COMMINUTION - THE FIRST STEP IN MINERAL DRESSING

Comminution is the process in which by activity of mechanical forces the dispersion state of solid material is being changed. The dispersion state is definitely determined by the granulometric compo¬sition particle (size distribution). The comminution is a consequence of the particle deformation, in what this deformation is dependent on the force offering mode, its velocity and size. The breaking of individual particles is the most efficient comminution method because the energy losses owing to friction and unproductive tension in the instant of breakage are avoided. The greatest energy losses occur in ball mills and that because of the friction between the newly-formed particles and of these particles and the balls and the mill lining. New insights have led to a better understanding of comminution in real conditions and to innovative interventions which increased the efficacity of the individual devices, and that with regard to particle size distribution and particle dislocation degree as well as to energy consumption. Some new kinds of crushers have been invented, of whose most mentioned are the high pressure roll crusher and the inertial cone crusher (the paper is published in Croatian)