Comparative kinetic study of mechanical activation process of mica and talc for industrial application

Abstract

Mica and talc have wide areas of application as a raw material in a number of industrial branches. Mechanically activated mica has specific applications such as: capacitors, insulators, and pearlescent pigments. Talc is widely used as either a basic raw material or as filler. This paper presents a comparative analysis of mechanically activated samples of mica and talc in ultra-centrifugal mechano-activator “Retsch ZM-1”. The following mechano-activator parameters were variable: number of rotor revolutions (rpm); sieve mesh size (μm); current intensity (A). In addition, the following parameters were monitored: duration of mechanical activation, t (min); circumferential rotor speed, v (m/s); capacity of mechano-activator, Q (kg/h); and specific energy consumption, We (kWh/t). It was observed that effect of mechanical activation of mica and talc increased with an increase of the load and rotor revolution of ultra-centrifugal mechano-activator. Both mica and talc were successfully treated by mechanical activation procedure. In the processing of mica, mechanical activation is suggested to be applied as a post-treatment, and in the talc processing as a pre-treatment, as the high quality talc is obtained by means of hydrometallurgical concentration method.