What Particle Size Can ACM Mill Achieve
The ACM mill (Air Classifier Mill) combines high-speed impact grinding and built-in dynamic air classification. Particle size results are typically expressed as D97 (97% of particles are smaller than the stated value).
Achievable Particle Size
- Common commercial range: D97 10 μm ~ D97 75 μm. This is the main working range for most minerals, chemical additives, battery precursors and food-grade powders.
- Fine end (brittle, soft materials): Can reach D97 5 μm with optimized setup: high classifier wheel speed, matched hammer configuration, proper airflow and low feed rate.
- Coarse end: Up to D97 150–200 μm by reducing classifier speed, used when excess ultra-fines are unwanted.
Practical lower limit: For most materials, it is difficult to stably produce D97 <5 μm with an ACM mill. Submicron powder generally requires jet mills instead.
Factors Determining Final Particle Size
- Classifier wheel speed: The primary online adjustable parameter. Higher speed gives finer top cut; lower speed produces coarser powder.
- Rotor tip speed & hammer count: Controls impact energy and how many fines are generated, as discussed earlier.
- System airflow: Controls particle residence time inside the grinding chamber. Longer residence time creates more fine particles.
- Material characteristics: Brittle materials such as calcite, kaolin, talc are easier to grind fine. Elastic, tough, or fibrous materials are hard to reach small particle sizes.
- Feed size: Recommended feed size ≤ 8–10 mm. Larger feed particles will reduce grinding efficiency and worsen PSD consistency.
JACAN ACM Performance Reference
JACAN ACM series can be tuned to obtain powder from D97 5 μm up to D97 150 μm. Ceramic-lined rotor and grinding chamber options are available for high-purity applications to avoid iron contamination during fine grinding.
ACM mill excels at fine powder with a sharp top cut and controllable PSD. It is ideal for products requiring D97 5–150 μm, but not the best choice for mass production of submicron powders.
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