Processing apparatus and processing method

Abstract

To provide a processing device which can perform mechanochemical processing efficiently, and to provide a processing method.SOLUTION: A processing device is a device which performs mechanochemical processing in which a raw feed for crushing is crushed to cause a powder to react with surrounding materials chemically. The processing device includes: a crushing container defining a processing space in which a crushing medium may be housed therein; a stirring member which is rotatably disposed in the processing space and stirs the crushing medium; and a volumetric capacity change part which moves at least a part of the crushing container so that the volumetric capacity of the processing space is changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a processing device and a processing method.

Background Art

[0002] A mechanochemical reaction is known in which a powder is reacted with a surrounding substance (including the atmosphere) by pulverizing a crushed material to chemically change the powder. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for producing tetrahydroborate using a mechanochemical reaction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Chemical change treatment using a mechanochemical reaction (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "mechanochemical treatment") is adopted in various fields such as pigments, ceramics, electronic materials, magnetic materials, medicine, agriculture, and food. Therefore, there is a demand for a processing device and a processing method that can efficiently perform mechanochemical treatment in each field. The present disclosure provides a processing device and a processing method that can efficiently perform mechanochemical treatment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is a processing device that performs a mechanochemical treatment in which a powder is chemically reacted with a surrounding substance by pulverizing a crushed material. The processing device includes a pulverization container, a stirring member, and a volume changing unit. The pulverization container defines a processing space inside that can accommodate pulverization media. The stirring member is rotatably disposed in the processing space and stirs the pulverization media. The volume changing unit moves at least a part of the pulverization container so that the volume of the processing space changes.

[0006] In this processing apparatus, the volume of the processing space in the pulverizing container changes by the volume changing unit. For example, when the processing space is expanded by the volume changing unit, the number of pulverizing media that collide with the stirring member per unit time decreases compared to before the change. That is, the collision energy between the stirring member and the pulverizing media decreases compared to before the change. As a result, the torque required to rotate the stirring member becomes smaller. And when the processing space is reduced by the volume changing unit, the number of pulverizing media that collide with the stirring member increases compared to before the change. That is, the collision energy between the stirring member and the pulverizing media increases compared to before the change. As a result, the torque required to rotate the stirring member becomes larger. Thus, by providing the volume changing unit, this processing apparatus can appropriately control the collision energy between the pulverizing media and the stirring member using the volume of the pulverizing container as a parameter, and thus can efficiently perform mechanochemical processing.

[0007] In one embodiment, the stirring member may include a rotating shaft and an arm member provided on the rotating shaft and extending radially outward of the rotating shaft, and may further include a driving unit that rotates the rotating shaft about the axis of the rotating shaft. The processing apparatus configured in this way can rotate the arm member in the processing space as the rotating shaft rotates and cause it to collide with the pulverizing media.

[0008] In one embodiment, the volume changing unit may move the rotating shaft along the axis of the rotating shaft. By configuring it in this way, the positional relationship between the arm member and the pulverizing media can be adjusted by moving the rotating shaft forward and backward in the processing space. As a result, this processing apparatus can appropriately control the collision energy between the pulverizing media and the stirring member using the position of the rotating shaft as a parameter, and thus can efficiently perform mechanochemical processing.

[0009] In one embodiment, the processing device further includes an arm driving unit that changes the posture of the arm member, and the cross section of the arm member may have a polygonal shape. By configuring in this way, it is possible to align the rotation direction of the arm member with the direction of the corner of the arm member, or to make the rotation direction of the arm member intersect with the direction of the corner of the arm member. Thereby, since this processing device can control the collision energy between the pulverizing medium and the stirring member according to the posture of the arm member, it can efficiently execute mechanochemical processing.

[0010] In one embodiment, an energy storage material may be obtained by mechanochemical processing. By executing mechanochemical processing with this processing device, an energy storage material can be efficiently obtained.

[0011] In one embodiment, the crushed material is borate and metal hydride, and tetrahydroborate may be obtained by the mechanochemical processing. By performing mechanochemical processing on borate and metal hydride in this processing device, tetrahydroborate can be efficiently obtained.

[0012] In one embodiment, the borate may be sodium metaborate.

[0013] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a processing method for performing mechanochemical processing in which a powder and surrounding substances are chemically reacted by crushing a crushed material. The processing method includes the following steps. (1) A step of increasing the volume of the processing space defined inside the pulverization container and changing it to a first volume. (2) After the processing space is changed to the first volume in the changing step, a step of starting the rotation of the stirring member disposed in the processing space in a state where the pulverizing medium is accommodated in the processing space. (3) After the step of starting the rotation of the stirring member, a step of changing the volume of the processing space to a second volume smaller than the first volume.

[0014] In this processing method, after the volume of the processing space is changed to increase, the rotation of the stirring member is started with the grinding media accommodated in the processing space. As a result, since the amount of grinding media that collides with the stirring member decreases compared to before the change in the volume of the processing space, the collision energy between the stirring member and the grinding media can be reduced. Then, after the step of starting the rotation of the stirring member, the volume of the processing space is changed to decrease. As a result, since the amount of grinding media that collides with the stirring member increases, the collision energy between the stirring member and the grinding media can be increased. In this way, at the start of the rotation of the stirring member, the torque required for starting the stirring member is suppressed by reducing the collision energy between the stirring member and the grinding media, and after the rotation of the stirring member, the grinding raw material can be efficiently ground by increasing the collision energy between the stirring member and the grinding media. In this way, this processing method can appropriately control the collision energy between the grinding media and the stirring member using the volume of the grinding container as a parameter, so that the mechanochemical treatment can be efficiently performed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the processing apparatus and processing method according to the present disclosure, the mechanochemical treatment can be efficiently performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are not repeated. The dimensional ratios in the drawings do not necessarily match those for the description. The terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, and “right” are based on the illustrated state and are for convenience.

