Real-time slurry characteristic analysis during ball milling using vibration data

Abstract

The characteristics of an internal slurry were analyzed during ball milling, which is commonly utilized in ceramic processing. We used a device with a capacity of 50 L because this is the size employed in industries and built a circulation system to collect the slurry during milling. The slurry was characterized in terms of the particle size and viscosity, and vibration data were collected from the side of the ball mill drum in real time for 24 h. By applying a fast Fourier transform to the vibration data, the energy was calculated and compared with the slurry characteristics. The vibration data in the (3–4) kHz range showed a strong negative correlation with the slurry viscosity at a shear rate of 24s−1. Our results confirm that the characteristics of the internal slurry can be monitored in real time using the vibration data collected during ball milling.

Keywords

• Ball milling
• slurry viscosity
• real-time monitoring
• vibration energy
• fast Fourier transform