GLASS TYPES & PROPERTIES FOR PYREX, QUICKFIT, MBL & WHEATON

Glass Standards

The glass products supplied by DWK Life Sciences are manufactured from different glass types which comply with the following international standards:

3.3 Expansion borosilicate glass also complies with ISO 3585 and DIN 12217.

All Pyrex®, Quickfit®, SVL® and many MBL® and Wheaton® products are manufactured from 3.3 expansion borosilicate glass (unless otherwise stated).

Due to the demanding conditions that laboratory glassware is subjected to, maximum chemical toughness, minimum thermal expansion and high resistance to thermal shock are the key properties of 3.3 expansion borosilicate glass that make it the ideal material for use in the laboratory.

Many DWK Life Sciences products conform to other standards set out for laboratory glassware; for example glass beakers comply to ISO 3819 and volumetric flasks comply to ISO 1042 and DIN 12664. Typically these standards will specify not only glass type, but also dimensional detail, volumetric accuracy and tolerances.

Chemical Composition

3.3 Expansion borosilicate glass has a very high resistance to attack from water, acids, salt solutions, halogens and organic solvents. Only hydrofluoric acid, hot concentrated phosphoric acid and strong alkaline solutions cause appreciable corrosion of the glass. Neutral borosilicate glass (ASTM E-438 Type 1B) also has excellent chemical resistance properties which make it ideal for the storing or packaging of acidic, neutral and alkaline products and for injectable solutions. Soda-lime glass (ASTM E-438 Type 2) is less chemically resistant than borosilicate glass and is typically suitable for storing dry powders and for containers for general sample storage applications.

Different glass types have the following typical chemical composition (approx. % by weight):

Physical Properties & Chemical Data for Glass

Hydrolytic Resistance

For many applications, it is important that laboratory glassware has excellent hydrolytic resistance; e.g. during steam sterilisation procedures, where repeated exposure to water vapour at high temperature can leach out alkali (Na+) ions. Borosilicate glass has a relatively low alkali metal oxide content and consequently a high resistance to attack from water.

Acid Resistance

Glasses with a high percentage weight of silica (SiO2) are less likely to be attacked by acids. 3.3 Expansion borosilicate glass is over 80% silica and therefore remarkably resistant to acids (with the exception of hot concentrated phosphoric acid and hydrofluoric acid). Glass is separated into 4 acid resistance classes and borosilicate glass corresponds to Class S1 in accordance with DIN 12116 and meets the requirements of ISO 1776.

Alkali Resistance

Alkaline solutions attack all glasses and borosilicate glass can be classified as moderately resistant. The alkali resistance of borosilicate glass meets Class A2 requirements as defined by ISO 695 and DIN 52322.

Please refer to the following table for more information on the physical and chemical properties of glass.

Temperature Resistance

3.3 Expansion borosilicate glass, such as Pyrex®, has excellent thermal properties at both high and low temperatures. The maximum recommended working temperature for laboratory glassware 3.3 expansion borosilicate glass is 500°C (for short periods of time only). Special care should be taken at temperatures above 150°C to ensure both heating and cooling is achieved in a slow and uniform manner. 3.3 Expansion borosilicate glass also performs excellently at lower temperatures and can withstand conditions down to approximately -192°C making suitable for use with liquid nitrogen. In normal laboratory use, temperatures of -70°C are easily sustained for lengthy periods. Again special care should be taken to avoid sudden changes in temperature, and cooling should be achieved in a slow uniform manner.

Amber Coated Pyrex® Glassware

Several Pyrex® brand products, including media-lab bottles and volumetric flasks, are available in amber-coated glass. The glassware is coated on the exterior surface with a brown diffusion colour which results in a strong absorption in the short wavelength region up to 500nm. This feature is particularly useful when handling reagents that are light-sensitive.