When selecting laboratory benches for your lab, it is critical to select the appropriate material to get the best output. The material you pick must be able to endure the kind of experiments and research that take place in your lab, as well as account for the usage of chemicals and bacteria, heavy machinery, and any sort of liquids. (Information source: https://www.rdm-ind.com/product-category/industrial-work-tables/laboratory-tables/)
Let us go through the type of materials you can choose while selecting a proper lab table.
Types of Materials:
To choose the best lab bench, you must first get to know about the different types of materials available, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each. When purchasing lab furniture, you will come across several different sorts of materials such as:
1. Stainless Steel- Stainless steel is almost certainly present in every laboratory. From cabinets to laboratory surfaces and fume hoods, all these items are manufactured with high-quality stainless steel. This is due to stainless steel’s great durability and features like moisture resistance, scratch resistance, heat resistance and chemical resistance. Stainless steel furniture is both cost-effective and versatile. Stainless steel surfaces and countertops are easy to clean and sterilize, and they look great in every part of your lab.
2. High Pressure Laminate- This material is a plastic laminate that has been improved and strengthened significantly. It can also be coated to withstand a number of conditions, including fire, chemical exposure and regular wear and tear. Plastic laminate is a great option for countertops because it can be shaped to fit around curves while remaining sturdy and fire-resistant.
3. Epoxy Resin- Epoxy resin is an excellent material for several types of lab furniture due to its high durability and ability to endure high temperatures. It also has moisture and chemical resistant properties. Epoxy resin countertops are extremely popular because they are easy to clean and non-porous, making them corrosion resistant. Epoxy resin countertops are an excellent choice for research and labs that work with corrosive chemicals.
4. High-Density Polyethylene- High-density polyethylene is considered as one of the most cost-effective solutions for lab furniture. However, it does not have features like chemical resistance, moisture resistance or heat resistance as this is a comparatively soft material for which chemical elements and heat have detrimental influences on its surface. Apart from this, high-density polyethylene is resistant to mold and rotting and is very easy to clean due to its non-porous surface.
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing Lab Furniture
There are several aspects to consider when selecting the correct material for your laboratory furniture. Some of them are:
- Your Lab Design- Before you plan to buy a laboratory bench, think about how you want your lab to look in different sections. This will assist you in determining the area’s space requirements as well as the sort of work that takes place in each location. If you conduct chemical tests or work in one space, all surfaces must be chemically resistant.
- Durability- You should always pick the most durable material for the sort of research you’ll be doing in your lab. The main considerations to look out for are features like chemical resistance, heat resistance and moisture resistance of each material.
- Type of Material- The type of material required to manufacture your lab furniture depends on the type of industry you work in. Standard lab furniture is manufactured out of industrial-grade stainless steel, making it a long-lasting product. Workstation materials can also be manufactured from ESD laminate or chemical resistant laminate.
Conclusion:
Purchasing lab furniture does not have to be a tough task. You can use these simple guidelines to select the finest furniture for your laboratory’s needs and specifications. You can also make the finest choices for your laboratory furniture if you choose the correct furniture manufacturer or distributor.
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