Kinetics and mechanism of formation of zinc ferrite

Abstract

The kinetics of the formation of zinc ferrite from zinc oxide and iron(III) oxide powders have been studied. Below about 1000°C Jander's equation is obeyed. Vaporization of the more mobile reactant (ZnO) occurs to form a coating on the particles of the other reactant with subsequent diffusion into it. An activation free energy of 72 ± 10 kcal/mole has been obtained in this temperature region. The general features of this reaction are similar to other spinel-producing reactions; and the mechanistic treatment proposed covers much of the previously reported work.