Effect of ball collision direction on a wet mechanochemical reaction

Mechanochemical reactions can be induced in a solution by the collision of balls to produce high-temperature and high-pressure zones, with the reactions occurring through a dissolution–precipitation mechanism due to a change in solubility. However, only a fraction of the impact energy contributes to the mechanochemical reactions, while the rest is mainly consumed by the wear of balls and the heat generation. To clarify whether the normal or tangential component of collisions makes a larger contribution on the reaction, herein we studied the effect of collision direction on a wet mechanochemical reaction through combined analysis of the experimental reaction rates and simulated ball motion. Collisions of balls in the normal direction were found to contribute strongly to the wet mechanochemical reaction. These results could be used to improve the synthesis efficiency, predict the reaction, and lower the wear in the wet mechanochemical reactions.