2015 marks 100 years since the invention of Pyrex glass – used in almost all laboratory glassware for it’s excellent chemical and thermal resistance.

Despite it’s ubiquitous use in lab glassware, did you know the hardy material was originally developed for railroad lanterns?

In the early 1900s Corning Glass Works in Massachusetts, USA, was researching a heat resistant glass to use in lanterns for railroad workers.

The heat of the lantern flame on one side with the cold winter air on the other caused standard glass to shatter, so Corning set to work to develop a new glass with better heat resistance. In 1915 they registered the patent for Pyrex glass.

Today this material is widely used in laboratory glassware of all types as it is highly resistant to chemical corrosion and extremes of heat and temperature. It can be used up to +500°C for short periods of time, down to approximately -192°C and can even be used with liquid nitrogen.

Combining this hardy material with Quickfit joints for easy connecting of separate components has made the creation of complex experimental assemblies easy.

See the range of glassware available here or contact us to talk about your glassware assembly