Pyrex

Borosilicate Glass
All Pyrex

, Q uickfit

, SVL

, Rotaflo

and Springham

brand products listed in this catalogue are m anufactured

from borosilicate glass (unless otherw ise specified). A
large proportion of E-M il

and M BL

volum etric w are is

also m ade from borosilicate glass.
Standards
Pyrex

is a borosilicate glass w hich m eets the specifica-

tions of the follow ing standards:
BS ISO 3585, DIN 12217 Type 3.3 borosilicate glass
ASTM E-438 Type 1 class A borosilicate glass
US Pharm acopoeia Type 1 borosilicate glass
European Pharm acopoeia Type 1 glass
Chemical composition
Pyrex

glass has the follow ing typical com position

(perkcentage by w eight):
SiO
2
= 80.6%
B
2
O
3
= 13.0%
Na
2
O = 4.0%
Al
2
O
3
= 2.3%
Physical properties
Coefficient of Expansion (20C 300C) 3.3 x 10
-6
K
-1
Density 2.23 g/cm
3
Refractive index (Sodium D line) 1.474
Dielectric Constant (1M Hz,20C) 4.6
Specific heat (20C) 750J/kgC
Therm al conductivity (20C) 1.14W /m C
Poissons Ratio (25C 400C) 0.2
Youngs M odulus (25C) 6400 kg/m m
2
Chemical resistance
Pyrex

borosilicate glass has a very high resistance to

attack from w ater, acids, salt solutions, halogens and
organic solvents. It also has a m oderate resistance to
alkaline solutions. O nly hydrofluoric acid, hot
concentrated phosphoric acid and strong alkaline solu-
tions cause appreciable corrosion of the glass.
Hydrolytic resistance
For m any applications it is im portant that laboratory
glassw are has a high hydrolytical resistance; e.g. during
sterilisation procedures, w here repeated exposure to
w ater vapour at high tem peratures can leach out alkali
ions. Pyrex

borosilicate glass has a relatively low alkali

content and consequently a high resistance to attack by
w ater. It m eets the follow ing standards (determ ined by
the glass grain m ethod).
Hydrolytic resistance according to ISO 719 (98C) class 1
Hydrolytic resistance according to ISO 720 (121C) class 1
Acid resistance
G lasses rich in silica are less likely to be attacked by acids.
Pyrex

borosilicate glass has approxim ately 80% silica

and is exceptionally resistant to acids (except hot con-
centrated phosphoric acid and hydrofluoric acid). The
acid resistance of Pyrex

borosilicate glass m eets the

requirem ents of ISO 1776 and class 1 requirem ents of
DIN 12116.
Alkali resistance
Alkaline solutions attack all glasses and Pyrex

borosili-
cate glass can be classified as reasonably resistant. The
alkali resistance of Pyrex

borosilicate glass m eets class 2

requirem ents as defined by ISO 695 and DIN 52322.
Temperature resistance
Pyrex

borosilicate glass has excellent therm al properties

due to its high softening point and low coefficient of
expansion (3
.
3 x 10
-6
K
-1
). The m axim um recom m ended
w orking tem perature for glassw are m anufactured from
Pyrex

borosilicate glass is 500C (for short periods of

tim e only). Special care should be taken at tem peratures
above 150C to ensure that both heating and cooling
are achieved in a slow and uniform m anner (see Care
and M aintenance of Laboratory G lassw aresection).
[5 ]
Technical Information
Pressure data
G lass is a brittle m aterial and can break w hen subjected
to strong m echanical forces. As w orking conditions can
vary enorm ously, Bibby Sterilin cannot guarantee glass-
w are against breakage w hen used under conditions of
vacuum or pressure.
The use of positive pressures w ithin glassw are is particu-
larly hazardous and should be avoided if at all possible.
If pressure w ork is unavoidable, the user is advised to
consult the graph below w hich indicates the m axim um
w orking pressure for Pyrex

borosilicate glass tubing of

various diam eters and w all thicknesses.
The values show n are based on the form ula:
P = 13790t
D
P = m axim um w orking pressure in kN/m
2
t = w all thickness, m m
D = outside diam eter, m m
The form ula incorporates a value of 6895 kN/m
2
for the
m axim um perm issible tensile stress in the glass surface.
Note:
i) The m axim um w orking pressure only applies at 25C
and for glass not subject to a tem perature gradient.
ii) Assum es glass is free from scratches, chips or cracks
iii) Assum es glass is freely supported and not subjected
to clam ping forces
iv) The m axim um w orking pressures do NO T apply to
cylindrical tubes w ith flat bottom s
v) Safety precautions should alw ays be taken to protect
personnel w hen conducting pressure w ork
vi) See the Care and M aintenance of Laboratory
G lassw aresection for advice.
Optical data
Pyrex

