Pure MgH2 was milled under a hydrogen atmosphere (reactive mechanical grinding, RMG). The hydrogen storage properties of the prepared samples were studied at a relatively low temperature of 423 K and were compared with those of pure Mg. The hydriding rate of the Mg was extremely low (0.0008 wt% H/min at n = 4), and the MgH2 after RMG had higher hydriding rates than that of Mg at 423 K under 12 bar H2. The initial hydriding rate of MgH2 after RMG at 423 K under 12 bar H2 was the highest (0.08 wt% H/min) at n = 2. At n = 2, the MgH2 after RMG absorbed 0.39 wt% H for 5 min, and 1.21 wt% H for 60 min at 423K under 12 bar H2. At 573 K under 12 bar H2, the MgH2 after RMG absorbed 4.86 wt% H for 5 min, and 5.52 wt% H for 60 min at n = 2. At 573 K and 423 K under 1.0 bar H2, the MgH2 after RMG and the Mg did not release hydrogen. The decrease in particle size and creation of defects by reactive mechanical grinding are believed to have led to the increase in the hydriding rate of the MgH2 after RMG at a relatively low temperature of 423 K.

• Song, Myoung Youp(Division of Advanced Materials Engineering, Research Center of Advanced Materials Development, Engineering Research Institute, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-756, Korea)
• Lee, Seong Ho(Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-756, Korea)
• Kwak, Young Jun(Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-756, Korea)
• Park, Hye Ryoung(Faculty of Applied Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-757, Korea)