In this work, the influence of milling ball properties on energy transfer and mixing efficiency was systematically investigated by decoupling mass, surface area, and kinetic energy. To achieve this, hollow and solid balls of different sizes were employed, allowing independent variation of these parameters. Additionally, cylindrical and round-ended milling tools were additionally used to study the effects of surface geometry and contact dynamics. Yield normalization by energy input, ball mass, and surface area enables clearer correlation between individual ball characteristics and milling efficiency. This approach provides a more detailed understanding of how individual mechanical properties contribute to overall process performance.
Rappen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.