This study evaluates the effects of ball milling parameters–duration (2-60 min), rotation speed (200-400 rpm), and use of acetone as a liquid medium - on the structural integrity of synthetic pyrrhotine (Fe0.9S) and molybdenite (MoS2). Wet milling in acetone is identified as the optimal practical approach: it prevents oxidation of pyrrhotine during post-milling annealing and eliminates macro-inhomogeneities. Molybdenite, inherently stable under mechanical treatment, shows no signs of oxidation and is readily processed in acetone due to its softness and perfect basal cleavage. These findings enable the production of homogeneous, phase-pure sulfide reference materials for LA-ICP-MS.
Klimov et al. (Sun,) studied this question.