Nearly 110 years ago, Corning Life Sciences became a trailblazer dedicated to glass innovations. Today, the company is known for its labware, particularly PYREX® glassware.
To some, the word "pyrex" might evoke thoughts of reliable cookware. While Corning did create this cookware line, it revolutionized laboratory work with another type of product — PYREX lab glassware. For more than a century, these glass products have dominated the research space as pieces of essential lab equipment.
What makes PYREX laboratory glassware special, and what contributes to making it so reliable? Here are seven facts about PYREX lab glass you should know.
1. Next-Level Heat-Proof
PYREX laboratory glassware is composed of roughly 81% borosilicate glass material. This silica stands up well to extreme temperatures, ranging from -40° to 300°C. It also has a low level of thermal expansion, so PYREX glassware doesn't significantly expand or contract when you heat or cool it. As a result, PYREX lab glass has a very low risk of breakage. But you can cause breaks if you introduce a rapid temperature change, such as placing an extremely hot beaker on a cold surface. To avoid this, always cool your PYREX laboratory glassware.
2. Chemical-Resistant and Contamination-Free
PYREX laboratory glassware resists and doesn't react with many chemicals used in laboratory work. Its nonporous surface safeguards it from absorption or contamination. During lab work, you can safely use PYREX lab glass with most acids, bases, and organic solvents. However, limit use with strong alkalis and hot concentrated acids, such as phosphoric acid, hydrofluoric acid, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide. These heated acids will chemically attack the glass and can weaken it.
3. The Ultimate Precision Partner
PYREX labware is clear and transparent, making it easier for you to capture precise measurements and observations. Volumetric glassware has wheel-engraved, abrasive-blasted, fire-in enameled, or permanently stained lines. Each piece of glassware is also uniformly consistent, making its behavior predictable in the lab.
4. Quality You Can Count On
Each piece of PYREX glassware conforms to the strict quality control standards adopted by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). These standards set requirements for reliability, reproducibility, quality assurance, compliance, and certification. To further ensure PYREX volumetric glassware's quality, it is tested and calibrated in an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory.