Lead magnesium niobate, Ph (Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3 (PMN) nanocrystallite was produced using the solid-state reaction method. The effect of sintering and milling time on the formation of the perovskite phase of Ph (Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3 was investigated. For a given calcinations and sintering temperature, more perovskite phase and less impurities were detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) in samples milled for different times compared to the samples without milling. The perovskite phase is seen to increase when the sintered temperature is increased; suggesting the heat energy required for the perovskite phase is less in these samples compared to the sample sintered for low temperature. Also the perovskite phase increase with the increasing of sintering time up to 6 h and then decrease. The perovskite phase increased with increased milling time. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.