INVESTIGATION INTO THE POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPING A RATE METHOD OF SIEVE ANALYSIS *

Abstract

At present it is difficult to assess the accuracy of a sieve analysis because it is necessary to decide arbitrarily when the sieving process is complete. The possibilities of the alternative approach of predicting the final sieve residue from a study of the rate of sieving, have been investigated. It is shown that for spherical particles on a wire-mesh sieve a “rate” method of analysis is possible which gives a value of the oversize percentage, independent of the operator and sieve loading. Experiments are described which indicate that the method may also be possible with irregular metal powders on wire-mesh sieves.