Mill Loading Guidelines

Mill Loading Guidelines

Mills are referred to by their total volume and also by their working volume. Generally, a mill's working volume is 25% of the total volume. That is 20% theoretical void space between the media spheres plus 5%.

• 100 gallon mill
• 50 gallons media
• 25 gallons of solids

For wet milling, the fill level is between 25% and 60% of the mills volume depending on the percent solids in the liquid and the viscosity. Typical viscosity handled in wet mills is between 2,000 to 3,000 centipoise. The rheological nature of the product (i.e., thixotropic or dilatant) may increase or decrease the apparent viscosity.

Surfactants (i.e., wetting agents) - Surfactant can be used to lower the surface tension of the liquid allowing it to flow more readily and solids to better disperse. This may be very important in overcoming strong intermolecular attractions that bind particles. Surfactants may be anionic, cationic, or nonionic.