Hi guys,

A workshop near where I live produces a lot of brass swarf which is
then sold as scrap.

Bearing in mind that brass is a ductile metal, what is the best way to
grind the swarf into ~300 mesh or finer powder?

Will an arrangement similar to a peppercorn or coffee grinder work, or
will it just spit out the brass pretty much unchanged due to the
alloy's ductility?

Thanks.
James

On 16/04/2012 11:28, James Taylor wrote:
Hi guys,

A workshop near where I live produces a lot of brass swarf which is
then sold as scrap.

Bearing in mind that brass is a ductile metal, what is the best way to
grind the swarf into ~300 mesh or finer powder?

Will an arrangement similar to a peppercorn or coffee grinder work, or
will it just spit out the brass pretty much unchanged due to the
alloy's ductility?

Thanks.
James

Not easy, I suspect.

ISTR that some things are chilled to liquid nitrogen temperature, which
makes them much more brittle, before grinding. No idea if this would
work for brass (and would probably depend on the alloy).

On Monday, April 16, 2012 11:28:49 AM UTC+1, James Taylor wrot



On Monday, April 16, 2012 11:28:49 AM UTC+1, James Taylor wrote:

Bearing in mind that brass is a ductile metal, what is the best way to
grind the swarf into ~300 mesh or finer powder?

Will an arrangement similar to a peppercorn or coffee grinder work, or
will it just spit out the brass pretty much unchanged due to the
alloy's ductility?

Bessemer (of steel converter fame) made his fortune first by producing bronze powder for use in paint. There were several machines involved, apparently it was not a simple process. You might be able to find details of his process. It wasn't patentable and was kept very secret during his life.

I suspect brass would corrode, or de-zincify, if finely powdered.

Onetap wrote:
On Monday, April 16, 2012 11:28:49 AM UTC+1, James Taylor wrot



On Monday, April 16, 2012 11:28:49 AM UTC+1, James Taylor wrote:

Bearing in mind that brass is a ductile metal, what is the best way to
grind the swarf into ~300 mesh or finer powder?

Will an arrangement similar to a peppercorn or coffee grinder work, or
will it just spit out the brass pretty much unchanged due to the
alloy's ductility?

Bessemer (of steel converter fame) made his fortune first by producing bronze powder for use in paint. There were several machines involved, apparently it was not a simple process. You might be able to find details of his process. It wasn't patentable and was kept very secret during his life.

I suspect brass would corrode, or de-zincify, if finely powdered.

eventually..

I would think a ball mill with rolling ball bearings.. perhaps not.
Maybe a grinding stone?

Or simply spray molten brass through a nozzle?



--
To people who know nothing, anything is possible.
To people who know too much, it is a sad fact
that they know how little is really possible -
and how hard it is to achieve it.