EFFECT OF MILL DIAMETER ON THE RATE OF INITIAL GRINDING IN VIBRATION BALL MILLS

Vibration ball milling was carried out using three kinds of mills with the same internal volume but different diameters. The variations of specific surface area produced with time were investigated at a constant vibration intensity using feldspar with an initial size range of 74 - 149 μm. As a result, it was found that the specific surface area of product was markedly influenced by the difference in mill diameter even at the same vibrating conditions. According to an empirical equation proposed in a previous paper, the rate of initial grinding was also found to vary by a factor of 1.4 to 2.0, depending upon the mill used. The dependence of the rate of grinding on mill diameter can be explained by considering an effective area of mill shell capable of colliding with balls and a motion of balls in each mill. An available suggestion for designing a mill pot was obtained from this work. © 1990.