| Hemp, one of the fast-growing plants with strong, durable fibers is being used for industrial applications, including papermaking, as a biodegradable reinforcing material for plastics as well as in construction. A series of tests has been conducted grinding hemp with the SM-220 Szego Mill equipped with three helically grooved, 30 cm long rollers with 8*8 or 4*4 mm grooves. A range of flow rates and rotational speeds has been covered in both dry and wet operation to determine the best processing conditions for various potential applications of refined hemp fibers. Particle size distributions and power consumption have been measured. Fiber length and diameter measurements allow an evaluation of fiber aspect ratio. For dry grinding, these are relatively low, typically in the 6-10 range. Wet grinding generally favors higher aspect ratios due to reduced fiber cutting and greater clearing action in the mill. Measured values are in the 60-80 range. |
