Glossary

Due to polarity, a substance has a certain power which allows it to adhere to another substance, for example liquids adhere to walls of containers. BOLA labware normally has non-adhesive properties.

Strong permanent magnet based on an aluminium-nickel-cobalt alloy. Due to its anisotropy, it prefers one direction of magnetisation. Further advantages: AlNiCo 5-magnets are electroconductive and resist working temperatures up to 525 °C. They belong to the most resistant group of magnets.

 Vessels which resist a certain procedure of overpressure (for disinfection) in a gas tight closed vessel are autoclavable. All BOLA vessels made of PTFE, FEP and PFA are autoclavable up to 121 °C in steam space or up to 160 °C in dry conditions. All vessels with screw covers or stoppers have to be open while being autoclaved. This procedure is also used to make gases react under pressure. 

Mixture of at least two sorted basic materials added with fillers, reinforcements or other additives to make these basic materials suitable for certain applications. BOLA for example uses compounds for modifying mechanical properties, for matching colours or for flame protection.

Ethylene-Tetrafluoroehtylene

EPDM 3 is an elastomer on the base of ehylene-propylene-diene-caoutchouc which is mostly used for gaskets and o-rings. The main applications are in the area of hot water, steam and suds. It is not resistant to hydraulic fluids on the base of mineral oil, but it is weather-proof, non-ageaing and resistant to ozone. BOLA mainly uses EPDM o-rings for applications where VITON® o-rings from DuPont are not sufficient.

Explosion-proof labware from company Bohlender corresponds to European requirements concerning explosion protection of systems, devices and components in explosive atmosphere.  

Identification for products which correspond to the regulations of the American Food and Drug Administration for development and production of food and drugs. These regulations are among the strictest of the world and have to be fulfilled for exports to the USA. All BOLA which are marked with „FDA-conform“ are containing components which are made of FDA-conform materials – a corresponding certificate is included in delivery.

Tetraflouroethylene-Perflouropropylene

An elastic sealing material with natural recovery and good accommodation to the sealing surfaces and a chemical resistance comparable with PTFE. FFKM O-rings have a very high chemical and thermal resistance. Such seals can withstand virtually all kinds of chemicals and can be used at long duration conditions with temperatures up to +260°C. Perfluoro-caoutchouc is better known under the trade names KALREZ® by DuPont respectively CHEMRAZ® by Greene Tweed.

 Flanging is originally a procedure of forming and connecting metals. In the lab, it is used for example with screw joints. All kinds of BOLA PTFE, FEP and PFA tubing can be flanged. We are offering both flanged tubing and customisations. 

Belong to the group of thermoplastics.

Fluoropolymers have fluorine atoms in their polymer chains. Fluorine – the most electronegative and reactive non-metallic element – is bonding with carbon. This bonding provides extraordinary properties:

• chemically inert
• non-poisonous
• non-wettable
• low coefficient of friction
• flame resistant
• low capacitivity
• high temperature resistance

Despite high prices, fluoropolymers help to save costs because of their long useful life.

Elastomer on the base of fluorocaoutchouc, more familiar as VITON® (DuPont). Many O-rings, lip seals and sleeves are made of FPM. It has a very good resistance to heat, chemicals, weather and ozone. Furthermore, it is resistant to sulphurated mineral oils and fats and to hardly inflammable HFD liquids (basis phosphor ester or chlorinated hydrocarbon). It is not resistant to anhydrous ammonia, caustic soda, potassium, ketones, ether, dioxane as well as some amines and organic acids. For BOLA products, FPM is mainly used as sealing material, mostly protected from the medium by a PTFE sealing lip.

Glass thread

Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a solution of hydrogen fluoride in water. Hydrofluoric acid is a colourless, penetratively smelling liquid. It is able to dissolve glass, and can burn skin, mucosa and conjunctiva. A solution of 38,2 % HF in water forms an azeotropically boiling mixture with a boiling point of 112 °C. Depending on the concentration, hydrofluoric acid is stored in vessels made of PTFE or stainless steel.

 A system of units based on Inches. In Europe, the imperial system (which is still very common in the USA) has been replaced by the metric system. With BOLA Tube Fittings and Reducing Unions, a transition from metric to imperial tubing can easily be made. The conversion from mm to inch can be found here. 

 Inert substances are stable and not chemically reactive. All fluoroplastics used by BOLA are inert. The risk of dangerous reactions only exists for temperatures exceeding 350°C. 

 A special procedure of working in all directions under the same high pressure. Provides uniform compression for production of small parts with high isotropy. Often used for producing prototypes and small series of products. 

 The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. In Europe, the system was introduced in the 19^th century to achieve international comparability. With BOLA Tube Fittings and Reducing Unions, a transition from metric to imperial tubing can easily be made. The conversion from mm to inch can be found here. 

 Standard thread within Europe. 

Elastomer on the base of acrylonitrile-butadiene-caoutchouc which is mainly used as budget-priced sealing material (e.g. O-rings for stopcocks). This material has a good resistance to mineral oils and fats as well as to HFA, HFB and HFC-hydraulic fluids. It has a very good elasticity. PERBUNAN® (its well-known trade name of BAYER AG) is not resistant to brake fluids on the basis of glycol, HFD liquids, aromatic compounds (e.g. Benzole), ester, keton and amines as well as in concentrated acids and caustic solutions. Due to its restricted chemical resistance, it is not the ideal material for chemistry.

Polyamide

Polyetheretherketone

The permeability of a solid describes its porosity towards other atoms, molecules or ions. It depends on the combination and the compactness of both substances.

Perfluoroalkoxy

An acrylic resin based on methyl methacrylate. It has become generally known under the trade name Plexiglas. On the one hand, PMMA is approx. 60 times more elastic than window glass, but on the other hand, it is approx. 10 times more permeable than silicate glass. Of course, the hardness of its surface does not correspond to that of glass, but compared with other materials, it can easily be polished to high brilliance. As to weight, Polymethylmethacrylate is much more lightweight than normal window glass. Trade name Plexiglas® from Röhm,  Perspex® from ICI, Oroglas® from Rohm and Haas.

Polypropylene

Polyphenylsiloxan

Polystyrene

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Polytetrafluoroethylene with additional modifier Perfluorpropylvinylether.

Polyvinylidene Fluoride

Polyvinylfluoride

Alloy of the rare earth metal samarium and the metal cobalt which is used as permanent magnet. These magnets resist temperatures up to 250°C or 350°C, are very hard, brittle and resist to extremely opposing electromagnetic fields. A demagnetisation can virtually be excluded.

 Items which can be released from microorganisms of any development stage by heating or by applying chemicals are sterilisable. All BOLA vessels made of PTFE, FEP and PFA are sterilisable up to 121 °C. 

Thermoplasts are engineering plastics which can be softened by heating and which again become hardened by cooling. At room temperature, these plastics are solid.

Distance from thread tip to thread tip

Common thread in the USA. Used for BOLA HPLC parts.

Degree for the resistance of a liquid against flowing.