Percolation segregation of binary mixtures for varying intensity of motion conditions

Three strain rates of 1.0 Hz, 0.5 Hz, and 0.25 Hz were selected for studying percolation segregation in binary mixtures of potash. Binary mixed samples prepared from three mean coarse sizes with their corresponding three fines sizes for potash. Herein, three coarse mean sizes 3,675 μm, 3,075 μm, and 2,580 μm and three mean fines sizes 2, 180 μm, 1,850 μm, and 1,550 μm were selected for tests. Percolation segregation in binary mixed sample was quantified using the primary segregation shear cell (PSSC-II). Based on experimental results, the segregated fines mass, normalized segregation rate (NSR) and segregation rate of fines for binary mixtures increased with increasing strain rate from 0.25 Hz to 1.0 Hz. The NSR decreased with decreasing strain rate from 1.0 Hz>0.5 Hz>0.25 Hz for size ratios 1.7, 2.0, and 2.4 (p<0.05). At these three strain rates, for size ratio 2.0, the NSR of coarse size 3,675 μm with fines size 1,850 μm was smaller than the NSR of coarse size 3,075 μm, with fines size 1,550 μm in the binary mixtures (p<0.05).