This work presents a useful example of the fact that mechanical activation promotes solid state reaction in the preparation of a NiMn2O4 from NiO and MnO; shown evidence demonstrates that high-energy ball milling of MnO and NiO powders followed by a heat treatment can be considered a possible route for the synthesis of this compound. The powders were milled at room temperature in a shaker mixer in a weight ratio 1 : 10 of powder to zirconia balls. X-ray diffraction patterns show small differences among the powders milled for different times, while post milling heat treatments conducted at different temperatures for 1 hour showed an increase in the formation of the nickel spinel with a tetragonal structure, which was successfully obtained with this combined mechanosynthesis (MSP) - heat treatment method.

Keywords: Spinel, Nickel manganite, Ball milling, Mechanosynthesis