The interfacial behavior in different liquid media and surface properties of mechanically activated boron concentrate samples

Abstract

This research utilized various characterization techniques to investigate the interfacial behavior of mechanically activated boron concentrate dispersed in ethanol and water from dispersibility, wettability, and surface free energy. And researched the changes of the specific surface area, particle size distribution, surface morphology, crystal structure, and chemical bonds stability of boron concentrate samples during mechanical activation. Results showed that the dispersibility, wettability, and surface free energy were all enhanced after mechanical activation, which comes from the decrease in particle size, the increase in specific surface area, and also the damages in the crystal structure and chemical bonds. Compared to the wet-milled samples, dry-milled sample has a higher wettability to both liquids. The dispersibilitiy and increase surface free energy could be enhanced from 26.88 mJ/m2 of the unmilled boron concentrate to 32.02 mJ/m2, but these improvements were less than that of wet-milled samples, which was related to the lower specific surface area and larger damages in the crystal structure and chemical bonds of the dry-milled sample. Wet milling promotes a bigger increase in specific surface area than dry milling. Ethanol is more appropriate as a wet milling than water. Dry milling is more suitable for boron concentrate activation, and the B2O3 activity could be enhanced significantly from 67.52% to 84.19% after dry milling for 30 min.