[0018] [Processing Device] FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a processing device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a part of the processing device according to the embodiment, enlarged. The X direction and the Y direction in the figure are horizontal directions, and the Z direction is a vertical direction. The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are axial directions orthogonal to each other in a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. Hereinafter, the direction along the XY plane will also be referred to as the horizontal direction, and the Z direction will also be referred to as the vertical direction. The processing device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a device for performing mechanochemical treatment to react a pulverized material with a surrounding substance by pulverizing the pulverized material and cause a chemical change in the substance. The pulverized material is a raw material to be pulverized. The powder is a powdery substance obtained in the process of pulverizing the pulverized material. Hereinafter, “mechanochemical” may be described as “MC”.

[0019] The principle of the MC reaction occurring in the processing device 1 will be described. When mechanical energy is applied to the crushed material, the bonding state of the crushed material changes and it is activated. The mechanical energy is, for example, the energy generated by impact, compression, shear, shear stress, friction, etc. caused by the crushing process. By continuously applying mechanical energy above a predetermined threshold energy by the processing device 1 to the powder generated by crushing the crushed material and the surrounding substances, a change in the crystal structure or surface activation occurs in the powder and the surrounding substances, and the powder undergoes an MC reaction with the surrounding substances. The surrounding substances include, for example, at least one of the crushed material to be crushed, the powder after crushing the crushed material, the substances accommodated in the processing device 1 together with the crushed material or the powder, and the atmosphere (gas) around the crushed material or the powder in the processing device 1. The predetermined threshold energy refers to the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction (MC reaction) between two or more materials including the powder and the surrounding substances.

[0020] The processing device 1 includes a crushing container 20, a volume changing unit 30, a stirring member 41, and a shaft driving unit 45 (an example of a driving unit). The processing device 1 further includes a supply unit 10, a support unit 70, a recovery unit 80, and a control unit 90.

[0021] The supply unit 10 supplies the crushing raw material (an example of the crushed material) to the crushing container 20 and adjusts the atmosphere inside the crushing container 20. The supply unit 10 includes a hopper 11, a pipe 12, a port 13, and an atmosphere adjusting unit 14. The hopper 11 is located, for example, above the port 13. The hopper 11 is a container for storing the crushing raw material. Details of the crushing raw material will be described later. A plurality of hoppers 11 may be provided in the supply unit 10 and stored in separate hoppers for each crushing raw material. The pipe 12 is connected to the bottom of the hopper 11 and the port 13 via a valve (not shown). When the valve is opened, the crushing raw material in the hopper 11 flows into the pipe 12. The pipe 12 has a shape that can expand and contract between the hopper 11 and the port 13. The pipe 12 is, for example, an elastic rubber hose or a pipe with an expandable bellows.

[0022] Port 13 is cylindrical. Port 13 is connected to the pipe 12 at its upper end and to the pulverizing container 20 at its lower end, for example. Port 13 is provided at the upper end of the pulverizing container 20 and supplies the pulverizing raw material flowing in from the pipe 12 to the pulverizing container 20.

[0023] The atmosphere adjustment unit 14 adjusts the atmosphere (gas species, pressure) in the processing chamber. The atmosphere adjustment unit 14 has a gas supply unit 14a and a gas exhaust unit 14b. The gas supply unit 14a supplies an inert gas to the container 21 of the pulverizing container 20 described later, and makes the container 21 an atmosphere of inert gas. The gas supply unit 14a is connected to an inert gas source (not shown) and to the container 21 described later, and supplies the inert gas from the gas source to the container 21. The inert gas is, for example, nitrogen gas. The inert gas is a gas that does not react with the pulverizing raw material. The gas source is a source of inert gas. The gas exhaust unit 14b has a vacuum pump (not shown). The gas exhaust unit 14b is connected to the container 21 described later, and exhausts the gas in the container 21 to decompress the inside of the container 21.

[0024] Figure 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a part of the processing apparatus shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pulverizing container 20 can accommodate the pulverizing media and the pulverizing raw material inside, and defines a processing space 21a with a variable volume. The pulverizing media is a member that moves inside the processing space 21a and collides with the pulverizing raw material to pulverize the pulverizing raw material. The pulverizing media is, for example, a sphere with a diameter of about 10 mm to 15 mm and is formed of zirconia. The pulverizing container 20 has, for example, a bottomed cylindrical container 21 and a lid portion 24. The container 21 is composed of a side wall 22 and a bottom wall 23. The side wall 22 is a cylindrical member. The bottom wall 23 is a disk-shaped member. The bottom wall 23 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 22 at the lower end of the side wall 22. An opening 23a that penetrates vertically and a closing member 23b that can close the opening 23a are provided in a part of the bottom wall 23. When the closing member 23b does not close (seal) the opening 23a, the processing space 21a communicates with the space inside the recovery cylinder 81 of the recovery unit 80 described later.

[0025] The lid portion 24 is a disk-shaped member extending in the horizontal direction. At least the lower outer edge portion of the lid portion 24 abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the side wall 22 of the container 21. The lid portion 24 is provided above the bottom wall 23. The lid portion 24 is provided with a port opening 24a penetrating in the vertical direction and a shaft opening 24b penetrating in the vertical direction. The port 13 of the supply unit 10 is provided on the upper surface of the lid portion 24, and the space inside the port 13 and the processing space 21a communicate with each other through the port opening 24a. The shaft opening 24b is, for example, a circular opening provided at the horizontal center of the lid portion 24. The diameter of the shaft opening 24b is larger than the outer diameter of a part of the stirring member 41 (the rotating shaft 40 described later) so that a part of the stirring member 41 can be inserted therethrough. The processing space 21a is a cylindrical space surrounded by the side wall 22, the bottom wall 23, and the lid portion 24. The container 21 accommodates the pulverized raw material supplied through the port 13 of the supply unit 10 and the pulverizing media such as balls in the processing space 21a. The particle size of the pulverizing media is at least larger than the particle size of the pulverized raw material after pulverization.

[0026] In the pulverizing container 20, at least a part of the side wall 22, the bottom wall 23, and the lid portion 24 that define the processing space 21a are provided movably. For example, the lid portion 24 is provided movably in the vertical direction along the side wall 22. An O-ring, for example, is provided at the outer edge portion of the lid portion 24. When the lid portion 24 moves relatively in the vertical direction with respect to the side wall 22 and the bottom wall 23, the volume of the processing space 21a changes.

