Glass tube

Glass tubes or glass tubing are hollow pieces of borosilicate or flint glass used primarily as laboratory glassware. Glass tubing is commercially available in various thicknesses and lengths. Glass tubing is frequently attached to rubber stoppers.

In the past, scientists constructed their own laboratory apparatus prior to the ubiquity of interchangeable ground glass joints. Today, commercially available parts connected by ground glass joints are preferred; where specialized glassware are required, they are made to measure using commercially available glass tubes by specialist glassblowers. For example, a Schlenk line is made of two large glass tubes, connected by stopcocks and smaller glass tubes, which are further connected to plastic hoses.

Modifying

Although modifying glass tubing is no longer an essential laboratory technique, many are still familiar with the basic methods. A glass cutter is used to break pieces of glass tubing into smaller pieces. Freshly cut edges are flame polished before use to remove the rough edge. Glass tubing can be bent by heating evenly over a Bunsen flame to red heat. Hose barbs can be added to tubing, giving a better grip and seal for attaching plastic or rubber tubing.

Applications

Glass tubes, rods and profiles can be made from different glass types. They find use in a variety of markets such as pharmaceuticals, industrial and environmental technology as well as electronics. Glass tubes are processed in:

• measuring cylinders
• halogen lamps
• pharmaceuticals packaging
• fluorescent lamps
• photobioreactors
• Interior Design
• Lighting concepts
• product presenation
• backlights
• photo-flash lamps
• pneumatic conveyor systems

Manufacturers

There are several companies concentrating on the production of glass tubes made from special glass types. By using a special glass type with particular properties the glass tubes can be fit for a variety of applications. Some well-known manufacturers of glass tubes are:

• Four Stars Glass Tube Co., Ltd.
• Nipro Glass
• Gerresheimer AG
• SCHOTT AG