borosilicate glass has the ability to transm it light

through the visible range of the spectrum and can be
used effectively in the near ultra-violet range, m aking it
ideally suitable for w ork in the field of photochem istry.
The graph above show s the degree of transm ission of
light as a function of w avelength in the ultra-violet,
visible and infra-red sectors of the spectrum , for the
thickness of glass generally encountered in laboratory
w are (up to 5m m ).
Refractive index (Sodium D line) = 1.474
Visible light transm ission, 2m m thick glass = 92%
Visible light transm ission, 5m m thick glass = 91%
Data for Glassblowers
G lassblow ers m ay find the follow ing inform ation useful:
Working point = 1252C
Softening point = 821C
Annealing point = 565C
Strain point = 510C
[ 6 ]
Technical Information
5 6 7 8 9 10 20 40 60 80 100
1000
800
600
400
300
200
100
80
60
40
30
20
15
10
6900
5520
4140
2760
2070
1380
690
276
552
414
207
138
102
69
Outside Diameter -
M
a
x
i
m
u
m
W
o
r
k
i
n
g

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

p
s
i
M
a
x
i
m
u
m
W
o
r
k
i
n
g

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

k
N
/
m
2
0
.5
m
m
W
A
L
L
T
H
I
C
K
N
E
S
S
1
m
m

2
m
m

3
m
m

4
m
m

5
m
m

100
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
a
g
e
T
r
a
n
s
m
i
s
s
i
o
n
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0. 0.4 0. 0. 0.7 0.8 0. 1 2 3 4 5
1-000
1-699
1-696
1-532
1-396
1-301
1-222
1-155
1-097
1-046
1-000
O
p
t
i
c
a
l

D
e
n
s
i
t
y
Wavelength(um)
2m
5m
Pyrex

Products
Pyrex

Bottles with plastic coating

The Pyrex

range of 1518: m edia-lab bottles (page 41)

have a plastic coating to provide protection against
m echanical im pact and to help reduce leakage of the
contents should the glass break.
W hen using these plastic coated bottles please note:
Autoclaving:
1. Autoclaving in steam . M ax. tem p 121C.
2. Sw itch off heating and allow to cool for 20
m inutes.
3. Aerate autoclave at 100C and rem ove w ater.
Do not cool w ith distilled w ater or vacuum .
4 . O pen autoclave at 80C.
Microwave: Not suitable
Freezing: Not suitable
Pressure work: Not suitable for operations involving
pressures or vacuum
Centrifuge tubes - calculating RCF
values
This catalogue lists a num ber of Pyrex

, Q uickfit

and
Corex

centrifuge tubes and, against each product entry,

advises the m axim um Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF)
they should be subjected to. Before centrifuging, it is
im portant to calculate the actual RCF values that w ill be
generated. This can quickly be determ ined by using the
follow ing nom ogram .
To calculate the RCF value at any point along the tube,
m easure the radius in m m from the centre of the
centrifuge spindle to the particular point.
NB: The point chosen is norm ally the base of the tube
as this area w ill experience m axim um RCF.
Note this radius value on the right hand colum n of the
nom ogram and draw a line from this to the appropriate
centrifuge speed value on the left hand colum n. The
RCF value is the point w here the line crosses the centre
colum n.
The nom ogram is based on the form ula:
RCF = (11
.
17 x 10
-7
) RN
2
R = Radius in m m from centrifuge tube to point on tube
N = speed of spindle in RPM
Values are for tubes in good condition. Do not use
centrifuge tubes w hich are scratched, abraded or
chipped as the strength w ill be seriously im paired.
[7 ]
Technical Information
25,00
200
500
1000
2000
3000
4000
6000
10,000
15,000
20,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
5000
2000
1000
500
200
100
50
20
10
3
500
475
450
425
400
375
350
325
300
275
250
225
200
175
150
130
140
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
RCF Values
Speed of
centrifuge
Relative centrifugal
force (xg)
Radius in m m from centre
of centrifuge spindle to point
along tube or bottle
Sintered Discs
The Pyrex

