect of desulfurization is dependent on the degree of surface modification, coating behaviours such as the size, morphology and layer thickness were investigated as a function of milling condition. As the milling conducted from 10 min to 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, CaO particles began to stick on the surface of Mg powders. The layer of CaO formed from 1 h milling was about 17 μm thick and gradually thickened to be 28 μm, 32 μm and 37 μm with increasing the milling time to 3 h, 6 h and 12 h, respectively. The shape of coated powder became more spherical after 1 h milling, being mostly spherical after 6 h. Desulfurization rate and uniformity were evaluated for the various thickness of the coating layer.