Overview of the Rubber Linings Designs of Drum Ball Mills and Further Prospects for Their Development

The work provides a general overview of modern designs of rubber linings intended for use in drum ball mills operated in various industries for the disintegration of mineral raw materials. The main attention is paid to the analysis of technical solutions aimed at increasing wear resistance, reducing the weight of the lining, improving the energy efficiency of the grinding process and simplifying the assembly and disassembly of lining elements. The design features of rubber lining plates of traditional and special designs are considered, their areas of application are described depending on the standard sizes of ball mills, geometric characteristics, and methods of fastening. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the design parameters of the lining on the operational characteristics and technological indicators of ball mills, in particular the wear resistance of the lining, the energy efficiency of the grinding process, and productivity. The paper analyses the technical solutions implemented in the linings of leading world manufacturers, summarizes the current trends in further improving the designs of rubber linings. Conclusions are provided on the effectiveness of different types of rubber lining designs depending on the operating conditions of the mills, the prospects for further implementation of innovative materials and adaptive geometric shapes in order to optimise the technical and economic indicators of the mills.