1. Project Overview & Challenges
Mozambique natural graphite is a premium material known for its high crystallinity and intact flake structure. However, its self-lubricating nature and high toughness make it one of the most difficult materials to process using traditional mechanical grinding. The client sought to utilize graphite as a precursor for high-end applications, including lubricants, conductive coatings, and lithium-ion battery anode materials. This application imposes high requirements on the material’s particle size distribution (PSD) and fineness, specifically targeting a particle size of d97 ≤ 4μm. To achieve this high standard, the project centered on the ultra-fine grinding of natural graphite utilizing advanced jet milling technology.
2. The Solution: MQW Series Fluidized Bed Jet Mill
To meet these requirements, EPIC Powder utilized the MQW Series Fluidized Bed Jet Mill. Unlike mechanical impact mills, the MQW series uses fluid dynamics to ensure purity and precision.
Why the MQW Series was selected:
- Zero Contamination: The “self-grinding” mechanism uses supersonic airflow to cause particles to collide with each other, rather than the machine walls. This eliminates secondary metallic impurities.
- Morphology Preservation: Graphite’s flake structure is its most valuable asset. Our isothermal grinding process (using expanding compressed gas) prevents heat buildup, keeping the crystalline structure intact.
- High-Precision Sınıflandırma: Equipped with a horizontal, high-speed classifying wheel to ensure the final powder has an extremely narrow PSD.
3. Technical Parameters & Performance Results
The following data was captured during the trial phase at the EPIC Powder R&D Center using Mozambique graphite:
| Indicator | Experimental Parameters |
| Raw Material Feed Size | 100-200 mesh (Coarse Graphite) |
| Final Product (d97) | 3.76 μm |
| Classifier Speed | 5,500 – 6,200 RPM |
| Grinding Pressure | 0.7 – 0.8 MPa |
| Particle Morphology | Intact flake structure; excellent dispersibility |
4. Conclusion & Value Delivery
By implementing the MQW Jet Milling system, the client successfully transitioned from raw coarse graphite to a high-value, ultra-fine powder suitable for the EV battery market. The project proved that EPIC Powder’s graphite jet milling could achieve sub-4-micron fineness without sacrificing the material’s natural lubricating properties.
