Definition
Basket dispersion grinder is a kind of laboratory and small and medium-sized production equipment that integrates dispersion and grinding functions. Its core feature is that the basket agitator with grinding medium is immersed in the material to be processed, and the dispersion, crushing and wet grinding of solid particles are synchronously completed in a closed or open container through the high-speed rotation of the basket. The device is suitable for uniformly dispersing powders in liquid media and further reducing particle size to the micron or even sub-micron range.
Principle
When the equipment is working, the motor drives the spindle to drive the basket agitator to rotate at high speed. The agitator is usually composed of a basket, a mixing blade and a built-in grinding medium (such as zirconia beads, glass beads, etc.). When the basket is immersed in the material, the strong suction generated by the rotation sucks the material from the bottom into the basket, and the material collides violently with the high-speed moving grinding medium in the basket, shears and friction, so as to realize the crushing and dispersion of particles. The treated material is discharged from the pores of the basket wall under the action of centrifugal force and is sucked into the basket again with the fluid circulation, forming a continuous cyclic processing process. The process can be simplified into a dynamic model of energy input and particle breakage, with the core of which is the efficient transfer of mechanical energy to the material particles through the grinding medium.
Measurement and evaluation methods
The evaluation of the treatment effect of basket dispersion grinder mainly depends on the measurement of the performance of the output material. Key metrics include particle size distribution, slurry viscosity and fineness. The particle size distribution is often determined by laser diffraction or dynamic light scattering to obtain characteristic particle size parameters such as D50 and D90. Slurry viscosity can be measured by a rotary viscometer at a specific shear rate. The fineness is often used for quick evaluation with a scraper fineness meter. These measurements are performed under standardized sampling and pretreatment conditions, with reference to relevant industry standards (e.g., ASTM or ISO standards for coatings and inks) to ensure comparability and accuracy of results.
Influencing factors
The final treatment effect of basket dispersion grinder is affected by multiple factors. In terms of process parameters, the speed of the agitator directly affects the shear force and impact energy, and the speed needs to be adjusted according to the initial viscosity of the material and the target particle size. The material, density, diameter, and filling ratio of the abrasive media determine the collision frequency and energy intensity, and harder, smaller media are usually more conducive to finer particles. The initial properties of the material, such as solids content, viscosity, and hardness of raw material particles, can also significantly affect processing time and energy consumption. In addition, basket pore size, processing time and temperature control are also important variables to consider. There is an interaction between various factors, and the appropriate process window needs to be determined through systematic experiments.
Applications
This equipment is widely used in fields where powder needs to be finely dispersed and ground to a specific fineness. In the coatings and inks industry, it is used for the dispersion and grinding of pigments and fillers to improve product coloring, gloss and stability. In the field of electronic materials, it is used for the homogenization treatment of conductive paste and ceramic paste. In the field of new energy, participate in the preparation of battery cathode and anode slurry. In addition, it is also commonly used in laboratory research and development and small-scale production of cosmetics, food additives, pesticide preparations and some chemical products (such as dyes and sealants) to prepare homogeneous and stable suspensions or slurries.
Equipment selection considerations
Comprehensive technical evaluation is required during selection. First, the process requirements should be clarified, including the target particle size, batch throughput, material viscosity range, and allowable upper temperature limit. These requirements are matched to key equipment parameters such as motor power and torque characteristics, speed regulation range, basket volume and material (usually stainless steel or wear-resistant coating). The safety protection design of the equipment, the stability of the lifting system, the ease of cleaning, and the availability of extended functions such as vacuum defoaming or cooling temperature control should also be taken into account. For corrosive or high-purity materials, the material compatibility of all contact parts is evaluated. It is recommended to verify the suitability of the equipment for specific formulations through material process testing, and refer to the technical data provided by the manufacturer for rational selection.