Thermal response and crack propagation of mineral components in olivine basalt under microwave irradiation

Microwave pre-treatment of mechanical rock breakage is an efficient technology to reduce bit wear and maintenance cost of the breaker. Thermal responses of basalt and its mineral components were tested using a multimode industrial microwave system. Different dielectric properties of the mineral components resulted in thermal stress within the basalt and hence crack propagation. Crack patterns of basalt after exposure were observed employing...