Ultrafine Grinding with Emax - High Energy Ball Mill

The E_max is a revolutionary ball mill designed for high-energy milling. Its unique combination of intense friction and impact produces ultrafine particles in the shortest possible time.

• The unique jar design delivers a narrow particle size distribution, which improves mixing of the sample
• Water cooling enables continuous operation without cool-down breaks
• Speed of 2000 min^-1 allows for ultra-fast pulverization of the sample
• Temperature-controlled grinding
• Delivers faster and finer size reduction than alternative ball mills

E_max High Energy Ball Mill - Operation video. Video Credit: Retsch GmbH

Faster, Finer, Cooler: The Most Powerful Ball Mill

• GrindControl to gauge the jar's internal pressure and temperature
• A maximum feed size of 5 mm and a final fineness of 0.08 µm
• Two grinding stations for jars between 50 mL and 125 mL
• Maximum speed 2000 rpm
• Storable standard operating procedures and cycle programs, four distinct jar materials for wet and dry grinding
• Aeration lids to regulate the atmosphere inside the jar
• Temperature monitoring and temperature-controlled grinding, water-cooling of jars

Image Credit: Retsch GmbH

Application Examples

The E_max can be used with carbon fibers, cellulose, pigments, alloys, ores, catalysts, tobacco, chemical products, sewage sludge, waste samples, ceramics, bones, cement clinker, concrete, iron ore, paper, clay minerals, semi-precious stones, plant materials, minerals, soils, limestone, polymers, coal, gypsum, tea, coke, fibers, kaolin, wood, glass, quartz, metal oxides, and slag.

Unique Grinding Jar Geometry

The High Energy Ball Mill E_max integrates intensive friction, high‑frequency impact, and precisely controlled circular jar movements into a unique mechanism that achieves highly effective size reduction.

Image Credit: Retsch GmbH

E_max - Function and Features

Intuitive Operation

Inserting the grinding jar. Image Credit: Retsch GmbH

Closing the jar clamp. Image Credit: Retsch GmbH

Operating the touchscreen. Image Credit: Retsch GmbH

No More Cooling Breaks

Highly Efficient Cooling System

The major challenge in developing a high‑energy ball mill lies in controlling temperature, as the immense energy required for size reduction generates significant heat inside the grinding jar.

RETSCH overcame this problem by introducing an integrated water cooling system. This system prevents the need for cooling breaks that are typically required in traditional long-term milling processes, even at low speed.

The cooling system in the E_max cools the grinding jars through jar brackets, which makes it an effective process, as heat is more easily dissipated into water than into air. Users can select from three cooling modes. Alongside the internal cooling system, the mill may be connected to a tap or chiller for further temperature reduction.

Image Credit: Retsch GmbH

Function Principle

Grind Sizes in the Submicron Range

The High Energy Ball Mill E_max integrates precisely controlled circular jar movements, intensive friction, and high‑frequency impact into a unique mechanism that achieves highly effective size reduction. The oval-shaped grinding jars are mounted on two discs, which rotate the jars in a circular motion, without altering their orientation.

The relationship between the jar movement and its geometry creates intense friction between the sample material, grinding balls, and jar walls. The rapid acceleration generated makes the balls strike the sample at the rounded ends of the jars. This ensures proper mixing of particles, resulting in narrower particle size distribution and smaller grind sizes when compared to other traditional ball milling methods.

Video Credit: Retsch GmbH

For Safe and Effective Grinding Processes

Accessories for Maximum Flexibility

Grinding Jars in Three Different Materials

Stainless steel, tungsten carbide, and zirconium oxide are among the materials available in grinding jar sizes of 50 mL, 80 mL, and 125 mL, ensuring contamination-free sample preparation. Depending on the material, grinding balls come in sizes ranging from 0.1 mm to 25 mm.

Image Credit: Retsch GmbH

Aeration Lid (Video)

Working with aeration lids. Video Credit: Retsch GmbH

For applications where a specific atmosphere needs to be maintained in the ball mill jar, RETSCH provides a unique aeration lid for the grinding jars.

GrindControl

The pressure and temperature inside the jar are measured by the GrindControl. The system includes a sensor, a transmission device, and analytic software.

Image Credit: Retsch GmbH

Technical Data

Source: Retsch GmbH

^*depending on feed material and instrument configuration/settings