LABORgLAskAtALOg LABORATORY GLASSWARE CATALOGUE

TECHNICAL INFORMATION | PRODUCT SECTION
TECHNICAL INFORMATION | PRODUCT SECTION
Laboratory glassware and plastics
Cleaning laboratory glassware
Plastics used with laboratory glass 1
To complement DURAN ® laboratory glassware products, various plastic products such as screw caps
are available. Their properties are listed in the following table.
1
The details in the table relating to temperature resistance
relate to standard autoclaving processes with steam and
a duration of 20 minutes (see page 213, sterilisation).
Temperature resistance
range °C
EPDM Ethylene/propylene-diene-rubber -45 to +150
ETFE
Partially crystalline ethylene/tetraflouroethylene
-100 to +180
copolymer
FEP Tetra-Fluor-Ethylen/Hexafluor-Propylene -200 to +200
FKM Fluorinated rubber -20 to +200
PBT 2 Polybutylenterephthalat -45 to +180
PE Polyethylene -40 to +80
POM Polyoxymethylene -40 to +90
PP Polypropylene -40 to +140
PTFE Polytetrafluorethylene -200 to +260
PU 3 Polyurethane -30 to +135
TpCh260 Thermoplastic/duroplastic -196 to +260
VMQ Silicone rubber -50 to +200
PSU Compound Compound polyarylsulfone based -45 to +180
2
Changes in colour may occur if exposed to temperatures
above 180 °C.
3
All laboratory glasses coated with PU may only be cleaned
while moist in order to avoid any electrostatic charge which
may form.
Special glass laboratory apparatus can be washed by hand in a soaking bath or by machine in a lab
washer. Laboratory dealers can supply a wide range of detergents and cleaner-disinfectants for both
methods. As contamination during the delivery of our laboratory glassware cannot be totally ruled
out, we recommend washing laboratory glassware before it is used for the first time. To care properly
for laboratory glassware, it should be washed immediately after use at low temperature, on a short
cycle and with low alkalinity. Laboratory apparatus that has come into contact with infectious substances
or microorganisms should be treated in accordance with the current guidelines. Dependent on the
substance, autoclaving (e.g. to kill microorganisms) may be necessary prior to cleaning, but it is
generally recommended that cleaning or washing of glass products be carried out prior to autoclaving
or hot-air sterilisation. This prevents dirt or impurities from adhering to the glassware surfaces and
prevent damage caused by any possibly adhering chemicals.
Manual cleaning
The generally recognized method is to wipe and rub the glass with a cloth or sponge soaked in cleaning
solution. Abrasive cleaners and abrasive sponges should not be used on laboratory glassware as these
can damage the surface of the glass. Surface damage can affect the glass properties and limit further
use of the product. When soaking glassware it should generally be left in the cleaning solution for 20
to 30 minutes at room temperature, then rinsed with tap water followed by distilled water. To clean
the glass as gently as possible, and thus extend its service life, a prolonged soaking time and higher
temperature should only be used for stubborn soiling. Laboratory glassware should not be soaked for
long periods in strongly alkaline media at more than 70 °C since this can have an adverse effect on
the ceramic printing and may cause glass corrosion. Also to be avoided is severe mechanical action,
e.g. scraping using a metal spoon.
Classes of substances
+20 °C
PE
PP
PBT
Chemical resistance of plastics
PTFE/ FEP
TpCh260
Alcohols, aliphatic + + + + + + + + + + + + + + – + + +
Aldehydes + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Alkaline solutions + + + + + + + + + + + – + + + + – + + +
Esters + + + + + + + + + – + + + – – +
Ethers – – + + + + + + + – – + – + +
Hydrocarbons,
– + + + + + ++ + + – + + + + + + + +
aliphatic
Hydrocarbons,
– + + + + + + + + – + + + + + + –
aromatic
Hydrocarbons,
– + + + + + + + – + – + + + –
halogenated
Ketones + + + + + + + + – + + + – + –
Acids, dilute or weak + + + + + + + + + + + – + + + + + + – + +
Acids, conc. or strong + + + + + + + + + – + + + + + – + +
Acids, oxidising – + – + + + + + – – + + – +
+ + = very good resistance
+ = good to limited resistance
– = low resistance
ETFE
VMQ
EPDM
PU
FKM
POM
PSU Compound
Washer-disinfectors for automatic laboratory glassware reprocessing
Washer-disinfectors for automatic laboratory glassware preparation are available in various sizes
and performance classes. The product range extends from compact machines of 60 to 90 cm width
up to powerful, large capacity machines. The large capacity machines are specially intended for central
reprocessing of large quantities of laboratory glassware and are available as both 1-door and 2-door
barrier machines for installation in a diaphragm wall.
60 cm wide compact machine
Performance/load: e.g. 37 narrow neck glasses, 96 pipettes
115 cm wide large capacity machine
Performance/load: e.g. 232 narrow neck glasses, 232 pipettes
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