Grinding Media

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Grinding Media Services

Selecting the proper media for grinding and milling operations is essential. Grinding media is used in these processes to grind or crush material to both reduce particle size and refine material. Grinding media is available in a broad variety of materials, shapes, and sizes. Which media is appropriate depends on the specifics of the intended application.
Mixing, crushing, dispersing, and purifying variable materials generally requires some type of grinding media ball or bead. Various properties influence how the work material is processed and how long the media can be used for. Many facets of grinding media can be customized, such as:

• Material composition
• Density
• Bulk density
• Hardness
• Surface finish
• Color

STR Industries is a professional ball manufacturer, and we have been manufacturing media for 30 years. We are TS 16949(auto industry standard, higher than ISO 9001) certified. Our 200,000 square foot facilities produce more than 400 metric tons of balls per month. Our product sizes range from 0.8mm to 80mm in chrome, carbon, stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic materials.

Our grinding media is approved by customers not only in the ink but also pigment, paste, ferrite, and food industries. We have been providing customers worldwide directly with our products, saving a substantial amount of money. If you are not sure what media you need, we offer free consultations to make sure you get the perfect product for your operation. Our team includes experienced ceramic, mechanical, and electrical engineers who are happy to lend their expertise and help solve any challenges you might face. We utilize state-of-the-art diamond grinding and precision measuring capabilities to ensure every part meets the tightest tolerances. Whether you need an existing solution adapted or a completely new product developed, you can rely on us for guidance and support every step of the way.

Ceramic Media (Beads/Balls)

Next Generation Ceramic Media

Ceramic media is ideal for applications that call for highly efficient grinding with low grinding media abrasion. With a hardness rating of 9+ on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond, ceramic media delivers exceptional resistance to wear from sliding abrasion or erosion. This means you can count on consistent performance and longevity, making it a top choice for demanding grinding environments where durability and efficiency are key. Applications where mixing and dispersing effects impact the final outcome of a project will benefit from the use of ceramic media.

While steel media is common for grinding in many instances, it cannot be used to manufacture bright colors. Contamination from the steel is also an issue for some product types.

Ceramic beads present a number of benefits, such as:

• Higher density
• Similar performance to steel
• Reduced product contamination
• Ideal for use with white or bright colors
• Longer service life
• Available in nano sizes

At STR, we offer grinding media with ceramic materials such as:

Advanced Manufacturing and Finishing Capabilities

Our ceramic media is produced in facilities certified to internationally recognized ISO 9002 quality standards. Each batch benefits from precision diamond grinding and advanced finishing technologies, ensuring exceptionally tight tolerances for even the most demanding applications.

Additionally, our experienced team of ceramic, mechanical, and electrical engineers is available to collaborate with you—offering technical expertise and hands-on support, whether you’re troubleshooting a process or seeking guidance for a specialized project.

Gas and Liquid Impermeability

Structural ceramics excel in applications where absolute impermeability is a requirement. These materials are engineered to prevent the passage of both liquids and gases—making them an excellent choice for use in demanding hermetic environments. Their dense, non-porous structure provides complete resistance to fluid and gas infiltration, ensuring reliable performance in critical sealing or containment applications.

Zirconium Oxide (Zirconia)

Zirconia is used in grinding media, cutting tools, jewelry, refractory materials and a variety of other applications due to beneficial physical properties such as high hardness, strength, toughness, excellent wear resistance, electrical conductivity, and low thermal conductivity.

These formulations are also essential for processes like deagglomeration, mixing, and particle size reduction—making zirconia a go-to material in industries ranging from electronics and minerals to floor and wall tile, sanitaryware, tableware, and paints and coatings. Advanced diamond grinding and precise measuring enable the production of tightly toleranced zirconia parts, ensuring consistency and reliability in demanding applications. With the support of multidisciplinary engineering teams, zirconia-based products can be tailored for unique performance requirements across a broad spectrum of technical and industrial uses.

Extreme Temperature Stability of Structural Ceramics

Structural ceramics are renowned for their ability to maintain mechanical stability even under extremely high temperatures. Unlike many materials that weaken or deform, these ceramics show no cold flow and retain their strength when continuously used at temperatures exceeding 2000°F (1093°C). In some scenarios, they can even withstand intermittent spikes up to 3000°F (1649°C) without suffering permanent damage. This remarkable resistance to heat makes them an excellent choice for applications demanding long-term durability in high-temperature environments.

Zirconia beads make the best use of the structural properties in specific characters of zirconia. The various classifications of zirconia include:

• Fully-stabilized Zirconia (FSZ)
• Partial-stabilized Zirconia (PSZ)
• Tetragonal Zirconia polycrystal (TZP)
• Tetragonal toughened Zirconia (TTZ)
• Zircon (Zirconium silicate)

Featuring high density and exceptional hardness, Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Beads ZY offer higher productivity, longer mill life, and lower long-term operational costs. These 100% round and uniform beads are available in sizes ranging from 0.1–2.7 mm.

Ceria Stabilized Zirconia Beads CZ offer the highest density, optimized wear resistance, and cost effectiveness as an efficient milling media. Available sizes range from 0.3–2.7 mm, and these beads are also guaranteed to be 100% round and uniform.

Other Grinding Media

Aluminum Oxide (Alumina)

Aluminum oxide is known for its high strength and surface area properties, along with corrosion and heat resistance. In addition to fending off rust, it stands up impressively well against a wide range of harsh substances—corrosive liquids, acids, alkalis, organic solvents, molten salts, and even molten metals rarely make a dent. This robust resistance makes aluminum oxide a popular choice in environments where lesser materials would quickly succumb to chemical attack.