Abstract
Wet grinding of Si powder under seven environmental conditions was carried out, using a laboratory vibration ball mill. The physical properties of the grinding fluids used affected the increase of specific surface area. Based on the results of multiple regression analysis of the relation between Rittinger''s number and the physical properties of grinding fluids, it was found that the grinding rate decreased with the increase of either viscosity or surface tension, and increased with dipole moment, in the range of the experimental conditions. These experimental results were studied from the viewpoint of fracture mechanics, considering the surface energy of materials and ball motion in the vibration ball mill with viscous fluids. It was also found that surface tension and dipole moment of grinding fluids affect the fracture energy of materials, and that viscosity affects the impact velocity (energy) of the ball.
