What are magnetic stirrers?
A magnetic stirrer or magnetic mixer is a device that uses a rotating magnetic field to make a stir bar immersed in liquid to help in mixing any solution. The rotating field may be created either by a rotating magnet or a set of stationary electromagnets, placed beneath the vessel with the liquid. This type of equipment is one of the most user-friendly preparing mixtures. The primary function of magnetic stirrers is to agitate liquids to speed up reactions or enhance mixtures. Magnetic stirrers are commonly used in biology and chemistry for sample preparation and analysis.
A magnetic stirrer consists of a magnetic bar placed within the liquid to prove the stirring action. Their main function is to blend two sample components during chemical or biological experiments. It can also be used for solids or liquids to get a mixture that is consistent.
Magnetic Stirrers are of various types to perform blending or mixing in different temperatures in the hot plate that heats the liquid, technical parameters that can be controlled, the speed of the rotation and the time duration.
Magnetic hot plates serve a dual purpose by incorporating both the stirring assembly and a heating element. These heating elements may range in power from a few hundred to a few thousand watts, and allow the reaction flask to be heated and stirred at the same time. The maximum reachable fluid temperature depends on the size of the flask, the quantity of the solution that is to be heated, the power of the heating element and amount of the insulation provided to the system.
Types of Magnetic Stirrers:
Mini Magnetic Stirrer
Magnetic Mini Stirrers are lightweight, inexpensive, compact, easy to handle and require a very little space. They do not make noise and have low vibration making them convenient. It is resistant to hazardous chemicals in the lab. The speed is also controllable so that it cannot exceed the maximum speed.
Large Capacity Stirrer
Large Capacity Stirrers, also called “Advanced Large Capacity Stirrers”, are microscope-controlled and are ideal for high volume applications. Their powerful magnetic drive is capable of mixing high mucosity materials, the stainless steel base offers durability and added stability. Neuation offers a large capacity stirrer with max speed of 1000 RPM, max stirring capacity 50L and iStir 200L with max speed 600 RPM, max stirring capacity 200L.
Magnetic Stirrers with hot plate
The hotplate stirrer or the magnetic stirrer with hot plate is used for mixing and heating aqueous solutions for a great variety of chemical reactions such as synthesis. Magnetic Hot Plate stirrers are reliable, universal and easy to use and meet all kinds of safety standards. With the use of a hot plate stirrer you can mix a wide variety of samples for different applications.
The Neuation has six types of magnetic stirrers with a hot plate with different speed, stirring capacity and temperature.
Overhead Stirrer
An overhead stirrer is a laboratory device used for mixing, homogenizing, suspecting and recirculating large volumes or high-viscosity substances, which typically can’t be handled by a magnetic stirrer. Overhead stirrers by Neuation offer OH Jr. which has max speed 2200 RPM with max capacity 10L and OH Prime which has max speed 2000 RPM with max capacity of 40L.
Battery operated magnetic stirrer
Battery operated magnetic stirrers are apt for field use as they can work on batteries and can come in handy when the electric supply is low and fluctuates a lot. Rubber feet are also made available for stabilization purposes.
Air operated turbine magnetic stirrer
In air operated magnetic stirrers, low pressure air is used to create magnetic stirrer rotations. It eradicates the risk of sparking from electrical sources. It is apt to store solutions up to 1 liter.
Applications:
A stir bar magnet is placed inside the container, immersed in the fluid. A separate manet is placed underneath the container so that it attracts the stir bar magnet. The lower magnet is usually attached to a motor that spins it. If the magnets are close enough, the stir bar magnet spins inside the container. You can configure the magnetic stirrer with a hot plate to heat the samples as they are stirred, depending on the application. The magnetic stirrer hot plate can be used to mix the samples for several hours or overnight.
In synthetic chemistry, a combined magnetic stirrer/heater, equipped with a built-in temperature control mechanism and temperature probe, is commonly used with a heating bath allowing reaction vessels placed in the bath to be maintained at temperatures between approximately −120 and 250 °C.
The magnetic stirrer could be a better choice for smaller samples, as during the process of mixing, the container is sealed so the liquid samples stay properly. The overhead stirrers are capable of handling liquid samples that are huge in volume or liquid samples that are highly viscous.
One of the main benefits of the magnetic stirrers is that it can achieve a very rapid spin rate. This is accompanied through the use of a rotating electro-magnet under the container that holds your specific liquid.
