Custom Milling & Consulting LLC, is a leading provider of custom processing and toll milling services for wet milling/mixing applications. Wet milling can achieve ultrafine particle sizes not possible with dry milling/dry grinding, and involves the use of specially engineered machinery that processes the mixture of materials in a liquid medium or “slurry”. We have specialized for more than 25 years in particle size reduction and nanomaterials for various industries, and offer a turnkey business solution for toll processing nanomaterials to your exact specifications.
What are nanomaterials?
A nanometer (nm) is one thousand millionth of a meter. In comparison, a red blood cell is approximately 7,000 nm wide and a water molecule is almost 0.3 nm across. Ultrafine particles, or nanoparticles, are sized between 1 and 100 nanometers. At this tiny scale, the properties of materials can change dramatically compared to larger-scaled materials. Manufactured nanoparticles are typically not products in their own right, but serve as raw materials, ingredients or additives in existing products.
Composites made from ceramic or metal nanoparticles can become much stronger and tougher. Nanoparticles can also affect the optical, electrical and magnetic behavior of materials. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, for instance, become transparent when nano-sized, but they gain the ability to absorb and reflect ultra-violet light, making them very useful in sunscreens.
Examples of applications for nanomaterials:
- Nano-inks
- Nano-pigments
- Dental ceramics
- Antimicrobial coatings
- Sunscreens, UV blocking textiles, UV blocking coatings
- Superplastic ceramics
- Lithium ion battery electrodes
- MRI contrast agents
- Paint-on solar cells
- Nanosize powders to increase absorption of nutrients
- Nanocoatings on food preparation surfaces for barrier or antimicrobial properties
- Enhanced skin/hair hydration and delivery of active ingredients to deeper layers
Nanotechnology is not new; artisans in Mesopotamia as far back as the 9th century used it to generate a glittering metallic effect on the surface of pots. Modern chemists have been making polymers (large molecules composed of nanoparticles) for decades, and they have been used for more than 20 years to create tiny features on computer chips. More precise tools have opened new doors for a myriad of new nanomaterial applications, such as in electronic circuits, drug delivery and environmental clean-up.
Specialized processing of nanomaterials
Nanomaterials are not merely another step in miniaturizing materials. They often require very different production approaches, and the behaviors of some nanomaterials present greater challenges. Small particle sizes cannot be achieved with traditional mills, but the costs involved with installing precision, high-energy media mills can be prohibitive for a business. Even small wet milling and mixing installations can require additional premix equipment, tanks, mixers, pumps, filters, electronics and plumbing. And complications can occur, such as uncontrolled agglomeration (caused by high surface energy), fluctuations in density, and stresses from non-uniform drying shrinkage. Let CMC put our expertise to work for you to meet your unique milling requirements at competitive prices.
Custom Milling & Consulting LLC, is experienced in a vast number of industries involved in toll processing nanomaterials. Our advanced milling technology and processing services can eliminate particle agglomeration and reduce the particle size of raw materials in a liquid medium. In addition to custom and toll manufacturing, we can provide inventory management, packaging, labeling, storage of finished products, and a wide range of other services.
