New Precious Metal Labware Brochure

Alfa Aesar, a Johnson Matthey Company, has published a new 20-page “Precious Metal Labware” reference handbook and catalogue that outlines the selection, use and care of laboratory ware made from platinum and other precious metals.

Platinum is the choice for many laboratory applications involving high temperature or corrosive substances. Platinum resists the action of almost all acids and a wide variety of other corrosives. It also has a high melting point (1769°C), a low heat capacity and can be heated in air without weight loss from oxidation.

The new book provides a guide to choosing the correct material to match your labware application. One section discusses the technical and practical benefits of Johnson Matthey’s zirconia grain stabilized (ZGS) platinum, which is engineered to resist the grain growth that can lead to creep deformation and contamination failure. Other materials covered include pure platinum, platinum-rhodium, platinum-gold non-wetting alloys, silver, gold and iridium.

Johnson Matthey platinum labware is offered by Alfa Aesar in a wide variety of vessels, including crucibles, standard crucibles, special crucibles, moulds for bead preparation, evaporating dishes and special analysis dishes. A variety of instruments and special forms are offered as well, such as micro chemical apparatus, utensils and electrodes.

The book’s “Care and Use” section describes proper techniques for the care and use of platinum. It includes maximum operating temperature guidelines along with a guide to procedures such as ignitions, determination of contaminants in samples, fusions, evaporations, electrolytic operations and glass production. This section also covers conditions and substances to avoid when using platinum labware. The reference data section offers physical property tables for platinum and other related materials.

Platinum labware is often used with alkali metal borate fusion fluxes in preparing samples for analysis of inorganic materials. Supplemental details regarding the selection and application of Alfa Aesar’s Spectroflux brand of Analytical fluxes, can be found in other literature.

To request a free copy of the Precious Metal Labware brochure, contact Alfa Aesar.