In order to address comminution efficiency,
which could be defined as the increase in mass specific
surface against net specific energy input, the energy consumption
of an industrial mineral with and without preweakening
by high voltage pulses covering the same size
range were compared. The three tested comminution
sequences consisted of a laboratory jaw crusher or pilot
scale high voltage pulse machine at two different circulating
loads, a laboratory crusher and two tumbling mills
of differing grinding media; all being operated following
the principles of energy optimized comminution according
to the OCS-method. The first results indicate that possible
energy reduction by electrodynamic pre-weakening is
available in the immediately subsequent, but not in further
conventional comminution stages for the tested industrial
mineral.