IMF Labs Products

IMFLabs has developed a number of products based on successful prototypes. We offer versions of some of our most successful projects for purchase. These instruments can be custom designed to suit the needs of researchers and others. Some items are typically in stock for immediate delivery.

Laboratory Equipment

Bottle Static Sleeve

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Bottle Static Sleeve
Use DetailsDescription
Bottle Static SleveThis cylindrical sleeve, made from lightweight aluminum, is designed to hold digestion bottles during initial sample massing (i.e., while adding quartz and Be/Al carriers). It holds the bottle upright, minimizing the chance of tipping. It also bleeds off static electricity, thereby increasing the accuracy and precision of sample massing. There are two sizes: a smaller sleeve designed to hold a 125 mL Teflon bottle and a larger sleeve designed to hold a 250 mL Teflon bottle. See the Be/Al Extraction Method (PDF) for additional detail.
For Use With125 mL or 250 mL clear Nalgene FEP Wide Mouth Teflon Resin bottles
Location UseIntended for use on a high-precision balance
CleaningCleaned using a water rinse if needed
DimensionsSmall sleeve: 1.875" outer diameter x 1.842" inner diameter x 3.77” tall; Large sleeve: 2.5" outer diameter x 2.395" inner diameter x 4” tall
MaterialAluminum
Cost$180 for the small (125 mL) sleeve, $180 for the large (250 mL) sleeve plus shipping
DrawingFor a Plan email its-info@uvm.edu

Digestion Block

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Digestion Block
Use DetailsDescription
Digestion BlockThis block is intended to optimize both the safety and efficiency of quartz digestion in hydrofluoric acid. It holds 12 samples (in a 4x3 matrix); each sample bottle sits in its own circular hole, all enclosed in a rectangular box with a removeable lid. This configuration ensures that a sample cannot be knocked over during digestion, which would represent a significant safety hazard. The design of the box also traps heat, allowing the quartz to dissolve more quickly. There are two different size digestion blocks: one for 125 mL bottles and one for 250 mL bottles. See the Be/Al Extraction Method (PDF) for additional detail.
For Use WithFor use with 12 x 125 mL or 250 mL clear Nalgene FEP Wide Mouth Teflon Resin bottles
Location UseIntended for use in a fume hood on a hot plate
CleaningCleaning with dilute nitric acid and a water rinse
DimensionsSmall digestion block: 11.625” length x 7.75 “width x 5.625” height
Large digestion block: 11.625” length x 7.75 “width x 5.625” height
MaterialTeflon coated stainless steel base with Teflon sides and a plexiglass front
Cost$1,350 for the small (125 mL bottles) block, $1,350 for the large (250 mL bottles) block plus shipping
DrawingFor a plan email its-info@uvm.edu
The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

Cation Column Rack (12 samples)

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Cation Column Rack
Use DetailsDescription
Cation Chromatography RackHolds twelve 10mL columns (Thermo Fisher Scientific Part # 29924) and corresponding 22mL and 30mL beakers (Savillex Part # 200-030-20 and # 200-022-20) for the separation of titanium, beryllium, and aluminum by cation column chromatography methods. See Cation Column procedure for more detail in Be/Al Extraction Method (PDF).
Waste TrayDesigned to accommodate plastic waste trays (Rubbermaid Part # L3-2917-RO-WHT)
Location UseIntended for use in a fume hood or other ventilated space
CleaningDilute acid-washing followed by a water rinse
Dimensions21.6 cm Tall x 19.4 cm Wide x 43.2 cm Long
MaterialCast Acrylic with Dichloroethane to bond
Cost$295 plus shipping
DrawingFor a plan email Its-info@uvm.edu

Gel Drydown Block

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Gel Drydown Block
Use DetailsDetails
Gel Drydown BlockThis heat block, made from aluminum (VWR part, # 13259-288), is designed for holding 15 mL centrifuge tubes upright while drying BeOH or AlOH gels. Each block holds 12 tubes in a 4x3 matrix. The block sits directly on a hot plate, and the conductive material transfers heat into the tubes. By drying gels at 65°C until consolidated, then driving off lingering water vapor at 98°C, the gels form a single, small pellet that can easily be transferred to a quartz crucible using the Pellet Funnels (also shown on this page). See Sample packing procedure for more detail in Be/Al Extraction Method (PDF).
For Use WithFalcon 15 ml tubes (part # 352097)
Location UseIntended for use in a fume hood or other ventilated space
CleaningCleaned using dilute acid and deionized water
DimensionsDiameter: 17.1 mm   Depth: 44.5 mm
MaterialAluminum
Cost$ 190  plus shipping
Drawing For a Plan email Its-info@uvm.edu

Pellet Funnels

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Pellet Funnels
Use DetailsDescription
Pellet Transfer FunnelsThese funnels are designed for transferring a dried BeOH or AlOH pellet from a Falcon 15 mL centrifuge tube into a quartz crucible. The funnels are only useful for those labs that dry BeOH and AlOH gels directly in centrifuge tubes (see the Gel Drydown Block, also available for order). The wide end of the funnel is specifically sized to fit into a Falcon 15 mL centrifuge tube and the narrow end is sized to fit into a quartz crucible for subsequent burning and mixing. We recommend getting the number of funnels that corresponds to your sample preparation batch size. See Sample packing procedure for more detail in Be/Al Extraction Method (PDF).
For Use WithDesigned for use with cathodes from Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and PRIME Laboratory
Locaiton UseIntended for use in a fume hood or other ventilated space
CleaningFunnels are cleaned using sonication with dilute detergent followed by dilute acid wash and DI water rinse
Dimensions0.6" Tall / 0.57" outer diameter 
MaterialStainless Steel
Cost$20 per funnel plus shipping
DrawingFor a Plan email Its-info@uvm.edu

