Abstract
The mechanochemical reduction of copper sulphide (Cu₂S), zinc sulphide (ZnS), lead sulphide (PbS) and antimony sulphide (Sb₂S₃) with elemental magnesium Mg in a planetary mill has been studied. Metallic Cu, Zn, Pb and Sb are obtained due to the reducing power of magnesium Mg. It is demonstrated that Mg can successfully be used to fully reduce Cu₂S, Sb₂S₃ and not fully reduce ZnS and PbS in only 60 minutes of milling. The Me/MgS nanocomposites have been characterized by XRD and SEM methods. Mechanochemical reduction is a very straightforward, one-step, ambient temperature process that can be readily utilized to make Me/MgS nanocomposites.

Key words
metal sulphides; mechanochemical reduction; magnesium; nanocomposites

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