Laboratory Ball Mill, Nano-scale Grinding Machine, High-speed Sample Preparation

This machine is a high-speed, planetary small horizontal ball mill designed for nano-scale grinding and precision sample preparation in a laboratory setting. It represents the pinnacle of high-energy ball milling technology for R&D, capable of reducing material particle sizes down to the colloidal and nano range (often < 1 µm) through a combination of centrifugal forces and controlled mechanical alloying.

The term "planetary" is the key to its high-energy performance. The mill features grinding jars that are securely mounted on a rotating disk (the "sun wheel").

• Revolution: The disk rotates around a central axis (the "sun").
• Rotation: Simultaneously, each grinding jar rotates around its own axis (like a "planet").
• Counter-Directional Movement: Critically, the jars' rotation is in the opposite direction to the disk's revolution.

This dual rotation generates powerful Coriolis forces, causing the grinding balls inside the jars to experience a series of high-energy impacts against the opposite wall. The powder sample is trapped and ground between these colliding balls, leading to extreme size reduction and mechanical activation.

Mechanism: The high-energy impacts from the planetary motion are sufficient to fracture crystallites and break particles down to the nanoscale.

Requirements: Achieving nano-scale results depends on:

• Grinding Time: Longer milling times generally yield finer particles.
• Speed: Higher rotational speeds (rpm) increase impact energy.
• Ball Size & Material: Smaller, denser balls (e.g., Zirconia) are used for final nano-grinding, as they provide more impact points per unit volume.

Efficiency: The high-speed nature of the process means sample preparation that could take hours in conventional equipment is completed in minutes.

Consistency: The programmability ensures that every sample is prepared under identical conditions (speed, time, rest cycles), leading to highly reproducible results essential for scientific research.

"Small": Refers to its compact, benchtop design, making it ideal for laboratory environments where space is limited. It processes small batch sizes (from 0.1 mL to several liters, depending on the model).

"Horizontal": This describes the orientation of the main rotating axis. The sun wheel rotates in a horizontal plane, which is the standard and most effective design for planetary mills, ensuring optimal transmission of centrifugal forces to the grinding jars.

Programmable Controls: Digital interfaces allow precise setting of grinding time, rotational speed, and cycle patterns (e.g., run for 5 minutes, pause for 2 minutes to prevent overheating).

Safety Interlock: The machine will not operate unless the robust protective cover is securely closed, protecting the user.

Vibration Dampening: Built-in features ensure stable, low-noise operation.

This versatile machine is used across numerous scientific and industrial fields:

• Material Science: Synthesis of nanocomposites, mechanical alloying, production of metallic glasses.
• Pharmaceuticals: Creating nano-crystalline APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) for improved bioavailability.
• Geology & Mining: Ultra-fine grinding of samples for precise XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) or XRD (X-ray Diffraction) analysis.
• Chemicals & Pigments: Developing high-performance pigments and dyes with uniform nano-scale particles.
• Electronics: Preparing precursor powders for ceramics and electronic components.
• Biology: Cell disruption for DNA/RNA and protein extraction.