Fragmentation behaviour in particulate materials processing

Abstract

Fragmentation simulations are created to provide a basis for understanding how certain particle size distributions emerge in particulate materials processing, such as in atomisation, crushing, or milling. These simulations start with a piece of material that is fractured in a random manner. Subsequent events are governed by simple rules, such as only the largest piece is fractured next, or all pieces are fractured at the same rate, or fracture continues until all of the pieces fall through a screen. Each of these simulations is associated with a sequence practiced in powder formation. Size distribution data and size reduction kinetics are extracted from the simulations. The findings show how uniform distributions and lognormal distributions emerge from random fragmentation events. Empirical laws previously encountered in the field, such as the Rosin–Rammler cumulative particle mass distribution and the Charles equation for particle size reduction, are confirmed by the results.