2 Steps Know Centrifuge Tube Materials and Sizes

Centrifuge tubes are commonly for experimental consumables in laboratories. And are mainly in conjunction with centrifuges. The material of the centrifuge tube is briefly introduced below.

Brief Introductions of Centrifuge Tube：

15ml centrifuge Tube Sterilized 50ml centrifuge Tube Sterilized

Definition:

  • Centrifuge tubes are tubular sample containers that use centrifugal technology to separate and prepare biological samples.
  • The huge centrifugal force provided by the high-speed rotation of the centrifuge makes the tiny particles in the liquid settle and separate from the solution.
  • The centrifuge tube is high-quality transparent polymer material polypropylene, such as 50 ml flat bottom centrifuge tubes, which is widely used in various experimental operations and meets the requirements of biological analysis grade.

Centrifuge tube sizes：

  • The sizes can be divided into 1.5ml, 2ml, 5ml, 10ml, 15ml, 50ml, etc.
  • And centrifuge tubes often have these specifications, and the most popular ones are 10ml and 50ml.
  • If your centrifuge is with 30ml or other specifications of centrifuge tubes, you should consider importing them.
  • In addition, centrifuge tubes are also with a round bottom and pointed bottom, as well as a screw cap and plug cap.
  • Screw cap centrifuge tubes have a thinner scale, while plug cap centrifuge tubes have only one scale for the total volume.

Brief Introductions of Common Centrifuge Tube Materials:

Centrifuge tube material:

1. Glass:

  • Due to the stable structure of glass, it is a corrosion-resistant centrifuge tube material. The composition of glass is different, and its strength is also different.
  • And often place it in a soft rubber mat or adapter to prevent the glass test tube from sitting directly on a hard metal surface and breaking due to centrifugal force.

2. PC (Polycarbonate):

  • The transparency of polycarbonate is like glass.
  • It has high mechanical strength but is sensitive to many solvents, especially substances such as ethanol.
  • And should carefully inspect and observe before use, and it can be for only after confirming that there are no cracks.
  • It has good transparency and high hardness, but it is not resistant to some organic solvents such as strong acids and alkalis, alcohol, etc. It is mainly for ultra-high-speed centrifugation above 50,000 rpm.

3. PE (polyethylene):

And not react with acetone, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. It is relatively stable and tends to soften at high temperatures.

4. PP (polypropylene):

Translucent, with good chemical stability and temperature stability, but it will become brittle at low temperatures, so do not centrifuge below 4°C.

5. PA (Polyamide):

And often made by a polymer made of PP and PE. It is translucent and chemically very stable, but not resistant to high temperatures.

6. CAB (Cellulose Butyl Acetate):

Transparent, it can be for gradient determination of dilute acid, dilute alkali, dilute salt, alcohol, and sucrose.

7. PS (polystyrene):

With high hardness, and mostly are stable to aqueous solutions, but are corroded by various organic substances. And often for low-speed centrifugation, and only use for one time.

8. CN tube:

Soft and transparent, but not resistant to strong acids and alkalis and certain organic solvents, and not autoclaved

In Hawach, there are two types of centrifuge tubes commonly used in laboratories: plastic and glass. Generally, use plastic more, because glass centrifuge tubes are not in high-speed or ultracentrifuges.

There are more introduces about the types of centrifuge tubes, the centrifuge tube volume, etc.