[0027] The volume changing unit 30 moves at least a part of the pulverizing container 20 so that the volume of the processing space 21a changes. The volume changing unit 30 has, for example, a pair of container driving units 31 and a lid driving unit 32. Each container driving unit 31 is, for example, a cylinder. Each container driving unit 31 has a cylinder main body portion 31a and a cylinder rod 31b. Each container driving unit 31 is provided at a position facing each other on the upper end portion of the side wall 22 of the container 21 and extends in the vertical direction. The cylinder rod 31b extends downward from the cylinder main body portion 31a. Each container driving unit 31 fixes the lower end portion of the cylinder rod 31b to the upper end portion of the side wall 22 of the container 21 and moves the container 21 in the vertical direction.

[0028] The lid driving unit 32 is provided, for example, on the upper surface of the lid portion 24 and extends in the vertical direction. The lid driving unit 32 is, for example, a cylinder. The lid driving unit 32 has a cylinder main body portion 32a and a cylinder rod 32b. The lid driving unit 32 is provided on the upper surface of the lid portion 24 and extends in the vertical direction. The cylinder rod 32b extends downward from the cylinder main body portion 32a. The lid driving unit 32 fixes the lower end portion of the cylinder rod 32b to the upper surface of the lid portion 24 and moves the lid portion 24 in the vertical direction. The lid driving unit 32 defines a shaft space 32c capable of accommodating the shaft driving unit 45. The shaft space 32c extends in the vertical direction and is open at the bottom.

[0029] In the volume changing unit 30, the size of the processing space 21a is changed by driving at least one of the container driving unit 31 and the lid driving unit 32. For example, when the cylinder rod 31b of the container driving unit 31 extends or the cylinder rod 32b of the lid driving unit 32 shortens, the vertical distance between the bottom wall 23 and the lid portion 24 increases, so the processing space 21a becomes larger. Conversely, when the cylinder rod 31b of the container driving unit 31 shortens or the cylinder rod 32b of the lid driving unit 32 extends, the vertical distance between the bottom wall 23 and the lid portion 24 decreases, so the processing space 21a becomes smaller.

[0030] The stirring member 41 is rotatably disposed in the processing space 21a and stirs the grinding media. The stirring member 41 has a rotating shaft 40 and an arm member 50. The rotating shaft 40 extends into the processing space 21a. The rotating shaft 40 extends in the vertical direction and is configured to be movable in its extending direction by the volume changing unit 30. The rotating shaft 40 is inserted through the shaft opening 24b of the lid portion 24 and extends in the vertical direction. FIG. 4(a) is a side view when the direction of the corner portion of the arm member is made to coincide with the rotation direction. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the rotating shaft 40 defines an arm space 40a capable of accommodating the arm driving unit 60 therein. A plurality of arm openings 40b penetrating in the horizontal direction (radial direction of the rotating shaft 40) are provided on the side surface of the rotating shaft 40 so that the space outside the rotating shaft 40 and the arm space 40a communicate with each other. The arm shaft 51 of each of the arm members 50 described later is inserted through each arm opening 40b. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again. The rotating shaft 40 is rotatably and vertically movably provided on the lid portion 24. The rotating shaft 40 is inserted into the shaft space 32c defined by the lid driving unit 32.

[0031] The shaft driving unit 45 rotates the rotating shaft 40 about the axis of the rotating shaft 40. The shaft driving unit 45 is provided, for example, above the rotating shaft 40. The shaft driving unit 45 is fixed to the cylinder rod 32b of the lid driving unit 32 so as to be movable in the vertical direction in accordance with the movement of the lid portion 24 of the grinding container 20. The shaft driving unit 45 has, for example, a motor 45a and a rod 45b. The rod 45b is connected to the lower end of the motor 45a and extends downward. The shaft driving unit 45 rotates the rod 45b by the motor 45a. The lower end portion of the rod 45b of the shaft driving unit 45 is fixed to the upper end portion of the rotating shaft 40 in the shaft space 32c of the lid driving unit 32. The shaft driving unit 45 rotates the rotating shaft 40 along the horizontal direction in conjunction with the rod 45b. The shaft driving unit 45 is movable in the vertical direction together with the lid portion 24 by the lid driving unit 32. Since the shaft driving unit 45 is movable in accordance with the vertical movement of the lid portion 24, the rotating shaft 40 is moved in the vertical direction together with the lid portion 24.

[0032] The plurality of arm members 50 are provided on the rotating shaft 40 and extend radially outward with respect to the rotating shaft 40. FIG. 4(b) is a side view when the corner of the arm member is crossed with respect to the rotational direction. As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), each arm member 50 is a rod-shaped member attached to an arm shaft 51 extending in the rotational radial direction C from the rotating shaft 40. The cross section (the cross section in the rotational radial direction C) of each arm member 50 has a polygonal shape. In the examples of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the cross section of each arm member 50 has a triangular shape. That is, the outer shape of each arm member 50 is a triangular prism. The arm member 50 has a corner portion 52 formed by the ends of two adjacent side surfaces extending in the rotational radial direction C and a flat portion 53 formed by one side surface extending in the rotational radial direction C. The corner portion 52 is, for example, a side extending along the extending direction of the arm member 50 and the peripheral portion of the side.

[0033] Each arm member 50 is configured to be able to change its posture. For example, each arm member 50 is rotatably attached to the rotating shaft 40 about an arm shaft 51 extending in its extending direction (rotational radial direction C). Two arm members 50 extending in one horizontal direction (for example, the X direction) are respectively provided at each position separated by a predetermined interval of the rotating shaft 40 in the vertical direction. In the vertical direction, two arm members 50 extending in the other horizontal direction (for example, the Y direction) are respectively provided at each position adjacent to the positions where the two arm members 50 of the rotating shaft 40 are provided.

[0034] The arm drive unit 60 rotates the plurality of arm members 50 about the arm shaft 51. The arm drive unit 60 is, for example, a motor. The arm drive unit 60 can change the posture of each arm member 50 so that the rotational direction R of each arm member 50 coincides with the direction of the corner portion 52 or the rotational direction R and the direction of the corner portion 52 intersect.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1 again. The support portion 70 supports the hopper 11 of the supply portion 10 and the pulverizing container 20. Since the pulverizing container 20 supports the volume changing portion 30 and the shaft driving portion 45, it can support the rotating shaft 40, the arm member 50, and the arm driving portion 60. The support portion 70 is a frame body made of, for example, a metal member. The support portion 70 supports the pulverizing container 20 so as to be rotatable along the XZ plane. Thereby, the position and direction of other components of the processing apparatus including the pulverizing container 20 can be adjusted.

