Kinetics of the Massicot‐Litharge Transformation During Comminution

Abstract

The kinetics of the polymorphic transformation of massicot to litharge during prolonged dry‐grinding in a laboratory pebble mill were studied by quantitative X‐ray diffraction using the direct‐comparison method. The kinetics describe stages of (1) normal comminution and (2) particle agglomeration; the latter was confirmed by measuring relative specific surface areas. Both stages obey a modified logistic growth function which takes into account a strain‐induced martensitic (shear) transformation which occurs during reduction of particle size.