Grinding Media For Sale at William Boulton
Forged steel grinding balls and high, medium and low chrome cast steel balls for demanding industrial milling applications Get In ContactHere at William Boulton, we specialise in grinding media for high-performance ball milling. Our core range is forged steel grinding balls and low, medium and high chrome cast steel balls, engineered for customers operating ball mills in mining, cement, energy, mineral processing, construction materials, chemicals, pigments, ceramics and other specialised production environments.
We’ll help you match the ball type, grade and size to your mill and material, so you get the right balance of hardness, wear life, impact resistance and cost per tonne ground. We also supply ceramic, zirconia, glass bead and other grinding media for fine grinding and specialist applications.
Not sure which grinding balls you need? Call our team on 01782 816158 or send us your mill details.
Forged Steel and Chrome Cast Steel Grinding Balls
We supply two main types of grinding ball for ball mills. Forged steel grinding balls are formed by drop forging or rolling, then quenched and tempered for high hardness, uniform heat treatment and strong impact resistance.
Chrome cast steel balls are available in low, medium and high chrome grades, so you can choose the balance of hardness, wear life, impact value and cost per tonne ground that suits your mill duty and material.
Compare the range below, or read on for full technical data on each type.
Grinding ball product range
| Product | Typical diameter range | Key strength | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forged steel grinding balls | 20–100 mm standard range, with special diameters available subject to requirements | High hardness, uniform heat treatment and strong impact resistance | Mining, cement raw-material grinding, coal, slag, pigments and ceramic materials |
| Low chrome cast steel balls | 8–130 mm | Economical wear performance for less severe milling conditions | Cement, building materials and general dry grinding duties |
| Medium chrome cast steel balls | 8–130 mm | Balanced wear resistance, hardness and impact performance | General ball mill applications requiring improved service life |
| High chrome cast steel balls | 8–130 mm | High wear resistance and higher hardness for abrasive grinding environments | Cement mills, metal mines, coal slurry and high-abrasion applications |
Forged Steel Grinding Balls
Our forged steel grinding balls are manufactured for high-impact and high-wear milling environments where reliability, retained hardness and low media consumption are critical to production performance. The forging and heat-treatment route supports consistent mechanical properties across batches, helping mills maintain predictable grinding efficiency and reduced breakage risk.
- Standard nominal diameters of 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 mm.
- Available in hardness classifications such as hard, medium and soft to suit mill duty and material abrasiveness.
- Designed for low wear rates, consistent volume hardness and dependable performance in demanding grinding circuits.
- Suitable for wet and dry grinding applications where impact toughness and dimensional consistency are important.
Running a SAG mill? See our forged steel SAG balls.
Material and manufacturing process
Forged and rolled grinding balls are produced from selected wear-resistant steel grades developed to deliver a practical combination of hardness, toughness and low wear. Standard production uses controlled heating followed by drop forging or rolling to form the ball, then quenching and tempering to establish the required metallurgical structure and hardness profile.
Careful control of steel quality, forming temperature and heat treatment supports high surface and volume hardness, low media consumption and resistance to spalling or premature breakage in demanding wet and dry grinding duties. The thermal cycle is controlled so that each ball is uniformly hardened, and consistent quenching and tempering help maintain repeatable mechanical properties and closely controlled volume-hardness values from batch to batch.
Standard nominal diameters cover 20–90 mm. Alternative diameters, hardness levels and steel grades may be available subject to technical review and minimum order quantities.
Chemical composition (% by mass)
| Diameter (mm) | C | Mn | Si | P | S | Cr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16–70 | 0.60–0.90 | 0.30–1.20 | 0.15–0.60 | max. 0.025 | max. 0.025 | 0.01–0.8 |
| 80–90 | 0.60–0.90 | 0.30–1.20 | 0.15–0.60 | max. 0.025 | max. 0.025 | 0.01–0.8 |
Hardness by diameter
| Diameter (mm) | Hardness (HV) |
|---|---|
| 90 | 596–720 |
| 80 | 615–748 |
| 70 | 634–771 |
| 60 | 654–800 |
| 50 | 675–830 |
| 40 | 675–830 |
| 35 | 675–830 |
| 30 | 675–830 |
| 25 | 675–830 |
Breakage guarantee
| Breakage rate | Resolution |
|---|---|
| 0–3% | No claim |
| 3–10% | Broken balls replaced free of charge |
| Above 10% | All ball sizes involved in the breakage replaced free of charge |
Need forged steel grinding balls? Call us on 01782 816158 or:
Low, Medium and High Chrome Cast Steel Balls
For applications where chromium alloy content is selected to match abrasion, impact duty and budget, we offer low, medium and high chrome cast steel balls. These grades let you choose the most appropriate balance between hardness, wear life, impact value and cost per tonne ground.