[0036] The recovery portion 80 recovers the pulverizing raw material in the container 21 of the pulverizing container 20. It is provided on the lower surface of the bottom wall 23 of the pulverizing container 20. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the recovery portion shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the recovery portion 80 includes a recovery cylinder 81, a stopper 82, and a stopper driving portion 83. The recovery cylinder 81 is a cylindrical member connected to the lower surface of the bottom wall 23 of the pulverizing container 20. The space inside the recovery cylinder 81 communicates with the processing space 21a inside the container 21 through the opening 23a of the bottom wall 23. The recovery cylinder 81 is, for example, bent obliquely (in the X direction) in part as it goes downward. The lower end of the recovery cylinder 81 is connected to, for example, a pipe.

[0037] The stopper 82 suppresses the pulverizing media accommodated in the processing space 21a of the container 21 from being accommodated into the recovery cylinder 81. The stopper 82 is a comb-shaped member having a plurality of ridges protruding upward and extending along the Y direction. The intervals between the plurality of ridges and the intervals between the bottom wall 23 and each ridge are smaller than the particle size of the pulverizing media.

[0038] The stopper drive unit 83 drives the stopper 82 in the vertical direction. The stopper drive unit 83 is, for example, a cylinder. The stopper drive unit 83 has a cylinder main body 83a and a cylinder rod 83b. The cylinder rod 83b extends upward from the cylinder main body 83a. The upper part of the cylinder main body 31a and the cylinder rod 83b are provided in the space within the recovery cylinder 81, and the lower part of the cylinder main body 83a is located below the recovery cylinder 81. Part or all of the stopper 82 can protrude above the opening 23a of the bottom wall 23 by the stopper drive unit 83 and can be located below the opening 23a of the bottom wall 23.

[0039] When the opening 23a is closed by the closing member 23b provided on the bottom wall 23 of the grinding container 20, the stopper 82 is located below the opening 23a by the stopper drive unit 83. When the opening 23a is not closed by the closing member 23b, the stopper 82 is located above the opening 23a by the stopper drive unit 83. In this case, the grinding media in the processing space 21a are loaded on the bottom wall 23 of the container 21 or on the stopper 82, and only the grinding raw material in the processing space 21a descends through the opening 23a and is recovered into the recovery cylinder 81. The grinding raw material recovered in the recovery cylinder 81 is conveyed to a recovery container or the like through a pipe connected to the lower end of the recovery cylinder 81.

[0040] Refer to FIG. 1 again. The control unit 90 is connected to each component of the processing apparatus 1. The control unit 90 is configured as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) as an example. The control unit 90 may be configured as a normal computer system including a main storage device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory), an input device such as a touch panel or a keyboard, an output device such as a display, and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk. For example, an operation panel operable by an operator is provided in the control unit 90. The control unit 90 controls the movement of each component of the processing apparatus 1, such as the supply (opening and closing of the valve) of the pulverized raw material to the port 13 in the supply unit 10, the opening and closing of the closing member 23b of the bottom wall 23 of the pulverizing container 20, the driving of the volume changing unit 30, the driving of the shaft driving unit 45, the driving of the arm driving unit 60, and the driving of the stopper driving unit 83.

[0041] [Pulverized raw material and substances obtained by MC processing] The substances obtained by the MC processing of the processing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are, for example, energy storage materials (energy carriers). The energy storage material is a material capable of efficiently storing and transporting hydrogen, such as a liquid or a hydrogen compound as an example. A more specific example of the energy storage material is tetrahydroborate. The processing apparatus 1 manufactures tetrahydroborate by, for example, pulverizing borate and metal hydride and performing MC processing. The above "pulverized raw material" may include borate and metal hydride.

[0042] The borate is, for example, metaborate, tetraborate, or pentaborate. The metaborate is, as an example, NaBO2, KBO2, LiBO2, Ca(BO2)2, or Mg(BO2)2. The tetraborate is, as an example, Na2B4O7, Na2O·2BO3, K2O·B2O3, Li2B4O7, or Mg3B4O9. The pentaborate is, as an example, NaB5O8, Na2O·5B2O3, KB5O8, K2O·5B2O9, or LiB5O8. The borate may be a natural borate mineral such as Na2B4O7·10H2O, Na2B4O7·4H2O, Ca2B6O 11 ·5H2O, CaNaB5O9·6H2O, Mg7Cl2B 17 O 30 and so on. From the viewpoints of easy availability, acquisition cost, chemical stability, ease of hydrogen desorption, hydrogen storage density, etc., sodium metaborate (NaBO2) may be selected from among the examples described above as the borate.

[0043] The metal hydride is produced by the action of hydrogen plasma on the metal powder. The metal powder is, for example, a magnesium-based powder or an aluminum-based powder. The magnesium-based powder is, as an example, a powder of magnesium, magnesium oxide, or magnesium hydroxide. By the action of hydrogen plasma on the magnesium-based powder, magnesium hydride, which is an example of a metal hydride, is produced. Note that the pulverized raw material may contain the metal powder and hydrogen gas instead of the metal hydride.

[0044] [Treatment method] Next, the processing method will be described. In this embodiment, a method for producing tetrahydroborate will be described as an example. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing method according to the embodiment. The processing method of this embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is started by the control unit 90 based on the operator's instruction when a predetermined amount of pulverized raw material is stored in the hopper 11 of the supply unit 10, for example. The hopper 11 contains a borate and a metal hydride as an example of the pulverized raw material. The borate is, for example, sodium metaborate. The hopper 11 contains anhydrous sodium metaborate, sodium metaborate hydrate, or a mixture thereof as an example of the borate of the pulverized raw material. The hopper 11 contains magnesium hydride, magnesium, aluminum, or a mixture of any two or more of these as an example of the metal hydride of the pulverized raw material. At this time, pulverizing media are stored in the processing space 21a of the container 21 in advance. The pulverizing media are located on the lower side within the processing space 21a and on the bottom wall 23 by gravity.

