Pigment Grinding Options

1. Small size high speed disperser/attritor with grinding beads

inside
a. Pros
i. This is classically what is used for amounts 0-10L,
Lab amount.
ii. Black pigments possibly taking 10+ hours of max
speed dispersion + grinding media to complete.
Attritors are quicker
iii. Likely a cheap alternative for the process and
amounts we will be working with while still giving us
the flexibility for mixing and changing constituents of
the paint.
b. Cons
i. Not very scalable and is the most time consuming
process
c. Costs
i. Small Lab High speed disperser 3HP: $700-1200used,
1500-2000new
1. http://www.mixerdirect.com/high-sheardispersers/bench-scale-dispersers.html?
dp_motor_type=578&explosion_proof=540
a. Local, Kentucky
2. https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/lab-high-speed-disperser.html
a. International China
3. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?
_from=R40&_trksid=p2374313.m570.l1313.TR
0.TRC0.H0.Xhigh+speed+disperser.TRS0&_nkw
=high+speed+disperser&_sacat=26235
a. Local, used
4. http://www.phxequip.com/subcategory.179.0/mi
lls-attritors.aspx
a. local, attritor, 0-1Gal
ii. 4-6 kg Y-TZP 2mm Grinding Media - $100
1. https://www.americanelements.com/yttriastabilized-zirconia-grinding-beads-308076-80-4
2. expected $20/kg
iii. Disperser blade head 4in diameter - $100
1. http://www.mixerdirect.com/impellers/highshear/dispersion-blade.html?
impeller_diameter=525
d. Description of process
i. Raw materials to be loaded then grinding media to
be loaded at 0.75kg Ce-TZP beads/1kg material.
Grinded for 5-8 hours with periodic fineness checks.

2. Small grinding mill

a. Pros
i. Large scale up possibility
ii. Grind large amounts between 40-250L
b. Cons
i. Unable to grind for small amounts used in lab testing
c. Costs
3. Ask any paints manufacturing company to grind.
a. Pros
i. No capital cost.
ii. Good option for if only a few batches
iii. Local: Vista Paints, Dunn Edwards Paints
b. Cons
i. Cannot alter formula and other parts as easily during
process
c. Costs
i. TBD
Spray gun Options
1. Spray gun (HVLP, LVLP)
a. Specifications
i. Full cone

ii.
iii. Full cone head creates better spread Im more
familiar with these conventional spray guns so if I
would be the one operating I would want to go with
this one.
iv. High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) Siphon (pictured
on left)
1. Working at 26-29psi, 10-14 cfm
v. Low Volume Low Pressure (LVLP) Gravity (pictured on
right)
1. Working at 10-15psi, 5-7cfm
vi. Transfer efficiency 40-50%
vii. Comparing the two, it all depends on volume. The
siphon gun works at a higher pressure and can take

higher volumes of paint while the gravity one works

at a lower pressure and lower volumes of paint.
b. Cost
i. Gravity: DeVilbiss Finishline 4 FLG-670 HVLP Spray
Paint Gun - $200
ii. Siphon: - $230
https://www.zoro.com/binks-hvlp-spray-gun-pressure7041-6931-1/i/G2061595/?
gclid=Cj0KEQjw7Ne_BRDRmP2ojKfzv98BEiQAPuqPyX
uWo_CkgXvfJUaZdcxwdQxncI_JthhPfp43PW1DuzUaAh
8w8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds
iii. Air pressurizer - $170 -200
http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/product_details.jsp?
pid=108623&mode=seeAll&&sid=IDx20110411x000
008&scid=scplpU991108623&sc_intid=U991108623
&gclid=Cj0KEQjw7Ne_BRDRmP2ojKfzv98BEiQAPuqPy
YtAbY8pW8l9ul88g0eDt8p0jzfQFCCOnuXXuIMpCIaAsL38P8HAQ&beta=true
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-20-Gal-175-psiQuiet-Portable-Air-Compressor-C201H/206189626?
cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASEPLA-D25H-AirCompressors
%7c&gclid=Cj0KEQjw7Ne_BRDRmP2ojKfzv98BEiQAP
uqPya3C2T_bTsmECCDucW8QnbYeKM5qoNycnGDhSV
lfRTMaAlzy8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds
2. Micro Bell (Rotary)
a. Specifications

i.
ii. Commonly used when part of automation in high
volume paint locations that require cost savings and
high transfer efficiency. Ex Automotive coats.
iii. Typically quite a bit more expensive, but will create
the best finishes. This is the case because of the
micro sized particles it will create from the paint that
will settle more evenly on the surface of the
substrate.
iv. Transfer efficiency 80-85%