Materials Characterization 52 (2004) 159 – 164

Short communication
Application of the Rosin–Rammler and
Gates–Gaudin–Schuhmann models to the particle
size distribution analysis of agglomerated cork
A. Macı́as-Garcı́a a,*, Eduardo M. Cuerda-Correa b, M.A. Dı́az-Dı́ez a
a
Escuela de Ingenierı́as Industriales, Área de Ciencia de los Materiales e Ingenierı́a Metalúrgica, Universidad de Extremadura,
Avda de Elvas S/N. E-06071 Badajoz, Spain
b
Departamento de Quı́mica Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Extremadura, Avda de Elvas, S/N. E-06071 Badajoz, Spain
Received 6 November 2003; accepted 30 April 2004

Abstract

In the present, work samples prepared from cork waste and low quality cork have been analyzed from the standpoint of their
particle size distribution (PSD). The distribution function F(/) (mass fraction) and density function f(/) (number of particles
binned between two given mesh sizes) of the agglomerated samples have been obtained by applying two widely-used
mathematical models, namely those proposed by Rosin – Rammler (RR) and Gates – Gaudin – Schuhmann (GGS). RR model
provides excellent results when applied to the samples here studied, which leads to a more accurate separation of the different
particle sizes in order to obtain a better industrial profit of the material.
D 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Particle size distribution; Modeling; Agglomerated cork

1. Introduction masking power of paint pigment [8]. These examples

Many methods of varying complexity have been
developed to determine the size distribution of partic-
ulates [1 –7]. Particle size is probably the most im-
portant single physical characteristic of solids. It
influences the combustion efficiency of pulverized
coal, the setting time of cements, the flow character-
istics of granular materials, the compacting and sinter-
ing behavior of metallurgical powders, and the
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +34-24-289604; fax: +34-24-
289601.
E-mail address: amacias@materiales.unex.es
(A. Macı́as-Garcı́a).
illustrate the intimate involvement of particle size in
energy generation, industrial processes, resource uti-
lization, and many other phenomena.
The current demand for cork far outstrips its
annual production. There have consequently been
several studies published aimed at optimizing the
use of natural cork slabs and cork waste, some of
which are unfit for industrial use [9 –12]. Control of
the cork particle sizes is an important factor be-
cause it allows one to make better use of the
material and to select more efficiently the PSDs
according to their potential application.

1044-5803/$ - see front matter D 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.matchar.2004.04.007
160 A. Macı́as-Garcı́a et al. / Materials Characterization 52 (2004) 159–164
In the process of milling cork, one obtains a PSD
that may be treated cumulatively or differentially. The
determination and subsequent treatment of this distri-
bution requires the use of accurate methods of anal-
ysis of particle sizes, i.e., the use of methods of PSD
analysis or characterization. Correct information in
this sense will be the basis of not only the subsequent
design of the milling circuits, but also of the particle
concentration circuits and control of the operation
when the plant is running.
A number of methods aimed at determining
PSDs (i.e., sieving, cycloning, microscopy, etc.)
have been described in the literature [13,14]. Using
different characterization techniques for the PSD
analysis of a material, one may obtain quite radi-
cally different information [15 – 17]. Hence, which
analysis technique is used will depend on the
ultimate goal of the characterization.
The results of a PSD analysis may be expressed in
different forms: binning by particle diameter indicating
the nominal mesh sizes, or by PSD, in grams, in
percentage by weight of each fraction (differential
distribution, as the cumulative percentage of sizes
below a given value—undersize—and as the cumula-
tive percentage of size above a given value—oversize)
[18,19].
The aim of this study is to obtain the distribution
F(/) (mass fraction) and density f(/) functions
(number of particles binned between two given mesh
sizes) of a cork waste sample by applying the RR
and GGS mathematical models to the PSD data
obtained by sieving through different size meshes
[20].
2. Materials and experimental methods
Samples were prepared from cork waste and low-
quality cork unfit for industrial use. This material
was ground in a star or tooth mill to yield a
granulate of suitable particle size and to make a
preliminary elimination of impurities (sand, dust,
etc.). The product was passed through a hammer
mill for further reduction of particle size and
separation of impurities. The purified granulate
was then passed through a blade mill to yield the
final different PSDs.
After milling, the cork particles were separated
into different particle sizes using a 200-mm-diam-
eter sifting column whose internal diameters corre-
spond to those set out in the UNE Norm 7-050
Part II. This column was placed on a vibrating
table at 100 vibrations/min for 12 min, rotating at
1 turn/min.
The resulting values allow one to obtain the
experimental PSD curves. These represent the percen-
tages by weight versus particle size.
Several mathematical models have been utilized
to obtain the distribution and density functions from
experimental PSD curves. The most commonly used
are those of RR and GGS [21 – 23].
The RR distribution function has long been used
to describe the PSD of powders of various types
and sizes. The function is particularly suited to
represent powders made by grinding, milling, and
crushing operations. The general expression of the
RR model is:

