A study was carried out to evaluate the particle size of the corn, the performance and electric power consumption of hammermills and to determine the hammermills characteristics that influence the average geometric diameter of the particles. To determine the corn particle size predictors and the hammermills characteristics, the independent parameters were considered using the "Backward" statistical process to obtain the equations. The equation to estimate the average geometric diameter that showed the higher R² (0.85) was: 330.59 + 494.284TX - 11.844PM + 113.746DP - 0.186ATP. The grinding rate variation and the electric power consumption, of the hammermills, can be due to the differences among the characteristics of the mills, the wasting due to the use and of the potency of the motors of the mills. It was ended that the grinding rate and the diameter of the hole sieves’ showed a positive relationship with the average geometric diameter, and the engine power and the total sives’ area showed a negative relationship.
geometric diameter; equations; hammermills
