Impact wear in mineral crushing

Abstract

Mining and mineral processing demand wear-resistant machines and components, because the energies and masses of interacting bodies are significant. This paper is concerned with the wear mechanisms, which occur in grinding mills. Conditions of severe-impact wear and impact-abrasion, and wear behaviour of the lifter bars are studied. A hammer-mill type device, which can produce high-energy impacts, was used. The experiments were also carried out in conditions with abrasive particles present. The wear behaviour of several PM materials and a few reference materials were compared in certain wear conditions. Different material properties that influence the wear resistance were also studied. The microstructure and homogeneity of the materials were studied mainly with a scanning electron microscope. On the basis of the experimental results the studied materials were classified.