Modern industrial production typically processes quartz through through an integrated grinding and classification system, featuring a Jet Mill and an Air Classifier. Let’s clarify the roles of these two key pieces of equipment.
Clarifying the Core Concepts: Jet Mill vs. Classifier Mill
Jet Mill (Air Jet Mill): Its core principle is about size reduction or comminution. It uses supersonic compressed air to accelerate particles, causing them to collide with each other and break apart. Crucially, a stand-alone jet mill does not include a precise classification function.
Air Classifier: Its core principle is separation. It separates already-crushed materials based on particle size by using centrifugal force and airflow. The system collects fine particles and rejects coarse particles for further grinding.
The term Air Classifier Mill usually refers to a Mechanical Impact Mill with an integrated classification wheel (e.g., a vertical roller mill). This type of equipment combines crushing and preliminary sorting within a single unit.
The Preferred Process for Quartz: Jet Mill + Air Classifier System
For hard materials like quartz (Mohs hardness 7) that require strict purity and a tight particle size distribution, the Jet Mill + High-Efficiency Dynamic Air Classifier system represents the industry’s advanced and mainstream configuration.
How the Integrated System Works:
- Pre-crushed quartz feedstock is fed into the jet mill’s grinding chamber.
- Supersonic nozzles accelerate the particles and comminute them primarily through inter-particle collision.
- The air stream then transports the ground material to a high-efficiency dynamic air classifier, which is typically mounted on or integrated with the mill.
- The classifier’s high-speed rotating wheel acts as a precise “screen,” allowing only fine particles smaller than the target cut-point to pass through as the final product.
- The classifier wheel rejects oversized coarse particles and automatically returns them to the jet mill’s chamber for further grinding.
Why is this System the Great Standard for Quartz?
Guaranteed High Purity: Jet milling is a pure physical process with no moving grinding parts. This results in minimal equipment wear and prevents metallic contamination, which is critical for high-purity quartz—a massive advantage over mechanical mills.
Precise Particle Size Control: The independent, high-efficiency air classifier allows for extremely precise control over the final product’s top cut point (D97). It can easily produce superfine powders with a narrow, consistent particle size distribution.
Low Iron Contamination: Manufacturers can line the entire system’s internal surfaces with ceramic, polyurethane, or other wear-resistant materials, which ensures an extremely low iron content in the product.
High Efficiency: The closed-loop system continuously recycles oversize material for re-grinding, maximizing overall grinding efficiency and preventing energy waste on already-in-spec fines.
Why Not Use a Stand-Alone Air Classifier Mill?
While mechanical impact mills with integrated classifiers have their place (e.g., for softer minerals like calcium carbonate with lower purity demands), they show significant disadvantages for processing quartz:
- Contamination Risk: The grinding rollers, pins, and tables in a mechanical mill suffer severe wear when processing hard quartz, introducing iron and other metal impurities. This makes them unsuitable for high-end applications like solar PV or semiconductor-grade quartz.
- Fineness Limitation: For very fine powders (e.g., D97 < 20µm), the grinding energy and classification precision of an integrated classifier mill are often inferior to a dedicated jet mill-classifier system.
- Rapid Component Wear: Processing quartz causes high wear and tear on the mill’s consumable parts, leading to increased maintenance costs and downtime.
Summary Comparison
| Fonctionnalité | Jet Mill + Air Classifier System | Mechanical Impact Mill (Classifier Mill) |
| Working Principle | Particle-on-particle impact + External precision classification | Impact & compression + Internal preliminary classification |
| Final Product Purity | Extremely High, no metallic contamination | Lower, risk of wear contamination |
| Final Product Fineness | Capable of superfine, narrow distribution powders | Best for medium-fine powders; less efficient for superfines |
| Equipment Wear | Very Low | Significant |
| Consommation d'énergie | Higher (relative) | Lower (relative) |
| Ideal For | High-End Quartz:Semiconductor, Solar PV, High-Grade Fillers | Standard Quartz: Construction, Ceramic Body, etc. |
For producing high-purity, high-value quartz powder for applications like semiconductors, photovoltaics, and advanced coatings, the integrated Jet Mill and Air Classifier system is the unequivocal choice. For standard-grade applications where purity and precise particle size are less critical, a cost-effective mechanical impact mill may be used.
Poudre épique
As a leading innovator in size reduction technology, Poudre épique Machinery specializes in designing and manufacturing advanced grinding systems. We offer customized solutions, including Jet Mill and Air Classifier system described above, ensuring high purity, precise particle size control, and exceptional efficiency for demanding applications like quartz processing. Feel free to contact us at mineral@epic-powder.com.
Merci de votre lecture. J'espère que cet article vous sera utile. N'hésitez pas à laisser un commentaire ci-dessous. Vous pouvez également contacter le service client en ligne d'EPIC Powder. Zelda pour toute autre question.
— Jason Wang, Ingénieur principal
