The formation of metal antimonates by mechanical milling and the conversion of α-Sb2O4 to β-Sb2O4

The mechanical milling of α-Fe2O3 or V2O5 with Sb2O3 results in the formation of small particle FeSbO4 or VSbO4. Milling also induces the conversion of cubic Sb2O3 to the orthorhombic modification and the transformation of α-Sb2O4 to β-Sb2O4. The milling-induced α- to β-Sb2O4 phase transition is even more facile in the presence of vanadium or iron.