m 
/
Fð/Þ ¼ 1  exp  ð1Þ
l
where F(/) is the distribution function, and / is the
particle size (mm), l is the mean particle size (mm),
and m is a measure of the spread of particle sizes;
l and m are adjustable parameters characteristic of
the distribution. This expression may be rewritten
as:
lnfln½1  Fð/Þg ¼ mln/  mlnl ð2Þ
A plot of the first term of this expression versus the
natural logarithm of / will result in a straight line of
slope m if the behavior of the material fits the RR
model.
The application of the function to a specific
distribution and the calculation of its parameters
are often done via linear regression of data, repre-
sented as ln{  ln[1  F(/)]} versus ln/, indicative
of the applicability of the RR distribution function to
the PSD. Often a least-squares regression analysis is
used to fit a line to the data point. The correlation
 A. Macı́as-Garcı́a et al. / Materials Characterization 52 (2004) 159–164 161

Table 1
PSD analysis of milled cork
Range Mesh Fraction Fraction Cumulative Cumulative
of sizes size (g) (%) % weight % weight
(mm) (mm) (under) (over)
< 0.71 0.71 1.00 1.39 1.39 98.61
0.71 – 1 1.0 1.70 2.36 3.75 96.25
1 – 1.4 1.4 8.60 11.94 15.69 84.31
1.4 – 2 2.0 7.20 10.00 25.69 74.31
2 – 2.8 2.8 17.70 24.58 50.27 49.73
2.8 – 4 4.0 20.50 28.47 78.74 21.26
4 – 5.6 5.6 11.40 15.83 94.57 5.43
5.6 – 8 8.0 2.30 3.19 97.76 2.24
8 – 11.2 11.2 1.60 2.22 100 0

coefficient may be used as the parameter for good- Fig. 2. Plot of the distribution function vs. particle size.
ness of fit. The density function in the RR model
will be:

m  particle diameter of the distribution (size modulus),
m / and m (distribution modulus) is an adjustable param-
f ð/Þ ¼ m /m1 exp  ð3Þ
l l eter. If the logarithm of the F(/) is plotted versus the
logarithm of particle size /, a relatively straight line is
One relatively uncomplicated method that has often obtained, with a slope equal to m, obtaining the
found favor in the metalliferous mining industry since expression:
1940 is the GGS equation, defined by:
 m
/ logFð/Þ ¼ mlog/  mlog/max ð5Þ
Fð/Þ ¼ ð4Þ
/max
Hence, a plot of the logarithm of the distribution
where F(/) is the fraction of the sample finer than size function versus the logarithm of the particle diameter
/, / is the particle diameter, /max is the maximum will give a straight line if the PSD curve fits the

Fig. 1. PSD curve obtained by sieving. Fig. 3. Plot of the density function vs. particle size.
162 A. Macı́as-Garcı́a et al. / Materials Characterization 52 (2004) 159–164

