Influence of Surface Roughness on the Collision-adhesion Behavior between Air Bubble and Chalcopyrite Particle Surface

Object Grinding is a crucial method for the liberation of valuable minerals from gangue. Meanwhile, grinding determines the surface roughness of mineral particle. Surface roughness has a significant effect on flotation behavior of minerals, such as coal, quartz, and calcite. However, limited research has been conducted on the impact of roughness on chalcopyrite flotation. Method In this article, the investigation used contact angle, induction time, and high-speed dynamic camera measurement systems to characterize chalcopyrite surface hydrophobicity and the collision-adhesion behavior between air bubble and chalcopyrite particle surface. Result&Conclusion The surface hydrophobicity of chalcopyrite increased with the increasing surface roughness. The rough surfaces contained more sharp structures which accelerated the rupture of water film between bubble and chalcopyrite surface and was beneficial for the formation of three-phase contact line, compared to smooth surfaces. However, the spreading rate of bubble on rough surfaces was reduced, and the final bubble-chalcopyrite surface contact area was also decreased because of many water-filled-cracks on rough surfaces. Additionally, the detachment of bubble from rough surfaces was found to be easier than that of bubble from smooth surfaces.