The size of planetary mill particles can range from nanometers to microns.
This depends 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.
This is 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.
4 Key Factors to Consider When Determining Planetary Mill Particle Size
1. Planetary Ball Mills
These mills are designed for high-speed milling.
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.
This leads 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.
2. Jet Mills
Jet mills operate differently from planetary ball mills.
They use compressed air or other gases to grind materials.
Typically, this results 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.
The material can be allowed to spend more time in the milling chamber.
3. General Milling Considerations
The size of the beads used in milling is crucial.
It is typically 10 to 30 times the maximum particle size of the raw material.
It is also 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.
4. Mill Orientation
The orientation of the mill (horizontal or vertical) can affect operational aspects such as installation space, startup power, and maintenance requirements.
Generally, the processing performance remains similar due to the high centrifugal forces that minimize the influence of gravity.
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