Effect of PCA on Nanosized Ulexite Material Prepared by Mechanical Milling

Abstract

Raw ulexite (U-3 mm) mineral used as a initial material was milled by using mechanical milling method, the milling time of which is from 0 to 8 h. Particle size, morphology, elemental and crystal structure measurements of the U-3 mm material and milled powder (U_3%, process control agent amount: 3%) were performed. In particle size analysis, minimum $d_{50},d_{10}$ and $d_{\mathrm{min}}$ values of U_3% powder have been found to be 5.921 $\upmu \hbox {m}$, 641 nm and 240 nm, respectively. Therefore, it has been reached to submicron level in particle size for the U_3% powder. Besides, optimum milling time has been detected to be 0.5 h. In morphology analysis, the U_3% powder has been observed to be more homogeneous compared to the U-3 mm material. In the analysis of element, the U_3% powder has been determined not to be a pure compound ($\hbox {Na}_{2}\hbox {O}{\cdot }2\hbox {CaO}{\cdot } 5\hbox {B}_{2}\hbox {O}_{3}{\cdot } 16\hbox {H}_{2}\hbox {O}$). In crystal structure analysis, crystalline size of the U_3% powder has reduced to 10.3 nm at the end of 8 h. Moreover, crystal structure deformation caused by milling process of the U-3 mm material has improved thanks to PCA. The findings obtained from this work will be beneficial for nanoworks and industrial applications, e.g., civil engineering-pavement engineering materials, of ulexite (boron mineral) material.