How to Choose a Laboratory Mill or Mixer
Compare VivTek Instruments mills and mixers for solid samples, dry powders and liquids. Use the sample, batch size and required result to narrow the options.
Mill or mixer?
Choose a mill when you need to reduce particle size. Choose a dry blender when your powders already meet the particle-size requirement and need to be combined uniformly. For liquids, start with the process you need, such as dispersing solids, emulsifying immiscible liquids, or sonication.
Compare equipment by sample and process
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Wet or dry milling in multiple jars
Compare a planetary mill when your workflow calls for wet or dry grinding and parallel jars. The BM4X-04 lists four stations and a 25–100 mL range per jar. Confirm working sample load separately.
View VivTek planetary ball mills -
Small samples in vials or jars
The High-Energy Mini Grinder and Mixer lists configurations for nine 2 mL vials, four 5 mL vials, or 25 and 50 mL jars. Compare format, allowable load and samples per run.
View the high-energy mini grinder -
Wet or dry milling in roller-mounted jars
The 50 mL–4.0 L rotary ball mill lists an adjustable two-roll design. Confirm the jar diameter, length and material against the model before specifying a configuration.
View the two-roll rotary ball mill -
Crushing rock, ore, minerals or soil
Compare the ring and puck mill when you need to pulverize solid samples. Check the feed size and choose a grinding container material that suits the downstream analysis.
View the ring and puck mill -
Blending dry powders
Compare a V-shape mixer when the ingredients need to be distributed through the batch. The LVM-V5 lists a 5 L vessel and 5 kg maximum loading. Confirm the usable fill for your powder’s bulk density.
View VivTek V-shape mixers
Compare VivTek 3D mixers -
Dispersing solids or emulsifying liquids
Compare the AD500-SH for dispersion and the AE500-SH for emulsification. The catalog lists different heads and processing volumes for each. Confirm the working volume, viscosity and vessel dimensions.
View AD500-SH dispersion heads
View AE500-SH emulsification heads -
Sonication in liquid
Compare the ultrasonic processor when your method calls for sonication. Specify sample volume, horn diameter, vessel and how you need to control sample temperature.
View VivTek ultrasonic processors -
Wet bead grinding or dispersion
The High Speed Beads Agitator lists a bead-agitation head and a separate dispersing head. Identify which operation you need, then confirm the bead, head and vessel combination.
View the beads agitator
What to specify before you buy
- Sample and starting condition. Identify the material, largest feed particle, and whether the sample is dry, a slurry, or already liquid. Include viscosity for liquid processes and bulk density for dry blends when available.
- Required result. For milling, give the target particle size and how you will measure it. For blending or dispersion, define the uniformity or end point you need. Ask what sample and method were used for any published performance figures. For particulate samples, ISO 14488:2007 covers representative sampling and sample splitting for tests such as particle-size measurement.
- Batch size and throughput. Provide mass or working volume per batch and batches per day. Verify per-jar capacity, usable load, and how many jars or samples you can run together.
- Contact materials and cleaning. Identify materials that could interfere with your analysis and any cleaning or carryover limits. Match the planetary mill jars or rotary mill jars, seals and media to the specific mill and sample.
- Operating conditions. Flag heat-sensitive material, solvent use or special atmosphere requirements so the configuration can be checked against the equipment documentation and your lab’s procedures.
Technical references
VivTek model specifications are linked in the comparisons above. For equipment-selection principles, see RETSCH milling equipment and methods, IKA laboratory disperser selection and Hielscher laboratory sonication configurations.