Ball milling is a mechanical process used to grind materials into extremely fine powder. In this method, a combination of materials and balls (typically made of steel, ceramic, or tungsten carbide) are placed in a rotating cylindrical container. As the container rotates, the balls move around and collide with the materials, causing them to break down into finer particles. This process is widely used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, ceramics, and metallurgy, for purposes such as material blending, particle size reduction, and synthesis of new phases. The key aspects of ball milling include the type of mill (e.g., planetary, vibratory), milling time, milling speed, and the ball-to-material ratio, all of which can significantly influence the final product's characteristics.
