Barite (also known as baryte) is a non-toxic sulfate mineral with the chemical composition of barium sulfate (BaSO4), constituting an essential non-renewable resource.
Barite resources are abundant and have been mined in locations such as Australia, Nigeria, South Africa, Pakistan, Morocco, and India. It is commonly found in hydrothermal veins and limestone deposits.
In practical uses, barite ore is typically ground into powder or processed to extract its barium sulfate content. Barite powder is obtained by grinding and processing barite ore, presenting a white to pale yellow appearance.
What is barite used for?
The unique physical and chemical properties of barite make it widely utilized in various fields such as petroleum exploration, healthcare, construction, and chemical industry.
| Common fields | Popular applications |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Used as a weighting agent in drilling fluids to prevent blowouts |
| Medical | Used as a contrast agent in radiology examinations, such as barium meals |
| Nuclear Industry | Used as shielding material for protective walls and floorings in nuclear facilities and laboratories |
| Ceramic and Glass Industry | Used for manufacturing refractory bricks and castables due to its high-temperature resistance and low thermal expansion |
| Automotive Industry | Used in the production of car brake pads and clutches |
4 types of barite grinding mills
The fineness of barite powder is one of the crucial factors to consider when selecting a barite milling machine.
Barite powder grinding is generally classified into three fineness levels: coarse powder processing (≤ 100 mesh), fine powder processing (120 mesh–325 mesh), and ultra-fine powder processing (400 mesh–800 mesh).
This creates an opportunity to showcase the value of grinding machines.
Popular types of barite powder milling machines include ball mills, Raymond mills, ultrafine mills, and vertical roller mills.
Learn more about our barite grinding mills below, including their advantages, wearing parts, and maintenance.
1. Barite Ball Mill
The ideal choice for large-scale barite powder processing plants, the ball mill boasts robust grinding capabilities suitable for continuous operation.
Advantages of ball mill:
- Maximum milling output of up to 615 tons per hour.
- Diverse options are available, including dry and wet ball mills (with comparisons), as well as grid and overflow ball mills (with comparisons).
- Options for grinding ball materials include steel, ceramic, manganese alloy, etc., ensuring excellent grinding performance and cost-effectiveness.
- Grinding is conducted inside a closed system, in conjunction with a classifier, to avoid dust and noise pollution.
- Simple structure, easy to maintain.
Wearing parts of ball mill
- Liner plates: Liner plates are typically made of wear-resistant materials such as high manganese steel, alloy steel, and rubber. High manganese steel liner plates are widely used in FTM Machinery due to their excellent wear resistance and toughness.
- Grinding media (Grinding balls): Available in various materials, grinding balls themselves wear down with use. Explore steel ball proportioning to extend the lifespan.
Their lifespans depend on the hardness of the grinding material, grinding time, and machine operating conditions. Generally, regular maintenance and care can extend their lifespan. Click here to learn more about the maintenance strategies for ball mills.
Barite ball mills and small barite ball mills for sale. Feel free to consult
2. Barite Raymond Mill
The classic and reliable Raymond mill is widely favored in the barite powder industry, capable of handling both large-scale production and fine processing with ease.
Advantages of Raymond mill
- Offering grinding fineness ranging from 80 to 325 mesh.
- Low machine cost with low investment.
- Low energy consumption, enabling easy and highly energy-efficient attainment of high fineness requirements.
- High sieving rate of up to 99%, ensuring uniformity and flexible adjustment of finished powder fineness.
- The application of pulse jet dust collector and silencer greatly reduces dust and noise, making the milling system more environmentally friendly.
Wearing parts of Raymond mill
- Grinding roller: Direct contact with materials causes significant wear and tear. Typically made of wear-resistant materials such as alloy steel, alloy carbon steel, and ZG65Mn manganese alloy steel, with a lifespan ranging from hundreds to thousands of hours.
- Grinding ring: Paired with the grinding roller to form the grinding zone. Made of the same material as the grinding roller, their lifespan is similar.
- Blades: Blades experience wear from prolonged material friction. Made of steel with good wear resistance, blades have a shorter replacement cycle compared to grinding rollers and rings.
