Selecting zirconia beads is contingent upon equipment materials and material choice.

Usually, when it comes to zirconia beads, the higher the density, the greater the impact force, and the higher the grinding efficiency. However, this also results in more significant wear on the contact components of the sand mill, such as the inner cylinder wall and dispersing discs. Hence, the key lies in the coordination of slurry viscosity and flow rate.

Commonly used hardness indicators include Mohs hardness and Vickers hardness. Higher hardness grinding beads do not necessarily equate to increased wear. The hardness of commonly used grinding media is illustrated in the chart below. From the perspective of grinding bead interactions with sand mill components, beads with high hardness indeed lead to more substantial component wear. Nevertheless, optimal optimization can be achieved by adjusting parameters such as the filling level of grinding beads, slurry viscosity, flow rate, and more.

When selecting grinding media, it's essential to consider the composition, density, particle size, and hardness of the grinding media. Moreover, fine-tuning parameters such as the filling level of grinding media, slurry viscosity, and flow rate is crucial for achieving optimal grinding results.

In terms of cost, grinding efficiency, and product considerations, zirconia beads with higher zirconium content are generally more practical. If objective conditions are constrained by other factors, the following principles are generally followed:

1. Equipment Situation:

   - Vertical sand mills or horizontal sand mills with stainless steel (carbon steel) inner cylinder bodies and grinding components typically use zirconium silicate beads or 80% zirconia beads (80% zirconia beads are preferred due to higher wear and greater grinding efficiency). When the inner cylinder body and grinding components are made of wear-resistant alloy steel or ceramics, yttrium-stabilized zirconia beads are usually selected.

2. Material Characteristics:

   - For oily materials, silicon zirconia beads or 80% zirconia beads are generally chosen.

   - For water-based materials, 80% zirconia beads or 95% yttrium-stabilized zirconia beads are commonly used.

   - High-viscosity materials are generally paired with yttrium-stabilized zirconia beads or cerium-stabilized zirconia beads.

   - Medium-viscosity materials are typically paired with 80% zirconia or zirconium silicate beads.