Have you ever wondered why different fume hoods have different worktops? Well, the worktop is the most used part of a fume hood. It is where most of your chemical tests are done, so in order to maximize a hood's efficiency, your worktop should be appropriate for a a specific chemical application.
The commonly used material for worktops are stainless steel, phenolic resin, epoxy resin and ceramic. Below is a photo that differentiates the resistance properties of these materials.
Photo from Esco Ducted Fume Hood Facebook Page
SS304/SS316
SS304 and SS316 are both stainless steels, however, they differ in terms of chemical composition. 304 is composed of 18% chromium and 8% nickel while 316 contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. Molybdenum has the sixth highest melting point of any element, so the addition of this particular metal explains the added resistance of 316 especially to chlorides.
PHENOLIC RESIN
Phenolic resins are the most versatile polymers yet invented. They are resistant to a wide variety of chemicals and they can be molded into various products like laboratory countertops and even billiard balls!
EPOXY RESIN
Thermosetting polymers like epoxy resin, are widely used as laminates and adhesives. In contrast to phenolic resins, they are moisture-resistant which makes them long-lasting coating for countertops. In addition, this material is completely resistant to harsh chemicals.
CERAMIC
Although ceramic has he highest cost among the five materials, it has the highest level of chemical stability making it highly resistant to chemical corrosion.
So, can your worktop keep up to its intended use?
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