Table 2
Fits to the RR and GGS models
Cumulative % weight (under) F(/) / (mm) f(/) log F(/) Log / ln{ ln[1 F(/)]} ln /
1.39 0.014 0.71 0.020  1.857  0.15  4.269  0.34
3.75 0.038 1.00 0.038  1.426 0  3.264 0
15.69 0.157 1.40 0.112  0.804 0.15  1.768 0.34
25.69 0.257 2.00 0.128  0.590 0.30  1.214 0.69
50.27 0.503 2.80 0.180  0.299 0.45  0.359 1.03
78.74 0.787 4.00 0.197  0.104 0.60 0.437 1.39
94.57 0.946 5.60 0.169  0.024 0.75 1.069 1.72
97.76 0.978 5.68 0.122  0.010 0.90 1.335 2.08
100 1 11.20 0.089 0 1.05 – 2.42

GGS model. The density function in this model will On the other hand, the area under the curve between
be: two sizes (i.e., /1 and /2) indicates the number of
m/m1 particles (expressed as particle mass or volume) whose
f ð/Þ ¼ ð6Þ diameters are comprised in that interval:
/m
max
Z /2
Fð/2 Þ  Fð/1 Þ ¼ f ð/Þdð/Þ ð7Þ
3. Results and discussion /1

The values of the weights of the different particle
sizes obtained in the sieving operations are listed in
Table 1, together with the cumulative percentages by
weight. Fig. 1 depicts the corresponding PSD curve.
Fig. 2 shows the distribution function, F(/), obtained
from fitting the experimental results of Fig. 1 to
Eq. (1). This function may represent the fraction by
volume, by mass, or by number of particles. The value
of the function at a given point is the fraction of the
number of particles (mass or volume) that is below a
given size.
Finally, the slope of the distribution function (plot-
ted vs. the particle diameter, /) at each point gives the
density function, f(/), defined by Eq. (3) and plotted in
Fig. 3. This function represents the differential curve
corresponding to the percentage of particles of a certain
size. Many materials present PSD curves like that
shown in Fig. 1 and are therefore well suited to be
analyzed by using this type of model.
We applied the two above-described models to the
experimental results given in Table 1 and Fig. 1. The
different parameters to be fitted are listed in Table 2.

Fig. 4. Fit to the RR model. Fig. 5. Fit to the GGS model.

 A. Macı́as-Garcı́a et al. / Materials Characterization 52 (2004) 159–164
Figs. 4 and 5 show the fits of experimental data to RR
and GGS models, respectively.
From the observation of the two figures and the
corresponding linear correlation coefficient, one
deduces that the RR model provides a better fit to
the experimental PSD curve than GGS does. The
resulting distribution and density functions obtained
by application of RR model are given by the
following expressions:
"
 #
/ 1:90
Fð/Þ ¼ 1  exp 
1:33
"
 #
0:90 / 1:90
f ð/Þ ¼ 1:11/ exp 
1:33
The application of these expressions to the PSD
curve allows one to extrapolate (for estimation pur-
pose only) the percentage of material smaller than a
certain particle diameter (/) at points that do not
correspond to the sieving classification system used,
thus obtaining information at the extremes of the
particle size diagrams.
The use of the RR model may provide valuable
help to carry out the modeling during the design
phase of milling circuits. Moreover, it facilitates
making correct use of the particle sizes to obtain
more homogeneous cork agglomerate samples in the
cork industry.
4. Conclusions
Particle size is probably the most important single
physical characteristic of solids. In addition, it may
be easily determined by using low-cost methods. A
correct determination of particle size of a cork
agglomerate is necessary prior its industrial utiliza-
tion in different fields, such as wine production,
acoustic, and thermal isolation, etc.
Two mathematical models widely used to study the
PSD of solids have been applied to a cork granulate.
The RR model provides excellent results when applied
to the sample here studied, which leads to a more
accurate separation of the different particle sizes to a
better industrial profit of the material.
163
On the other hand, the GGS model does not
properly fit the experimental data. Nevertheless, fur-
ther investigations are being carried out for some
other materials with hopeful results.
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