Sample assessment
The feed was described as coarse iron-oxide magnetic microspheres. Initial distribution and magnetic properties were not measured in the test record.
Analyst consideration: For magnetic microspheres, a smaller characteristic size could mean changed sphere morphology as well as reduced dimensions. Physical shape and magnetic requirements should be evaluated alongside the below 3 µm result.
Recorded objective
Reach below 3 µm.
Equipment and selection
The machine entry is XQM. TENCAN Vertical Planetary Ball Mill is associated at the recorded series level. No exact housing variant is inferred from jar capacity or an abbreviated machine label.
Test setup
| Jar entry | PTFE250 |
|---|---|
| Media entry | Zirconia balls |
| Media-charge notation | Standard charge; individual specification not recorded |
| Sample-load entry | 28 (unit not stated) |
| Controller speed setting | 350 |
| Cycle notation | 5/1 |
Unlabelled jar, media and load numbers remain source notation, not assigned units. Controller settings are not certified rpm. The cycle notation has no independently stated timing unit or reversing definition.
Recorded procedure and results
The procedure used an XQM planetary machine, PTFE jar and zirconia balls for dry milling of 28 g material at setting 350. Recorded sizes were 4.2 µm at thirty minutes, 3 µm at sixty minutes and 2.5 µm at ninety minutes. No adhesion or other adverse outcome was recorded.
Interpretation
The final reported size lies below the stated numerical target. The source does not label these sizes as D50, D90 or maxima, so the result cannot be restated as every particle below 3 µm. Magnetic performance was not evaluated.
Practical precautions
Confirm the analytical size definition and media charge before repeating. Inspect morphology and any application-specific magnetic requirements separately from the recorded size endpoint.
TENCAN alternatives to evaluate
TENCAN Omnidirectional Planetary Ball Mill. For iron-oxide microspheres, assembly tumbling can be compared at the same thirty-, sixty- and ninety-minute points. Keep PTFE contact and the size-measurement definition consistent. Tumbling changes redistribution and media contact, so matched samples can test whether the sphere-fragment population changes under a different motion rather than assume finer is always preferable. This is an untested comparison proposal, not a result of this trial.
Association follows the explicit XQM source entry; only recorded tested series/configurations are related. No jar-volume inference.
About this trial
TENCAN laboratory trial, 2017–2020. Observations above come from this experimental record; selection considerations and proposed comparisons are engineering interpretation. Results apply to this sample and recorded conditions.