Correlation of the breakage parameters with the critical surface tension for wetting of barite

In this paper, we present a correlation and experimental data for a relationship between the breakage and the wettability for barite mineral. The breakage parameters, which are readily obtained from grinding test, are the specific rates of breakage (Si) and the fineness value (γ) of the primary breakage distribution function (Bi,j). The wettability parameter, which is easily obtained from contact angle measurements or flotation tests, is the critical surface tension for wetting of any mineral (γc). The barite sample studied for the correlations was ground in a laboratory-size porcelain ball mill and tested extensively for wettability using a contact angle goniometer and our newly designed micro-column flotation cell. There is a significant relationship between the Si and γc values from our experimental work on the barite sample, where the higher Si means lower γc, i.e., a mineral was more hydrophobic when it had a higher Si value, or a more rapid breakage of the top sizes leads to better hydrophobicity or floatability. Another relationship was found between the fineness value (γ) of the breakage and the critical surface tension for wetting (γc), which indicates that as the γ value increases (meaning less fines produced), the γc increases (meaning less hydrophobicity) based on the contact angle and flotation tests.