The Construction of Inexpensive Robust Containers for Low Temperature Baths We have prepared inexpensive, insulated containers for low temperature baths in the following manner: the usual assortment of concentrated acids arrive from the manufacturer in 80-oz bottles (Winchester) packed in individual form-fitting styrofoam containers. An empty bottle is rinsed out end cut to the depth of the styrofoam container on a glass cutting wheel in the glsssblowing shop. The cut edge is polished to remove the sharp edges. The resulting glass cylinder is placed inside a polyethylene bag and the two are placed inside the styrofoam container. The bag is then pulled down aver the edge and sides of the styrofoam and taped on the bottom and sides as flat as possible. The resulting insulated glass vessel resists the action of solvents on the styrofoam and holds baths at low temperatures for conveniently long periods. In addition, the materials are readily available and low cost. Further, the container is sufficiently robust to survive a drop of several feet to a concrete floor. Numerous other reagents (e.g., bromine) come packaged in similar fashion and the containers could he used to prepare varioussizes and depths of these vessels. NOTE O F CAUTION: Due to the method of manufacture of glass bottles, the walls are not of uniform thickness and cantsin flaws. Thus, use with extremes of temperature should he avoided, since the glass may crack. This is not t w serious a problem in any case, since heat transfer through these vessels is great enough to render them impractical for use with very hot or very cold liquids.
University of Windsor Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
Volume 50, Number 12, December 1973
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