Compression and bending tests on mineral salt blocks

Background and test objective

Mineral salt blocks, also known as salt licks, are natural products from salt mines. They are either directly crushed, poured or pressed and can be enriched with various non-mineral additives, such as herbs.

The pressed salt stones tested in this experiment are characterized by a particularly dense crystal structure, which increases their durability and strength. This is crucial for their use as a feed supplement as well as for transportation and storage - especially when stacked on pallets. To avoid damage or falling apart due to excessive loads, the blocks must be tested for their mechanical properties.

Test method

The universal testing machine inspekt table 250 kN is used to test the salt bricks for their compressive and flexural strength. Various test setups are used for this:

• Compression test with compression plates - to determine the maximum load-bearing capacity of the salt bricks under surface pressure.
• Compression test with compression peak - to simulate point loads that can occur during transportation, for example.
• Bending test with bending fin and compression plate - to analyze the breaking strength under mechanical stress caused by bending.

As salt stones can splinter or break into fragments under high loads, the test system is equipped with a safety door. This ensures safe operation and protects the test personnel from flying fragments.

The test results obtained provide important findings for quality assurance and product optimization in the production and use of mineral salt blocks.

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