2 replies to this topic

[tamaldas]

Hi everyone, I normally use lead balls as media in my ball mill. But as lead is harmful to human body I'd like to shift to another media. I have lots of ball bearing balls in my couboard but never used it as b'mill media . My question is can the balls of bearing be used as media? Is there any chance of frictional ignition ? tamaldas

[Arthur Brown]

Lead media is favoured because of it's low probability of sparking while milling. So there is the choice of lead toxicity vs lead media safety from mill jar explosion.

Better lead based media is hardened with a few % of antimony, but you would then have to source this rather odd alloy yourself.

Some alumina based ceramics make good media, considered safe for milling, but more expensive to buy.

Steel is too likely to spark while milling - risking a mill jar explosion. Glass leaves small chips of glass in the product which can easily change it's properties.

[digger]

There have been a few discussions on here over the years regarding media, so it is worth a search.

As Arthur says Antimony/Lead alloy media are easy to make onself. 10% Antimony makes a good hard alloy.

another alternative is to use 316 stainless steel balls or even brass rods.