Definition and general context

Mills for industrial plastic materials are equipment designed to reduce the size of waste and plastic materials, transforming them into smaller particles to facilitate their handling, recycling or reprocessing. These mills are essential in the plastics industry, whether to recycle waste, prepare materials for manufacturing processes or for the reuse of industrial surpluses.

The use of these mills contributes to the circular economy by allowing efficient recovery of plastic waste, reducing environmental impact and optimizing resources. In addition, their design and operation adapt to different types of plastic materials, from thermoplastics to composites, which gives them versatility in various industrial applications.

Rotary blade mills

Rotary blade mills are one of the most common types used for grinding plastic materials. These equipment have a rotor equipped with multiple blades that rotate at high speed, cutting and reducing the plastic material through an impact and cutting mechanism.

Its design allows for a relatively uniform final particle size, suitable for subsequent processes such as extrusion or molding. In addition, they usually incorporate grids or sieves that control the size of the crushed material, ensuring that only particles with specific dimensions are released.

These mills are versatile and can process a wide variety of plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC, among others. However, they have limitations with extremely hard or contaminated materials, which can affect the efficiency and life of the blades.

hammer mills

Hammer mills operate using a rotor that rotates at high speed and has several hammers or paddles incorporated. These hammers impact the plastic material, fragmenting it until it reaches the desired size defined by an outlet grid or mesh.

This type of mill is especially useful for medium to large sized plastic materials and those with a certain hardness. Its ability to break down bulky materials makes it ideal in recycling processes where large volumes of waste are handled.