Effect of operating variables during grinding mica in planetary mill
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Date
2016-06
Authors
Shafinas Saad
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Abstract
The main objective of this research is to determine the optimum operational variables during grinding mica. Grinding process of mica was carried on with a laboratory scale planetary mill by varying the operation variables such as grinding period, rotational speed and percentage of grinding media. The ground products were characterized by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The predominant constituents of the sample were 55% SiO2 and 34% Al2O3. The size reduction and structural change of mica take place simultaneously as the planetary mill produces extremely high grinding efficiency except for the extreme condition that contributes to the existence of agglomeration. From SEM analysis, it shows that delamination and breakage mechanism took place according to the varying operation variables in the planetary mill. Based on XRD patterns, the peak intensities tend to reduce after 40 min for both peaks chosen for analysis and this is due to the long duration of the grinding that influences the crystallinity of mica samples, micronization (size reduction) makes the structure disordered and generates crystal lattice defects. The minimum particle size obtained from d50 was 7.44μm with the grinding period of 60 min, rotational speed grinding at 500 rpm, and 30% of grinding media. From the statistical analysis it showed that rotational speed give significant effect on the value of d10 and d50 as a response of this research. Thus, it proved that rotational speed is an optimum operating variable during grinding of mica followed by grinding period.