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What Grinding Methods Are Available for Sample Preparation in the Laboratory?
Release time:
Dec 06,2025
The core of laboratory sample grinding lies in selecting methods based on the sample’s state (solid/semisolid), hardness, and required grinding precision. There are 5 mainstream methods tailored to different scenarios:
I. Manual Grinding: Simple & Convenient for Small-Scale Samples
Core Tools: Mortar (agate, ceramic, or glass material) + Pestle
Application Scenarios: Small quantities of solid samples (e.g., crystals, powders) or low-hardness samples (e.g., plant tissues, soft minerals) requiring rapid preparation of coarse or fine powders.
Features: Flexible operation, no power supply needed, and low cost. However, it has low efficiency, limited grinding precision, and a risk of contamination (requires selecting a mortar material inert to the sample).
II. Ball Mill Grinding: Efficient & Uniform for Batch/Fine Grinding
Core Tools: Planetary ball mill, roller ball mill (equipped with agate, zirconia, or stainless steel grinding balls)
Application Scenarios: Batch processing, high-uniformity requirements, or ultra-fine powder preparation (e.g., nanoscale, micron-scale), such as ores, metal powders, and polymer materials.
Features: Breaks samples through impact and friction of grinding balls, offering high efficiency and uniform particle size. Grinding precision can be adjusted by controlling rotation speed and time; some models support cryogenic grinding (to prevent sample degradation).
III. Vibratory Grinding: Rapid Fine Crushing for Medium-Small Samples
Core Tools: Vibratory grinder (equipped with specialized grinding jars and beads)
Application Scenarios: Medium-hardness samples (e.g., rocks, soil, pharmaceutical granules) requiring rapid fine powder preparation (above 100 mesh), such as soil sample pretreatment in environmental testing.
Features: High vibration frequency enables fast crushing (completes grinding in minutes) with minimal sample loss. Compatible with grinding jars of different materials to avoid contamination.
IV. Cryogenic Grinding: Activity Preservation for Thermosensitive/Degradable Samples
Core Tools: Cryogenic grinder (equipped with liquid nitrogen cooling system)
Application Scenarios: Thermosensitive samples (e.g., enzymes, proteins), oxidizable samples (e.g., metal elements), and tough, hard-to-break samples (e.g., rubber, biological tissues).
Features: Rapid cooling to -196℃ with liquid nitrogen embrittles samples for easy crushing while preserving their activity. Sealed grinding process reduces contamination and oxidation.
V. Specialized Grinder Grinding: Targeted for Specific Requirements
Core Tools: High-speed rotary grinder, mortar grinder, disc grinder
Application Scenarios:High-speed rotary grinders: Suitable for fibrous samples (e.g., wood, paper)；Mortar grinders: Suitable for high-hardness samples (e.g., corundum, ceramics)；Disc grinders: Suitable for continuous fine crushing of large quantities of samples (e.g., ore processing, building material testing).
Features: Strong targeting for special-shaped samples. Some models allow adjusting grinding gaps to control particle size and support continuous feeding for high efficiency.
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