Selecting Vials Materials
Glass: for general use and for use with acids.
Silanized: for use with samples that bind to glass (reduce the adsorption of polar compounds onto the surface of glass container) and for trace analyses.
Amber: for use with light sensitive samples.
High recovery: for use with limited sample volumes.
Polypropylene: for use with samples that bind to glass and for trace analyses.
Selecting Vials Types
Crimp vials: vials are used with aluminum seals (8mm, 11mm, 13mm, 20mm) and require the use of a crimper (manual or electric).
- Most popular
- Least expensive
- Needs crimping tool
- Color coded caps
- Available in glass, polypropylene, silanized and high recovery
- Cannot reuse cap
Snap Vials:
- Uses snap or crimp caps
- Moderate price
- Color coded caps
- Available in glass, polypropylene, silanized and high recovery
- Can reuse caps
Screw vials:
- Easiest to use
- More expensive
- Can remove cap to recover or discard sample
- Color coded caps
- Available in glass, polypropylene, high recovery and silanized
- Can reuse caps
Shell vials: Cylindrical shell vials compatible with plug-style needle closures make syringe extraction easier.
Volumes and dimensions
Crimp vials
| Dimensions (mm) | 7x40 | 12x32 | 15x45 | 22x38 | 18x50 | 23x46 | 18x65 | 23x75 | 30x60 |
| Cap size | 8 | 11 | 13 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Volume (ml) | 0.8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 27 |
Screw vials
| Dimensions (mm) | 12x32 | 15x45 | 13x65 | 17x60 | 12x100 | 23x46 | 19x65 | 21x70 | 28x57 | 23x76 | 23x85 | 28x73 | 28x95 | 28x140 |
| Cap size | 8-425 | 13-425 | 15-425 | 15-425 | 15-425 | 18 | 15-425 | 18-400 | 24-400 | 18 | 20-400 | 24-400 | 24-400 | 24-400 |
| Volume (ml) | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 30 | 40 | 60 |
| Round bottom | Round bottom | Head Space and SPME | Head Space and SPME |