FAQ About HAWACH Sample Vials, Cap and Septa

As the basic laboratory staples, sample vial can maximize your efficiency with fewer failed applications and avoid most of the instrument damage due to the sample vials which are out of specification.

Hawach offers high-quality glass vials in many sizes and caps. In a range of sizes from 2 ml to 40 ml, the glass sample vials for general purpose can resist most of the heat shock and chemical leaching. And we guarantee all of our sample vials, caps, and septa can fit in your autosampler for most of your applications.

The material of Hawach sample vials is USP1 and Borosilicate glass which is non-porous and has no catalytic effect. As the boron oxide particles in the glass are so small, the silicate is held more closely together which makes the glass much stronger for your laboratory needs.

1. Why should I buy a sample vial from HAWACH?
The integrity, cleanliness, and uniformity of vials are critical to today’s demanding applications. That’s why HAWACH vials and caps are designed with the same engineering expertise as HAWACH instruments. All HAWACH-certified vials are manufactured in an ISO9001 clean environment with unique packaging to guarantee cleanliness and safety during shipping.

2. Can the compatibility between the sample and the vial be guaranteed?
For highly sensitive samples such as pesticides or semi-volatile substances and samples that are prone to sudden pH changes, deactivated sample vials are the best choice because their surfaces are more hydrophobic and inert. For more stringent and demanding applications such as mass spectrometry, deactivated sample vials are recommended to prevent sample interactions before analysis.

Polypropylene vials are the best choice for biological applications and applications involving high metal content samples, such as ion chromatography. HAWACH conducted a complete test and evaluation of a range of polypropylene materials before selecting the material grade for polypropylene vials. Its polypropylene vials contain virtually no leachable impurities, ensuring sample integrity.

3. Can the consistency between sample vials be guaranteed?
If the tolerances are not strictly controlled, the labeled size and wall weight of the autosampler vial may be different, which will affect the sample volume in the vial. This is especially important for small samples. HAWACH’s strict tolerance control runs through the entire manufacturing process, from the initial design to the final photoelectric scanning inspection process, to ensure the specification accuracy of each sample vial and cap.

4. How much force does it take to pierce the septum?
In general, silicone rubber septa are easier to puncture than red or butyl rubber septa. For thicker, difficult-to-pierced septa, a small needle may be required. Pre-perforated septa are the best choice, as it is most puncture-friendly and reduces the possibility of the scalp.

5. How can avoid common problem caused by septa?
One problem that will arise is the vacuum generation. Sometimes aspirating a sample from a sealed vial causes a vacuum. Some simple steps can prevent this from happening:
Use pre-perforated septa to help balance pressure on both sides of the cap;
Do not overfill;
Do not exceed 50 μL in one injection (from a 2 ml vial).