Authors

Malek Ashtar University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

In the present study, Mo nanopowder was synthesized by milling and subsequent hydrogen-reduction of MoO3 powder. MoO3 powder was high-energetically ball-milled at a milling speed of 400 rpm in an Ar atmosphere for 5, 10, and 20 hr. The ball-milled and unmilled MoO3 powders were reduced at temperatures of 600, 750 and 800 ◦C, isothermal as well as non-isothermal. The milled/reduced Mo powder as well as the unmilled/reduced Mo powder was sintered at 1400°C. Morphology and particles size of the products were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Phase analysis was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The particle size, size distribution and Specific surface area were investigated by PSA and BET methods, respectively. It is found that average size is lower than 200 nm, after milling for 20 hr and reduction at 750 ◦C for 30 min. The Specific BET surface area of the Mo nanopowder was attained 17.826m2g-1. The sintered samples prepared by Mo nanopowder and Mo micropowder showed relative density of 95% and 75%, respectively.

Keywords