Microwave-absorbing characteristics of the mixtures of different carbonaceous reducing agents (coconut-based activated carbon, coke and graphite) and oxidized ilmenite were measured by the technique of microwave cavity perturbation, and the relationships between dielectric loss and the microwave-absorbing characteristics of the mixtures were studied. The results showed that the microwave-absorbing characteristic of these carbonaceous reducing agents (coconut-based activated carbon, coke and graphite) were all better than that of oxidized ilmenite under the conditions of particle size of 175 mu m-147 mu m. The appropriate ratios of coconut-based activated carbon, coke and graphite to oxidized ilmenite were 30-80%, 30-60% and 10-20%, respectively. Their optimal proportions of coconut-based activated carbon, coke and graphite to the oxidized ilmenite were defined as 30%, 30% and 10% on the basis of the actual production. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.