Synthetically obtained ilmenite (FeO·TiO₂) particles were oxidized under conditions of a non-linear temperature increase over the range 300°-850°C. Short-circuit diffusion in the initial stages of oxidation gave an activation energy of 4.35 ± 0.4 kcal/mole, while above 525°C the activation energy was 50.2 ± 3.0 kcal/mole. The process was shown to be diffusion controlled, with iron the likely mobile species above 525°C, while no mechanism could be singled out for the controlling step in the early stages.

The oxidation products in O₂ after 24 hours were shown to be pseudorutile (Fe₂Ti₃O₉) and hematite (Fe₂O₃) in a finely dispersed phase at temperatures below about 800°C, with pseudobrookite (Fe₂TiO₅) and rutile (TiO₂) being stable above this temperature.