The processing of Mg-Ti for hydrogen storage; mechanical milling and plasma synthesis

A study was carried out into the processing of Mg-10 vol.% Ti powder mixture for hydrogen storage purposes. Two processing routes were evaluated; mechanical milling and plasma synthesis. Mechanical milling, carried out with a high speed planetary mill, yielded a particulate structure made up of large Mg agglomerates, 90-100 mu m, with embedded Ti fragments of approx. 1 mu m in size with a uniform distribution. Mg agglomerates were made up of coherently diffracting volumes that were less than SO nm in size. Plasma processing was carried out with an RF plasma torch of 25-27 kW applied power, the powder mixtures fed with 1-3 g/min axially into the torch. The mixture Mg-10 vol.% Ti after plasma processing comprised Mg powders which were extremely fine,