Application of ANOVA to image analysis results of talc particles produced by different milling

Abstract

This study presents statistical evaluation of the shape parameters for different mill products of talc mineral using Clemex image analysis system. The aim of this study was to determine whether the image parameters of the three different mill products were statistically different from each other or not. Image analysis of talc particles ground by laboratory size ball, rod and autogenous mills was performed with a Nikon SMZ 800 stereoscopic zoom microscope and a Clemex PE image analysis system. A total of 446 particles were measured by image analysis for these three different mill products. The shape data such as area, perimeter, convex perimeter, sphericity and roughness were compared by applying one way ANOVA (analysis of variance) method followed by post hoc Tukey's test using the software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) with a .05 significance level. Multiple comparison tests revealed that, the difference between the image data group for different mill products are significant with a 95% confidence level. Finally, autogenous mill products had the highest sphericity and the smoothness among the ball and rod mill products due to its abrasion effect on talc mineral studied. On the other hand, the roughest and most elongated particles of talc mineral studied were obtained by rod milling. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.