I have some Boron powder in the lab with a 4-micron median particle size. I want to reduce the particle size to below 2-micron. I tried a planetary mill with an Ar atmosphere and WC balls. I could not change the particle size. Can someone advise me how can I decrease the particle size, simply? Or suggest a device or procedure?
Farshad Soleimani Colloid or air jet mill. Using WC balls will contaminate your sample. Avoid their use. You will not be able to get the material much below 1 micron (and certainly not into the nanometer - < 100 nm region).
See:
In pursuit of perfect packing
https://www.malvernpanalytical.com/en/learn/events-and-training/webinars/W151021PerfectPacking.html
Controlling powder bulk density by optimizing particle size and shape distribution
https://www.malvernpanalytical.com/en/learn/events-and-training/webinars/W161006PowderParticleSizeShape.html
Dispersion and nanotechology
https://www.malvernpanalytical.com/en/learn/events-and-training/webinars/W081113DispersionNanotechnology.html
Dear Farshad Soleimani
I fully agree with Alan F Rawle concerning to use of air jet mill.
It is mostly used to reduce crystals to an adequate size for a single crystal experiment, with an advantage of cleaning surface to avoid deposited impurities.
Some times, depending on the hardness of your sample, a temperature quenching is necessary, like liquid nitrogen quenching, it cracks the surface, immensely accelerating the process of size reduction.
Best regards,
WNM
Good answer from DR Alan. Yes the useage of WC balls never fetch much reduction
Use air jet mill.
Thank you, Dr. Rawle. Did you have any experience in Boron or the same materials milling?
Farshad Soleimani I have experience in top down and bottom-up methods for producing nanomaterials. Specifically, I have not worked on boron but I would suspect my experience with other materials (hard and soft) is transferable.
Than you again, Dr. Rawle. I will try jet mill. Just, do you think the atmosphere is important? I mean you think the atmosphere of jet mill should be inert or we can test it by air?
Farshad Soleimani Inert atmosphere would always be advised, but be aware that you may have to have the material in contact with air at a later stage unless you keep the material permanently in an inert atmosphere. Depends on what you propose to do next with the milled material. Remember that in a mill most of the energy is converted to heat and sound...
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