Composite Stirred-Mill Rotor With Ceramic Ring for Wear Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotors for stirred mills used in the production of battery paste materials face issues of high wear, especially in high-energy-density regions, leading to potential metallic contamination and structural instability, while ceramic rotors are expensive and prone to breakage, and plastic rotors wear quickly and have poor thermal conductivity.

Innovation Solution

A rotor design incorporating a ceramic wear element in high-energy-density regions, secured to a plastic rotor body using screws, adhesive bonding, or casting, with a preferred L- or U-shaped ceramic ring configuration to enhance wear resistance and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a plastic rotor is used to avoid metallic contamination, then metallic contamination is avoided, but wear resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetallic contaminationVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor combines plastic and ceramic materials in a composite structure. The plastic rotor body provides chemical resistance and avoids metallic contamination, while the ceramic wear element provides high wear resistance in the process zone. This composite construction allows both materials to contribute their advantageous properties to the same component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The ceramic wear element is selectively positioned only in the process zone where high wear occurs, rather than making the entire rotor from ceramic. This local application of wear-resistant material optimizes the balance between wear resistance and cost, while the rest of the rotor body remains made of plastic for chemical compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a ceramic rotor is used to improve wear resistance, then wear resistance is improved, but cost and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor is divided into two functional segments: a plastic rotor body and a separate ceramic wear element. The ceramic wear element is positioned and secured on the rotor body, allowing it to be replaced independently when worn. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing and maintenance compared to a fully ceramic rotor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ceramic wear element is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily removed and replaced when worn out. This allows the expensive ceramic material to be used only where necessary and replaced without replacing the entire rotor assembly, reducing overall system cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If a ceramic wear element is added to the rotor, then wear resistance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor is divided into two functional segments: a plastic rotor body and a separate ceramic wear element. The ceramic wear element is positioned and secured on the rotor body, allowing it to be replaced independently when worn. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing and maintenance compared to a fully ceramic rotor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ceramic wear element is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily removed and replaced when worn out. This allows the expensive ceramic material to be used only where necessary and replaced without replacing the entire rotor assembly, reducing overall system cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design provides a cost-effective, dimensionally stable rotor that resists common solvents and minimizes disruptive wear, ensuring high fineness dispersions without metallic contamination, particularly suitable for battery paste production.

Implementation Method 1

the ceramic ring is arranged in a region of the rotor with high energy input... materials such as SSiC or SiSiC are very wear-resistant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWear resistance: Wear

Implementation Method 2

it is also essential to check beforehand whether the plastic used for the rotor is compatible with the material being ground, i.e., whether its chemical resistance is guaranteed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical resistance:

Data Source

PatentEP4049758B1Wear resistant rotor
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 BUHLER AG
  • EP4049758B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4049758B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4049758B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rotor for a stirred mill has a generally cylindrical rotor body, the outer wall of which defines an inner surface of a grinding chamber through which a material to be ground flows during operation of the stirred mill. A ceramic ring is arranged at the rotor end of the rotor body, with the rotor end facing the product inlet of the stirred mill. The invention further relates to a stirred mill with the rotor according to the invention, the use of the rotor according to the invention in a stirred mill for the production of dispersions, and a method for manufacturing the rotor.