Determination of the Optimal Jar Mill Setting for Crushed Eggshells Used in LDPE Tile Creation

Abstract

In this study eggshells and low density polyethylene plastic (LDPE) wastes were reused to produce tiles. The eggshells were ground in a laboratory scale jar mill into the particle size of fine sand. The optimum grinding parameters were determined to be the setting that produced the highest mass of eggshell powder that was within the desired particle diameter size range of 0.425 mm (No. 40) and 0.075 mm (No. 200). A two to the three factorial design of experiment was used with variables of Time, Speed, and Ball Filling Ratio. The high and low values used in this study were 20 minutes and 10 minutes for the time, 250 rpm and 100 rpm for the speed, and 35% and 20% for the ball filling ratio. There were eight settings made with 3 trials per setting and one validation for the optimal setting produced. The eggshell powder produced by the optimal setting of the jar mill was used to create the LDPE-eggshell tiles. Four tiles were made for the three trials and for the validation part. The tiles were tested for its relative strength using the Compression Testing Machine. The researchers determined that eggshells and LDPE plastics may be formed into tiles and that the strength of the tiles that were produced by these materials exceeded the standard value set for this type of product.