The size of planetary mill particles can range from nanometers to microns, depending on the specific type of mill and the duration of the milling process. Planetary ball mills, for instance, can produce particles as small as 2 to 20 nm in size after approximately 100 to 150 hours of milling. Jet mills, on the other hand, typically produce particles in the range of 1 to 10 microns on average.
Detailed Explanation:
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Planetary Ball Mills:
- These mills are designed for high-speed milling where the rotation directions of the bowl and turn disc are opposite, creating high centrifugal forces. This setup allows for the impact energy of the milling balls to be up to 40 times higher than that due to gravitational acceleration. The process involves the hardened milling balls and the powder mixture rolling on the inner wall of the bowl and striking the opposite wall, leading to a high degree of size reduction. After extended milling periods (100 to 150 hours), these mills can produce nano powders of 2 to 20 nm in size. The size achieved is also dependent on the speed of rotation of the balls.
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Jet Mills:
- Jet mills operate differently from planetary ball mills. They use compressed air or other gases to grind materials, typically resulting in particle sizes in the range of 1 to 10 microns on average. This process is known as micronization. For smaller particles, such as those as small as 200 nanometers, the power to the mill can be increased, and the material can be allowed to spend more time in the milling chamber.
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General Milling Considerations:
- The size of the beads used in milling is crucial and is typically 10 to 30 times the maximum particle size of the raw material and 1,000 to 3,000 times the mean particle size after milling. For example, when grinding calcium carbonate from 10 μm to 100 nm, 0.1 mm beads are recommended.
- The orientation of the mill (horizontal or vertical) can affect operational aspects such as installation space, startup power, and maintenance requirements, but generally, the processing performance remains similar due to the high centrifugal forces that minimize the influence of gravity.
In summary, the size of particles produced by planetary mills can vary significantly based on the type of mill, the milling duration, and the specific operational parameters. Planetary ball mills are capable of producing very fine particles down to the nanometer scale, while jet mills typically operate in the micron range but can also achieve smaller sizes with adjustments to the milling process.
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