Preferential breakage mechanism at phase boundary in the electrical disintegration - In case of an artificial conductor/insulator binary sample -

Electrical Disintegration (ED) is the latest and attractive comminution technology that can realize high liberation of structural components with saving energy. In the process, it has been considered that phase boundary of the targeted solid particles was sublimated by flash application of high voltage pulse and good liberation of the components could be realized. However, the high voltage pulse attacks not only solid particles but also surrounding water phase, then the shock wave generated from the water breakdown also can break the solid particles. This study quantitatively clarifies the contribution of two kinds of phenomena to sample breakage by using artificial conductor(Cu)/insulator(resin) binary samples. It was found that the shock wave generated by surrounding water breakdown could show a higher contribution to the sample breakage than that of solid sublimation in several cases. The paper also indicates the detailed breakage mechanism of the above two kinds of contributable phenomena to sample breakage.