Grindability Project Modelling, Measurement and Mill Fingerprinting

Publication Reference: 
ARR-65-01
Author Last Name: 
Ooi
Authors: 
Carlos Labra, Jin Y. Ooi, Jin Sun, Lige Wang, Jian Fei Che
Report Type: 
ARR - Annual Report
Research Area: 
Size Reduction
Publication Year: 
2013
Publication Month: 
11
Country: 
United Kingdom

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Milling is a common unit operation deployed in many industrial sectors for particle size reduction. In this project, we aim to develop a robust methodology to link material grindability with particle dynamics in a mill in order to provide an innovative step change in mill fingerprinting and optimisation. This involves characterising the stressing events that prevail in a milling operation and establishing material grindability in the context of the stressing events. The material grindability will require a detailed study of the fundamental fracture and breakage mechanisms of individual particles under different loading regimes, and how they relate to the mechanical properties and the final size distribution. This will provide the fundamental scientific basis for developing appropriate grindability tests capable of analysing particle breakage subjected to particle impact, compression, shear and abrasion etc. pertaining to a milling process, which in turn will provide the basis for an improved particle breakage model calibrated against defined grindability.