From the 16th Century till date, chemical research teams have used glass containers for a very basic reason - glass is transparent, thereby making the contents and the reactions clearly visible. However, owing to the fact that chemists must heat, cool and mix chemical substances, ordinary glass is not always adequate for laboratory work.
Laboratory work requires that the apparatus for handling chemicals/media offer maximum inertness when in contact with the widest range of chemical substances. Moreover such apparatus needs to withstand thermal shock without fracture, high temperatures without deformity and mechanical shocks from daily washing and sterilization.
BOROSIL ® is the trade name of such a glass. Items made under the trade name BOROSIL ® represent optimum thermal, chemical and mechanical behavior. This glass is used in laboratories as well as for industrial applications where maximum thermal, chemical and mechanical resistance is required.
BOROSIL® Glassware is highly resistant to water, neutral and acid solutions, concentrated acids and their mixtures as well as to chorine, bromine, iodine and organic matters.
Even during extended period of reaction and at temperatures above 100°C, its chemical resistance exceeds that of most metals and other materials. It can withstand repeated dry and wet sterilisation without surface deterioration and subsequent contamination. Resistance to attack of various chemicals is shown below. Only hydrofluoric acid, very hot phosphoric acid and alkaline solutions increasingly attack the glass surface with rising concentration and temperature.
