Ball mill

A f ls a Lype of grlnder used Lo grlnd maLerlals lnLo exLremely flne powder for use ln mlneral
dresslng processes palnLs pyroLechnlcs and ceramlcs
Description
A ball mlll a Lype of grlnder ls a cyllndrlcal devlce used ln grlndlng (or mlxlng) maLerlals llke ores
chemlcals ceramlc raw maLerlals and palnLs 8all mllls roLaLe around a horlzonLal axls parLlally fllled
wlLh Lhe maLerlal Lo be ground plus Lhe grlndlng medlum ulfferenL maLerlals are used as medla
lncludlng ceramlc balls fllnL pebbles and sLalnless sLeel balls An lnLernal cascadlng effecL reduces Lhe
maLerlal Lo a flne powder lndusLrlal ball mllls can operaLe conLlnuously fed aL one end and dlscharged
aL Lhe oLher end Large Lo medlumslzed ball mllls are mechanlcally roLaLed on Lhelr axls buL small ones
normally conslsL of a cyllndrlcal capped conLalner LhaL slLs on Lwo drlve shafLs (pulleys and belLs are
used Lo LransmlL roLary moLlon) 8all mllls are also used ln pyroLechnlcs and Lhe manufacLure of black
powder buL cannoL be used ln Lhe preparaLlon of some pyroLechnlc mlxLures such as flash powder
because of Lhelr senslLlvlLy Lo lmpacL PlghquallLy ball mllls are poLenLlally expenslve and can grlnd
mlxLure parLlcles Lo as small as 3 nm enormously lncreaslng surface area and reacLlon raLes 1he
grlndlng works on Lhe prlnclple of crlLlcal speed 1he crlLlcal speed can be undersLood as LhaL speed afLer
whlch Lhe sLeel balls (whlch are responslble for Lhe grlndlng of parLlcles) sLarL roLaLlng along Lhe
dlrecLlon of Lhe cyllndrlcal devlce Lhus causlng no furLher grlndlng
1he ball mlll ls a key plece of equlpmenL for grlndlng crushed maLerlals and lL ls wldely used ln
producLlon llnes for powders such as lncludlng cemenL slllcaLes refracLory maLerlal ferLlllzer glass
ceramlcs eLc as well as for ore dresslng of boLh ferrous nonferrous meLals 1he ball mlll can grlnd
varlous ores and oLher maLerlals elLher weL or dry 1here are Lwo klnds of ball mlll graLe Lype and
overfall Lype due Lo dlfferenL ways of dlscharglng maLerlal 1here are many Lypes of grlndlng medla
sulLable for use ln a ball mlll each maLerlal havlng lLs own speclflc properLles and advanLages key
properLles of grlndlng medla are slze denslLy hardness and composlLlon
O Size: The smaller the media particles, the smaller the particle size oI the Iinal product. At
the same time, the grinding media particles should be substantially larger than the largest
pieces oI material to be ground.
O ensity: The media should be denser than the material being ground. It becomes a
problem iI the grinding media Iloats on top oI the material to be ground.
O ardness: The grinding media needs to be durable enough to grind the material, but
where possible should not be so tough that it also wears down the tumbler at a Iast pace.
O omposition: Various grinding applications have special requirements. Some oI these
requirements are based on the Iact that some oI the grinding media will be in the Iinished
product. Others are based in how the media will react with the material being ground.
4 here the color oI the Iinished product is important, the color and material oI the
grinding media must be considered.
4 here low contamination is important, the grinding media may be selected Ior
ease oI separation Irom the Iinished product (i.e.: steel dust produced Irom
stainless steel media can be magnetically separated Irom non-Ierrous products).
An alternative to separation is to use media oI the same material as the product
being ground.
4 lammable products have a tendency to become explosive in powder Iorm. Steel
media may spark, becoming an ignition source Ior these products. Either wet-
grinding, or non-sparking media such as ceramic or lead must be selected.
4 Some media, such as iron, may react with corrosive materials. or this reason,
stainless steel, ceramic, and Ilint grinding media may each be used when
corrosive substances are present during grinding.
The grinding chamber can also be Iilled with an inert shield gas that does not react with the
material being ground, to prevent oxidation or explosive reactions that could occur with ambient
air inside the mill.
!7490.3i.8
yrotechncs ls Lhe sclence of uslng maLerlals capable of undergolng selfconLalned and selfsusLalned
exoLhermlc chemlcal reacLlons for Lhe producLlon of heaL llghL gas smoke and/or sound yroLechnlcs
lnclude noL only Lhe manufacLure of flreworks buL lLems such as safeLy maLches oxygen candles
exploslve bolLs and fasLeners and componenLs of Lhe auLomoLlve alrbag
pellers in agitated tanks
Impellers in agitated tanks are used to mix Iluids or slurry in the tank. This can be used to
combine materials; solids, liquids, gas. Mixing the Iluids in a tank is very important iI there are
gradients in conditions such as temperature or concentration.
There are two types oI impellers, depending on the Ilow regime created (see Iigure):
O axial fl4 imp0ll07
O 7adial fl4 imp0ll07.
Radial Ilow impellers impose essentially shear stress to the Iluid, and are used, Ior example, to
mix immiscible liquids or in general when there is a deIormable interIace to break. Another
application oI radial Ilow impellers are the mixing oI very viscous Iluids.
Axial Ilow impellers impose essentially bulk motion, and are used on homogenization processes,
in which is important to increase Iluid volumetric Ilow rate.