[0045] First, the supply unit 10 supplies the pulverized raw material from the hopper 11 to the pulverizing container 20 as a supply process (S11). The supply unit 10 supplies a predetermined amount of the pulverized raw material from the hopper 11 to the container 21 of the pulverizing container 20 via the pipe 12 and the port 13. The supply unit 10 allows the pulverized raw material in the hopper 11 to flow down to the processing space 21a of the container 21 by opening the valve provided in the pipe 12. The pulverized raw material supplied into the processing space 21a is located on the lower side within the processing space 21a and on the bottom wall 23 by gravity. The supply unit 10 suppresses the flow of the pulverized raw material in the hopper 11 by closing the valve provided in the pipe 12. When the supply unit 10 opens and then closes the valve provided in the pipe 12, the control unit 90 ends the supply process (S11) assuming that a predetermined amount of the pulverized raw material is stored in the container 21 and proceeds to the next process.

[0046] Subsequently, the supply unit 10 performs evacuation of the interior of the container 21 by the gas exhaust unit 14b as an atmosphere adjustment process (S13), and supplies an inert gas by the gas supply unit 14a. The atmosphere adjustment unit 14 in the supply unit 10 evacuates the gas inside the container 21 by the gas exhaust unit 14b to perform evacuation. Subsequently, the atmosphere adjustment unit 14 supplies an inert gas from the gas source into the container 21 by the gas supply unit 14a. When the concentration of the inert gas in the container 21 and the pressure of the container 21 are equal to or higher than predetermined values, the control unit 90 ends the atmosphere adjustment process (S13) and proceeds to the next process.

[0047] Subsequently, the volume change unit 30 increases the volume of the processing space 21a of the pulverization container 20 to a first volume as a volume increase process (S15: an example of a step of changing to the first volume). The first volume is a predetermined volume of the processing space 21a. By the container drive unit 31 extending or the lid drive unit 32 shortening, the volume change unit 30 increases the vertical distance between the bottom wall 23 and the lid portion 24 and enlarges the processing space 21a. When the sum of the extension degree of the container drive unit 31 and the shortening degree of the lid drive unit 32 is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the control unit 90 ends the volume increase process (S13) and proceeds to the next process.

[0048] Subsequently, the volume change unit 30 or the shaft drive unit 45 separates the rotating shaft 40 from the bottom wall 23 of the pulverization container 20 as a rotating shaft retraction process (S17). In the present embodiment, since the shaft drive unit 45 is fixed to the lid drive unit 32 and interlocks with the lid portion 24, by the volume increase process (S15), the shaft drive unit 45 and the rotating shaft 40 fixed to the shaft drive unit 45 move upward. That is, the rotating shaft retraction process (S17) of the present embodiment is executed simultaneously with the volume increase process (S15). Thereby, the rotating shaft 40 and the arm member 50 provided on the rotating shaft 40 are separated from the bottom wall 23 and can be separated from the pulverization raw material and the pulverization media located on the bottom wall 23 by gravity. When the sum of the extension degree of the container drive unit 31 and the shortening degree of the lid drive unit 32 is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the control unit 90 ends the rotating shaft retraction process (S17) and proceeds to the next process.

[0049] Subsequently, the arm drive unit 60 adjusts the posture of the arm member 50 so that the corner 52 of each arm member 50 coincides with the rotation direction R as the first angle adjustment process (S19). The arm drive unit 60 rotates each arm member 50 about each arm shaft 51 to align the direction of the corner 52 in each arm member 50 with the rotation direction R. When the direction of the corner 52 in each arm member 50 coincides with the rotation direction R, the control unit 90 ends the first angle adjustment process (S19) and proceeds to the next process.

[0050] Subsequently, the shaft drive unit 45 rotates the rotary shaft 40 as the first rotation process (S21: an example of a step of starting rotation). Since the rotary shaft 40 and the arm member 50 are separated from the pulverized raw material and the pulverizing media located on the bottom wall 23 by the volume increase process (S15) and the rotary shaft retraction process (S17), it is suppressed that the rotary shaft 40 and the arm member 50 collide with the pulverized raw material and the pulverizing media when they start to rotate. When the shaft drive unit 45 rotates the rotary shaft 40 at a rotational speed equal to or higher than a predetermined first speed value, the control unit 90 ends the first rotation process (S21) and proceeds to the next process.

[0051] Subsequently, the volume changing unit 30 reduces the volume of the processing space 21a of the pulverizing container 20 as the volume reduction process (S23: an example of a step of changing to the second volume). By the container drive unit 31 shortening or the lid drive unit 32 extending, the volume changing unit 30 narrows the vertical distance between the bottom wall 23 and the lid portion 24 and makes the processing space 21a smaller to obtain the second volume. The second volume is smaller than the first volume. When the sum of the shortening degree of the container drive unit 31 and the extending degree of the lid drive unit 32 is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the control unit 90 ends the volume reduction process (S23) and proceeds to the next process.

[0052] Subsequently, the volume change unit 30 or the shaft drive unit 45 approaches the rotary shaft 40 to the bottom wall 23 of the pulverizing container 20 as a rotary shaft introduction process (S25). In the present embodiment, since the shaft drive unit 45 is fixed to the lid drive unit 32 and interlocks with the lid unit 24, the shaft drive unit 45 and the rotary shaft 40 fixed to the shaft drive unit 45 move downward by the volume reduction process (S23). That is, the rotary shaft introduction process (S25) of the present embodiment is executed simultaneously with the volume reduction process (S23). As a result, the rotary shaft 40 and the arm member 50 provided on the rotary shaft 40 approach the bottom wall 23 and can approach or contact the pulverizing raw material and the pulverizing medium located on the bottom wall 23 by gravity. When the sum of the shortening degree of the container drive unit 31 and the extension degree of the lid drive unit 32 is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 90 ends the rotary shaft introduction process (S25) and proceeds to the next process.

