The corrosion and friction behavior of four kinds of ceramic grinding balls (zirconia

alumina

agate

silicon nitride) was investigated in a milling-leaching combined process for the acidolysis of Panzhihua ilmenite in sulfuric acid. The order of corrosion rates of the balls were: silicon nitride>alumina>zirconia>agate balls. Corrosion of zirconia mainly conformed to the mechanism of friction

while collision and surface cutting were responsible for corrosion of agate balls. Corrosion of alumina ball was due to abrasive wear

and presence of ilmenite significantly increased weight loss. Silicon nitride balls experienced obvious surface spalling abrasive wear. The weight loss rates of the four ceramic grinding balls were over 80% caused by physical abrasion

and the aluminum and silicon nitride balls suffered an obvious combined effect of corrosion and friction. The weight loss rates of alumina and silicon nitride ball were 1.76 and 14.52 mg·cm-2·d-1

respectively

which were much higher than those of zirconia and agate balls. The results provided good reference to chasing the grinding ball materials in the milling-leaching process for acidolysis of ilmenite.