| Grade | Chromium content | Carbon content | Hardness | Minimum impact value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low chrome | 0.5–2.5% | 1.80–3.20% | 45–52 HRC | 1.5 J/cm² |
| Medium chrome | 3.0–7.0% | 1.80–3.20% | 47–55 HRC | 2.0 J/cm² |
| High chrome | ≥10.0% | 1.80–3.20% | 56–62 HRC | 3.0 J/cm² |
Manufacturing process
Cast grinding balls are produced by melting selected steel scrap with chromium and other alloying additions in a medium-frequency electric furnace. The molten metal is micro-alloyed, composition-checked and poured into ball moulds at a controlled temperature. Controlled casting helps minimise sand inclusion, porosity and collapse defects.
After solidification, the balls are cleaned and subjected to quenching and tempering. This refines the internal structure, reduces residual stress and improves hardness, toughness and resistance to fracture. Spectrometric checks may be performed before and after melting and on semi-finished and finished product to confirm stable chemistry and performance.
Typical chemical composition (% by mass)
| Grade | C | Si | Mn | Cr | Mo | Cu | Ni | P | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cr26 | 2.0–3.3 | ≤1.2 | 0.3–1.5 | >23–30 | 0–3.0 | 0–1.2 | 0–1.5 | ≤0.10 | ≤0.06 |
| Cr20 | 2.0–3.3 | ≤1.2 | 0.3–1.5 | >18–23 | 0–3.0 | 0–1.2 | 0–1.5 | ≤0.10 | ≤0.06 |
| Cr15 | 2.0–3.3 | ≤1.2 | 0.3–1.5 | >14–18 | 0–3.0 | 0–1.2 | 0–1.5 | ≤0.10 | ≤0.06 |
| Cr12 | 2.0–3.3 | ≤1.2 | 0.3–1.5 | >10–14 | 0–3.0 | 0–1.2 | 0–1.5 | ≤0.10 | ≤0.06 |
| Cr8 | 2.1–3.3 | ≤2.2 | 0.3–1.5 | 7–10 | 0–1.0 | 0–0.8 | — | ≤0.10 | ≤0.06 |
| Cr5 | 2.1–3.3 | ≤1.5 | 0.3–1.5 | 4–6 | 0–1.0 | 0–0.8 | — | ≤0.10 | ≤0.10 |
| Cr2 | 2.1–3.6 | ≤1.5 | 0.3–1.5 | 1–3 | 0–1.0 | 0–0.8 | — | ≤0.10 | ≤0.10 |
Typical technical properties
| Grade | Diameter | Hardness | Breakage rate | Impact value | Drop test | Microstructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cr26 | 17–150 mm | >58 HRC | <1% | >7 J/cm² | ≥12,000 | Martensite + carbide |
| Cr20 | 17–150 mm | >58 HRC | <1% | >6 J/cm² | ≥12,000 | Martensite + carbide |
| Cr15 | 17–150 mm | >58 HRC | <1% | >5 J/cm² | ≥12,000 | Martensite + carbide |
| Cr12 | 17–150 mm | >58 HRC | <1% | >3.5 J/cm² | ≥12,000 | Martensite + carbide |
| Cr8 | 17–150 mm | >58 HRC | <1% | >3 J/cm² | ≥12,000 | Martensite + carbide |
| Cr5 | 17–150 mm | >47 HRC | <1% | >2 J/cm² | ≥10,000 | Martensite + carbide |
| Cr2 | 17–150 mm | >45 HRC | <1% | >1.5 J/cm² | ≥8,000 | Pearlite + carbide |
Typical diameter tolerances
| Nominal diameter | Tolerance |
|---|---|
| Below 30 mm | +1 / −1 mm |
| 30 to below 60 mm | +1.5 / −1 mm |
| 60 to below 80 mm | +2 / −1 mm |
| 80 to below 100 mm | +2.5 / −1 mm |
| 100 mm and above | +3 / −1 mm |
Not sure which chrome grade you need? Call us on 01782 816158 or:
Choosing the Right Grinding Balls
Ball grade and charge mix should be matched to mill diameter, liner design, feed size, material hardness, target product fineness and wet or dry operating conditions. Larger media generally provides greater impact for coarse feed, while smaller media increases contact points for fine grinding. Initial charge proportions and replenishment rates should be confirmed from operating data and mill-specific trials.
