Introduction of zirconia toughened alumina beads

I. What is the ZTA bead?

ZTA beads also called zirconia toughened alumina beads, whose main components are zirconia and alumina. Enhances their strength, toughness, and wear resistance. Gaoteng ZTA beads are available in various sizes and are widely used in various industrial applications.

II. How do we use zirconia toughened alumina beads?

1.Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) beads are versatile tools used in various industrial applications.

Grinding and Milling: ZTA beads are widely used for grinding and milling various materials due to their high hardness, wear resistance, and impact strength. They are commonly used in industries like:

• Ceramics: Grinding powders for ceramic products

• Electronics: Grinding semiconductor materials

• Paint and Coatings: Milling pigments and additives

• Pharmaceuticals: Grinding pharmaceutical compounds

• Food Processing: Grinding spices and other food ingredients

2. Polishing: ZTA beads can be used for polishing various materials to achieve smooth and high-quality surfaces. This is common in industries like:

• Metals: Polishing metal parts

• Plastics: Polishing plastic components

• Optics: Polishing lenses and other optical components

Key index of zirconia toughened alumina grinding ball

• First type: 

ZrO₂ 10±0.5%

Moh Hardenss 7mohs

Density ＞3.2g/cm³

Wear loss＜0.02‰

Avaliable size range

φ1-10mm

• Second type:

ZrO₂ 15±0.5%

Moh Hardenss 8mohs

Density ＞3.8g/cm³

Wear loss ＜0.015‰

Avaliable size range

φ1-10mm

Features of zirconium aluminium composite balls

• High hardness: With a Mohs hardness of 8.0, these grinding balls are significantly harder than conventional steel balls. This allows them to effectively grind materials with higher hardness, such as ceramics, minerals, and pigments.

• Superior wear resistance: Zirconium aluminum composite grinding balls exhibit exceptional wear resistance compared to other grinding media. They can maintain their spherical shape and size for a prolonged period, even when used in high-impact grinding applications.

• Enhanced toughness: The inclusion of zirconia provides improved toughness to the composite material. This reduces the risk of breakage and chipping, leading to a longer service life for the grinding balls.

• Excellent corrosion resistance: These grinding balls are highly resistant to corrosion by acids, alkalis, and other chemicals. This makes them suitable for grinding various materials without the risk of contamination or degradation.

• Environmentally friendly: Zirconium aluminum composite grinding balls do not contain any harmful substances and can be recycled after their useful life. This minimizes their environmental impact compared to other grinding media options.

• High grinding efficiency: The smooth surface of these grinding balls reduces friction and improves grinding efficiency. This allows for faster grinding with less energy consumption.

Production process:

The processing progress of zirconium aluminum composite grinding balls is a complex and carefully controlled process. Here are the main steps involved:

1. Raw material preparation:

• High-purity zirconia and alumina powders are weighed and mixed according to the desired composition.

• The powders are then milled to reduce their particle size and ensure a uniform mixture.

2. Granulation:

• The powder mixture is granulated to form small pellets. This can be done using different methods, such as spray drying or wet granulation.

• The size and distribution of the granules are important for subsequent processing steps.

3. Shaping:

• The granules are shaped into spheres using a process called isostatic pressing. In this process, the granules are placed in a mold and subjected to high pressure from all directions.

• This process ensures that the grinding balls have a uniform shape and density.

4. Sintering:

• The shaped grinding balls are sintered in a high-temperature furnace. Sintering is a heat treatment process that causes the powder particles to bond together and form a solid material.

• The sintering temperature and time are critical for achieving the desired properties of the grinding balls, such as hardness, strength, and toughness.

5. Finishing:

• After sintering, the grinding balls are cooled and then subjected to a finishing process. This process may involve grinding, polishing, or other techniques to achieve the desired surface finish.

• The surface finish is important for the wear resistance and grinding efficiency of the balls.

6. Inspection and quality control:

• The finished grinding balls are inspected for any defects or inconsistencies. They are also tested to ensure that they meet the required specifications.

• Quality control is essential to ensure that only high-quality grinding balls are produced.