IKA A 10 basic Analytical Mill, Coolable, up to 25,000 rpm, 0004020700

Anyone who crushes small quantities of solid samples in the laboratory for subsequent analysis needs a mill that processes hard and soft materials equally well without altering the sample through heating. The IKA A 10 basic grinds batches of up to 50 ml using the cutting-impact principle and can be cooled directly in the grinding chamber via integrated water connections. For particularly tough, fatty or water-containing samples, dry ice is also used, which embrittles the sample before the grinding process.

Cutting-impact principle for hard and soft samples

The working principle of the A 10 basic combines cutting and impact in a grinding chamber made of stainless steel 1.4301, and the beater is made of stainless steel 1.4034. Materials with a hardness of up to 5 Mohs and a particle size of up to 6 mm can be fed in. The motor draws 300 watts and delivers 240 watts, and the speed reaches a maximum of 25,000 revolutions per minute at a peripheral speed of 73 metres per second. According to the manufacturer, the embrittlement in the grinding chamber also makes it possible to process tough, fatty and water-containing substances that are difficult to crush without pretreatment.

Cooling directly in the grinding chamber

The grinding chamber has integrated connections for active water cooling during the grinding process. In addition, the grinding material can be embrittled in the grinding chamber with dry ice. The permissible duty cycle is 5 minutes of operation followed by 10 minutes of pause, which limits the heating of the drive during longer or repeated grinding runs. According to the manufacturer's description, a digital timer, a counter and an interval operation control the grinding process.

Selection guide: A 10 basic or A 11 basic

Among the IKA analytical mills, the A 10 basic differs from the A 11 basic mainly in volume, cooling method and the material of the grinding chamber. The A 11 basic holds more sample at 80 ml and reaches a higher speed of 28,000 revolutions per minute, but works with a weaker motor of 160 watts input and 100 watts output. It is cooled with liquid nitrogen, water cooling is not documented for it, and its grinding cup is made of Tefcel with a stainless steel insert instead of a continuous stainless steel grinding chamber as in the A 10 basic. If you want to cool smaller batches with a water connection and control them digitally via timer and interval operation, you are better served by the A 10 basic, and for larger volumes and higher speeds the A 11 basic is worth a look.

Typical applications

As a batch mill with a cutting-impact principle, the A 10 basic covers different sample types:

• Crushing hard, brittle materials with a feed material hardness of up to 5 Mohs and a particle size of up to 6 mm
• Processing soft and fibrous samples through the combined cutting-impact principle
• Embrittlement of tough, fatty or water-containing samples with dry ice directly in the grinding chamber
• Sample preparation for subsequent analysis in batches of up to 50 ml usable volume

Technical details

Scope of delivery

• 1 x IKA A 10 basic analytical mill
• 1 x A 10.1 stainless steel beater
• 1 x A 10.4 grinding chamber reducer
• 2 x clips for cooling water hose
• 2 x felt rings
• 1 x tool set

Use and care

The connection is to 220 to 240 V at 50 to 60 Hz and a power consumption of 300 watts. Protection class IP 41 protects the drive against contact and coarse foreign bodies, which means there is no splash protection, and the water cooling remains limited to the intended connections of the grinding chamber. The grinding chamber and beater made of stainless steel 1.4301 and 1.4034 can be cleaned with little residue after each grinding process, and thorough drying before the next sample change is recommended so that no residual moisture gets into the next grinding material. At the end of its service life, the A 10 basic belongs in the separate collection of waste electrical equipment as an electrical device and not in household waste.

Individual requirements & procurement service

For the A 10 basic, in addition to the supplied stainless steel beater A 10.1, a carbide beater A 10.3 for particularly hard materials and a star blade A 10.2 for fibrous samples are available as replaceable tools, as well as replacement hoses and hose insulation for the water cooling. Via our procurement service we advise you on the suitable tool combination for your sample type. The Mills category offers an overview of further laboratory mills.

Frequently asked questions

Can the A 10 basic be cooled during grinding?
Yes, the grinding chamber has integrated connections for active water cooling. In addition, the grinding material can be embrittled in the grinding chamber with dry ice.

How does the A 10 basic differ from the A 11 basic?
The A 11 basic holds more volume with 80 instead of 50 ml and reaches a higher speed with 28,000 instead of 25,000 rpm, but cools with liquid nitrogen instead of a water connection and uses a grinding cup made of Tefcel instead of a fixed stainless steel grinding chamber.

What maximum particle size and hardness can be fed in?
The feed particle size is a maximum of 6 mm, the feed material hardness a maximum of 5 Mohs.

How long can the mill run continuously?
The permissible duty cycle is 5 minutes of operation, followed by 10 minutes of pause.