Polyethylene

We used the Variable Speed Rotor Mill PULVERISETTE 14 premium line with cutting mill conversion and high-performance cyclone separator. A standard cutting mill would not be capable to reduced the start size any further. Also the high-performance cyclone separator was required. With the attached exhaust system, an air flow up 2800 liters per minute removes particles which are able to pass the sieve shells perforations. Without a cyclone, sample would remain in the grinding chamber due to electrostatic charging.

We prepared a batch of 100 grams of the PE sample. The sample was transferred continuously into the feeding funnel. The grinding sound was typical and the feeding was finished after 5 minutes. Inside the grinding chamber, a few electrostatically charged particles were brushed into the high-performance cyclone separator. The 0,12mm perforated sieve shells were not significantly clogged with sample; surely higher amounts of sample can be ground this way, too.

We were capable to pack 94 grams of ground sample from the cyclones collecting glass. At least we checked and compared the achieved fineness by optical microscopy. As expected, the ground particles had shown a width of ~100-130 µm.

Cleaning was performed rapidly by vacuuming with a soft brush.