range of Sintered G lassw are em ploys filter

discs m anufactured from borosilicate glass.They are
resistant to the m ajority of corrosive reagents, being
unaffected by am m onia, sulphuric acid and other sol-
vents w hich can destroy filter paper. The sintered glass-
w are is available in six porosities and guidance for the
selection of the m ost appropriate grade is detailed in the
follow ing table;
Porosity ISO 4793 Pore Pore Principal
G rade designation index index uses
(m ic.) > (m ic.)
0 P250 160 250 Coarse filtration,
gas dispersion
and support for
other filter
m aterial
1 P160 100 160 Course precipitate
filtration, gas
dispersion, coarse
grain m aterial
filtration
2 P100 40 100 M edium and
crystalline
precipitate filtra-
tion, m edium
filtration and
w ashing of gases
3 P40 16 40 Analytical w ork
w ith m edium
precipitates
4 P16 10 16 Analytical w ork
w ith fine
precipitates
5 P10 4 10 Bacteria filtration
Quickfit

Products
[ 8 ]
Technical Information
24/29 cone 24/29 socket
S35 ball S35 cup
Conical Joints
Spherical Joints
100m m bore flange 28 Screw thread
Flat Flange Screwthread
Conical Joints - size designation
Size Actual Actual Nom inal
designation dia. of w ide dia. of length of
end (m m ) narrow engagem ent
end (m m ) (m m )
5/13 5.0 3.7 13
7/16 7.5 5.9 16
10/19 10.0 8.1 19
12/21 12.5 10.4 21
14/23 14.5 12.2 23
19/26 18.8 16.2 26
24/29 24.0 21.1 29
29/32 29.2 26.0 32
34/35 34.5 31.0 35
40/38 40.0 36.2 38
45/40 45.0 41.0 40
50/42 50.0 45.8 42
55/44 55.0 50.6 44
60/46 60.0 55.4 46
Quickfit

screwthread joints
Screwcap assembly
W hen using screw threads it is im portant that the PTFE
w asher is fitted carefully and correctly. This is best
achieved by opening out the w asher to the correct
diam eter using a tapered form er. This should be carried
out w ith the silicone rubber ring and PTFE w asher in
position in the plastic cap as show n in figure1.
W ithdraw the tapered form er and rem ove the rubber
ring and w asher from the cap.
Fit each com ponent separately to the fitting w hich is to
be held, as show n in figure 2, and screw the cap on to
the thread. It is advisable that the ends of all fittings
should be slightly tapered or fired in a Bunsen flam e to
rem ove sharp edges and produce a slight taper.
Quickfit

flask dimensions
The body diam eter of Q uickfit

Round Bottom ed and

Flat Bottom ed flasks com ply w ith ISO 1773 (BS 6352).
Nom inalApprox Approx Nom inal Approx Approx
capacity bulb bulb capacity bulb bulb
m l dia. a height bm l dia. a height b
m m m m m m m m
5 25 - 1000 132 115
10 30 - 2000 166 155
25 40 - 3000 188 -
50 50 40 5000 220 -
100 65 55 10000 279 -
150 75 65 20000 345 -
250 85 75 - - -
500 105 95 - - -
[9 ]
Technical Information
FIG 2 FIG 1
Volumetric Glassware
E-M il

and M BL

volum etric glassw are is m anufactured

from tw o types of glass soda lim e and borosilicate.
Soda-lim e glass is generally used for Class B products or
w here long term exposure to chem icals is unlikely, e.g.
bulb pipettes.
O ther volum etric products, how ever, are m ade from
borosilicate glass w hich has a superior chem ical
resistance and is suited to glassw are w hich m ay store
solutions for long periods, e.g. flasks.
Use of borosilicate glass m eans that flasks are likely to
retain their accuracy over a longer w orking life than their
soda-lim e equivalents. O n average, borosilicate flasks
w ill last for tw ice as long as soda-lim e flasks before they
need to be re-calibrated.
The ASTM 542-94 Standard Practice for Calibration of
Laboratory Volum etric Apparatus recom m ends that volu-
m etric flasks are calibrated at the follow ing intervals (or
sooner if chem ical corrosion is observed): Borosilicate
flasks 10 years: Soda lim e flasks 5 years.
Standards
M ost Bibby Sterilin volum etric glassw are is m anufactured
and calibrated in accordance w ith international ISO
standards.
For som e m easuring cylinders and volum etric flasks,
these ISO specifications are identical to the correspon-
ding G erm an DIN specifications. It should be noted,
how ever, that the ISO and DIN specifications for pipettes
and burettes can differ.
The liquid run-out tim e for pipettes and burettes
calibrated to DIN ASstandards is often m uch faster
than a sim ilar product calibrated to ISO standards.
The form er requires a w aiting tim eto allow for
drainage and settlem ent, before the m eniscus is read.
Inscriptions
The highest level of accuracy.
G raduated to very fine tolerances
as specified by the standards
authority.
A low er level of accuracy. Usually
acceptable for m ost general
purpose volum etric w ork.
The standards to w hich the
product conform s.
E-M il

