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Alumina Toughened Zirconia Beads
- Data Sheet
- Description
| Chemical composition | ZrO2 10% SiO2 30% Al2O3 60% | Size (mm) | |
| Real density | 3.2g/cm3 | Ø0.6-0.8mm | Ø0.8-1.0mm |
| Bulk density | 2.2g/cm3 | Ø1.0-1.2mm | Ø1.2-1.4mm |
| Moh`s hardness | 8 | Ø1.4-1.6mm | Ø1.6-1.8mm |
| Wear rate per ton | 0.08kg/H | Ø1.8-2.0mm | Ø2.0-2.5mm |
| Colour | White | Ø2.5-3.0mm | |
| Package | 25kg/barrel | Other sizes can be customized | |
Product overview:
The Zirconia alumina composite beads are known for their high strength, toughness, and high fracture resistance. They are also known for their shiny smooth surface, excellent corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance and hardness. It is one of the popular milling media used in many sectors.
It consists of three elements Zirconia (ZrO2), Silicon dioxide (SiO2), and Alumina (Al2O3). The main ingredient alumina accounts for 60 percent and 30 percent is Silica. Only the remaining 10 percent is Zirconium. So, this media balls contain less zirconium content. So, it is less expensive when compared to other zirconium beads which contain higher zirconium content.
Inovatec machinery manufactures some of the best quality alumina toughened zirconia beads in the market. We have over 20 years of experience in manufacturing mass finishing media and machines. Any of the milling machines from Inovatec machinery can be used for the grinding, milling, or dispersion of parts using the Zirconia alumina composite media. Inovatec offer the alumina toughened zirconia beads in different sizes. So, you can easily get a size that match your grinding requirement.
Application:
- Paper mills Calcium Carbonate Fine Milling
- Mining application Ore Fine Grinding
- Metal polishing in vibratory finishing machine
Feature
- Good Media Life
- Cost-Effective
- Time Saver
- Better Wear Resistance
- High Grinding Efficiency
- Good Chemical Resistance
- Environment-Friendly Media
- Corrosion Resistant
- Easy to Clean & Store
- Reliable Media
Related Products
ZTA composite beads vs YSZ — understanding the cost-performance trade-off
The key commercial question for zirconia alumina composite (ZTA) beads is: when does the lower cost justify the trade-off in performance versus yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ)? The answer depends on the application’s contamination tolerance, target particle size and batch volume.
| ZTA (this page) ZrO₂ 10% / Al₂O₃ 60% / SiO₂ 30% | YSZ ZrO₂ 95% / Y₂O₃ 5% | |
|---|---|---|
| Real density | 3.2 g/cm³ | 6.05 g/cm³ |
| Mohs hardness | 8 | 9 |
| Wear rate | 0.08 kg/h per ton | 0.01 kg/h per ton |
| Contamination risk | Low — Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ wear products; acceptable for many industrial processes | Very low — ZrO₂ is highly inert; suitable for pharma, battery |
| Target particle size | Suitable for >2–5 µm; less effective for sub-micron | Down to <100 nm; best for nano grinding |
| Unit cost | Lowest in zirconia range | Highest in zirconia range |
| Choose ZTA when | Paper mill, ore grinding, mining — high volume, cost-sensitive, contamination tolerance is higher | Battery, pharma, electronic ceramics — near-zero contamination, sub-micron particle size, maximum media life |
Primary application areas for ZTA composite beads
| Industry | Application | Typical bead size | Why ZTA suits it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper mill | Calcium carbonate (GCC/PCC) fine grinding for paper coating | 0.6–1.5 mm | High volume, cost-driven; small Al₂O₃ contamination acceptable in CaCO₃ slurry |
| Mining | Ore fine grinding (gold, copper, iron, lithium mineral) | 1.0–5.0 mm | Ore processing accepts mineral contamination; density adequate for horizontal mill grinding energy |
| Paints & coatings | Pigment dispersion, paint milling | 0.8–2.0 mm | Cost-effective for non-critical-purity applications; performance close to higher grades for coarser targets |
| Polishing (mass finishing) | Gold, silver, copper parts polishing in vibratory machine | 3.0–8.0 mm | Non-abrasive burnishing; lower cost than YSZ for surface finishing applications |
| Chemical processing | Dispersion of industrial chemicals and intermediates | 1.0–3.0 mm | Good chemical resistance; cost-effective for non-food, non-pharma grade requirements |
Inovatec zirconia bead range — quick navigation
ZTA composite beads are the most economical option in the Inovatec zirconia bead range. If your application needs higher purity, finer particle size or lower contamination, one of the other grades may be more appropriate:
- Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) — 95% ZrO₂, 6.05 g/cm³, wear 0.01 kg/h/ton — for pharma, battery, electronic ceramics, nano grinding
- Ceria Stabilized Zirconia (CSZ) — ~80% ZrO₂ — for high-speed mills, impact-resistant applications
- Zirconium Silicate (ZS) — ~65% ZrO₂ — medium density, medium cost; good for paints and coatings at coarser targets
- Zirconia ball overview page — see the full grade comparison table
Operating guidelines for ZTA beads
- Chamber fill: 70–85% of mill chamber volume with ZTA beads for efficient grinding
- Machine load: operate at 80–90% of rated capacity; do not run below 60% load
- Slurry viscosity: match agitator speed to viscosity — high viscosity requires higher speed; low viscosity runs at moderate speed
- Heat management: ZTA generates less heat than YSZ (lower density, lower impact energy) but still requires cooling for long continuous runs; use coolant jacket or cooling water if slurry temperature exceeds 50°C
- Media inspection: visually check bead condition before each batch; remove broken media immediately as fragments reduce grinding efficiency and can contaminate product
- Separation: ZTA is not magnetic; separate by screen sieving. Design separation screen holes > bead diameter but < smallest part dimension to avoid carryover
| High-volume grinding application and looking for the most cost-effective media? Share your material, target particle size, mill type and current media consumption. We confirm whether ZTA composite beads are the right fit or whether a higher grade is warranted — and provide a free sample for testing. |