Industry News

Rod mills are a type of grinding equipment widely used in industries such as mining and cement. The diaphragm plate is a key component of the rod mill. The material properties of the diaphragm plate directly impact the mill's grinding efficiency, service life, and operating costs, making it crucial to choose the right material for the diaphragm plate.

The diaphragm plate divides the mill's interior into different chambers, allowing the grinding media to move and perform different grinding functions within each chamber. It also controls the flow rate and direction of the material within the mill. Diaphragm plate wear primarily involves impact wear and abrasive wear. Impact wear is caused by the impact of the steel rods, resulting in plastic deformation, cracks, and even flaking of the diaphragm plate surface. Abrasive wear is caused by the relative motion of the material against the diaphragm plate surface, cutting and grinding the plate surface. Furthermore, impurities and hard objects in the material can exacerbate diaphragm plate wear. Choosing the right diaphragm plate material can effectively reduce diaphragm plate wear and extend its service life.

Common Rod Mill diaphragm plate Materials and Their Performance Characteristics

(I) High Manganese Steel

High manganese steel has excellent toughness and work-hardening properties. When subjected to impact loads, its surface rapidly work-hardens, increasing its hardness and wear resistance. However, in a rod mill, if the impact force of the grinding media on the diaphragm plate is insufficient, the high manganese steel will not fully work-harden, and its wear resistance will be affected. Furthermore, high manganese steel has a low yield strength, prone to plastic flow and bulging deformation. It is also non-magnetic, making it unsuitable for applications requiring iron absorption.

(II) High Chromium Cast Iron

High chromium cast iron offers high hardness and wear resistance, reaching hardnesses of 55-62 HRC, and a long service life. However, high chromium cast iron has poor toughness, with an impact toughness generally ranging from 4-10 J/cm². When used as a rod mill diaphragm plate material, it is prone to fracture under high impact loads. Furthermore, high chromium cast iron contains a large amount of precious metals, making it relatively expensive.

(III) Medium Carbon Multi-element Alloy Steel

Medium carbon multi-element alloy steel is a relatively ideal material for diaphragm plates. Its hardness can reach approximately HRC55, its tensile strength σb > 900 N/mm², and its wear resistance is close to or equivalent to high-chromium cast iron and approximately three times that of high-manganese steel. Furthermore, medium-carbon multi-element alloy steel offers excellent toughness, with an impact toughness of 20-30 J/cm², significantly higher than that of high-chromium cast iron. This material is simple to manufacture, has an abundant raw material supply, and is relatively inexpensive.

The selection of a rod mill diaphragm plate material should comprehensively consider multiple factors, including operating conditions, cost, and service life. In practical applications, the appropriate diaphragm plate material should be selected based on specific operating conditions and production requirements to maximize the grinding efficiency and economic benefits of the rod mill.