Method of expanding mineral ores using microwave radiation

摘要

Here is described a method of expanding mineral ore particles, preferably perlite, to effect rapid heating of particles to a required softening temperature so that the selected size and shape of expanded ore particles is obtained. A microwave radiation with appropriate frequency and power density is chosen so as to accomplish particle heating to a required (e.g., softening) temperature in a selected short time while ensuring that the entire particle material is expanded at once. The method provides high efficiency of the expanding process that can be close to 100%.