The plastic centrifuge tubes are generally used more often than the glass ones, as they cannot be used in high-speed or ultracentrifuges. Plastic centrifuge tubes are available in PP (polypropylene), PC (polycarbonate) and PE (polyethylene), the PP tubes are relatively good. Plastic centrifuge tubes are transparent or translucent, allowing visualisation of the sample centrifuged, but they are more easily deformed and less resistant to the corrosive effects of organic solvents, so they have a shorter service life.
Centrifuge tubes for laboratory centrifuges are available in the following materials.
1. PP (polypropylene): translucent, chemically and temperature stable, but will become brittle at low temperatures, so do not centrifuge below 4°C.
2. PC (polycarbonate): better transparency, hardness, can be sterilised at high temperatures, but not resistant to strong acids and alkalis and some organic solvents such as alcohol. It is mainly used for ultra-high speed centrifugation above 50,000 rpm.
3. PE (polyethylene): opaque. And acetone, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. do not react, more stable, easy to soften under high temperature.
4. PA (polyamide): this material is a polymer of PP and PE material, translucent, chemically very stable, single does not resist high temperatures.
5. PS (polystyrene): transparent, hard, stable to most aqueous solutions, but can be corroded by a variety of organic substances, mostly used for low-speed centrifugation, and generally for one-time use.
6. PF (polyfluoro): translucent, can be used at low temperatures, if the experimental environment is -100-140 ℃, you can use this material centrifuge tube.
7. CAB (cellulose butyl acetate): transparent, can be used for more dilute acids, bases and salts, as well as for gradient determination of alcohols and sucrose.