Tell us about your mill and material and we’ll recommend the right ball type, grade and size, with guidance on charge make-up and replenishment.
Typical applications
- Mining and mineral processing: iron, manganese, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, copper, zinc, gold and uranium ores.
- Cement and construction materials: limestone, clinker, sand and raw-material grinding.
- Energy and power generation: coal, blast-furnace slag and related milling duties.
- Specialist industries: pigments, ceramics, refractory materials, chemicals and fine-powder production.
Why customers choose our grinding balls
- Application-matched selection: product choice can be aligned with mill type, feed size, liner condition, grinding duty and desired consumption rate.
- Wear-focused metallurgy: forged and chrome cast options support a range of hardness and abrasion-resistance requirements.
- Consistent supply: available in commonly used ball mill diameters, with order-specific guidance for charge make-up and replenishment.
- Professional purchasing support: technical and commercial discussions can be tailored for production, maintenance, procurement and engineering teams.
Quality and supply
Typical documentation and checks can include material certificates, hardness testing, dimensional verification, visual inspection and agreed packing arrangements. Final specification, grade, hardness range, diameter tolerance and packaging should be confirmed against your mill conditions and purchase requirements.
Technical values are typical catalogue data rather than a guaranteed contract specification. Final chemistry, hardness, impact value, dimensional tolerance, packing and test documentation should be confirmed on the quotation and material certificate for each order.
Discuss your grinding media requirements: call 01782 816158, email sales@williamboulton.co.uk or send us an enquiry.
Our Grinding Media Solutions
We offer a comprehensive range of grinding media products designed to enhance the performance and productivity of your grinding operations. Our products include but are not limited to:
- High Chrome Grinding Balls: Ideal for mining and cement industries, these balls ensure optimum grinding efficiency and wear rate.
- Forged Steel Grinding Balls: Known for their robustness, these are perfect for ball mills and SAG mills across the mining sector.
- Ceramic Grinding Media: Best for fine grinding applications, our ceramic media offers low wear and high purity for pharmaceuticals, coatings, and mineral processing operations.
- Glass Beads: Suitable for mild dispersion and fine grinding in paint, ink, and coating applications.
- Steatie: Favoured for its thermal resistivity and electrical insulation properties in ceramic engineering.
- Silicon Carbide: Stands out for its exceptional hardness and thermal conductivity, making it ideal for abrasive and refractory applications.
- Stainless Steel: Widely used for its corrosion resistance, making it a popular choice for hydroponic systems and metal pots.
- Zironia: celebrated for its high strength and fracture toughness, often used in soil-less growing systems that require durable media.
- Zirconium Silicate: Preferred for its stability and ability to support plant growth in hydroponic and aeroponic systems due to its nutrient retention properties.
Can't see the grinding media you need? Call us on 01782 816158 or:
Customised and Technical Grinding Media support
We understand that every grinding process is unique. Our team of experts is available to analyse your specific requirements and recommend the most suitable grinding media type, size, and material composition to improve your processes, reduce costs, and maximise efficiency. We offer:
- Customised Grinding Media Solutions: Tailored configurations to meet your application-specific demands.
- Technical Support and Consultancy: Our highly experienced engineers provide ongoing support, helping optimise your grinding operations for better performance and sustainability.
Quality Assurance of Your Grinding Media
At William Boulton, quality is at the core of everything we do. Our grinding media products are manufactured using state-of-the-art technology and processes, ensuring high standards of durability, performance, and reliability. Each product undergoes rigorous testing and quality checks to meet and exceed industry standards as well as our clients’ expectations.
Why Choose Us?
- Extensive Industry Experience: With years of expertise in grinding media, we have the knowledge and skills to deliver outstanding solutions.
- Customer-Centric Approach: Your satisfaction is our priority. We listen to your needs and continuously work to exceed your expectations.
- Global Reach: Our global network ensures timely delivery and support to clients around the world.
- Sustainable Practices: We are committed to environmental sustainability, implementing eco-friendly practices in our operations and solutions.