L-K Log: August 2018 
L-K Launches Criterion Stainless Steel Water Bath
by L-K Industries
Steel. No word in the English language connotes the same degree of strength. Steel secures the frames of our skyscrapers, cars, and bridges. Our strongest superhero is known as the Man of Steel. Add “stainless” to the mix and the combination equals unmitigated resilience.
Cue L-K’s NEW Criterion Stainless Steel Water Bath.
Stainless steel is corrosion resistant. According to The Specialty Steel Industry of North America, “Lower alloyed grades [of stainless steel] resist corrosion in atmospheric and pure water environments, while high-alloyed grades can resist corrosion in most acids, alkaline solutions, and chlorine bearing environments.” The latest generation of the Criterion Water Bath has a stainless steel frame, tub, and inserts, which equate to reduced corrosion and increased robustness.
Stainless steel resists scaling and retains strength at high temperatures, critical features and a deciding factor in using the product in the L-K’s Stainless Steel Water Bath.
The Specialty Steel Industry of North America notes that “modern steel-making techniques mean that stainless can be cut, welded, formed, machined, and fabricated as readily as traditional steels.”
That combined with its strength-to-weight advantage (increasing strength while reducing thickness), impact resistance, and its ability to be easily cleaned, the life cycle of the final product, and therefore the long-term value, is superior.
The new stainless steel bath has many of the same elements of the previous generation of water baths, including:
- Distributes 900 watts of heating power (fully insulated) and uses water to directly transfer heat
- Is ideal for refinery settings or laboratories (fits under standard fume hood)
- Provides precise heating of solvents and samples prior to use in a centrifuge
- Standard configuration accommodates 14 Long Cone (C)/Capillary (E) centrifuge tubes or 12 Short Cone (D) tubes
- Custom configuration accommodates two 1-gallon solvent bottles
- Certified by ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratory) for Class I, Division 2, indoor use, and is rated for Group A, B, C and D Hazardous and Ordinary Locations
- Meets the requirements of UL 61010-1, ANSI/ISA-STD 12.12.01, CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 213 and CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010.1 (2nd addition)
- A removable, pitched-roof lid which reduces water loss by recapturing condensation back into the tub
- A mechanical, high-temperature safety shutoff switch to prevent overheating
- Rubber plugs and evaporation balls that work together to reduce water evaporation
