Glossary

Protects light sensitive substances from UV radiation, an invisible electromagnetic radiation. Desiccators with anti-UV-light-tone are provided with orange acrylic glass for UV protection.

 Protection from electric charging. SICCO Antistatic desiccators protect electronic components against humidity and airborne particulate. Electrostatic charges are discharged by a grounding cable and a charge neutral atmosphere is produced inside the desiccator. 

Also called Jenaer Glas, Duran or Pyrex. Due to its boron concentration, it is very resistant to chemicals and temperature and is therefore mainly used in laboratories, chemical engineering and household.

The dew point is the temperature at which water vapour starts to condense.

Device gauging humidity or content of water vapour in the air.

Inert gases are stable and not chemically reactive. Therefore they are ideal to protect gases from certain chemical reactions. Depending on the application, nitrogen or another inert gas is used for gas filling in desiccators.

Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon and ununoctium are presenting group 18 of the periodic table. These monatomic, unreactive gases are ideal for gas filling in desiccators.

Maximum load which can be stored on a surface, e.g. on a shelf of a desiccator. Important for customized desiccators.

Bohlender’s innovative locking system based on magnets. The door of a desiccator is closed tightly and can easily be opened with one hand.

Polycarbonate

Polymethylmethacrylate

Synthetic thermoplastic similar to glass.

A polymerisation product of styrene. Polystyrene is one of the most commonly used plastic materials. For many years it has been processed by injection moulding, extruding or blowing. Because of its structure, it is transparent, hard and brittle. A disadvantage is its low thermal and chemical resistance. Trade names: Lacqrene® from ATO, Vestyron® from Innovene, Edistir® from Montedison.

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Ideal for frequent opening and changing of lines. The integrated non-return valves close as soon as the quick coupling is disconnected. Thus components stored inside the desiccator are protected from oxygen.

Percentage ration between water vapour pressure and saturated water vapour pressure over a clear and even water surface. On this basis it is easy to evaluate how quickly evaporations will proceed or how large is the danger of condensation. The quantity of water vapour which would be needed for saturation increases with increasing temperature. Similarly the relative humidity of a given air mass falls with increasing temperature. Temperature is therefore an important factor in assessing relative humidity and condensation.

Silica gel is a colourless amorphous silicic acid with a gel-like consistency. It has a large inner surface area. It is very hygroscopic and can be used as gelling agent, filtering or absorption material and desiccant. Normally coupled with an indicator, silica gel changes colour as soon as it absorbs water; the gel remains pourable and dimensionally stable even in saturated condition. It can be regenerated on a metallic sieve or on a baking tray at approx. 90-110°C (a microwave oven is not suitable for regeneration!).

The pressure of a gas in a vessel is lower than atmospheric pressure or lower than 300 mbar (the lowest possible atmospheric pressure on earth’s surface). In colloquial language, vacuum describes a free space.

 Device for measuring vacuum in a closed chamber, e.g. in a desiccator.