Modern laboratory applications demand maximum control, highest reproducibility, and complete process transparency. The latest generation of GrindControl provides a solution that consistently meets these requirements — powerful, intelligent, and intuitive to operate.
GrindControl is used in ball mill processes and continuously records pressure and temperature inside the grinding jar. The system consists of a hardware measuring unit and dedicated analysis software, enabling real-time visualization and evaluation of the key process parameters, pressure and temperature.
This makes sample preparation more efficient, protects temperature-sensitive materials, and ensures stable conditions even in demanding applications — for example in mechanochemical syntheses. GrindControl creates transparency in the ball milling process and forms the foundation for reliable and reproducible results.
Monitoring temperature and pressure provides significant advantages for optimally designing and controlling ball mill processes for particle size reduction, sample preparation, and research applications.
Pomaga poprawić:
Jakość : Pressure and temperature monitoring for reliable and reproducible results.
Wydajność : Real-time monitoring enables precise control of process conditions. Process parameters such as cooling, frequency, duration, and grinding pause intervals can be adjusted as needed.
Bezpieczeństwo : Critical changes in pressure and temperature can be detected at an early stage, preventing process errors and safety risks.
Research & development: Deeper insights into mechanochemical reactions can be obtained. The relationship between the results and the relevant state variables can be analyzed.
System GrindControl jest dostępny dla planetarnych młynów kulowych, młynów miksujących MM 500 nano/control oraz Emax. Obejmuje on sprzęt do pomiaru ciśnienia i temperatury oraz oprogramowanie analityczne.
Oprogramowanie GrindControl to niewielki i intuicyjny program, który można łatwo zainstalować na komputerze. Oprogramowanie rejestruje i przechowuje przesyłane dane dotyczące ciśnienia i temperatury. Dane są monitorowane w czasie rzeczywistym podczas pomiaru i mogą być eksportowane w formacie .pdf lub .csv po zakończeniu pomiaru. Więcej funkcji oprogramowania:
GrindControl supports a broad range of applications, delivering enhanced safety and accurate temperature regulation for controlled and reproducible ball milling.
During ball milling, temperature and pressure profiles can develop differently depending on the filling level of the grinding jar, the jar material, and the process parameters.
While temperature and pressure increase gradually during the wet grinding of corundum in a 250 ml grinding jar in a planetary ball mill (left diagram), a significantly stronger increase is observed at the same rotational speed in a 500 ml grinding jar with steel balls of larger diameter (right diagram).
By continuously monitoring these state variables with GrindControl, the process can be specifically controlled and overall operational safety can be enhanced. Grinding jars with elevated temperatures must only be handled with protective gloves. Pressurized grinding jars may only be opened with extreme caution.
In addition, GrindControl enables the optimal selection of grinding and pause times, particularly for long-term grinding processes.
When grinding temperature-sensitive materials, temperature control plays a crucial role. For such samples, targeted cooling or grinding pauses are often applied to protect sensitive substances from thermal damage. This is particularly advantageous when processing food products, organic samples, or during cell disruption, as it prevents the loss or denaturation of temperature-sensitive components.
In this example, the system is operated with the MM 500 control, which is connected to an external chiller. Using GrindControl, the process parameters inside the grinding chamber are continuously monitored. As illustrated, the grinding chamber is pre-cooled to below 10 °C and remains below room temperature throughout the entire process.
Continuous temperature monitoring with GrindControl enables precise process control, ensures reproducible results, and simultaneously protects sensitive materials.
Monitorowanie ciśnienia i temperatury zapewnia cenne informacje na temat tego, co dzieje się wewnątrz naczynia mielącego. GrindControl jest szeroko stosowany do badania syntez materiałów, takich jak stopowanie mechaniczne i inne reakcje mechanochemiczne.
Syntezę mechanochemiczną przeprowadzono w młynie MM 500 nano, z wykorzystaniem stalowego naczynia o pojemności 125 ml, wyposażonego w system GrindControl. Reaktanty oraz 32 kule o średnicy 10 mm mielono z częstotliwością 20 Hz w atmosferze powietrza. Po około 20 sekundach mielenia nastąpił zapłon, prowadzący do wzrostu ciśnienia do około 730 mbar oraz wzrostu temperatury. System GrindControl precyzyjnie zarejestrował moment zapłonu – kluczowy parametr dla tej samopodtrzymującej się reakcji syntezy mechanochemicznej (MSR). [8]
In research on sustainable cement, the GrindControl system supports the analysis of the mechanochemical activation of clay minerals. In this process, the pozzolanic reactivity can be significantly increased compared to untreated or calcined samples (see left figure). The activated clays serve as Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and enable a reduction in CO₂ emissions by partially replacing clinker.
