Types of Laboratory Plasticware and Consumables

Jump to Section

Their resilience to breakage makes laboratory plasticware a viable alternative to glass.

Advances in polymeric material has been a game changer in labware, mainly plastics. Meeting the demands for high-quality and versatile containers, plastic makes a low-cost choice.

On top of that, the material provides greater safety benefits for scientists. But not all laboratory plasticware is created equal. There are criteria and factors to consider.

This post breaks down everything you need to know about plasticware used in lab settings.

Laboratory Plasticware

In the past, glassware was the only available option. Not until a lightweight and shatterproof material alternative was produced — enter laboratory plasticware.

Unlike glass, plastics are resilient and absorb more shock when bumped or dropped. Some of the major advantages of plastic wares in labs are the following:

• Generally light in weight, making it easier to handle large apparatuses like desiccators
• More affordable compared to glass items
• Non-breakable and with some degree of flexibility
• Has a leachable and extractable profile
• Promotes scientist’s safety, sample preservation and reduced costs of breakage and replacement
• If it is a robotic-assisted lab, it has a lesser chance of stress and damage

Types of Plastic Used

But first, what is plastic? Plastics are organic polymers produced by the conversion of natural materials or chemicals. The latter includes oil, natural gas, or coal.

Polymers are long molecules built into chains of carbon atoms. The repetition of small pieces from the large molecule is called monomers. Spaces in the chains are filled in with atoms of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulphur.

When the connections of the atoms result in a long chain, thermoplastic is formed. Some of the plastics used in the science industry include the following:

• Polypropylene
• Polyethene
• Polystyrene
• Polytetrafluoroethylene
• Polymethylpentene
• Polyethene terephthalate
• Polycarbonate
• Acrylic

Laboratory plasticware now contains new types of non-cytotoxic resins. Thus, it does not interact with organic life forms, which is a vital factor in bio and pharmaceutical labs.

1. Polypropylene

Polypropylene, or PP, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a variety of applications. Its rugged and remarkable resistance to chemical solvents makes it a popular material. Not to mention that it can be transparent when uncoloured.

Suitable for packaging and labelling, PP can withstand autoclave. Thanks to its chemical resistance, diluted bases and acids do not react with the material.

Polypropylene is commonly used in beakers, bottles, flasks, test tubes, and many other items.

2. Polyethylene

Polyethene, or PE, is a widely produced synthetic plastic. It is a light, versatile synthetic resin made from the polymerisation of ethylene.

Commercial-grade PE is available on the market, in both high and low density PE (HDPE/LDPE). The melting point for HDPE ranges from 120-180°C, while it is 105-115°C for LDPE.

HDPE is a non-toxic, non-contaminating material that exhibits a high degree of break resistance. It is chemically inert and thus can withstand exposure to a range of chemicals.

LDPE is soft and lightweight and has low-temperature flexibility and corrosion resistance. Not suitable for applications that require high-temperature resistance and structural strength.

Popular PE, including HPDE and LDPE lab equipment, include beakers, cylinders, and bottles.

3. Polystyrene

Polystyrene, or PS, is a versatile plastic made by polymerising styrene. As a hard, solid plastic, it is often used in products that require clarity, such as lab equipment.

Its clarity and ease of sterilisation make it ideal for a wide range of applications. These include test tubes, Petri dishes, tissue culture trays, diagnostic components, and more.

4. Polytetrafluoroethylene

Polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, has high heat and chemical resistance. This low-friction engineering plastic has a density of about 2200 kg/m3 and a melting point of 600 K (327 °C; 620 °F).

Also known as Teflon, it is a suitable material for laboratory plasticware. It comes in solid white colour. PTFE-coated stir bars, beakers, and crucibles make a great example.

5. Polymethylpentene

Polymethylpentene or PMP is a favoured plastic material because of its:

• Rigidity
• Impact resistance
• Temperature resistance up to 120 degrees centigrade

It is a thermoplastic polyolefin ideal for autoclavable medical and laboratory equipment. Moreover, it boasts good resistance to acids, bases, alcohols, mineral oils, and aldehydes. But it can deform on long exposure to oxidising agents, hydrocarbons, and ketones.

Common PMP laboratory plasticware includes volumetric flasks, beakers, measuring cylinders and optical windows.

6. Polyethylene terephthalate

Polyethene terephthalate, or PET, exhibits good resistance towards weak acids, alcohols, and hydrocarbons. It is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family.

The material is strong yet lightweight, non-reactive, economical, and shatterproof.  Health authorities recognise PET’s safety for medical applications around the world.

It finds common use as bottles, dispensible pipettes and face protection shields.

7. Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate or PC is an autoclavable and amorphous thermoplastic. Its outstanding strength and stiffness make it resistant to impact and fracture.

It also shows resistance towards oil and organic solvents. Yet it has poor compatibility with acids, halogenated hydrocarbons, and bases.

It is used for the manufacture of vacuum desiccators and centrifuge tubes. Available in transparent and opaque sheets.

8. Acrylic

Acrylic is a transparent thermoplastic homopolymer also known by its trade name, plexiglass. It has low resistance towards most chemicals.

Like polycarbonate, it is suitable for use as an impact-resistant alternative to glass. This is especially true when the high-impact strength of a PC is not required.

Common items made of acrylic are transparent tabletops and optical cuvettes.

Choosing Laboratory Plasticware

For superior performance, laboratory plasticware should use the highest quality materials. Below are some of the important features you need to look for to get the best product:

• Minimal additives. Although additives are necessary, they should be used sparingly. This is to minimise the potential for leaching out.
• Low leachable/extractable. These chemicals migrate from the labware itself into the solutions it holds. In the case of extractable, it occurs under extreme temperature lab-test conditions. Leachables are under the conditions of normal lab use. Opt for a brand with a low leachable/extractable profile to protect your experiments.
• Durable and leakproof. Laboratory plasticware does not shatter, but not all are leakproof. Keep an eye out for brands that address the issue of leaking.

The Bottom Line

The coming of laboratory plasticware has not made glassware obsolete. Rather, it has further contributed to the options available to scientists.

Today, there is a wide range of plastic materials used for the fabrication of lab items. Knowing the available types will prove to help you decide on your options.

Browse through our lab hardware & components and plasticware to complete your experiment needs.

This article was originally published in Feburary 2021 and has been updated.