A comprehensive investigation using x-ray diffractometry has been conducted to study the
optimum mechanical and thermal conditions for the transformation of anatase-to-rutile
from a titanium dioxide (TiOl) powder. Milling was applied by employing a conventional
ball milling instrument and a quasi-high-energy pulveriser and varying the milling period.
Heat treatment was performed by calcination at 850, 900, 950, 975, 1000, 1050 and
1100°C for 1 hour, being the predicted optimum temperature to obtain fidly rutile powder
was 975°C. Each powder was milled and then calcined prior to the x-ray difiaction
investigation. X-ray diffraction data were analysed using (1) standard identification and
peak characterisation and (2) Mozulx, an own-developed software to provide strain,
crystallite size and size distribution of phases. Results showed that milling speed and
milling up to 24 hours does not significantly change the phases' composition, but enhances
the transformation temperature. Conventional milling gives better results than pulverising.
Conventional milling at 100 rprn for 3 hours reduces the transformation temperature from
1100°C to 1000°C. Longer milling, however, does not improve the transformation
temperature. The optimum process is discussed and SEM micrographs are used to support
the argumen