Ultra-fine grinding mechanism of inorganic powders in a stirred ball mill

Recently, in various industrial processes, the need for fine particles, especially submicron-sized particles, has increased in the field of preparing raw powders such as fine ceramics and high value added products. Therefore, the research in fine grinding has gained more importance, especially, in submicron grinding. In the previous paper, a series of wet grinding experiments using inorganic powders by a stirred ball mill were performed. The grinding consumption power was measured, and the grinding rate constant, K, in the grinding kinetics equation was examined, based on a grinding kinetics analysis of experimental specific surface area with particle size distribution of ground products obtained under various grinding conditions. Also the effect of grinding aids on grinding rate constant K was investigated. It was confirmed that the grinding rate constant K, when using grinding aids improved by 1.95% and 25.6% for a 60 wt% and 70wt% slurry concentrate, respectively, when compared with the case of the absence of grinding aids. It was found that grinding aids have an important effect on increasing the grinding rate, especially for a slurry of high concentration.