Ball Mill for Artificial Graphite: Core Equipment in Anode Materials Production

Lithium battery anode materials primarily consist of graphite-based materials (including both artificial and natural graphite) and non-graphite-based materials (such as silicon-based anode materials). The production processes for these materials involve various methods, including the use of a ball mill for artificial graphite. Below are the typical steps in the production process:

Artificial Graphite Anode Material Production Process

Pre-treatment:

• Mix graphite raw materials with asphalt in a specific ratio, for example, 100: (5-20).
• Feed the material into the hopper via a vacuum feeder, and then send it to an air jet mill for grinding.
• Reduce the particle size from 5-10mm to 5-10 microns.
• Collect the desired particle size with a cyclone dust collector, with a collection efficiency of around 80%.
• Filter the exhaust gas through a filter, with a dust removal efficiency greater than 99%.

Granulation

This process includes pyrolysis and ball milling and screening steps.

Pyrolysis Step:

• Place the intermediate material in a reaction kettle.
• Use nitrogen gas to replace air inside the kettle.
• Seal the kettle and apply electric heating under 2.5 kg of pressure.
• Heat it to 200-300°C and stir for 1-3 hours.
• Raise the temperature to 400-500°C to obtain particles with a diameter of 10-20mm.
• Cool the material to get intermediate material 2.

Ball mill for artificial graphite:

• Feed the intermediate material 2 into a ball mill for mechanical milling.
• Grind the material from 10-20mm to a particle size of 6-10 microns.
• Send the milled material via pipes to a screening machine for classification.
• Package and weigh the undersized particles automatically, which are called intermediate material 3.
• Send the oversized particles back to the ball mill for further milling.

Natural Graphite Anode Material Production Process

Mining and Flotation:

• Extract natural graphite from the mine.
• Use flotation and other processes to remove impurities and obtain graphite particles with specific size and purity.

Spheroidization:

• Spheroidize the natural graphite particles using methods like air jet impact or grinding.
• This process improves the particle shape, bulk density, and rate capability.

Purification and Drying:

• Chemically purify the spheroidized graphite particles to remove impurities and harmful elements.
• Dry the purified material to remove moisture.

Surface Modification:

• Modify the surface of graphite particles using chemical or physical methods.
• Coat the surface with conductive materials or treat it to improve electrochemical performance.

Mixing and Screening:

• Mix the surface-modified graphite particles with other additives such as conductive agents and binders.
• Screen the mixture to remove impurities and unsuitable particles.

Magnetic Separation and Packaging:

• Apply magnetic separation to remove magnetic materials from the screened graphite.
• Package the final product.

Epic Powder

In the production of lithium battery anode materials, Epic Powder’s advanced grinding equipment, such as ball mills and air classifiers, plays a crucial role in achieving the desired particle size and quality. By leveraging our specialized technology, including solutions for artificial graphite grinding, we help optimize the production process, enhance material performance, and meet the high standards of the battery industry. Epic Powder’s equipment ensures efficient and precise grinding, making it a trusted partner for manufacturers in the lithium battery sector.