Sitec: Microton, a new technology for the dry micronisation

Microton is the most advanced technology available for the dry micronisation of hard abrasive materials such as feldspar, quartz, calcium carbonate, silica, zirconium, alumina, bauxite, ceramic frits and other raw materials. Microton systems are widely used in a range of industrial sectors and guarantee a perfectly constant particle size distribution in the micronised product. They offer higher performance than any other system currently available on the market, especially when particle sizes below 10 micron are required, and ensure high levels of productivity and low energy consumption. Microton systems offer clear advantages in terms of three main aspects:
- product quality: the guarantee of a constant and certified standard;
- cost-effective management: high productivity for lower costs than conventional dry and wet micronisation systems;
- management flexibility: possibility of micronising a wide range of materials with different physical characteristics.

The heart of all Microton systems is the MCS mill which operates in an air flow. The mill’s grinding chamber has negative pressure and the milled material is transported by an air current that continuously extracts product that has reached the desired particle size, thereby increasing grinding efficiency, reducing wear and limiting energy consumption.
The Microton production process is made fully automatic by three main features:
- A controlled weight feeding system: guarantees that the correct quantity of material is always present inside the grinding chamber. By continuously controlling the weight of the product extracted by the airflow, the system controls the feeding flow automatically and constantly in order to maintain a perfect balance at all times.
- Flexible configuration particle size classification: the innovative air flow technology enables the powders to be separated with minimal costs while guaranteeing products with constant particle size and therefore certifiable. Particle size classification is performed by SAV separators, horizontal axis devices that allow for highly precise selection of micronised material. The possibility of adjusting the speed and flowrate of the separators enables a wide range of configurations to be obtained rapidly to meet different production requirements.
- Continuous adjustment of production parameters. Microton is equipped with a software system that guarantees computerised process control so that the setting parameters are constantly monitored and kept correct over the 24-hour continuous cycle during which the system operates without the aid of an operator. Malfunctions generate an alarm signal to alert technical personnel and place the system on stand-by.