Improved Grindability of Iron Ores Using Microwave Energy.
Walkiewicz-JW; McGill-SL; Mover-LA
Paper in Microwave Processing of Materials Mater Res Soc 1988 :297-302
The U.S. Bureau of Mines has conducted studies to utilize rapid microwave heating to stress-fracture ore samples. Iron ores containing hematite, magnetite, and geothite were subjected to microwave energy in batch operations at 3 kw and heated to average temperatures between 840 and 940 deg c. Scanning electron microscope photo-micrographs verified fracturing along grain boundaries and throughout the gangue matrix. Standard bond grindability tests showed that microwave heating reduced the work index of iron ores by 9.9 to 23.7 pct. Preliminary studies using a continuous feed belt in a microwave applicator indicated that samples heat more uniformly and with better temperature control than in batch operations.
Paper in Microwave Processing of Materials, Mater. Res. Soc., 1988, PP. 297-302