[0053] Subsequently, the shaft drive unit 45 changes the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 in accordance with the kinetic energy of the pulverizing medium in the processing space 21a as a second rotation process (S27). By the rotary shaft introduction process (S23), the rotary shaft 40 and the arm member 50 collide with the pulverizing raw material and the pulverizing medium located on the bottom wall 23. Due to the collision, the pulverizing raw material and the pulverizing medium move in the processing space 21a, and the pulverizing raw material begins to be pulverized. If the degree of deviation between the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 and the arm member 50 in the processing space 21a and the movement speed of the pulverizing raw material and the pulverizing medium is large, the energy loss of the rotational energy of the rotary shaft 40 due to the collision is large. In order to keep the difference between the movement speed of the pulverizing raw material and the pulverizing medium and the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 small, the shaft drive unit 45 increases the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 as the kinetic energy of the pulverizing medium increases. The increase and decrease of the kinetic energy of the pulverizing medium are calculated based on the set rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 that increases at a predetermined rate, the actual rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 reduced by colliding with the rotary shaft 40 and the arm member 50, the mass of the pulverizing medium, and the like. As a result, the total amount of energy loss of the rotary shaft 40 until the rotary shaft 40 reaches a predetermined second speed value from the first speed value can be reduced. When the shaft drive unit 45 rotates the rotary shaft 40 at a rotation speed equal to or higher than a predetermined second speed value, the control unit 90 ends the second rotation process (S27) and proceeds to the next process.

[0054] Subsequently, as the second angle adjustment process (S29), the arm drive unit 60 adjusts the posture of each arm member 50 so that the direction of the corner portion 52 of each arm member 50 intersects the rotation direction R. The arm drive unit 60 rotates each arm member 50 about each arm axis 51, so that the direction in which the flat surface portion 53 faces in each arm member 50 coincides with the rotation direction R. When the arm drive unit 60 rotates each arm member 50 by a predetermined angle so that the direction in which the flat surface portion 53 faces coincides with the rotation direction R, the control unit 90 ends the second angle adjustment process (S29) and proceeds to the next process.

[0055] Subsequently, as the pulverization process (S31), the shaft drive unit 45 rotates the rotary shaft 40 for a predetermined time. The pulverization raw material accommodated in the processing space 21a is pulverized by, for example, colliding with the arm member 50 or the pulverization medium that moves by colliding with the arm member 50. By adjusting the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 to a predetermined second speed value or more by the second rotation process (S27), in the pulverization process (S31), the arm member 50 can impart mechanical energy of a predetermined threshold energy or more to the pulverization medium, and the arm member 50 or the pulverization medium can impart mechanical energy of a predetermined threshold energy or more to the pulverization raw material. When the rotary shaft 40 rotates for a predetermined time, the control unit 90 ends the pulverization process (S31) and proceeds to the next process.

[0056] Subsequently, as the recovery process (S33), the pulverization container 20 opens the closing member 23b, and the recovery unit 80 recovers the pulverized pulverization raw material into the recovery cylinder 81. The pulverization raw material recovered in the recovery cylinder 81 is recovered into a recovery container or the like through a pipe connected to the recovery cylinder 81. When a predetermined amount of the pulverized pulverization raw material is recovered into the recovery container or the like, the control unit 90 ends the recovery process (S33) and ends the processing method.

[0057] As described above, in this processing apparatus 1 and processing method, the collision energy between the stirring member and the grinding media can be controlled, and the MC process can be efficiently executed. The volume of the processing space 21a of the grinding container 20 changes by the volume changing unit 30. For example, when the processing space 21a is expanded by the volume changing unit 30 in the volume increasing process (S15), in the first rotation process (S21), the number of grinding media that collide with the stirring member 41 per unit time decreases compared to before the volume change. That is, the collision energy between the stirring member 41 and the grinding media decreases compared to before the change. As a result, the torque required to rotate the stirring member 41 becomes smaller. For example, this processing apparatus 1 and processing method can suppress the collision between the arm member 50 and the grinding raw material and the grinding media until the rotation speed (first speed value) required for grinding the grinding raw material is reached in the first rotation process (S21). And when the processing space 21a is reduced by the volume changing unit 30 in the volume decreasing process (S23), the number of grinding media that collide with the stirring member 41 increases compared to before the volume change. That is, the collision energy between the stirring member 41 and the grinding media increases compared to before the change. As a result, the torque required to rotate the stirring member 41 becomes larger. For example, this processing apparatus 1 and processing method can cause the arm member 50, which has reached the rotation speed (first speed value) required for grinding the grinding raw material by the first rotation process (S21), to collide with the grinding raw material and the grinding media at an appropriate timing. Thus, this processing apparatus 1 and processing method can appropriately control the collision energy between the grinding media and the stirring member using the volume of the grinding container 20 (the volume of the processing space 21a) as a parameter by providing the volume changing unit 30, and therefore can efficiently execute the MC process.

[0058] When obtaining a large amount of the substance generated by the MC process in a single operation, it is necessary to increase the size of the grinding container and the stirring member, and increase the number of grinding media and the amount of the grinding raw material charged into the grinding container. However, when adopting a conventional processing apparatus equipped with a large-sized grinding container and a stirring member, since the collision energy between the grinding media and the stirring member increases, there is a possibility that a rotational drive apparatus for the stirring member that can be adopted in the conventional processing apparatus cannot output the torque necessary for the rotation of the stirring member. For this reason, a device for reducing the collision energy between the stirring member and the grinding media is required. On the other hand, even when the rotational drive apparatus for the stirring member in the conventional processing apparatus is highly performant, the energy required for driving the rotational drive apparatus becomes enormous, which is not economically realistic. As described above, in the processing apparatus 1 and the processing method of the present embodiment, compared with the conventional processing apparatus, the collision energy between the stirring member and the grinding media can be appropriately controlled, and the MC process can be efficiently executed.

[0059] Further, the stirring member 41 has a rotating shaft 40 and an arm member 50, and the processing apparatus 1 further includes a shaft drive unit 45. The processing apparatus 1 configured in this way can rotate the arm member 50 in the processing space 21a along with the rotation of the rotating shaft 40 and cause it to collide with the grinding media.

