What Are Crucibles?

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Crucibles are used for a variety of applications within modern laboratory processes including experimentation and testing; and metal, glass and pigment processing, as well as chemical analysis.

In its basic form, a crucible is a simple container made from metal that can withstand very high temperatures. Historically, these containers were made from clay, but metal is more commonly used now as it withstands extreme temperatures whilst being hardwearing. Crucible cups have been used since Bronze Age times in the production of metal items, and various crucible designs have been modified throughout the ages.

Crucible products are always made of high temperature-resistant materials, such as inert metals like platinum. More recently, metals such as nickel and zirconium have been used to produce crucible products. Lids are available in several sizes and typically come with a correspondingly-sized lid, which is known as a crucible cover. These are typically loose-fitting to allow gases to escape during heating of the material inside.
Great care must be taken when a crucible is being used, as the sample inside ...
... is heated to extreme temperatures and can therefore cause injury if mishandled. Those using crucibles should wear protective clothing to make sure none of the sample material comes into contact with their skin if it splashes or bubbles.

If you would like to find out more about crucibles, please visit the Birmingham Metal website.