Abstract
The mechanochemical reduction of copper sulphide with elemental iron was studied. The methods of XPS, SEM, EDX, and low temperature nitrogen sorption were used to analyse the surface composition and the composite particles formed from elemental copper and hexagonal 2C-troilite. The study of the mechanism and kinetics of the mechanochemical reaction by magnetic measurements, XRD and Mossbauer spectroscopy has revealed the details of the process. The transformations of copper sulphide, the synthesis of cubic FeS and its transformation to the hexagonal form are associated with the primary mechanochemical reduction of copper sulphide by elemental iron. Platelets of Cu/FeS nanoparticles are formed as aggregates, tenths of micrometers in diameter. However, the average grain size of the freshly formed copper is between 10 and 25 nanometers depending on the milling conditions.

Key words
copper, iron sulphide, nanoparticle, mechanochemical reduction

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