Milling process, particle size reduction

The raw ROM (run of mine) ore is reduced in size from boulders of up to 100 cm in diameter to about 0.5 cm using jaw cmshers as weU as cone, gyratory, or roU-type equipment. The cmshed product is further pulverized using rod mills and ball mills, bringing particle sizes to finer than about 65 mesh (230 p.m). These size reduction (qv) procedures are collectively known as comminution processes. Their primary objective is to generate mineral grains that are discrete and Hberated from one another (11). Liberation is essential for the exploitation of individual mineral properties in the separation process. At the same time, particles at such fine sizes can be more readily buoyed to the top of the flotation ceU by air bubbles that adhere to them. 

Two classes of grinding equipment are used to prepare dispersions. The first, the coUoid mill, does not effect a particle size reduction but does break down aggregates of fine particles. CoUoid mills are used for such powders as clays, precipitated whiting, etc. Sometimes these mills are used to process zinc oxide but for dipped mbber products that is not satisfactory. 

DSC experiments were conducted up to 500 and 600°C for the ball-milled mixtures of NaBH with 12, 55, 73 and 92 wt%Mg (DSC traces not shown here). The temperatures of melting and decomposition peaks of NaBH are plotted in Fig. 3.46a. It is seen that the data points for the equivalent content of 12, 55 and 73 wt%Mg follow quite closely the data points for MgH. Only data points for the equivalent content of 92 wt%Mg show slightly higher decomposition temperature than their MgH counterpart and lie slightly above the ROM line for MgH. This behavior is probably related to different mechanical properties of Mg and MgH which results in different abilities to particle and grain size reduction during the milling process as can be seen in Fig. 3.47. The particle size reduction of ductile... 

Disperse systems often necessitate particle size reduction, whether it is an integral part of product processing, as in the process of liquid-liquid emulsification, or an additional requirement insofar as solid particle suspensions are concerned. (It should be noted that solid particles suspended in liquids often tend to agglomerate. Although milling of such suspensions tends to disrupt such agglomerates and produce a more homogeneous suspension. 

---