P.P.S. it also matters a LOT how you fill the tubes. Leaving too much air gap on the top is actually very likely to cause crushing of the plastic.
On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 6:18 PM, Artem Evdokimov <[email protected]> wrote: > Clearly, it's better to use shape-matched rotors (I sort of assumed > that you do that already!); however the BD/Falcon polyethylene tubes > (conical ends) will actually change shape (flow) when placed into the > round-ended rotors, if the speed is high enough -- and most of the > time the tubes survive the transition w/o ill effects. Polycarbonate > ones will shatter every time if their end taper does not match the > rotor taper (ok, at < 5000g they will probably survive). > > Artem > > On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 4:40 PM, Raji Edayathumangalam <[email protected]> > wrote: >> Hello Everyone, >> >> Many many thanks to all the folks who responded to my question with very >> good suggestions. >> >> Here's a very quick and dirty summary of the various tubes and rotors that >> people use without any issues: >> (1) 50ml Nalgene tubes for an SS-34 rotor >> (2) Shape-matched new Fiberlite rotors >> (3) Nalgene round-bottom centrifuge tubes (re-usable) >> (4) Beckman ultracentrifuge tubes (re-usable) >> (5) 50 ml Falcon tubes (red cap) >> (6) 50 ml Corning tubes in F13S-14x50cy rotor >> (7) Polyethylene tubes work but polycarbonate do not, for some folks >> >> It seems Fiberlite rotors were a common suggestion and a bunch of folks >> suggested that breakage may have AS MUCH to do with centrifuge and >> shape-complementarity (understandably) as much as with the centrifuge tubes. >> >> Many thanks for your time and help. Go CCP4BB! >> Raji >> >> >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: Raji Edayathumangalam <[email protected]> >> Date: Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 11:59 AM >> Subject: Crack-resistant tubes for centrifugation >> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >> >> >> Hi Folks, >> >> Are you any favorite brands out there for crack-resistant 50mL >> centrifugation tubes. It seems we are having recurring episodes of Falcon >> and Corning tubes cracking even at 9,000 rpm, which is the maximum speed >> possible with our rotor. I have used Falcon tubes for years in the past >> without problems and I want to be able to spin down bacterial lysates >> without a mess. >> >> Any suggestions for tubes that have worked well in your experience? >> >> Thanks, >> Raji >> >> -- >> Raji Edayathumangalam >> Instructor in Neurology, Harvard Medical School >> Research Associate, Brigham and Women's Hospital >> Visiting Research Scholar, Brandeis University >>
