Wet grinding ceramic frits: effects of the size of the grinding media, grinding time and solid content.

The effect of variables in the wet grinding process, such as the size of the grinding media, grinding time and solid content, was investigated using an aq. suspension of glassy frit, typically used for the prodn. of glazes in the manuf. of ceramic tiles. The aim was to examine the process parameters which will enable optimization of the grinding process for brittle materials. The frit was ground with three mill charges, formed of sintered alumina balls of different sizes, and the particle size dimensions were measured as a function of grinding time and of the amt. of solid content of the aq. suspensions. The results indicate that the mill charge ( ratio of grinding ball diams.), grinding times and solid content of the suspensions must be carefully controlled in order to optimize the grinding process. A lower limit of particle size dimensions, after very long grinding times, was obtained.