and M BL

volum etric glass

is graduated in m l (m illilitres) in
accordance w ith international
standards.
IN - Calibrated to contain the
stated volum e.
EX - Calibrated to deliver the
stated volum e.
BLO W O UT - Appears on certain
pipettes in addition to EX indicat-
ing that the drop of liquid rem ain-
ing in the jet after delivery should
be blow n out.
12345 - All Class A W orks-
Certified apparatus bears a serial
num ber for identification and
traceability.
20 sec - Class A apparatus cali-
brated for delivery has the actual
outflow tim e in seconds show n
on the glassw are.
E-M il

and M BL

glassw are is
calibrated for use at 20C.
[ 10 ]
Technical Information
A
B
ml
BS 604
ISO 1042
DIN 12697
IN
EX
BLOWOUT
12345
20 sec
Serial numbers and batch codes
For identification and traceability m any volum etric
products carry an individual serial num ber or batch code
Individual serial num bers are a feature of certain Class A
products and all Class A W orks Certified apparatus.
They allow individual traceability to National Standards.
Batch codes are printed on all E-M il

and M BL

volum etric flasks. The codes, w hich take the form of

dots, identify the year of m anufacture and the specific
production batch.
Works Certificates
M any E-M il

Class A products are offered w ith W orks

Certificates. These item s are individually tested for
accuracy in our Balance Room and a certificate issued
that gives the exact volum e contained or delivered.
G raduated item s such as burettes and pipettes are
m easured at 5 points along the scale. The w eighing
balance and set of w eights used for the m easurem ent
are recorded on the certificate and all are traceable to
National Standards.
Pipettes, colour coding
All pipettes m anufactured by Bibby Sterilin Lim ited are
colour coded on the suction stem to allow rapid identifi-
cation and sorting. The coloured bands conform to the
recom m endations of BS 3996, ISO 1769 and DIN 12621.
Graduated Pipettes
Nom inal Sub-division Colour code
capacity (m l) bands
0.2 0.01 1 x black
0.5 0.02 2 x red
1.0 0.01 1 x yellow
1.0 0.10 1 x red
2.0 0.02 1 x black
5.0 0.05 1 x red
10.0 0.10 1 x orange
25.0 0.20 1 x green
A second. thinner band of the sam e colour is used to
identify Type 1 pipettes.
One-mark Pipettes
Nom inal capacity (m l) Colour Code bands
1 1 x blue
2 1 x orange
3 1 x black
4 2 x red
5 1 x w hite
10 1 x red
15 1 x green
20 1 x yellow
25 1 x blue
50 1 x red
100 1 x yellow
[11 ]
Technical Information
Re-calibration
Norm ally volum etric glassw are only needs re-calibrating
after extensive or dem anding usage w hich m ay have
affected the original accuracy. It is usually unnecessary if:
Gthe glassw are is new but has been stored for a
very long tim e, even several years. Age alone does
not affect accuracy.
GThe glassw are is subjected to only m odest tem per-
atures such as cleaning in an autom atic w ashing
m achine or sterilising in an autoclave at 121C.
GThe glassw are has been used for less than 5 years
w ith no regular usage of strong acids or alkalis and
there are no signs of chem ical corrosion.
How ever, re-calibration should definitely be considered
under the follow ing circum stances:
GThe glassw are is m ade from soda-lim e glass and
has been in use for 5 years.
GThe glassw are is m ade from borosilicate glass and
has been in use for 10 years or m ore.
GThe glassw are has inadvertently been subjected to
tem peratures in excess of 150C.
G The glassw are is regularly used w ith strong acids
or alkalis.
G There are any signs of chem ical corrosion, e.g.
frosting of the internal glass surfaces.
Re-calibration m ay be attem pted by the user follow ing
recom m ended guidelines. Alternatively, Bibby Sterilin
offers a re-calibration service; for details please contact:
Customer Services Department
Bibby Sterilin Limited
Tilling Drive
Stone
Staffordshire
ST15 0SA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1785 812121
Fax: +44 (0)1785 813748
e-mail: [email protected]
www.bibby-sterilin.com
[ 12 ]
Technical Information