Types of centrifuge tubes
According to size
Large number of centrifuge tubes (500mL, 250mL)
Ordinary centrifuge tubes (50mL, 15mL)
Microcentrifuge tubes (2mL, 1.5mL, 0.65mL, 0.2mL)
Follow the bottom shape
Conical centrifuge tubes, with a tapered bottom, are the most commonly used type of centrifuge tubes.
flat bottom centrifuge tube
round bottom centrifuge tube
According to the lid closing method
Gland centrifuge tubes, centrifuge tubes sealed by pressing, common in microcentrifuge tubes
Screw cap centrifuge tubes can be divided into flat caps (the top of the cap is flat) and plug caps (the top of the cap has a plug shape)
According to material
Plastic centrifuge tubes, glass centrifuge tubes, steel centrifuge tubes
1. Plastic centrifuge tube
The advantage of plastic centrifuge tubes is that they are transparent or translucent, have low hardness, and can be used to remove samples by puncture. The disadvantages are that it is easy to deform, has poor corrosion resistance to organic solvents, and has a short service life.
Plastic centrifuge tubes have caps, which are used to prevent samples from leaking. It is especially important to prevent samples from leaking when used for radioactive or highly corrosive samples. The caps also serve to prevent samples from evaporating. And support the centrifuge tube to prevent deformation of the centrifuge tube. When choosing this point, you should also pay attention to check whether the tube cap is tight and whether it can be capped tightly during the test to prevent leakage when inverted;
We all know that in plastic centrifuge tubes, commonly used materials include polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), etc. Among them, polypropylene PP tubes have relatively better performance, so we are choosing plastic centrifuge tubes. When possible, consider polypropylene plastic centrifuge tubes.
Plastic centrifuge tubes are generally disposable experimental equipment and are not recommended for repeated use. In order to save money, PP centrifuge tubes can be reused as appropriate, but they need to be thoroughly sterilized by high temperature and high pressure to ensure the scientific nature of the experimental results. Centrifuge tubes made of PE cannot be sterilized by high temperature and high pressure.
Plastic centrifuge tube packaging or instructions will generally indicate the centrifugal force that the product can withstand or the recommended speed. In order to ensure the safety of the experiment and the reliability of the results, you should choose a centrifuge tube that meets the speed requirements of the experiment.
2. Glass centrifuge tubes
When using glass tubes, the centrifugal force should not be too large. Rubber pads are needed to prevent the tubes from breaking. Glass tubes are generally not used in high-speed centrifuges. If the lid of the centrifuge tube is not closed well enough, the liquid cannot be filled (for high-speed centrifuges and angle rotors) to prevent overflow and loss of balance. The consequence of spillage is contamination of the rotor and centrifugal chamber, affecting the normal operation of the sensor. During ultracentrifugation, the centrifuge tube must be filled with liquid, because ultracentrifugation requires high vacuum, and only by filling it up can the centrifuge tube be prevented from deforming.
3. Steel centrifuge tube
The steel centrifuge tube has high strength, does not deform, and can resist heat, frost, and chemical corrosion. It is also widely used, but when using it, you should also avoid contact with highly corrosive chemicals, such as strong acids and alkalis. Try to avoid corrosion from these chemicals.