Choosing Laboratory Plasticware with The Right Chemical Compatibility

When selecting plasticware for laboratory procedures, it's critical to consider plastic chemical compatibility. It is necessary to understand how various plastic kinds interact with chemicals and their physical characteristics.

This blog offers a detailed overview of the plasticware most frequently used in laboratory settings, including its essential features and the materials it works best and worst with. With this information, researchers and lab assistants may choose the best laboratory plasticware for their unique needs while still assuring the safety and precision of their investigations.

Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene is a robust and stiff polymer that can endure temperatures between -20 and +135°C, making it suitable for constructing various laboratory supplies such as beakers, bottles, and cylinders. Except for a few chemicals, including benzene, toluene, acetone, and nitrobenzene, it is autoclavable and highly resistant to a wide range of compounds.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

The strong, opaque polymer PTFE has a wide temperature range of -200 to +260°C and is exceptionally chemical resistant. It is frequently used in labs to make stirrers, flasks, and beakers for complex applications.

Polyfluoroalkoxy (PFA)

PFA, a flexible variation of PTFE, is perfect for use in trace metal analysis vials since it has the same superior chemical resistance and high-temperature range. It's a popular option for this application due to its adaptability and transparency.

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

A malleable polymer called LDPE is perfect for producing flexible laboratory items like wash bottles and dispensing bottles. Polyethylene material compatibility can endure temperatures ranging from -50 to +80°C and has good resistance to most chemicals. Nevertheless, it cannot be autoclaved and is incompatible with benzene and hexane.

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE is a resilient, stiff, transparent polymer that can endure temperatures between -100 and +120°C. It is ideal for use in various scientific applications, especially for producing stiff bottles, because of its high tensile strength and great chemical resistance. It cannot be autoclaved, though.

Polymethylmethacrylate, Acrylic (PMMA)

PMMA, often known as acrylic, is a transparent, rigid polymer with a -60 to +50°C temperature range and only moderate chemical resistance. Its durability makes it perfect for radiation shielding, and its transparency is useful for applications that call for visibility and security.

Polymethylpentene (PMP / TPX)

A transparent, low-density, stiff polymer with great clarity is known as PMP or TPX and is used to make laboratory equipment. It can be autoclaved at 121°C and has a strong chemical resistance over a wide temperature range of -180 to +145°C.

Polystyrene (PS)

A hard, translucent polymer with a restricted temperature range of -40 to +90°C and no autoclave compatibility is known as polystyrene (PS). Its exceptional clarity and mild chemical resistance make it perfect for medical tubes and containers that need to be visible.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polycarbonate is a durable, transparent polymer with a wide temperature range and good impact strength. It is appropriate for autoclaving and frequently used for safety shields. Even though it has a modest level of chemical resistance, some compounds should be avoided.

Polyvinylchloride (PVC)

PVC, often known as polyvinyl chloride, is frequently used in laboratories because of its average chemical resistance. It might be transparent or coloured, hard or flexible. It is suited for common lab applications such as trays and troughs despite not being autoclavable.

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