Abstract: A boiler having an improved plastic closure having a plastic and/or plastic-glass joint for connecting laboratory ware made of a material having different thermal expansion. The plastic joint includes a tubular plastic section having a compression ring secured at its end which recesses the labware of lower thermal expansion. The plastic-glass joint further includes a shorter standard tapered glass joint.

Abstract: An impact resistant compact condenser comprising a plastic shell having two side walls enclosing at least one heat transfer disc disposed between said side walls dividing the shell into at least one cooling cell and at least one vapor cell. Means are provided for retaining said disc in sealed abutment against said end walls of said side walls, each of said cells having an inlet port and an outlet port.

Abstract: Energy saving heating vessel adapted for heating by contact with bottom surface heating means, such as a hotplate, is disclosed. The described vessels typically have a heating rate 2 to 5 times faster than a conventional glass vessel while consuming about half the energy or less. The vessel includes sidewalls of a non-metal material such as a plastic, and a composite bottom. The composite bottom has a high heating surface contact area and includes a liquid-impervious innermost film of a non-metal material of a minimal thickness to minimize its resistance to heat transfer through it, bonded to and supported by an outermost layer of a rigid good thermal conductivity material preferably a graphitic material having a conductivity at least ten times higher than the sidewalls and the inner film, such outermost layer being the hot plate contacting element. The vessel can be made in a variety of shapes adapted for use in laboratory, domestic, service and industrial applications.

Abstract: Improved metal coated glassware and other brittle, non-metallic engineering materials, including items for laboratory and industry, which items are ordinarily brittle and subject to breakage or rupture under relatively low pressures and relatively minor impacts, utilizing an anti-bonding film, such as graphite, between the external surface of the glass, and a metal coating, which is generally chemically vapor deposited. The coated products have good impact strength, shock resistance, good heat distribution, good pressure capability, and an extremely high safety factor. Brittle fracture or rupture is a fracture unaccompanied by plastic or permanent deformation. Brittleness is that quality or property of a material that leads to crack propagation without plastic deformation.