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Meetsysteem GrindControl

Achieve optimal ball milling processes with GrindControl

The GrindControl system continuously measures and records the pressure and temperature inside the grinding jar. This gives users clear insight into the milling process and ensures reliable, reproducible conditions. By monitoring these key variables, sample preparation becomes more efficient, temperature sensitive materials are protected, and stable conditions for colloidal or long term grinding are maintained. GrindControl also supports demanding applications such as mechanical alloying and mechanochemical synthesis by enabling precise process control.

GrindControl is available for the Mixer Mills MM 500 nano/control, the High Energy Ball Mill Emax, and planetary ball mills. It consists of a hardware measurement unit and analysis software.

GrindControl in het kort

  • Precise temperature monitoring from –20 °C to +100 °C with 0.1 °C resolution.
  • Accurate internal jar pressure measurement from 0 to 5 bar with 1 mbar resolution.
  • Easy introduction or release of gases via dedicated inlet/outlet valves.
  • Intuitive real‑time software for monitoring, recording, and analyzing all data.

Voordelen door technologie

  • Fully standalone system – no mill modifications required.
  • Modular lid design for fast switching between different jar materials and sizes.
  • Simultaneous monitoring of up to four GrindControl units.
  • Reliable wireless transmission up to 5 meters and battery life up to 80 hours.
  • Cleaning accessories included for quick and simple maintenance.

GrindControl Voordelen van het meten van druk en temperatuur

Monitoring temperature and pressure during grinding is essential for both research and quality control.

It helps to improve:

Quality: Temperature strongly influences material properties. Monitoring ensures consistent sample quality.

Efficiency: Temperature and pressure significantly influence the grinding outcomes of many materials, as well as the results of mechanochemical processes. Real-time monitoring enables precise control of operating conditions.

Safety: High temperatures and pressures can pose risks. Monitoring keeps the process within safe limits.

Mechanochemical insights / Error detection: Sudden changes in temperature or pressure may indicate chemical reactions or process deviations. Continuous monitoring enables early detection, better understanding of mechanochemical processes, and quick troubleshooting.

The GrindControl system is available for the Planetary Ball Mills, the Mixer mills MM500 nano/control, and Emax. It includes hardware for pressure and temperature measurement plus analysis software.

In-situ monitoring of Mechanochemical Synthesis Reactions (MSR)

Monitoring pressure and temperature provides valuable insight into what happens inside the grinding jar. GrindControl is widely used to investigate material syntheses such as mechanical alloying and other mechanochemical reactions.

Example 1: Monitoring of a self-propagating mechanochemical synthesis reaction (MSR)

A mechanochemical synthesis was performed in an MM 500 nano using a 125 ml stainless steel jar with GrindControl. The reactants and 32 × 10 mm balls were milled at 20 Hz under air.

After about 20 seconds of milling, an ignition event occurred, leading to a pressure increase to approx. 730 mbar and a temperature rise. GrindControl captured the ignition point precisely – the key parameter for this self-propagating mechanochemical synthesis reaction (MSR). [7]

When processing temperature sensitive materials (e.g., APIs, vitamins, volatile compounds), it is crucial to avoid for example exceeding 30 °C. GrindControl ensures safe homogenization without thermal degradation.

In wet grinding, long grinding times and high energy input cause significant heat and with temperature often pressure builds up, especially when solvents like alcohols are used. Monitoring both parameters, temperature and pressure increases safety and simplifies the optimal setting of grinding breaks.

Wanneer kogelmolens gebruikt worden om chemische processen om te zetten, zijn specifieke temperatuur- of drukomstandigheden vereist om de gewenste eigenschappen van het eindproduct te bereiken. Druk- en temperatuursmetingen kunnen gebruikt worden om de omstandigheden te bestuderen waaronder specifieke reacties plaatsvinden.

Toepassingsvoorbeelden: tabletten

Temperatuursgecontroleerde monstervoorbereiding van tabletten

Toepassingsvoorbeelden:

Bewaking van temperatuur en druk in een nat maalproces

Toepassingsvoorbeelden: Temperatuursbewaking van mechanochemische reacties

Temperatuursbewaking van mechanochemische reacties

Bezoek onze toepassingsdatabase om de beste oplossing voor uw monstervoorbereiding of analyse te vinden.

Functioneringsprincipe

A Bluetooth transmitter integrated into electronic unit of the lid sends pressure and temperature data to the PC using a secure industrial protocol. A protective filter prevents contamination of the pressure sensor. The GrindControl software records all data in real time and stores them in a consecutive list. Measurements can be exported as .csv for further processing.

Temperature monitoring and control

GrindControl Technische Gegevens

Toepassingenpressure and temperature measuring for Planetary Ball Mills, Emax and Mixer Mills MM 500 nano/control
ToepassingsdomeinMilieu / Recycling, biologie, bouwmaterialen, chemie / kunststoffen, engineering / electronica, geneesmiddel / medicijnen, geologie / metallurgie, glas / keramiek, landbouw, material synthesis, voedsel
Meetbereikengas pressure: 0 - 500 kPa (5 bar)
temperature: -20°C - +100 °C
Volume maalkamer125 ml (MM); 50 ml & 500 ml (PM)
Droog malenJa
Nat malenJa
Cryogeen malenyes min. -20 °C
MaalbekertypesScrew-Lock (MM) and EasyFit jars (PM)
Materiaal van maalwerktuigenhardened stainless steel, zirkoniumoxide
Maalbeker maten125 ml (MM); 50 -500 ml (PM)
Transmission frequency5 /s
Interface
Gegevens electriciteitbattery (up to 90 h operation time)
Toebehorenopening aid, cleaning tools, o-ring, PC-software (PC not included), filter, (lid insert not included)
Netto gewichtlid with sensor unit
360 g (MM)
1780 g / 1140 g(PM)
StandaardenCE
Technical requirementsPC with Windows 11 and Bluetooth 5.0 or higher
Softwarelive monitoring of measurement data, full measurement protocol, storable templates, list of performed measurements, data export in .pdf and .csv
MM = Mixer Mill; PM = Planetary Ball Mill | The GrindControl for the planetary ball mills is only compatible with the EasyFit grinding jars. Grinding jars "comfort" have other dimensions and are not compatible.

Onder voorbehoud van technische wijzigingen en eventuele fouten

References

[8] Reaction scheme and performance of the experiments: Dr. Matej Balaz, Institute of Geotechnics, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS).