Sciencemadness Discussion Board

microwave container

soma - 29-10-2018 at 05:29

I'm looking for a container that could be used in a microwave oven for drying MgSO4 and molecular sieve.

Help appreciated.

Ubya - 29-10-2018 at 05:53

borosilicate, soda lime glass or ceramic
just don't use metals or plastic that can't handle the heat

Sulaiman - 29-10-2018 at 06:03

Microwave ovens that I have used all have 'hot spots' due to standing waves within the oven,
so I doubt that a microwave oven is a good choice for drying anything.

In general you can use
plastics such as PE, PP and PTFE but not polyester/mylar or melamine
glass, but some types heat up quickly / absorb microwaves well
metal, most wide open vessels

If there is nothing in the microwave oven that absorbs microwaves then there is a good chance of internal arcing, or damage to the magnetron.

soma - 29-10-2018 at 07:51

I've used the microwave successfully to dry MgSO4 and molecular sieve. I had a rusty pie pan which I no longer have. I tried a "pyrex" pie pan at one point and it completely shattered.

Tsjerk - 29-10-2018 at 08:17

I have used these (normal glass, nothing fancy) kind of bowls many times for drying hydrates. I dried MgSO4 among others.

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=82462&...