Difference between revisions of "Plasticware"
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Not used in chemical synthesis, but rather as protective equipment. | Not used in chemical synthesis, but rather as protective equipment. | ||
Revision as of 16:29, 18 March 2017
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Plasticware is the general term for all lab vessels, containers and other equipment made of plastic material. Unlike glassware, plastic equipment is used for processes where mechanical impacts are more common or for storing various chemical reagents, usually because plastic is lighter than glass and will not shatter if dropped on the floor.
General
Plastic items are mainly used for short term handling of reagents. Most common plasticware include funnels, reagent storage bottles, racks, etc. Plasticware are commonly used when handling materials that react with glass, such as hydrofluoric acid.
Most common types of plastic used:
- Polyethylene: Comes in several varieties, low density (LDPE), high density (HDPE). Cheap, used when working with salts or in analytical chemistry.
- Polystyrene: Less resistant to solvents than PE, it's used for trays, pouring boats, weighing dish, etc.
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon): Expensive, mainly used when working with extremely corrosive chemicals.
Strong solvents, such as acetone, ethers, halocarbons (except most fluorocarbons), acetonitrile will attack plastic, though the speed which they do that varies.
Some reagents, such as hydrogen peroxide are generally stored in plastic bottles, as glass catalyzes their decomposition.
Plasticware items tend to break down if exposed to strong UV light (like sunlight). They are also unsuitable for distilling most liquids.
Basic plasticware
Beakers
Polyethylene beakers tend to be used when handling various aqueous solutions and diluted acids. Not employed for long term use of strong acids or organic solvents. PTFE beakers are mainly used when working with hydrofluoric acid solutions.
Erlenmeyer flask
Less common than plastic beakers, but they do exist. Some models tend to have screw and cap.
Funnels
PE funnels are more often used than glass ones, as they don't chip when hit and do not freeze if stuck on a ground glass joint.
Graduated cylinders
Unlike glass cylinders, plastic test tubes tend to deform easily and are unsuitable for fine measurement of volumes.
Pipette
Pasteur pipettes are commonly used due as they're simple to use, cheap and reliable.
Graduated plastic pipettes to be used for titrations.
Transfer pipettes are also made of PE.
Pipette tips are made of PE.
Pouring boat
Used for handling solids and, as their name suggests, add them to a flask or bottle.
Reagent bottle
Plastic storage bottles, made of PE or polystyrene are commonly used for storing dry reagents, such as salts, some organic solvents. Hydrogen peroxide and alcohols are generally stored in PE bottles.
Syringes
Graduated plastic tubes fitted with a plastic piston, commonly used for transferring liquids. Come together with needles.
Test tubes
PE or PTFE tubes tend to be used for chemistry involving salts and reactions where no heat is needed/generated.
Types:
- Falcon tube
- PET preforms
Trays
Used for storing, handling and carrying lab equipment.
Tubings
Plastic tubes are used for cooling, PE and PTFE tubes are used for transferring gasses.
Cannula is one such type of tube.
Tweezers
Plastic tweezers can be used for handling items that are corrosive to metals or electric components.
Volumetric flasks
Used for measuring fixed amounts of liquid.
Wash bottle
Wash bottles are plastic bottles with a tube protruding the cap, which generally has a small diameter detachable head. Commonly used for washings (hence the name).
A less known type is the refillable wash bottle.
Weighing dish
Come in various shapes, like square or hexagonal, are commonly used for weighing solids or for air drying wet solids. Can be made of PE o polystyrene.
Advanced plasticware
Agar plate
Used in microbiology for cultivating microorganisms.
Aspirator vacuum pump
Known as Venturi pumps, are commonly used for vacuum filtration.
Burette butterfly clamps
Used for holding burettes.
Drying rack
Used for drying lab items.
Eppendorf vials
Commonly used in biology, in centrifugation.
Funnel supports
Used for holding separatory funnels. Come in two types, full ring or "C" shaped.
Hydrometer
Although glass hydrometers are common, plastic hydrometers are also commonly encountered, as they do not break if struck, which would be catastrophic for the device.
Keck clips
Also known as plastic joint clips, kecks are used for holding various glassware with ground glass joints. Also comes in metal form.
Sleeve joints
PTFE joints are used in ground glass joints due to their chemical inertness.
Stir bar
Consists of a small magnetic material coated in PTFE, which moves when exposed to an external magnetic field.
Stir bar retriever
Similar to the stir bar, it consists of a stick made of PTFE, with one end containing a magnet.
Syringe filter
Used for filtering small amounts of liquid.
The most common type is the "sliced lemon" model.
Test tube racks
Used for holding many test tubes.
Microtiter plates are used for holding small vials.
Other
Balance brush
Used to clean the lab balance.
Face shield
Not used in chemical synthesis, but rather as protective equipment.
Flow indicator
Used in water cooling tubing, to show if the water is flowing. Comes in two models, paddle wheel and ball.
Pour spout
Used when pouring from drums or jugs. They look like this.
Respirator
Used as PPE.
