Size reduction is a process used in various industries to decrease the size of solid materials.
It plays a crucial role in numerous applications, including mineral processing, pharmaceuticals, food production, and chemical manufacturing.
Objectives of Size Reduction
1. Increase Surface Area:
Enhancing the rate of chemical reactions.
Improving solubility and mixing efficiency.
2. Improve Handling and Processing:
Facilitating transportation and storage.
Enhancing the uniformity of mixtures.
3. Control of Particle Size Distribution:
Producing materials with specific characteristics.
Ensuring consistent product quality.
4. Facilitate Separation Processes:
Aiding in the separation of valuable minerals from ore.
Improving efficiency in processes like filtration and sedimentation.
Mechanisms of Size Reduction
1. Compression:
Applying force to crush material between two surfaces.
Common in jaw crushers and roll crushers.
2. Impact:
Applying force rapidly, causing material to fracture.
Used in hammer mills and impact crushers.
3. Attrition:
Rubbing action between surfaces, leading to the wearing away of particles.
Common in ball mills and rod mills.
4. Cutting:
Shearing action to slice material into smaller pieces.
Used in knife cutters and shredders.