Mortars and Pestles
Mortars and Pestles
Tools used to grind and crush substances into fine powders or pastes, Mortars are bowl-shaped containers and pestles are heavy, rod-shaped tools. Commonly sold as sets but also available separately, mortar and pestle sets may include mortars, pestles, adapters, housings, or other items in several materials.
Mortar and pestle implements have been used since ancient times to crush and grind substances. Mortars can be made of hard materials like wood, metal, ceramic, or hard stone such as granite or marble. Pestles are held in the hand and usually have a tapered, club-like shape. A wet or dry substance is placed in the mortar and the pestle is pressed against it and rotated until the material is pulverized.
What Is the Best Material for a Mortar and Pestle?
The implements must be made of materials that are hard enough to crush the substance without wearing away, but they cannot be brittle or break from the pressure of manipulation. The material should also be cohesive to reduce chipping and non-porous to avoid absorbing or trapping substances. Some rough porcelain mortars and pestles can reduce substances to very fine powders, but are brittle and stain more easily. Porcelain mortars can be pre-conditioned by grinding sand in them to produce a rougher surface. Glass mortars and pestles are stain-resistant and suitable for liquids, but are fragile and do not grind as finely as ceramic sets. Metal mortars and pestles are popular for food preparation.
Mortars and pestles are commonly used to grind and mix substances for dilution, to mask negative qualities, or to add volume to facilitate handling. Drugs can also be finely ground when not available in liquid form, and supplements can be processed to for addition to parenteral nutrition.
Haldenwanger™ Glazed Porcelain Mortar
Use these mortars for a variety of laboratory applications. Haldenwanger™ Unglazed Porcelain Mortars are constructed from optimized laboratory porcelain.
Cole Parmer Agate Mortar and Pestle Set
Cole Parmer Agate Mortar and Pestle Set is ideal for laboratories that require contamination-free results.
Cole-Parmer™ Essentials Agate Mortar and Pestle Set
The Cole-Parmer™ Essentials agate mortar and pestle set is ideal for laboratories that required contamination-free results.
Eppendorf™ Autoclavable Safe-Lock Micropestle
Use this pestle for resuspending pellets. Eppendorf™ Autoclavable Safe-Lock Micropestles feature two sides for optimal fit in 1.5 and 2.0mL vessels.
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Thermo Scientific Chemicals Agate Mortar and Pestle
For preparing samples for the Quick Press
Haldenwanger™ Porcelain Mortars
Manufactured from porcelain for high wear conditions. Haldenwanger™ Porcelain Mortars provide a rough surface for grinding materials to a fine powder.
Haldenwanger™ Pestle
Pestle
RETSCH Agate Hand Mortar
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Azpack™ Mortar and Pestle with Wooden Handle Pestle
Releases oils that can't be extracted using modern appliances. Azpack™ Mortar and Pestle with Wooden Handle will grind and crush the toughest materials without cracking the strong and dense porcelain.
Giese™ Agate Mortar with Pestle
Grind up solid chemicals and crush solids into smaller pieces with this agate mortar and pestle. Giese™ Agate Mortar with Pestle features a smooth, dense, and hard surface.
Haldenwanger™ Porcelain Mortars
Manufactured from porcelain for high wear conditions. Haldenwanger™ Porcelain Mortars provide a rough surface for grinding materials to a fine powder.
Pyrex™ Borosilicate Glass Mortar
Manufactured from Pyrex™ Borosilicate Glass for highest resistance to thermal shock and chemical corrosion. Pyrex™ Borosilicate Glass Mortar is a grinding bowl ideal for preparing compounds, mixing, and grinding powders. For use with Pyrex™ Pestle which is sold separately.
Thermo Scientific™ Nunc™ Mortar Kit
Promote lab safety by using the high-impact polyethylene constructed Nunc Mortar Kit, an excellent alternative to glass labware.