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Glass/crystal and plastic are two of the most often used laboratory materials, however there are many more. Glassware, such as flasks, beakers, test tubes, and flasks, has been widely used for decades, but plastic has mostly overtaken it due to plastic’s high resilience and compatibility with the wide range of chemicals often used in labs.
For a long time, chemical laboratories relied heavily on glass and metal supplies. Laboratory Plasticware supplies, on the other hand, have become a significant element of the inventory and have even replaced other kinds of items.
What kind of plastic is the equipment in the lab made of? What materials are used to make this component? The primary properties of plastic laboratory materials will be discussed in further detail in the next section.
What are the physical characteristics of plastic laboratory materials?
Breakage resistance is a key feature of plastics because of their low density. Also, unlike glass and metal, it is very light and takes up very little room. Several laboratory tools are constructed of disposable plastic in order to avoid cross-contamination.
Elastomers and thermoplastics are the most often utilized polymers in labs. Caps, tubes, and nipples made of natural rubber or silicone include the former; laboratory equipment contains the latter.
Polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, and polymethylpentene are some of the other plastics utilized to produce laboratory supplies. Thermal resistance and resistance to a wide range of chemicals, including acids, are among the many characteristics shared by all of them.
Plastic Labware
There are plastic versions of several of theseLaboratory Plasticware, as well as glass and metal ones. As an example, consider the following:
The funnel
With a tube at the apex, the funnel is used to funnel liquids or grains into narrow-mouthed containers in the laboratory. Aside from its application in chemical labs, this substance has found its way into the kitchen and construction industry.
Beaker
If you need to prepare compounds or transport liquids, this plastic labware with a measurement device on one end is perfect.
Grass
For storing the test tubes, you may use a rack, which typically has compartments big enough to contain a variety of test tubes.
The Pipettes
The pipette is one of the Laboratory Plasticware supplies that you should either get or not obtain. To correctly measure the volume of any liquid, this device is used in conjunction with a pipette calibrator.
Clamps
There aren’t many more useful lab supplies than this. Pipettes and flasks may both be stored in this container. There is also a metal version of it.
Tips for usingLaboratory Plasticware
Numerous plastic laboratory items are also available in glass or metal, as previously indicated. Plastics may have issues with some chemical components, resulting in changes in their characteristics, therefore this is why this is the case.
For this reason, you must be aware of the resistance of each laboratory plastic material in order to continue with your experiments. Polyethylene, for example, has a high level of chemical resistance (with the exception of organic solvents).
For spectroscopic cell observation, polymethylpentene’s strong transparence and lightness make it an excellent choice. It can also be disinfected with steam since its plasticized components are resistant to heat and chemicals.
Among plastic laboratory materials, polypropylene stands out for its resistance to heat changes and the handling of various acids. The mechanical resistance to wear and abrasion offered by polyamide, on the other hand, is rather high.
