Stirring Bars and Rods
Products of various sizes, shapes, and material compositions designed to aid in manual or automatic stirring of laboratory solutions. Includes glass stirring rods, magnetic stir bars, and stir bar retrievers.
What Is a Magnetic Stir Bar?
Magnetic stir bars are stirrers or stirring hotplates used with magnets to mix a liquid or solution by creating a vortex.
A number of factors affect magnetic stir bar efficiency and effectiveness, including its size, shape, and material. Sizes (L x Diameter) range from 2 x 2 mm to 159 x 27 mm and shapes include:
- Polygonal or octagonal magnetic stir bars are the most common shapes; the multiple surfaces add turbulence to the mixing action
- Elliptical or egg-shapped stir bars work especially well with round-bottom flasks
- Wedge-shaped spin bars produce more significant turbulence for dissolving salts or in samples containing sediment
- Spin bars with fins or vanes, designed for smaller vessels, tubes, or cuvettes
- Micro (“flea”) stir bars for mixing extremely small samples
What Kind of Magnet Is Used?
Stir bar magnets are typically made from Alnico, a combination of aluminum and nickel. They may also be made from Samarium cobalt, a rare earth metal that produces the stronger magnetic force needed to mix very viscous substances.
Stir bar magnets are usually encapsulated in white or colored PTFE, hard plastic, or borosilicate glass, and coatings may meet FDA grade or USP requirements. PTFE is durable, inert, and can be autoclaved. Glass-encased cylindrical magnets are useful for high-temperature applications.
How Does It Work?
During the stirring process, integral or removable pivot rings on the stir bar reduce contact with the vessel to help avoid marring plastic surfaces. Some round stir bars have slightly raised ends that create a de facto pivot point, while others have more pronounced round centers that help to keep them in motion. Stir bars may be reusable or disposable.
Magnetic stir bars may be sold individually or in magnetic stir bar kits that include multiple bars in a range of sizes.
Ace Glass, Inc. Stirbar, PTFE, octagonal, yellow, 12.7mmx8.0mm
Stirbar, PTFE, octagonal, yellow, 12.7mmx8.0mm
Grainger Winch Bar 34 L Steel Chrome
The Kinedyne Winch Bar is a steel winch bar made in the USA. It has a working load limit of 5,000 lbs and a safety factor of 5:1. The bar is made from grade 80 steel and measures 60" L x 1-1/4" diameter. It has a hook opening width of 2-1/2" and a hook height of 6". The winch bar allows for easy leverage and can be used for vehicle recovery and industrial pulling applications. With its high strength steel construction, this winch bar is a sturdy and durable tool.
Cole-Parmer AZS4235 Stir Bars, 12 x 4.5 mm; 10/PK
Keep your reaction station running smoothly with these parts and accessories.
V&P Scientific Inc STIR ELEMENT, SUPER DISCS, Stainless Steel, Parylene C Coated, Used in Microplates, Syringes, Tubes/Vials, 1000/pack
STIR ELEMENT, SUPER DISCS, Stainless Steel, Parylene C Coated, 8.0mm Diameter, 0.7mm Height, 200°C Max Operating Temp for Coating
Yamato Scientific America, Inc. Yamato Digital Laboratory Stirrer, Max speed of 340 rpm. Complete with stand and rod, stirring shaft and 4-blade propeller. 100V-125V
Digital laboratory stirrer with speed range of 34-340 rpm for high viscosity samples. DC brushless motor considered superior in safety as there are no brushes to cause sparks and no brush replacement required. Direct-drive system reduces noise and require low maintenance. Achieves high torque enabling stirring of high viscosity solution. Digital tachometer for easy speed setting and confirmation. Load on the stirring shaft can be monitored by LED2 display. An overload lamp turns on when exceeding the maximum load, stopping the motor automatically. Revolution feedback control function can maintain the setting rate despite change of load (especially suitable for high viscosity samples)Set includes stand, rod, stainless steel shaft and 75mm 4-blade propeller.
Yamato Scientific America, Inc. Yamato Laboratory Stirrer, Max speed of 300 rpm for high viscosity samples. Complete with stand and rod, stirring shaft and 4-blade propeller. 100V-125V
Laboratory stirrer with higher torque for high viscosity samples. Highly sensitive feedback system keeps the set speed, even with changing viscosity during stir. Maintenance free DC brushless motor. Digital speed indicator for accurate speed setting and confirmation. Noise prevention measures for optimal work environment. More safety-oriented design. Set includes stand, rod, stainless steel shaft and 60mm 4-blade propeller. Speed range 10~300 rpm.