Frequently Asked Questions about Zirconia Grinding Beads AS ONE 1-5988-08 (CZY0200), φ1.90 - 2.10mm:

1/ What are zirconia grinding beads?

Zirconia grinding beads are high-performance media made from high-purity zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) stabilized with yttria (Y₂O₃). They’re sintered into smooth, white-to-slightly-yellow spheres with excellent roundness, used to replace traditional beads like glass or alumina in precision grinding and dispersion processes.

2/ How do I determine the optimal filling amount of zirconia beads?

- Bead mill type and chamber volume: larger chambers require more beads

- Grinding material properties: higher hardness or viscosity calls for increased bead loading

- Desired fineness: finer target particle sizes often need a higher bead-to-material ratio

- Calculation method: fill ratio is usually expressed as a percentage of chamber volume (e.g., 60–80% filled) based on pilot tests and manufacturer guidelines

3/ Which mills are compatible with these beads?

- Vertical and horizontal bead mills

- Bottle (jar) mills

- Attritor (stirred ball) mills

- Ring and basket mills

4/ How should I clean and maintain zirconia beads?

- After each run, remove beads and rinse with water or an appropriate solvent (e.g., isopropanol, acetone)

- Inspect beads regularly for surface wear or cracks

- Screen out worn or fractured beads to prevent contamination

- Dry or bake beads thoroughly before storage in a clean, dry container

5/ What is their typical service life and can they be reused?

Under normal operating conditions, zirconia beads exhibit a wear rate of 10 - 30%. With proper cleaning and maintenance, they can often be reused across multiple cycles, offering service lives of 2 - 3 years before replacement is required .

6/ What applications are these beads best suited for?

- Ultrafine grinding and nano-dispersion of ceramic powders (e.g., alumina, magnesium oxide)

- Preparation of lithium-ion battery cathode materials (NCM, NCA, LFP)

- High-purity grinding in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food

- Pigment dispersion for paints, inks, and coatings

- Electronic materials and precision ceramics manufacturing

7/ How do zirconia beads compare to glass beads?

- Density: ~6.0 g/cm³ vs. ~2.5 g/cm³ (glass)

- Hardness: significantly higher, yielding faster milling and finer particles

- Wear and contamination: zirconia shows lower wear and minimal bead-derived impurities

- Service life: zirconia beads last 2–3× longer than typical glass beads

8/ What safety precautions should be taken when handling zirconia beads?

- Wear gloves and dust masks to avoid inhalation of fine particles

- Avoid dropping or impacting the beads to prevent chipping

- Store in a sealed container to keep beads dry and free from dust