Cadmium (Cd)

Previous tests with our Planetary Mills or Vibrating Cup Mill were not successful for desired amounts and start size of sample. We checked if the small nuggets could be comminuted with a side cutter. The required force was moderate, so we expect a cutting mill can be used as well.

For this test, we used our Steel Universal Cutting Mill PULVERISETTE 19 with 400 V current and 3000 rpm fixed speed. We used the disk milling rotor with indexable inserts and knives made of hardmetal tungsten carbide for comminution (recommended when metal fragments should be cut). Only with this rotor, hardmetal knives can be exchanged on the customer side.

Few fragments were fed into the mill and grinding sound was checked. The sound was not too harsh; a typically grinding sound for a metal sample was observed. We did not expected damages and started the feeding process of sample.

It took 60 seconds until all sample was fed into the grinding chamber. After two minutes of grinding, the sound started vanishing slowly. At this point, we found 42 grams of output inside the used 3 liters collecting vessel. After a total grinding time of three minutes, only two more grams of sample output was found.

We interrupted the grinding process after three minutes and brushed out the ground sample. The output was transferred into a plastic bag. Inside the grinding chamber, a few loose particles were found on top of the sieve cassette. Residues were brushed out and packed.

Also vacuuming with a soft brush is possible to remove residues.