What Is a Vial?
Vials are small, transparent containers made of glass or plastic, featuring a rubber stopper on the lid for syringe needle insertion. They serve as containers for injectable drugs and analytical samples, especially in high-performance liquid chromatography, and comply with sealed container standards in pharmacopeias.
Uses of Vials
Vials are essential in the chemical, food, metal, water treatment, and sewage sectors for storing injectable drugs and analytical test samples. They are favored for their cost efficiency, ease of maintenance, and compact design, saving space and facilitating and easy cleaning.
Features of Vials
Made predominantly from borosilicate glass, vials exhibit low thermal expansion, high durability, and excellent chemical resistance. They are impermeable to gases, preventing oxidation, and are manufactured to minimize alkali component elution. Synthetic resin vials are also available, offering break resistance and lighter weight, though they have higher oxygen permeability than glass vials.
How to Select a Vial
- Purpose of Use: Determine the specific application, considering factors like liquid purification or solid separation.
- Material and Particle Size: Choose materials based on chemical compatibility and the size of particles to be filtered.
- Size, Shape, and Rotation Speed: Ensure the selected vial matches process requirements for throughput and separation efficiency.
- Performance and Cost: Balance budget constraints with performance requirements, considering long-term operational costs.
Other Information on Vials
Surface Treatment of Vials
Vials undergo surface treatments like dealkalization and coating to reduce alkali elution and improve chemical resistance. Treatments include silica, silicone, and fluoroplastic coatings to prevent direct contact between the chemical solution and the glass surface.
Difference Between a Vial and an Ampoule
Vials, with their resealable rubber stoppers, contrast with ampoules, which are hermetically sealed by melting the glass. Ampoules are typically used for small-volume injectable drugs, offering cost efficiency and superior glass integrity.
Handling Vials With Rubber Stoppers
Precautions include avoiding coring, where rubber particles mix with the drug solution. Strategies to prevent coring involve puncturing the rubber stopper at designated locations, using appropriately sized needles, and employing careful insertion techniques.