Optimization of the Basalt Grinding Process in a Planetary Ball Mill

Abstract

Basalt stone is widely used as a filler in composite materials. The heat-resistant and hard nature of basalt stone, which is formed from volcanoes, makes it essential for the thermal and mechanical properties of composite materials to be improved. The improvement of these properties is affected by the size of the material used. The smaller the filler particles, the greater the contact between the matrix and the filler particles in the composite material. This automatically increases the bond between them and improves the material's properties. Basalt, originally large in size, is processed into nano-sized to maximize its function. To reduce the size of basalt to the nanoscale, a planetary ball mill was used, in which stainless steel and zirconium balls rotate at a certain speed for varying periods of time. The effect of changes in rotation speed, grinding time, and the type of balls used in the planetary ball mill on the dispersibility and morphology of the ground material was studied. Both the rotating speed and milling time impact the size obtained. Significant size reductions occur when the rotation is faster and the milling time is longer. However, the change becomes less significant after a specific period. The smallest size obtained is 199.9 nm, which is 14% of the initial size before milling, which was 1421.9 nm. This smallest size is achieved through three stages of the process, using different balls at each stage.