Structure transformation in graphite at high-energy ball milling treatment
The changes in the structure of the crystalline graphite are studied during high-energy ball milling (BM) treatment. It was found by XRD analysis the milling time increasing up to 3.5 h leads to the formation of an amorphous phase in the milling process. After 10 h of ball milling treatment, complete amorphization of graphite takes place. It has been shown by high-resolution electron microscopy the individual particles have complex morphology which depends on the BM time. After 1 h of BM carbon materials characterized by an onion-like structure: the individual particles have a spheroidal shape with a size of ~ 10 nm. However, unlike the previous ones after 10 h of ball milling carbon nanomaterials are characterized by a disordered structure, which is typical for amorphous carbon.