[0060] Further, the volume changing unit 30 moves the rotating shaft 40 along the axis of the rotating shaft 40. By configuring in this way, in the rotating shaft retraction process (S17) and the rotating shaft introduction process (S25), the position relationship between the arm member 50 and the grinding media can be adjusted by advancing and retracting the rotating shaft 40 within the processing space 21a. Thereby, the processing apparatus 1 can appropriately control the collision energy between the grinding media and the stirring member 41 using the position of the rotating shaft 40 as a parameter, and thus can efficiently execute the MC process.

[0061] Further, the processing device 1 further includes an arm driving unit 60, and the cross section of the arm member 50 has a polygonal shape. By configuring in this way, it is possible to align the rotation direction R of the arm member 50 with the direction of the corner portion 52 of the arm member 50, or to intersect the rotation direction R of the arm member 50 with the direction of the corner portion 52 of the arm member 50. Thereby, the processing device 1 can appropriately control the collision energy between the grinding medium and the stirring member 41 according to the posture of the arm member 50, and thus can efficiently execute the mechanochemical treatment.

[0062] Further, by executing the MC treatment, this processing device 1 and the processing method can efficiently obtain an energy storage material.

[0063] Further, by executing the MC treatment on borate and metal hydride, this processing device 1 and the processing method can efficiently obtain tetrahydroborate. The borate is, for example, sodium metaborate.

[0064] Further, in the second rotation process (S27) of the processing method, the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 is changed according to the kinetic energy of the grinding raw material and the grinding medium in the processing space 21a. For example, at the start of rotation of the rotary shaft 40 in the first rotation process (S21), since the kinetic energy of the grinding medium is small (0), the faster the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40, the greater the collision energy generated when the grinding raw material and the grinding medium collide with the arm member 50 that rotates with the rotary shaft 40. Therefore, by changing the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 40 according to the kinetic energy of the grinding raw material and the grinding medium in the second rotation process (S27), it is possible to appropriately suppress the increase in the collision energy caused by the collision between the grinding raw material and the grinding medium and the rotating arm member 50, and to suppress the loss of the rotational energy (torque) related to the rotary shaft 40.

[0065] Note that the above-described embodiments show examples of the processing apparatus 1 and the processing method according to the present disclosure. The processing apparatus 1 and the processing method according to the present disclosure are not limited to the processing apparatus 1 and the processing method according to the embodiments, and may be modified or applied to other things within the scope of not changing the gist described in each claim.

[0066] For example, the atmosphere adjustment unit 14 may introduce a raw material gas (an example of surrounding substances) in addition to the inert gas, and the raw material gas may be hydrogen gas. In this case, for example, instead of magnesium hydride among the pulverized raw materials, a metal powder such as magnesium is supplied from the hopper 11 to the pulverizing container 20.

[0067] For example, the shape of each component of the pulverizing container 20 is not limited to the above. In the above, the lid portion 24 of the pulverizing container 20 has a structure that can move in the vertical direction, but any structure may be used as long as the volume of the processing space 21a is variable. For example, the side wall 22 may have a structure that can expand and contract in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. FIG. 7(a) is a plan view showing an example of a pulverizing container according to a modified example. As shown in FIG. 7(a), as an example, a volume changing portion 30 is provided in a part of the side wall 22. At this time, the volume changing portion 30 has a plurality of first side wall driving portions 33. For example, a piezoelectric actuator may be applied to each first side wall driving portion 33. The piezoelectric actuator includes, for example, a laminated piezoelectric element that expands and contracts according to the applied voltage. The piezoelectric element is a passive element that deforms according to the applied voltage.

[0068] Each first sidewall driving part 33 connects a left sidewall 22a which is a part of the sidewall 22 and a right sidewall 22b which is a part of the sidewall 22 along the circumferential direction of the sidewall 22, and extends in the vertical direction. Each first sidewall driving part 33 is clamped between the left sidewall 22a and the right sidewall 22b so that the pulverized raw material and the pulverizing media do not pass through. Each first sidewall driving part 33 alternately repeats a state of extending and moving the left sidewall 22a relatively leftward with respect to the right sidewall 22b and a state of contracting and moving the left sidewall 22a relatively rightward with respect to the right sidewall 22b. At this time, the bottom wall 23 and the lid part 24 each have a piezoelectric actuator similar to the first sidewall driving part 33 and can expand and contract along the left-right direction. Thereby, the processing space 21a of the container 21 can be expanded or contracted in the left-right direction while suppressing leakage of the pulverized raw material and the pulverizing media from the inside thereof.

[0069] FIG. 7(b) is a side view showing an example of a pulverizing container according to a modified example. As shown in FIG. 7(b), as an example, a volume changing part 30 is provided in a part of the sidewall 22. At this time, the volume changing part 30 has a second sidewall driving part 34. For the second sidewall driving part 34, for example, the same piezoelectric actuator as each of the above-described first sidewall driving parts 33 can be applied.

[0070] The second sidewall driving part 34 connects an upper sidewall 22c which is an upper part of the sidewall 22 and a lower sidewall 22d which is a lower part of the sidewall 22 along the vertical direction of the sidewall 22, and extends in the circumferential direction of the sidewall 22. The second sidewall driving part 34 is clamped between the upper sidewall 22c and the lower sidewall 22d so that the pulverized raw material and the pulverizing media do not pass through. The second sidewall driving part 34 alternately repeats a state of extending and moving the upper sidewall 22c relatively upward with respect to the lower sidewall 22d and a state of contracting and moving the upper sidewall 22c relatively downward with respect to the lower sidewall 22d. Thereby, the processing space 21a of the container 21 can be expanded or contracted in the vertical direction while suppressing leakage of the pulverized raw material and the pulverizing media from the inside thereof.

[0071] Further, for example, the bottom wall 23 may be provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction along the side wall 22. In this case, an O-ring, for example, is provided at the outer edge of the bottom wall 23. When the bottom wall 23 moves relative to the side wall 22 in the vertical direction, the volume of the processing space 21a changes. In this case, the volume changing unit 30 has a bottom wall driving unit (not shown). The bottom wall driving unit is a cylinder, and a cylinder rod extends in the vertical direction. The upper end of the cylinder rod of the bottom wall driving unit is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom wall 23, and the bottom wall 23 moves in conjunction with the expansion and contraction of the cylinder rod. Thereby, the processing space 21a of the container 21 can be expanded or contracted in the vertical direction while suppressing leakage of the pulverization raw material and the pulverization media from the inside thereof.

