Effects of microwave irradiation on impact comminution and energy absorption of magnetite ore

Abstract The severe mechanical wear and high-energy consumption in the comminution process of high hardness iron ore have always restricted the efficient and economic development of an enterprise. On the basis of the basic principle that microwave irradiation can induce rock damage, the magnetic ore specimens were subjected to microwave heating treatment with different heating paths and cooling paths; the uniaxial impact comminution test was conducted by the drop hammer impact equipment. This study analyzed the effect of the heating and cooling paths on the crack propagation process, dynamic mechanical strength, and energy consumption of magnetite ore. The results show that microwave irradiation causes obvious microwave-induced cracks in ore, and in the subsequent impact cracking process, the new cracks gradually penetrate the microwave-induced cracks and form the macroscopic fracture surface. With the increase of irradiation power and time, the ore dynamic strength decreased, and the absorption energy increased. Therefore, increasing the total output energy of microwave can effectively alleviate the mechanical wear and enhance the comminution effect of ores. Among the factors that affect the mechanical properties and absorption energy of ore, power has a higher priority than time. With the increase in the heat exchange rate between the ore and the external environment, the ore comminution becomes more intense, leading to the best comminution effect of ores. The research results have an important reference for the practical application of microwave irradiation technology in hard rock comminution.