Heating mantle
A heating mantle (sometimes known as heating nest, heating basket or isomantle) is a laboratory equipment used as a heating source for various lab containers, as an alternative to other forms of heating bath. One of biggest advantage over other forms of heating devices is the ability to generate very high temperatures, with the piece of glassware being in direct contact with the heating mantle without increasing the risk of the glassware shattering, because the heating element of a heating mantle is insulated from the glassware to prevent excessive temperature gradients.
Contents
Design
There are many types of heating mantles. For the most common form, the heating element (electric wires) are embedded within a strip of fabric, generally fiberglass, forming a "nest" or "basket", where the container can be placed. The heating "nest" is encased in a cylindrical, truncated cone or sometimes hemispherical container, generally made of heat resistant plastic or aluminium or some other material. The current supplied to the device is regulated by a rheostat, generally attached on the outside of the container, which is used for achieving the desired temperature or temperature range.
Some heating mantles also have magnetic stirring function.
Advantages
- Heating mantles can achieve higher temperatures than most heating devices
- Uniform heating of the flask
- Less tendency to generate harmful hotspots.
- Unlike oil or water baths, using a heating mantle generates no liquid residue to drip off the flask.
Availability
Heating mantles can be found on eBay.
DIY heating mantle
Heating mantles can be made using a heating tape and a metal or ceramic container.
NurdRage made a good tutorial on heating mantles here.
Uses
- Heating mantles are very useful for distillations that require high temperatures, such as the distillation of sulfuric acid
Safety
Heating mantles can cause burns if touched without protection gloves. As they do not glow when hot, it is difficult to know how hot they are.
