Laboratory Chain Mill

LC-100 Chain Mill for Size Reduction in Recycling and Materials Recovery

The LC-100 Chain Mill is engineered for high-energy impact size reduction, a technology widely used in recycling labs, materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and R&D environments for sample preparation and material characterization.

The crushing system consists of alloy steel chains mounted on a high-speed rotor. During operation, the chains strike the material against a reinforced stator liner, delivering intense impact forces.

Compared to conventional blade mills, chain milling technology provides several advantages for recycling and secondary raw materials processing:

• Ability to handle soft, brittle, fibrous, glassy, or partially elastic recycled materials
• High tolerance to variable moisture content and occasional hard contaminants
• No cutting edges, reducing wear-related performance loss
• Dynamic crushing action that minimizes bridging, clogging, and material entanglement
• Low-maintenance design, with fast replacement of chains and screens

Operating Principle

1. Material is fed through a hopper equipped with anti-backflow protection
2. The rotor (up to 350–550 rpm) generates a high-energy impact field via rotating chains
3. The material undergoes repeated impacts, progressively reducing particle size
4. Processed material is collected in a dedicated external container (not included)

Applications in Recycling and Materials Processing

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Sample preparation for:

• Chemical and physical analysis
• XRF, XRD, and spectrometric testing
• Thermal analysis and reactivity studies
• Blending trials and pre-treatment of recycled feedstocks
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Typical Materials and Recycling Streams

• Spent catalysts, technical ceramics, refractory waste
• Minerals, aggregates, fillers, fertilizers
• Rigid polymers, brittle plastics, and regrind materials
• Glass waste, light bulbs, LCD panels
• Dry agricultural by-products (seeds, animal feed, dried fibers)

Data Acquisition and Process Monitoring System (Optional)

The LC-100 can be equipped with an advanced data monitoring and logging module, ideal for R&D labs, quality control, and process optimization in recycling operations.

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Monitored Parameters:

• Real-time power consumption (W / kW)
• Energy consumption per cycle or per unit mass (Wh/lb or Wh/kg)
• Rotor torque / resistance, used as a proxy for material hardness or grindability
• Rotor speed (rpm)
• Grinding chamber temperature
• Vibration monitoring (chain integrity and wear detection)

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System Capabilities:

• Continuous data logging with CSV export via USB or Ethernet
• Automatic power–time and specific energy graphs
• Ability to correlate crushing energy with:
  • Final particle size distribution
  • Mechanical strength of recycled materials
  • Presence of hard contaminants or inclusions

These features make the LC-100 particularly suitable for advanced recycling R&D, material characterization, comminution studies, and energy-efficiency analysis.

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Key Advantages vs. Blade Mills in Recycling Applications

• High versatility across a wide range of recycled materials and hardness levels
• Stable long-term performance with no blade edge degradation
• Reduced risk of jams, even with fibrous or elastic waste streams
• Fast and simple maintenance, with quick chain replacement
• Controlled particle size distribution via interchangeable sizing screens
• Scientific process insight through power, energy, and resistance data logging

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