The many different types of laboratory stirrers available all come with their own qualities, making some more ideal for certain applications than others. Here are some of the most common types of stirrers:
Laboratory Overhead Stirrers are another type of magnetic stirrer, but they use an overhead drive to stir the liquid externally. These are great for those working with flammable solvents, as you won't have any openings under the stirring head where vapors could collect and ignite. They are also better at mixing liquids than other types of stirrers, making them ideal for larger volumes or more viscous fluids. It has various paddle types that can be used for different applications. These stirrers also have rods and stands.
With a paddle low to medium speed stirrer and gentle mixing for minimal turbulence is possible with the tangential flow. Centrifugal creates an axial flow that can be useful for mixing high-viscosity solutions with a paddle-type stirrer. The turbine is used for high-speed stirring with the axial flow to draw the material from above.
The most common type of stirrer, magnetic stirrers, utilizes a powerful magnet to mix liquids. They are simple and reliable, making them a good choice for most applications. It's suitable for small volumes of low-viscosity fluid, as it's not powerful enough to handle viscous fluids. These are made of ceramic or stainless steel.
Ceramic top Laboratory hotplates are ideal for those working with corrosive chemicals, as they have excellent chemical resistance. They are also safer, as they don't have many hot spots as metal tops can. However, these surfaces tend to be hotter than those made with metal, so you should use caution when using them with flammable chemicals. Unlike a ceramic top, a stainless steel top plate doesn't produce eddy currents and therefore experiences less magnetic drag.
Laboratory Hotplates with Stirrers are perfect when you need to heat up your liquids while stirring them. You can use either function independently or combine them for the ultimate mixing experience. They are great for those working with stir-sensitive samples or reactions, ensuring that temperature remains constant. There are mainly 2 types of stirrer hotplates.
Ceramic:
The ceramic top layer is ideal for those working with higher temperatures, as it can withstand more heat. Ceramic tops are also the safest of all laboratory hotplates, making them perfect for those who don't have much experience using this equipment. It has excellent chemical resistance (up to around 450°C) and provides great stability for high-speed stirring. You may only use ceramic hotplates to heat glassware, and you should not use them to heat liquids in metal containers.
Aluminum:
Aluminum top plates are more durable and can take accidental hits better than their ceramic plate counterparts. It has consistent temperatures all over the plates. You can use stainless steel beakers or other metal containers on aluminum hotplates.
