Non-stirring heating mantles, also known as heating mantles or flask mantles, are a common laboratory alternative to hot plates, heating baths and Bunsen burners. Used to evenly heat fluids while limiting the risk of glassware shattering, heating mantles are tailored to fit specific sizes and shapes of flasks or funnels. These heating mantles do not use a magnetic stirrer and come in both single flask and multi-flask options.

In contrast to oil or water baths or other methods of applying heat to glass vessels, heating mantles generate no liquid residue that can drip off the flask.

As with electrical versions, heating mantles are helpful when the vessel needs slow or extended heating. Their flexible shape and structure (with the heating wire enclosed in a padded covering) helps distribute heat over the mantle surface for more uniform temperatures.

Most heating mantles have a soft or flexible shell that can be adapted to different glassware shapes and specific applications. They also help reduce the chances of breakage. Flexible heating mantle construction includes slip-in and zip-up options, either of which can be used with a basket ring stand.

Common heating mantle styles include:

• Spherical: For round-bottom flasks or reaction kettles
• Lower hemispherical: Half-sized; for round flasks, and where a view of the liquid is desired
• Upper hemispherical: Half-sized; for the upper part of the vessel being heated
• Cylindrical: With and without bottom drain openings for reaction vessels and kettles
• Elliptical or “mantle tops” help prevent vapor condensation on the upper part of the vessel during distillation procedures

Heating mantles require a heating mantle controller (sold separately), because they do not include temperature control mechanisms. Some controllers can be used with more than one heating mantle.