Processing is carried out in a PM 100 planetary ball mill at 500 rpm, using a 500 ml grinding jar with twelve 20 mm stainless steel balls (ball-to-powder ratio of 25:1). By linking pressure and temperature data with reactivity measurements, the activation process can be specifically monitored and controlled. [9]
When processing temperature-sensitive materials, the temperature must be monitored precisely. With GrindControl, compliance with specified temperature limits can be reliably ensured.
During wet grinding processes, long grinding times and high energy input can lead to significant temperature increases and pressure build-up.
GrindControl enhances operational safety during handling and enables the optimization of grinding and pause intervals.
In mechanochemistry, specific temperature and pressure conditions are crucial.
With GrindControl, these parameters can be precisely monitored and systematically correlated with the respective reaction outcomes.
Aby znaleźć najlepsze rozwiązanie dla swojego zadania analitycznego, odwiedź naszą bazę danych o aplikacjach
The following videos provide a concise overview of the available versions, the system structure, and proper cleaning procedures.
This video introduces the different available GrindControl versions and explains the respective hardware components. It also provides an overview of compatibility with various mill types and materials.
This video demonstrates how to use the software and explains its structure. It also clearly illustrates the acquisition and visualization of the measured data.
This video demonstrates the proper cleaning procedure for the GrindControl system after use. It provides important instructions on safe handling and the preservation of components to ensure long-term and reliable operation.
Pressure and temperature are transmitted in real time via Bluetooth from the GrindControl electronics to a PC. The software records five measurements per second, generating a detailed log of the pressure and temperature profiles.
The sensors are integrated into the lid of the grinding jar, capturing the physical conditions in a way that most accurately reflects the environment inside the jar.
Sintered filters reliably protect the sensors from contact with solid sample material. At the same time, they prevent material from escaping the grinding jar when the gas inlets are used.
The software is available free of charge and is supported from Windows 11 onward.
| Aplikacje | pressure and temperature measuring for Planetary Ball Mills, Emax and Mixer Mills MM 500 nano/control |
| Pola zastosowań | biologia, chemia / tworzywa sztuczne, geologia / metalurgia, inżynieria / elektronika, material synthesis, materiały dla budownictwa, medycyna/farmacja, rolnictwo, szkło / ceramika, środowisko / recykling, żywność |
| Zakres pomiarowy | gas pressure: 0 - 500 kPa (5 bar) temperature: -20°C - +100 °C |
| Mielenie suche | Tak |
| Mielenie mokre | Tak |
| Mielenie kriogeniczne | yes min. -20 °C |
| Rodzaje naczyń mielących | Screw-Lock (MM) and EasyFit jars (PM) |
| Wykonanie materiałowe elementów rozdrabniających | utwardzana stal nierdzewna, tlenek cyrkonu |
| Wielkości naczyń mielących | 125 ml (MM); 50 - 500 ml (PM) |
| Transmission frequency | 5 /s |
| Interfejs | |
| Dane elektryczne | battery (up to 80 h operation time) |
| Akcesoria | opening aid, cleaning tools, o-ring, Software download, sintered filter, (lid insert not included) |
| Waga netto | lid with sensor unit 360 g (MM) 1780 g / 1140 g (PM) |
| Normy / Standardy | CE |
| Wymagania techniczne | PC with Windows 11 and Bluetooth 5.0 or higher |
| Oprogramowanie | monitorowanie danych pomiarowych na żywo, pełny protokół pomiarowy, szablony do przechowywania, lista wykonanych pomiarów, eksport danych w formacie .pdf i .csv |
Z zastrzeżeniem zmian technicznych i błędów
[8] Reaction scheme and performance of the experiments: Dr. Matej Balaz, Institute of Geotechnics, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS).
[9]: Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Centre for Climate Adaptation & Environment Research, University of Bath