[0072] Each of the above-described expansion and contraction configurations of the pulverization container 20 may be applied in combination, or at least one configuration may be applied. The expansion and contraction in the left-right direction of the side wall 22, the expansion and contraction in the vertical direction of the side wall 22, the movement in the vertical direction of the bottom wall 23, and the movement in the vertical direction of the lid portion 24 may be combined and executed in the processing method. That is, in the volume increase process (S15), at least one of the extension of the container driving unit 31, the extension of each first side wall driving unit 33, the extension of the second side wall driving unit 34, and the shortening of the lid driving unit 32 is executed to increase the processing space 21a. When the sum of the extension degrees and the shortening degrees is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 90 ends the volume increase process (S15) and proceeds to the next process. Further, in the volume decrease process (S23), at least one of the shortening of the container driving unit 31, the shortening of each first side wall driving unit 33, the shortening of the second side wall driving unit 34, and the extension of the lid driving unit 32 is executed to decrease the processing space 21a. When the sum of the shortening degrees and the extension degrees is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 90 ends the volume decrease process (S23) and proceeds to the next process.

[0073] Further, if the rotation axis 40 is rotatably fixed to the lid portion 24 and the rotation axis 40 is configured to be telescopic, even if the shaft drive unit 45 is not fixed to the lid drive unit 32, the rotation axis 40 can move vertically together with the lid portion 24 by expanding and contracting its length. Also, for example, the rotation axis 40 and the shaft drive unit 45 may be fixed to the container drive unit 31 and supported by the container 21 of the pulverizing container 20.

[0074] Also, for example, the shaft drive unit 45 may further include a cylinder mechanism to move the rotation axis 40 in the vertical direction. In this case, the rotation axis 40 is inserted through the shaft opening 24b of the lid portion 24 and is provided so as to be rotatable and movable in the vertical direction with respect to the lid portion 24. The rotation axis 40 and the shaft drive unit 45 do not have to be fixed to the lid drive unit 32 and may be positioned so as to be movable in the vertical direction within the shaft space 32c of the lid drive unit 32. Note that in the processing method, the rotation axis retraction process (S17) and the rotation axis introduction process (S25) do not have to be executed.

[0075] The position of the shaft drive unit 45 and the extending direction of the rotation axis are not limited. For example, the rotation axis 40 may extend in the horizontal direction. In this case, the rotation axis 40 is inserted into the side wall 22 of the container 21, and the rotation axis 40 may be movable in the vertical direction. The shaft drive unit 45 may be provided below the rotation axis 40.

[0076] Also, for example, there may be one arm member 50. The cross section of each arm member 50 does not have to be polygonal. The cross section of each arm member 50 may be polygonal but not angular and may be rounded. Also, for example, the processing device 1 does not have to include the arm drive unit 60.

[0077] The processing method may execute only the volume increase process (S15), the first rotation process (S21), and the volume decrease process (S21). A part of the processing of the processing method may be sequential or may be executed simultaneously. For example, the volume increase process (S15), the rotation axis retraction process (S17), and the first angle adjustment process (S19) may be in any order and may be executed simultaneously. For example, the volume decrease process (S23), the rotation axis introduction process (S25), the second rotation process (S27), and the second angle adjustment process (S29) may be in any order and may be executed simultaneously. The pulverization process (S31) may be started from the middle of the start of the rotation axis introduction process (S25).

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0078] 1... processing device, 10... supply unit, 20... pulverization container, 21... container, 21a... processing space, 22... side wall, 23... bottom wall, 24... lid portion, 30... volume change unit, 31... container drive unit, 32... lid drive unit, 33... first side wall drive unit, 34... second side wall drive unit, 40... rotation axis, 41... stirring member, 45... axis drive unit, 50... arm member, 51... arm axis, 52... corner portion, 53... flat portion, 60... arm drive unit, 70... support unit, 80... recovery unit, 81... recovery cylinder, 82... stopper, 83... stopper drive unit, 90... control unit, C... radial direction of rotation, R... rotation direction.

Claims

1. A processing apparatus for performing a mechanochemical treatment in which a powder and a surrounding substance are chemically reacted by crushing a crushed material, a crushing container that defines an internal processing space capable of accommodating a crushing medium, a stirring member that is rotatably disposed in the processing space and stirs the crushing medium, a volume changing unit that moves at least a part of the crushing container so that the volume of the processing space changes, comprising: the stirring member has a rotation axis, and an arm member provided on the rotation axis and extending outward in the radial direction of the rotation axis, and further comprises a driving unit that rotates the rotation axis about the axis of the rotation axis, the volume changing unit moves the rotation axis along the axis of the rotation axis, processing apparatus.

2. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an arm driving unit that changes the posture of the arm member, wherein a cross section of the arm member has a polygonal shape.

3. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an energy storage material is obtained by the mechanochemical treatment.

4. The crushed material is a borate and a metal hydride, and a tetrahydroborate is obtained by the mechanochemical treatment. The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the borate is sodium metaborate.

6. A processing method for performing a mechanochemical treatment in which a powder and a surrounding substance are chemically reacted by crushing a crushed material, increasing the volume of a processing space defined inside a crushing container and changing it to a first volume; after the processing space is changed to the first volume in the changing step, starting rotation of a stirring member disposed in the processing space with the crushing medium accommodated in the processing space; after the step of starting rotation of the stirring member, changing the volume of the processing space to a second volume smaller than the first volume, including: the stirring member has a rotation axis, and an arm member provided on the rotation axis and extending outward in the radial direction of the rotation axis, and the steps of changing to the first volume and changing to the second volume move the rotation axis along the axis of the rotation axis, processing method.

7. The crushed material is a borate and a metal hydride, and a tetrahydroborate is obtained by the mechanochemical treatment. The processing method according to claim 6.

8. [[ID=40 ​ The metaborate is sodium metaborate, and the treatment method according to claim 7.

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