Commonly used centrifuge tubes are made of plastic and glass.

Release Time:

2025-04-30

General plastics are used more often because glass centrifuge tubes cannot be used in high-speed or ultracentrifuges.

General plastics are used more frequently because glass centrifuge tubes cannot be used in high-speed or ultracentrifuges. Plastic centrifuge tubes come in materials such as PP (polypropylene), PC (polycarbonate), and PE (polyethylene). PP tubes generally have better performance. Plastic centrifuge tubes are transparent or semi-transparent, allowing direct observation of the sample during centrifugation, but they are prone to deformation and have poor resistance to organic solvent corrosion, resulting in a shorter service life. Therefore, laboratories often purchase centrifuge tubes regularly.

PP (polypropylene): Semi-transparent, with good chemical and temperature stability, but becomes brittle at low temperatures, so do not centrifuge below 4°C.

PC (polycarbonate): Has good transparency and high hardness, can be sterilized at high temperatures, but is not resistant to strong acids, strong bases, or some organic solvents like alcohol. Mainly used for ultracentrifugation above 50,000 rpm.

PE (polyethylene): Opaque. Does not react with acetone, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, etc., relatively stable, but softens easily at high temperatures.

PA (polyamide): This material is a polymer of PP and PE, semi-transparent, chemically very stable, but not resistant to high temperatures.

PS (polystyrene): Transparent, hard, stable against most aqueous solutions, but can be corroded by various organic substances. Mostly used for low-speed centrifugation and generally disposable.

PF (polyfluorocarbon): Semi-transparent, suitable for low-temperature use. If the experimental environment is between -100°C and 140°C, centrifuge tubes made of this material can be used.

CAB (cellulose acetate butyrate): Transparent, can be used for relatively dilute acids, bases, salts, as well as gradient measurements of alcohol and sucrose.