Wet grinding is a milling process used to produce powder or paste from a solid using a liquid such as water. It can also be used in an abrasive process to reform hard objects. There are numerous items that can be processed in this way, including grains and ores. Such techniques are used for both domestic and industrial tasks. When used in industrial settings, a wet technique is often more economical than dry grinding.
Wet grinding is a process that has been around for a long time. The process was once executed using the mechanical energy of stones. Today, there are machines available that make the work much easier.
Electric powered wet grinders come in many sizes. Some are small enough for countertop use in a domestic kitchen. Others are big enough for commercial use in industrial facilities.
These machines usually involve wheels or balls used to mill materials as the liquid is fed into the mixture. This often results in a type of slushy mixture. Depending on the end use of the materials, they may have to be dried before they can be used.
Electric grinders are often used in kitchens to reduce foods for the sake of consistency when making sauces or gravies. Many people from India use wet grinding to produce pastes and other items, such as garam masala and chutney, which are popular ingredients in their dishes.
Wet grinding is often preferred by those in industrial settings because the process can have several advantages. It is less power intensive than dry grinding. This means more material can be ground using significantly less energy.
This process also provides an economical means to produce fine granules. Dry grinding is usually not comparable. Trying to produce fine particle sizes using a dry grinding technique can be very energy intensive and therefore expensive. Even when this is done, the particles still may not be as small as they would be if a wet process was used.
When dry grinding is performed, there are often large amounts of dust created. This often requires investing in special equipment to capture or control that dust. With wet grinding, this type of investment is not usually necessary.
The liquid involved in the grinding process can also make it a better choice. When items such as metal are ground, especially using a dry method, a great deal of heat can be generated. If there is a liquid present, such as with wet grinding, it can act as a coolant that can protect the worker, the machine, and the material being processed.