ZAL-27 zirconia-alumina composite beads with high hardness and breakage resistance, designed to replace glass beads and improve milling efficiency.
ZAL-27 zirconia-alumina composite beads with high hardness and breakage resistance, designed to replace glass beads and improve milling efficiency.

Cell Lab ZAL-27 Light Density Sintered Zirconia-Alumina Composite Bead

Cell Lab ZAL-27 Light Density Sintered Zirconia-Alumina Composite Beads — 25 kg Durable, low-wear, light-density ceramic beads ideal to substitute glass media and improve grinding efficiency in planetary, stirred, bead, and dispersion mills. Key Features Light density sintered composite beads...
Vendor: Cell Lab
SKU: CL0518
Product type: Milling Media
£449.00
£449.00
Size: 0.40 - 0.80 mm
Subtotal: £449.00
Description
Description
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Cell Lab ZAL-27 Light Density Sintered Zirconia-Alumina Composite Beads — 25 kg

Durable, low-wear, light-density ceramic beads ideal to substitute glass media and improve grinding efficiency in planetary, stirred, bead, and dispersion mills.

Key Features

  • Light density sintered composite beads combining zirconia and alumina, yielding improved breakage resistance and toughness.

  • Bulk density ~ 1.7 kg/L, solid density around 2.65-2.85 g/cc.

  • Hardness ~ 793 Hv10, Mohs hardness ≈ 8; glossy white finish.

  • Wide size range by SKU: from 0.40-0.80 mm up to 5.00-6.00 mm.

Technical Specifications

Item Specification
Composition ZrO₂: 2 wt % • SiO₂: 35 wt % • Al₂O₃: 60 wt % • Remainder: 3 wt %
Bulk Density ≈ 1.7 kg/L
Density (solid) ≈ 2.65-2.85 g/cc
Hardness (Hv10) ≈ 793
Mohs Hardness ≈ 8
Color / Finish White, glossy sheen
Melting Point Over 1600 °C

SKU & Size Variants

SKU# Size Range (mm)
CL0518 0.40 - 0.80 mm
CL0519 0.80 - 1.20 mm
CL0520 1.20 - 1.50 mm
CL0521 1.40 - 1.70 mm
CL0522 1.80 - 2.20 mm
CL0523 2.00 - 2.50 mm
CL0524 2.50 - 3.00 mm
CL0525 3.00 - 4.00 mm
CL0526 4.00 - 5.00 mm
CL0527 5.00 - 6.00 mm

Performance & Application Notes

  • Excellent price-performance ratio among low-to-medium density grinding media.

  • Smooth bead surfaces reduce wear on mill internal components (liners, jar walls).

  • Can replace glass beads in many milling/dispersion operations to improve efficiency and reduce media attrition.

  • Size selection: finer beads (≤1.50 mm) for pigment, inks, coatings; coarser (≥3.00 mm) for general grinding, pre-grind, feed material reduction.

FAQ

Q1: What is ZAL-27 best used for vs glass beads?
A: Use ZAL-27 when you need more wear resistance and higher grinding speed than glass, but still want lighter, lower cost ceramic media.

Q2: How to choose SKU size?
A: Match bead size to your jar or mill volume and target particle size. Smaller sizes (≤ 1.20 mm) for fine dispersion; larger sizes (≥ 3.00 mm) for coarse grinding.

Q3: Is there heat or contamination concern?
A: Ceramic beads are chemically stable; heat buildup is lower than metal media but still monitor temperature on long runs.

Q4: How many beads per liter of jar volume to use?
A: Recommended bead + sample fill ≤ 2/3 of jar internal volume. Ensure bead mass is sufficient for impact energy without overloading.

Q5: Can ZAL-27 beads be used for both wet and dry milling?
A: Yes. Ensure proper sealing in wet systems and avoid stagnant liquid contact. For dry milling, avoid overheating.

Shipping & Return
Shipping & Return
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Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.