Standard Units
Considering industry requirements, several prototypes have been developed to meet the diverse and demanding needs of various sectors.
While these units are engineered to optimal specifications, they can be further customized to meet on-demand requirements. Their modular construction allows for convenient and rapid modifications tailored to specific process needs.
The units have been standardized by integrating essential features such as heating, stirring, fractionation, condensation and cooling, making them suitable for multi-purpose applications.
Though referred to as “Standard Units” from a construction standpoint, they effectively serve as distinct prototypes customized for varied applications.
These units find wide application in educational institutions, R&D centres, and manufacturing segments within pharmaceutical, chemical, and defence industries.
The use of Borosilicate glass as the material of construction offers significant technical advantages. Borosilicate glass, composed mainly of silica (SiO₂) and boron trioxide (B₂O₃), features an exceptionally low coefficient of thermal expansion (approximately 3.3 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹), enabling superior resistance to thermal shock compared to ordinary soda-lime glass. This property allows it to withstand rapid temperature changes, with operational limits up to around 450°C and cryogenic temperatures near -196°C.
Though borosilicate glass supports higher operating temperatures, the effective operating temperature range of these units is limited to 200°C down to -90°C due to the temperature constraints of sealing materials such as gaskets made of PTFE, silicone, and similar elastomers, which have maximum temperature ratings typically in the 200–260°C range and lower resistance at cryogenic extremes.
Its outstanding chemical inertness provides robust resistance to corrosion and attack from acids, alkalis, and solvents, ensuring durability in aggressive environments. Mechanically, borosilicate glass possesses high hardness (Mohs ~6), considerable compressive strength, and excellent dimensional stability. Optically, it offers high transparency with minimal light absorption across the visible spectrum and enhanced UV transmission, beneficial for photochemical processes.
Additionally, borosilicate glass is particularly suitable for vacuum applications due to its excellent structural integrity, low outgassing, and ability to maintain a hermetic seal under reduced pressure conditions.
Thus, incorporating borosilicate glass ensures corrosion resistance, chemical non-reactivity, optical clarity, ease of cleaning, enhanced thermal shock resistance (<100°C), and suitability for vacuum environments, while practical temperature limits are governed by the sealing components used within the units.
