A Planetary Ball Mill equipped with a Zirconia grinding tank is a
high-performance laboratory-scale grinding instrument designed for
achieving ultra-fine particle sizes and nano-scale dispersion with
minimal contamination. It represents the gold standard for sample
preparation in research and development where material purity and
grinding efficiency are paramount.
| Model No. | XQM-0.4 |
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| Volume of each matched Jar | 100ml |
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| Voltage | 220V - 50Hz |
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| Machine Size | 500*300*340mm |
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| Machine Weight | 100 Kg without mill jar |
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| Work mode | 4 jars working together |
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| Mill mode | Dry / wet milling |
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| Speed Frequency | Adjusting |
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| Drive Mode | Gear drive |
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| Rotational Speed | 90-870 r/min, adjusting |
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| revolution: rotation | 1:2.14 |
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| Material Capacity | Material + mill balls < 2/3 volume |
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| Input Granularity Size | < 10mm for soft material,
< 3mm for hard material |
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| Output Granularity Size | Minimum 0.1μm |
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| Field of application | Geology, Mining, Metallurgy, Electronics, Construction Material,
Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Light
Industry Medicine, Environmental Protection etc. |
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| Feed material | Soft, hard, brittle, fibrous, cellulose, herb, glass, soil,ore,
pharmacy, chemical, fluorescent, pigment etc. |
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| Type of grinding jars | Stainless steel, zirconia, alumina, nylon, PU, tungsten,PTFE etc.,
vacuum jars are available as well. |
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| Type of grinding medium | Stainless steel balls, zirconia balls, alumina balls, PU balls,
steel carbon balls, tungsten balls, etc. |
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| Max. continuous operating time (full-load) | 72 hours |
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| Interval operation | With direction reversal |
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| Certificate | ISO 9001. CE certificate |
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1. Core Concept: The Synergy of Mechanism and Material
This instrument combines two critical elements:
High-Energy Planetary Ball Mill Mechanism: This refers to the machine's operation, where grinding tanks
(jars) are mounted on a rotating disk. These tanks simultaneously
rotate around their own axis and the central axis of the disk in
opposite directions. This "planetary" motion generates very strong
centrifugal forces, leading to powerful impact and friction between
the grinding balls and the sample material.
Zirconia Grinding Tank: This refers to the jar and the grinding balls themselves, which
are manufactured from Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ). Zirconia is
chosen for its exceptional material properties that are ideal for
advanced grinding applications.
2. Key Features and Benefits of the Zirconia Tank
The choice of Zirconia is what elevates this instrument above
standard models. Its benefits include:
Exceptional Hardness & Wear Resistance: Zirconia is extremely hard (approximately 8.5-9 on the Mohs
scale). This results in minimal abrasion during milling, ensuring
that the grinding tank and balls do not contaminate the sample.
This is crucial for analytical techniques like ICP-MS or XRF where
trace metal contamination would ruin results.
High Density: Zirconia's high density (~6.0 g/cm³) means that the grinding balls
impart greater impact energy to the sample compared to less dense
materials like agate or glass. This leads to more effective and
faster size reduction.
Excellent Chemical Inertness: Zirconia is highly resistant to corrosion from acids, alkalis, and
other solvents. This makes it suitable for wet grinding with
various liquids and for processing a wide range of chemical
compounds without reaction.
Suitability for Nano-Grinding: The combination of low contamination and high impact energy makes
Zirconia the preferred material for reducing particle sizes down to
the nanometer range.
3. Technical Specifications of a Typical Laboratory Instrument
| Feature | Description |
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| Machine Type | Benchtop Planetary Ball Mill |
| Grinding Tank Material | Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) |
| Tank Capacity | Typically available in small volumes: 50ml, 100ml, 250ml, 500ml |
| Grinding Modes | Dry Grinding: For brittle materials and coarse-to-fine powdering.
Wet Grinding: Essential for nano-dispersion, preventing
re-agglomeration. |
| Speed Control | Digitally adjustable RPM (e.g., 100 to 800 rpm) for precise control
over grinding energy. |
| Timer | Programmable digital timer (e.g., 1 second to 99 hours) with
auto-reverse function to prevent material caking. |
| Final Fineness | Capable of achieving < 1 µm and even nano-scale (< 100 nm)
particles, especially with wet grinding. |
4. Common Applications
This precision instrument is used across numerous scientific and
industrial fields:
Materials Science: Preparing nano-powders, mechanical alloying, synthesizing
composite materials.
Pharmaceuticals: Reducing the particle size of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
(APIs) to enhance solubility and bioavailability.
Geology & Mining: Pulverizing rock and soil samples to a fine, homogeneous powder
for accurate elemental analysis without metallic contamination.
Ceramics & Electronics: Grinding raw materials for advanced ceramics, electronic pastes,
and battery materials (e.g., cathode powders).
Chemistry & Biology: Homogenizing and cell disruption in biological tissues, and
mechanochemical synthesis.
5. Operational Advantages Summary
High Purity Grinding: Zirconia ensures the sample is not contaminated by the milling
process.
Superior Efficiency: The planetary mechanism and dense zirconia media allow for faster
grinding to a finer end-point.
Versatility: Handles a wide range of materials, from soft and elastic to hard
and brittle.
Precision and Reproducibility: Digital controls guarantee that grinding parameters can be exactly
replicated for consistent results.
Small-Scale Suitability: Ideal for R&D where sample quantities are limited and
expensive.
