How do I Choose a Magnetic Stirring Bar for My Experiment

There are several factors to consider when choosing a magnetic stirring bar for your experiment. The right type of bar will make a huge difference when it comes to the effectiveness of the experiment. For instance, if you manage to select the right bar, mixing will be more efficient, and you can also significantly improve the quality and uniformity of reactions. 

Select the Right Size

This is one of the first things you must consider when selecting a magnetic bar. According to 2mag, it’s important to ensure that the bar you pick is the appropriate size for the vessel you intend to use. For instance, you must ensure that it will fit through the opening easily.

Choose the Right Shape

These are several shapes that you can choose from. Each shape will have a slightly different effect, and whether that’s important will depend on the type of experiment you are planning to carry out. Most people choose cylindrical bars. This is perfect for dealing with small volumes in tubes and vials. You can also go with pivot ring bars. These are a bit similar to cylindrical bars, but they feature a pivot ring that helps to position the bar and to reduce friction as well. 

Composition

The last factor to consider is the composition of the magnetic stirring bar. It’s important to pick a magnetic stirring bar that will not react with the sample. The most popularly used coating on magnetic stirring bars is PTFE. This is because it is heat resistant and chemically inert. 

These are some of the factors you should consider when choosing a magnetic stirring bar. It’s important to do your research well and figure out the needs of your experiment and the other components involved so you can choose the ideal bar.