Introduction
In the realm of industrial grinding and dispersion, the choice of grinding media plays a pivotal role in determining the efficiency, quality, and cost – effectiveness of the process. ZTA (Zirconia Toughened Alumina) Grinding Media, also known as Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) Ceramic Balls, have emerged as a superior choice for a wide range of industries. Developed by Zibo Yiho Wear Ceramics Co., Ltd., these ceramic balls combine the best of both alumina and zirconia, offering a unique set of properties that make them ideal for high – performance grinding applications.
What is ZTA (Zirconia Toughened Alumina)?
ZTA is a composite material crafted from a blend of alumina and zirconia. This combination results in a material that inherits the outstanding characteristics of both its constituents. Alumina provides a solid base with good hardness and chemical resistance, while zirconia contributes enhanced toughness and thermal stability. Through a meticulous manufacturing process, including ball milling to a specific fineness, spray granulation, forming by sintering, and calcination in a tunnel kiln, ZTA balls are produced. These balls not only offer an improved grinding cost – performance ratio but also enrich the product line of ceramic grinding balls.
Key Features and Advantages
Superior Mechanical Properties
- High Hardness and Wear Resistance: ZTA balls exhibit high strength and outstanding wear resistance. They are stiffer than alumina and have wear resistance equivalent to zirconia. This means they can withstand the abrasive forces during the grinding process, maintaining their shape and integrity over an extended period. The high hardness ensures efficient grinding of various materials, reducing the need for frequent replacement.
- High Strength and Specific Rigidity: Approximately twice as strong as alumina, ZTA balls contribute to low – weight design through high specific rigidity. This strength allows them to handle high – load grinding operations without deformation, making them suitable for demanding industrial applications.
- Thermal Stability: ZTA balls possess high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion. The low thermal expansion is equivalent to that of alumina, which helps suppress thermal deformation. This characteristic makes them suitable for components that require a cooling mechanism, enabling stable performance even in high – temperature environments.
Chemical and Surface Properties
- Corrosion Resistance: ZTA balls have high corrosion resistance, along with high fracture toughness. They can resist the attack of various chemicals, ensuring their longevity in harsh chemical environments.
- Smooth Surface: The super smooth surface of ZTA balls reduces friction and wear during the grinding process. This not only protects the balls themselves but also minimizes the contamination of the ground materials, resulting in a purer end – product.
ZTA vs. Conventional Alumina & Zirconia
Comparison with Conventional Alumina
Compared to conventional alumina, ZTA has superior hardness, higher flexural strength, and similar density. The enhanced hardness and strength of ZTA make it more suitable for grinding hard and abrasive materials, while the similar density allows for comparable operational performance in terms of impact energy.
Comparison with Conventional Zirconia
In contrast to conventional zirconia, ZTA has a lower coefficient of linear thermal expansion and higher thermal conductivity. The lower thermal expansion reduces the risk of thermal cracking during rapid temperature changes, and the higher thermal conductivity enables better heat dissipation, improving the overall performance and lifespan of the balls.
Applications of ZTA Ceramic Balls
Industrial Coatings and Pigments
ZTA grinding media is widely used in the coatings, paint, and pigment industries. It is used to disperse pigments and other components evenly, ensuring the production of high – quality coatings with consistent color and texture. The wear resistance and corrosion resistance of ZTA balls make them ideal for the harsh chemical environments encountered in these industries.
Ceramics and Electronic Ceramics
In the ceramics industry, ZTA balls are used to grind ceramic powders to the desired fine particle sizes. They are particularly suitable for electronic ceramics, where high – precision and high – quality materials are required. The high strength and hardness of ZTA balls ensure efficient grinding without introducing impurities, contributing to the excellent electrical and physical properties of the final electronic ceramic products.
Nanomaterials and Lithium Batteries
ZTA balls are also applied in the production of nanomaterials, such as lithium battery materials, barium sulfate, grinding ceramic ink, etc. Their ability to grind materials to extremely fine particle sizes without significant contamination makes them ideal for nano – particle size production. In the lithium battery industry, ZTA balls help produce high – quality battery materials, contributing to the development of more efficient and reliable batteries.
Other Industries
ZTA grinding media is also used in the food, chemical, textile, and electronics industries. In the food industry, it is used for grinding food ingredients while maintaining hygiene and purity. In the chemical industry, it is used for grinding chemicals, and in the textile and electronics industries, it is used for various grinding and milling processes.
Technical Specifications and Properties
Chemical Composition
Different grades of ZTA balls, such as ZTA370, ZTA380, ZTA450, ZTA470, and ZTA500, have varying chemical compositions. For example, ZTA370 has an Al₂O₃ content of ≥87% and a ZrO₂ content of ≥5%, while ZTA500 has a ZrO₂ content of ≥75%.
Physical Properties
- Hardness: ZTA balls have a high hardness, with HV hardness values of ≥12.5 GPa.
- Crushing Strength: The crushing strength of ZTA balls varies depending on the size, with values such as ≥1000N (ø3mm), ≥12000N (ø8mm), etc.
- Wear Loss Rate: The wear loss rate of ZTA balls is low, with values of ≤1.5 g/kg·h for most grades, and as low as ≤1.0 g/kg·h for some.
- Thermal Properties: ZTA balls have high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion, as mentioned earlier.
- Other Properties: They have a large specific gravity, high abrasion resistance, PPM abrasion grade, and super smooth surface. The water absorption is less than 0.01, and the bulk density ranges from ≥3.7 g/cm³ to ≥5.0 g/cm³.
Why Choose Yiho’s ZTA Grinding Media?
Quality Assurance
Zibo Yiho Wear Ceramics Co., Ltd. maintains stringent quality control measures throughout the manufacturing processes. This ensures the consistent performance and reliability of ZTA grinding media, providing customers with high – quality products that meet their specific requirements.
Customization and Service
Yiho offers different package options to meet different customer’s requirements, including wooden crates, drums, plastic pallets, bulk packing, and plastic buckets. The company also provides professional technical support and customized solutions, ensuring that customers get the most suitable ZTA grinding media for their applications.
Conclusion
ZTA (Zirconia Toughened Alumina) Grinding Media from Zibo Yiho Wear Ceramics Co., Ltd. are the ultimate choice for high – performance grinding and dispersion applications. With their superior material properties, wide range of applications, and customizable specifications, they can meet the diverse needs of various industries. Whether you are in the coatings, ceramics, nanomaterials, or other industries, our ZTA grinding media will provide you with efficient, reliable, and contamination – free grinding solutions. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can support your business needs.