Nano-scale Particle Processing System
Carbon black particle size reduction from micrometric to nanometric scale using adapted equipment
Image represents the actual instrumentation developed for this project. Technical details have been abstracted for confidentiality purposes.
Challenge
Planetary ball mills for nano-metric particle processing cost £15-50k and require dedicated laboratory space. Research applications requiring occasional nano-scale grinding cannot justify this investment, yet commercial grinding services are expensive and slow for iterative material development. Carbon black particle reduction from micro-metric to nano-metric scale requires specific rotational forces and processing conditions typically only achievable with dedicated equipment. The challenge was to achieve equivalent grinding performance without the capital investment.
Solution
Engineered system adapting standard laboratory mixing equipment (Thinky mixer) into a functional planetary ball mill through detailed theoretical investigation and kinematic analysis. Custom-designed insert enables wet ball milling with solvent compatibility while achieving the precise rotational forces and energies required for nano-scale particle reduction. The solution demonstrates how physics-based analysis and minimal prototyping can replicate expensive equipment functionality.
Key Technical Features
- • Theoretical investigation and kinematic calculations matching commercial ball mill forces
- • Custom machined aluminium cup for grinding chamber
- • 3D-printed sealed enclosure for liquid containment
- • Solvent-compatible design enabling wet ball milling process
- • Calculated parameters: cup size, ball quantity, powder ratio, solvent volume
- • Programmed mixing routine replicating planetary motion dynamics
- • Centrifugal force optimisation through rotation and revolution calculations
- • Achieves micro-metric to nano-metric particle size reduction
- • Uses standard Thinky mixing and degassing equipment
- • Liquid-proof sealed design for safe solvent processing
- • Physics and chemistry-based approach eliminating need for commercial equipment
Applications
Nanomaterial Processing
Research-scale particle size reduction
Carbon Black Preparation
Conductive filler processing for composites
Material Development
Small-batch material optimisation
Composite Preparation
Dispersed phase material processing