What's the Difference Between Microliter vs. Gastight Syringes?
Hamilton Microliter syringes are ideal for dispensing homogeneous liquid samples that do not bond with glass or precipitate. They feature a hand-fitted stainless steel plunger for smooth, frictionless movement and minimal wear, ensuring long-lasting performance. Hamilton Gastight syringes, on the other hand, are designed for dispensing both gases and heterogeneous liquids. They are equipped with a precision-machined PTFE plunger tip to create a leak-free seal.
Microliter Syringes For Liquids
Microliter syringes incorporate a hand-fitted stainless steel plunger with a finely bored syringe barrel. These syringes are ideal for organic samples that are not prone to precipitation, crystallization or bonding with glass.
Under the proper conditions, plunger wear is minimal and the life of a Microliter syringe is almost unlimited. However, when using heterogeneous solutions with a Microliter syringe, the user must be especially diligent about cleaning the syringe after each use. In some cases, even diligent cleaning is not sufficient and the barrel will become soiled. The deposits on the glass will compromise the tight tolerances between the glass and the plunger resulting in a frozen plunger. Plungers for Microliter syringes cannot be interchanged or replaced if damaged.
For aqueous and low volatile solutions, a Gastight syringe is the best option.
Gastight Syringes For Liquids and Gases
Gastight syringes have a precision-machined polymer plunger tip, often PTFE, which creates a leak-free seal. With the tight fit, the tip essentially wipes the interior of the syringe barrel free of sample. This feature is particularly useful with aqueous and low volatile organic samples because it reduces the chance that a deposit will occur and cause the plunger to freeze.
The Gastight series still requires careful and regular cleaning to minimize deposits on the glass, which might score the soft PTFE plunger tip and result in a leak. Replacement plunger assemblies are available for Gastight syringes. However, a replacement plunger should not be put into a barrel that still contains deposits because the new plunger tip is likely to be scored by the deposit after only a few strokes. It is important to remember that over time, the increased friction created by the tight seal may cause the PTFE tip to wear out and the plunger will have to be replaced.
Anatomy of a Syringe