Vial Block

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Vial Block
Use DetailsDescription
Vial BlockThis block, made from aluminum (VWR part # 13259-288), is designed to be a safe place for storing hot quartz crucibles. It holds two sets of quartz crucibles, accommodating either a 12-sample batch of both Be and Al analyses or two batches of a single isotope. The block is purposefully large and heavy so that it acts as a heat sink. The user can burn the quartz crucibles in a torch, then set the hot crucibles back into the block safely.
For Use WithQuartz crucibles
Location UseIntended for use in a fume hood
CleaningCleaned using dilute acid and deionized water
Dimensions5.90” length x 3.75” width x 2.25” height
MaterialAluminum
Cost$395 plus shipping
DrawingFor a Plan email Its-info@uvm.edu

Packing Plate

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Packing Plate
Use DetailsDescription
Packing PlateThis plate, made from aluminum and coated in teflon, is a staging ground for laboratory gear needed to pack AMS cathodes. It can hold everything needed for up to 12 samples, for both Be and Al analyses. The back rows of holes are specifically sized to hold 12 powder funnels (also on this page). The middle rows can hold two sets of 12 AMS cathodes, enabling the user to pack both Be and Al at the same time; these holes fit cathodes from both LLNL and PRIME. The front rows can hold two sets of 12 quartz crucibles, again for packing Be and Al simultaneously if desired. There are labels (letters A-L) for each position.
For Use WithPowder funnels (also on this page), cathode tampers, AMS cathodes, and quartz crucibles
Location UseIntended for use in a fume hood or glove box
CleaningCleaned using dilute acid and deionized water
Dimenions9” length x 8” width x .500" thick
MaterialAluminum coated in teflon
Cost$395 plus shipping
DrawingFor a Plan email its-info@uvm.edu

LLNL Cathode Stand

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LLNL Cathode Stand
Use DetailsDescription
LLNL Cathode StandThis stand, made of stainless steel, is designed to hold cathodes for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) during packing. A heavy base keeps the holder upright and stable. A peg, specifically sized for LLNL cathodes, fits into the bottom of the cathode and holds it upright.
For Use WithDesigned for use with LLNL cathodes, as well as the “Powder Funnels” and “Packing Plate” also on this page.
Location UseIntended for use in a fume hood or other ventilated space
CleaningEasily cleaned by wiping between samples and after use with ethanol
Dimensions 
MaterialStainless Steel
Cost 
DrawingFor a Plan email its-info@uvm.edu

PRIME Cathode Stand

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PRIME Cathode Stand
Use DetailsDescription
PRIME Cathode StandThis stand, made of stainless steel, is designed to hold cathodes for Purdue Rare Isotope Measurement Laboratory (PRIME) during packing. A heavy base keeps the holder upright and stable. A peg, specifically sized for PRIME cathodes, fits into the bottom of the cathode and holds it upright.
For Use WithDesigned for use with PRIME cathodes, as well as the “Powder Funnels” and “Packing Plate” also on this page.
Location UseIntended for use in a fume hood or other ventilated space
CleaningEasily cleaned by wiping between samples and after use with ethanol
Dimensions 
MaterialStainless Steel
Cost 
DrawingFor a Plan email its-info@uvm.edu

Powder Funnels

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Powder Funnels
Use DetailsDescription
Owder Transfer FunnelsThese funnels, made from stainless steel, are designed for transferring homogenized powder (e.g., BeO and Nb) from the quartz crucible and into an AMS cathode. The funnel has a wide opening that tapers down to a narrow hole, designed to efficiently channel powder directly into the cathode with minimal loss. The body of the funnel is sized to fit onto cathodes for Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, PRIME Laboratory, or any other AMS that uses cathodes of the same diameter. We recommend getting the number of funnels that corresponds to your sample preparation batch size. See Sample packing procedure for more detail in Be/Al Extraction Method (PDF).
For Use WithLivermore and PRIME lab cathodes and loading stand.
Location UseIntended for use in a fume hood, other ventilated space, or glove box
CleaningFunnels are cleaned using sonication with dilute detergent and followed by dilute acid wash and  DI water rinse
Dimensions0.93" Tall  / 0.75" outer diameter
MaterialStainless Steel
Cost$25 per funnel  plus shipping
DrawingFor a Plan email Its-info@uvm.edu

Products

Bead Molds

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Bead Molds

Two-tier mold makes a single strand of beads; three-tier mold makes two strands of beads simultaneously.

Mazes

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Radial Arm Maze

An array of arms, usually 8 or more, with a cup at the end of each arm.

Cathode Stands

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AMS Cathode Stand

Used to hold metal cathodes when transferring and packing small samples.

Chambers

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Vessel Chamber

For use in physiology, pharmacology, biology and other life science research.

Column Racks

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Anion Column Rack

Used to hold twelve 5 ml columns and associated beakers for anion chromatography.

Cation Column Rack

Used to hold twelve 10 ml columns and associated beakers for cation chromatography.

Gel Drydown Block

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Gel Drydown Block

Made from aluminum and designed for holding 15 mL centrifuge tubes upright while drying BeOH or AlOH gels.

Funnels

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Pellet Funnel

Stainless steel pellet funnels used to transfer dried samples from 15 ml tubes to quartz crucibles.

Powder Transfer Funnel

Designed for transferring homogenized powder e.g. BeO or AlO3 and Nb from the quartz crucible and into an AMS cathode.