Click here to learn more about the maintenance strategies for Raymond Mills.
3. Barite Ultrafine Mill
Ultrafine mill is specifically designed for fine grinding, meeting the high fineness requirements in large-scale production factories.
Advantages of ultrafine mill:
- The grinding powder fineness is the finest among the four mills, providing ultrafine powder or micrometer-sized particles ranging from 80 to 800 mesh.
- High-pressure spring devices significantly increases grinding force, enhancing output efficiency.
- Continuous operation without the need for downtime oiling.
- Grinding rollers and rings are made of special wear-resistant steel, ensuring a long service life.
Wearing parts of ultrafine mill:
- Grinding rollers and rings: Directly in contact with materials and subjected to immense stress and friction, they are typically made of highly durable materials like high-manganese steel or special alloy steel.
- Seals and Bearings: Exposed to a dusty environment and significant temperature variations during milling operations, they require regular maintenance and timely replacement.
FTM Machinery's modular design enables seamless part replacement, minimizing equipment downtime and enhancing operational efficiency while reducing maintenance costs.
4. Barite Vertical Roller Mill
Vertical roller mill integrates crushing, drying, grinding, classification, and conveying into one, suitable for medium to large-scale production lines.
Advantages of vertical roller mill:
- Balancing fineness and capacity, providing 400 mesh barite powder with a maximum hourly production capacity of 420 tons.
- A compact structure means it occupies a smaller footprint, approximately 50% less than a ball mill.
- The hydraulic system reduces energy consumption by 30%–50%.
- Direct contact between internal hot air and materials allows for drying materials with moisture content up to 15%.
Wearing parts of vertical roller mill:
- Grinding rollers: The heart of the vertical roller mill, grinding rollers (usually 2-4) are distributed on the grinding table. They are typically made of materials such as cast steel, alloy steel, or ceramic coatings to withstand grinding forces.
- Grinding table: Also known as the millstone, the grinding table is used to grind materials and is usually made of cast steel or cast iron.
- Separator blades: Play a vital role in the material classification process, enduring prolonged material erosion and wear.
Vertical roller mills boast a modular design, simplifying the replacement of wearing parts. Users can consult the maintenance manual or seek guidance from professionals for replacement.
Choosing the right barite grinding mill for your plant!
| Equipment | Ball Mill | Raymond Mill | Ultralfine Mill | Vertical Roller Mill |
| Feed Size | ≤25 mm | ≤30 mm | ≤40 mm | ≤55 mm |
| Output Size | 20–200 mesh | 80–325 mesh | 80–800 mesh | 20–400 mesh |
| Capacity | 0.65–615 t/h | 8–176 t/shift (8 hours) | 0.4–40 t/h | 2–420 t/h |
| Price | High | Low | Low | High |
We understand that each grinding project is unique. We take pride in offering customized barite grinding solutions to meet your industry needs. Our sales managers will assist you in finding the most suitable barite grinding machine. Feel free to contact us
Customer case（barite grinding plants)
| A barite ultrafine powder grinding plant in Morocco | |
|---|---|
| Output | 13 T/H |
| Grinding machine | 4119 Raymond Mill |
| Finished barite powder | 325 mesh |
| Customer feedback | We bought the Raymond mill from FTM Machinery with the intention of trying it out, and our choice has been verified by practice. The equipment has high grinding efficiency, modern powder selection technology, reliable operation, and better automatic control system. |
| A barite powder grinding plant in Turkey | |
|---|---|
| Output | 80 T/H |
| Grinding machine | Ф2700×4500 Ball Mill |
| Finished barite powder | 100 mesh |
| Customer feedback | The cooperation with FTM Machinery is very good this time. Before designing for us, it specially arranged professional technicians to visit the site to provide us with a suitable production plan. The equipment runs stably in production. The purity and fineness of the finished barite powder meet the production requirements. |
Conclusion
Amid rising environmental concerns, governments and businesses are leveraging barite for low-carbon solutions, replacing high-carbon plastics and petroleum products.
As an experienced barite grinding mill manufacturer, FTM Machinery is ready to contribute to your barite grinding projects.
