Can you grind zircon sand with a ball mill?

Zircon sand has become a challenge in powder preparation because of its high hardness and brittleness.All along, Raymond grinding has been used for grinding zircon sand. However, ball milling, as a common powder preparation technology, has attracted the attention of the industry for its application in the preparation of zircon sand powder.Through experimental research, this paper discusses the feasibility, efficiency and influence of ball milling method in the preparation of zircon sand powder, and aims to provide theoretical basis and technical support for the industrial production of zircon sand powder.

1.Introduction to zircon sand

Zircon sand, with the chemical formula ZrSiO4, is an important industrial mineral, widely used in ceramics, casting, coatings, electronics and chemical industries.Due to its high hardness and brittleness, the powder preparation technology of zircon sand has always been the focus of research in the field of materials science.As an efficient powder preparation technology, ball milling method has important practical significance in the preparation of zircon sand powder.

2.Principles and advantages of ball milling method

Ball milling method is a powder preparation technology that uses spheres to impact and grind materials.During the ball milling process, collision and friction occur between the sphere and the material, so that the material particles gradually decrease to reach the required particle size.The ball milling method has the advantages of easy operation, low cost and good controllability, and is especially suitable for materials with high hardness and high brittleness.

3.Experimental method of grinding zircon sand with a ball mill

In this study, zircon sand with high purity and uniform particle size was selected as the experimental raw material.Zirconia balls are selected for the ball grinding medium to reduce iron pollution.The ball milling experiment was carried out in a laboratory-scale ball mill. The ball-to-material ratio was controlled at 1:1, and the ball milling time was set to 150 hours. During the period, samples were sampled and analyzed at different points in time.

4.Experimental results and analysis of grinding zircon sand with a ball mill

(1) The topological characteristics of zircon powder during ball milling

Observed through an electron microscope, it was found that with the extension of the ball milling time, the morphology of zircon powder gradually changed from irregular large pieces to fine powders.After 50 hours of ball milling, the raw sand begins to transform into a fine powder; after 100 hours of ball milling, the powder particles are further reduced; after 150 hours of ball milling, the appearance characteristics of the powder are finer and more uniform.

(2) Particle size distribution of zircon powder during ball milling

After different times of ball milling, the particle size distribution of zircon powder showed significant changes.Initially, the particle size distribution of zircon sand showed a standard normal distribution. With the increase of ball milling time, the particle size distribution curve gradually shifted to the left, and the amount of fine powder increased, resulting in the phenomenon of “warping tail”.After 150 hours of ball milling, the particle size distribution is approximately normal, and the phenomenon of “warping tail” is obvious.

(3) Changes in particle size after 150 hours of ball milling

After 150 hours of ball milling, the sieved particle size composition of zircon powder showed that in the range of -200+400 mesh, the powder accounted for more than 80% of the entire weight, indicating the accumulation of fine powder.The calculation results of bulk density show that as the particle size decreases, the surface area of the particles increases and the microcracks increase, resulting in an increase in bulk volume and a corresponding decrease in density.

5.conclusion

The application of ball milling method in the preparation of zircon sand powder is feasible.Through the appropriate ball milling time, a fine and uniform zircon powder can be obtained.After 150 hours of ball milling, the particle size distribution of zircon powder is wide and the bulk density increases, showing good powder characteristics.However, the morphology changes, particle size distribution and bulk density changes of the powder during ball milling need to be further optimized to meet the needs of different application fields.

6.Problems faced by ball mills grinding zircon sand

Although the application of ball milling method in the preparation of zircon sand powder has achieved certain results, there are still some areas that need to be improved and optimized.For example, too long ball milling time may lead to excessive refinement of the powder and increased energy consumption; the accumulation of powder also needs to be controlled by adjusting the process parameters.Future research can focus on the following aspects：

(1) Optimization of ball mill parameters, including ball milling time, ball-to-material ratio, ball milling speed, etc., in order to obtain better powder characteristics.

(2) Research on powder post-treatment technologies, such as surface modification and the use of dispersants, to improve the accumulation of powder.

(3) The combination of ball milling method and other powder preparation technologies, such as mechanical alloying, chemical synthesis, etc., in order to achieve more efficient powder preparation.

7. Conclusion

As a mature powder preparation technology, ball milling method has shown great potential in the preparation of zircon sand powder.Through the experimental results of this study, we can see that the ball milling method can effectively prepare zircon powder that meets the needs of industrial applications.With the continuous progress and innovation of technology, the application of ball milling method in the preparation of zircon sand powder will be more extensive, providing strong support for the development of related industries.