Iron-titania-ilmenite triplex composite particles (TCPs) are prepared through a facile calcination induced fractional crystallization route for the first time with natural ilmenite as the starting material. The effects of the calcination condition on the composition, structure and properties of the composites were studied. It is found that the stepwise calcination in oxidizing (first) and reducing (second) environments is the key point to realize the high efficient fractional crystallization and reduction of ilmenite. Contrast experiments with different calcination conditions have also been carried out, and the results reveal that it is possible to tailor the composition and structure of the composite particles by control over the duration of the reduction process. The electromagnetic properties of the TCPs are studied and the results demonstrate that they present ferromagnetic and microwave absorbing properties depended on the processing condition and the composition of the composites, and may have some promising applications in the fields of magnetic materials and microwave absorbers. This work provides a new strategy for the economic and large scale fabrication of multicomponent electromagnetic composites with tailored composition and property from low-cost starting materials, which may be extended to the preparation of other metal-oxide composites or other compounds. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.