Natural agate ball milling jars high temperatures, acids and alkalis can be

Guangzhou Zoli Technology Co.,Ltd. is a manufacturer and exporter of advanced milling equipment and materials, specializing in nanotechnology solutions.

Natural agate ball milling jars are high-precision laboratory containers designed for use in planetary ball mills. They are engineered from natural agate, a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz (SiO₂), making them the premier choice for applications where sample purity, chemical resistance, and mechanical integrity are paramount.

1. Exceptional Chemical Resistance

   The chemical inertness of agate is one of its most valued properties, though it is important to understand the specifics.

   Acid Resistance:

   Superior Performance: Agate jars exhibit outstanding resistance to virtually all strong mineral acids and organic acids. This includes hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO₃), sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), and even potent mixtures like Aqua Regia.

   Critical Exception: They are severely susceptible to attack by Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) and solutions containing fluoride ions. HF reacts with silicon dioxide, dissolving the agate material and rendering the jar useless. Agate must never be used with HF.

2. Alkali Resistance:

   Good for Mild Conditions: Agate performs well with weak alkalis and bases at room temperature.

   Vulnerability to Strong Bases: It has limited resistance to hot, concentrated strong alkalis such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). Prolonged exposure can cause surface etching and slow dissolution, leading to silica contamination of the sample.

3. High-Temperature Tolerance

   Inherent Thermal Stability: Agate has a very high melting point (approximately 1700°C). The mechanical friction and impact energy generated during the ball milling process will not approach this threshold.

   Practical Application: This inherent thermal stability ensures the jar maintains its structural integrity and hardness under all normal and high-energy milling conditions. It can also be safely cleaned in high-temperature ovens or autoclaves (within standard operational limits) without risk of degradation.

4. Customization Capabilities

   A key advantage of agate jars is their ability to be tailored to specific research needs. Customization options typically include:

   Volume and Dimensions: While standard sizes like 50ml, 100ml, and 250ml are common, jars can be manufactured to precise, non-standard volumes to accommodate unique sample quantity requirements or fit specialized milling equipment.

   Lid and Sealing Mechanism: Custom lids can be engineered for specific purposes. This includes:

   • Vacuum Lids: Equipped with valves to allow the internal atmosphere to be evacuated, essential for grinding air-sensitive materials (e.g., metals, certain alloys).
   • Gas-Inlet Lids: Designed to purge the jar with an inert gas like Argon or Nitrogen, providing an oxygen-free or moisture-free environment.

   Internal Geometry: The internal contour can be optimized for specific grinding efficiency, though the cylindrical shape is standard.

   Compatible Grinding Balls: Custom orders can include perfectly matched sets of agate grinding balls in specified diameters and size distributions to maximize milling efficiency for a particular application.

• Extreme Hardness (Mohs 7.0): Provides excellent wear resistance, ensuring a long operational lifespan and minimal jar material loss.
• High Purity and Contamination-Free Grinding: The primary reason for its use. It ensures that no metallic or other impurities are introduced into the sample, which is critical for analytical techniques like X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and ICP-MS.
• High Density and Low Porosity: Results in a smooth, non-absorbent surface that is easy to clean and prevents cross-contamination between batches.