Formation of Two Types of Alumina/Intermetallic Composites based on the Reaction of Ilmenite and Aluminum

Ilmenite is a valuable industrial mineral containing Fe and Ti elements. Two composites with different morphology and composition were produced using the reaction of synthesized ilmenite and aluminum. The molar ratios of 1:2 and 1:8 were selected. The critical temperatures of each molar ratio were determined using the Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). The heat treatment of the systems with different molar ratios was conducted at selected temperatures on the activated primary powders. It was specified that in the molar ratio of 1:2, at first, FeTiO3 reacts with aluminum, which leads to the formation of Fe, TiO2 and Al2O3. At higher temperatures, Fe reacts with TiO2 and so spherical Fe2Ti forms in the matrix of TiO2 and Al2O3. It should be noted that in the molar ratio of 1:8, FeAl3, TiAl3 and Al2O3 form through the reaction of FeTiO3 and aluminum, as a matter of fact, none of their products do not change at higher temperatures.