Custom Labware Meets Needs of Many Industries

Custom labware often fills a specific need when standard, off-the-shelf glassware is unavailable or unsuitable. Such was the case with this recent custom glass reactor, a design from borosilicate glass by Precision Glassblowing in Colorado. Unable to make accommodations with standard reactors, the frustrated lab was referred to PGB recently. In the end, it was the perfect solution.

“They had a different reactor that didn’t have the qualities they were looking for,” says Precision Glassblowing CEO Ron Bihler, “so we worked with them to design and replace it with one that better suits their needs.”

That is the beauty of all forms of custom glass because the materials themselves are at once malleable, resistant, recycleable, transparent, and made of materials we have in abundance in nature; therefore, sustainable. Glass materials are generally available in plentitude and will take the form of whatever engineering and the glassblower requires. In addition, glass is an amorphous solid, meaning it has a molecular structure between a solid and a liquid. Finally, glass is one of the oldest and most versatile materials created by humans.

Custom labware at Precision Glassblowing made this seven liter glass reactor possible when nothing off the shelf fit. — When nothing off the shelf worked just right for the client, custom labware at Precision Glassblowing made this seven-liter glass reactor possible.

What is the purpose of a custom labware glass reactor?

Wherever you find applications process development, pharmaceutical research, chemical production, and material science, you will find glass reactors hard at work. In fact, they are important tools in industries that require chemical synthesis, crystallization, and distillation.

Chemical Applications

Synthesis: Making chemicals for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries
Polymerization: Making resins, adhesives, and plastics
Reaction kinetics: Studying reaction rates
Multi-step reactions: Performing multiple steps in a process

Detail of custom labware. This is a custom reactor fabricated by Precision Glassblowing of Colorado. — This close-up of detail shows a custom reactor fabricated by Precision Glassblowing of Colorado.

Pharmaceutical Applications

Research and development: Developing new drugs and other pharmaceutical products
Production: Manufacturing pharmaceutical products

Other Applications

Crystallization: Growing chemical compounds into crystals
Extraction: Isolating natural products and purifying chemicals
Distillation: Separating solvents and recovering chemicals
Botanical extraction: Isolating plant materials
Food and industrial processes: Used in a variety of food and industrial processes

The intricate process of a custom design begins with a conversation. — The intricate process of a custom design begins with a conversation the client. A thorough understanding of their needs and desires is critical for success.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of glass reactors?

There are many benefits to using glass reactors. Some of them include:

Chemical resistance: Glass reactors are inert and don’t react with many chemicals
Real-time adjustment: You can easily adjust and tune processes
Observation: Glass reactors allow for easy observation of reactions

Of course, there are a few drawbacks as well, such as:

Temperature and pressure limitations: Depending on the type, glass reactors may not be suitable for high temperatures or pressures
Chemical damage: Harsh chemicals can damage glass, even with protective coatings

This project starts with an extra large circumference. — The project begins with a glass cylinder of extra large circumference.

What are the types of glass, and what can they withstand?

The highest temperature glass can withstand depends on the type of glass and how it’s made.

Standard window glass: Shatters at around 250°F
Tempered glass: Can withstand temperatures up to around 500°F
Fire-rated glass: Can withstand temperatures over 1600°F
Heat-resistant glass: Can retain its shape at temperatures up to around 932°F
Heat-resistant glass-ceramic: Can withstand temperatures up to around 1800°F
Ceramic glass: Can withstand temperatures up to around 1832°F
Borosilicate glass: Can withstand temperatures up to around 959°F
Quartz Glass: Can withstand temperatures up to around 2190°F

As the glassblowing process continues, the reactor's details begin to emerge. — As the glassblowing process continues, the reactor’s details begin to emerge.

Factors affecting glass’s temperature tolerance:

Thermal shock: Rapid changes in temperature can cause glass to break
Composition: The composition of the glass affects its melting point
Glass type: Different types of glass have different temperature tolerances

Here we get the glassblower's view behind a good filter. — What does the glassblower see? Here, we get a slight idea of the glassblower’s view as we look through a filter.

Winning with Non-Standard Solutions

Custom labware is a valuable tool for scientists and researchers. For example, it can improve performance, increase flexibility, reduce the risk of contamination, increase durability, and improve aesthetic appeal. When choosing this option, it is important to consider the specific needs of the application and the available options.

From the day Precision Glassblowing’s founders threw open the doors in 1982, they dreamed of growing into more than a simple glass shop. They shared a vision to become a full-service glass company capable of handling any job involving scientific glassware.

As a result, much of PGB’s history has been about the manufacture and development of ICP and the ICP-MS industry, working closely with leaders like Thermo, Agilent, and Spectro. Over the years, the company has grown far beyond those dreams with capabilities in machining (grinding, polishing, laser cutting, etc.), coiling, and even in optical glass. To learn more about Precision Glassblowing, check out our shop of more than 1,800 products.