Binder climate chambers

Drying and heating chambers

The first question is whether a fan is used. The ED range heats by natural convection, with very little air movement in the interior, but the ED 56 takes around 50 minutes to reach 150 °C. The FD 56 with forced convection achieves this in 15 minutes. ED, FD, FED, FP and M reach up to 300 °C, while the Solid.Line models ED-S and FD-S reach up to 250 °C. If processes are to be saved and repeated, choose FED. FP runs temperature ramps, while M additionally has a touchscreen and internal data logger.

• ED 56: natural convection, 57 litres, up to 300 °C, 50 min to 150 °C
• FD 115: forced convection, 116 litres, up to 300 °C, 18 min to 150 °C
• FED 260: forced convection, 259 litres, programme memory, USB and Ethernet
• FP 115: forced convection, 116 litres, time-segment and real-time programming
• M 260: forced convection, 256 litres, touchscreen, 13 min to 150 °C, 400 V

Standard incubators

Standard incubators heat but cannot cool. The BD range operates from 5 °C above room temperature to 100 °C and without a fan, so no airflow accelerates evaporation from uncovered agar plates. The BF range circulates the air and distributes the temperature more evenly when several levels are occupied. The Solid.Line BD-S models reach up to 70 °C. The B 28 is mechanically controlled, without a display or data recording, and is intended for simple incubation in education.

• BD 56: natural convection, 57 litres, up to 100 °C, USB data recording
• BD 260: natural convection, 253 litres, USB and Ethernet
• BF 115: forced convection, 114 litres, up to 100 °C
• BD-S 56: Solid.Line, 62 litres, up to 70 °C
• B 28: mechanical control, 28 litres, 30 to 70 °C

Refrigerated incubators with compressor

Anyone incubating below or near room temperature needs active cooling. The KB range controls from 0 to 70 °C, in sizes from 63 to 1,070 litres, with a spatial deviation of ±0.2 K at 37 °C. KB PRO extends the range to −20 to +100 °C and provides greater heat compensation for heat emitted by samples or equipment placed inside: up to 800 W for the KB PRO 260 and up to 1,000 W from size 720. Both ranges have a class 3.3 temperature safety device in accordance with DIN 12880.

• KB 065: 63 litres, 0 to 70 °C, ±0.2 K at 37 °C
• KB 260: 262 litres, 0 to 70 °C, up to 9 racks
• KB 720: 727 litres, 0 to 70 °C, heat compensation 640 W
• KB PRO 260: 262 litres, −20 to +100 °C, heat compensation 800 W
• KB PRO 1600: 1,610 litres, −20 to +100 °C, heat compensation 1,000 W

Refrigerated incubators with Peltier technology

Peltier equipment cools electrically, without a compressor or refrigerant. The KT range covers +4 to +100 °C, has a usable volume of 53 to 163 litres and is stackable. KT 115 and KT 170 have programme memory and a timer. KB ECO is available from 247 to 1,020 litres for 0 to +70 °C. Note the cooling depth: depending on size, KB ECO can cool no more than 26 or 28 °C below ambient temperature. For temperatures below 0 °C, KB PRO with a compressor remains the option.

• KT 053: 53 litres, +4 to +100 °C, stackable
• KT 115: 102 litres, +4 to +100 °C, programme memory and timer
• KT 170: 163 litres, +4 to +100 °C
• KB ECO 240: 247 litres, 0 to +70 °C, max. 28 °C below ambient temperature
• KB ECO 720: 700 litres, 0 to +70 °C, max. 26 °C below ambient temperature

Constant climate chambers

Here, humidity is controlled alongside temperature, as required for stability testing in accordance with ICH Q1A, for example at 25 °C and 60 % r.h. or 40 °C and 75 % r.h. The KBF range covers 10 to 70 °C and 10 to 80 % r.h. with humidity control. KBF PRO reaches from −20 to +100 °C and up to 98 % r.h., also permitting material testing at 85 °C and 85 % r.h. KBF-S ECO uses Peltier technology and humidifies from a canister, without a fixed water connection.

• KBF 130: 127 litres, 0 to 70 °C, 10 to 80 % r.h.
• KBF 720: 727 litres, 0 to 70 °C, 10 to 80 % r.h.
• KBF PRO 260: 262 litres, −20 to +100 °C, 10 to 98 % r.h.
• KBF PRO 1060: 1,070 litres, −20 to +100 °C, 10 to 98 % r.h.
• KBF-S ECO 720: 700 litres, 0 to +70 °C, 10 to 80 % r.h., Peltier

Photostability and plant growth

For both applications, equip a climate chamber with a Binder light module. The ICH light module for photostability testing in accordance with ICH Q1B fits KBF, KBF PRO and KB PRO in sizes 260, 470 and 720, with or without light dose control (LQC). The LED plant light module with three separately dimmable colour channels fits the same ranges in sizes 260 to 1600 and KB refrigerated incubators in sizes 260 to 1060. Development status E7 is required in every case. The modules are not intended for size 130 or KBF-S ECO. The modules are listed as accessories in the shop.

• KBF 470: with ICH light module 20 to 50 °C and 20 to 50 % r.h.
• KBF PRO 720: with ICH light module 10 to 50 °C and 10 to 80 % r.h.
• KB PRO 260: with ICH light module 5 to 60 °C, humidity uncontrolled
• KBF PRO 470: with LED plant light 10 to 90 % r.h., PAR 1,540 µmol/m²/s at a distance of 25 cm
• KB PRO 720: with LED plant light −10 to 60 °C, PAR 1,080 µmol/m²/s at a distance of 25 cm

Pharmaceuticals and stability testing

Stability samples are stored for months at fixed climate points, so control range, volume and documentation are important. KBF and KBF PRO have an internal data logger and are supplied with APT-COM Basic Edition software. For photostability testing in accordance with ICH Q1B, the ICH light module is added. According to Binder, a complete test can be carried out in two days.

Cosmetics and packaging

Creams and lotions are tested for shelf life under defined climate conditions, and packaging films for their barrier properties. The KBF-S ECO range covers 0 to 70 °C and 10 to 80 % r.h. for this purpose, operates without a compressor or refrigerant and does not require a fixed water connection. Photostability testing requires a KBF or KBF PRO with an ICH light module.

Food

Microbial counts are performed in a standard incubator. A daily series fits into a BD 56 or BD 115, and USB recording documents the temperature profile. The KB range is available for incubation below room temperature. Shelf-life testing under frozen conditions requires the KB PRO with its range from −20 °C, while shelf-life tests with controlled humidity require a constant climate chamber.

Plant research and higher education

The LED plant light module consists of 16 light bars with cool white, warm white and deep red channels, each dimmable from 0 to 100 %. Light on and off can be programmed for each day of the week, while a twilight function fades the light in and out over one hour. A CO2 gassing module with a control range of 0 to 1 vol.-% is available for experiments with elevated CO2 concentrations.

Microbiology

Bacterial, yeast and fungal cultures grow above or below room temperature depending on the organism. Above room temperature, a standard incubator is sufficient: BD without a fan for uncovered agar plates, BF with forced convection when many levels are occupied. Below this, a refrigerated incubator is required, such as the KB from 0 °C or the refrigerant-free KT from +4 °C.

Materials testing and electronics

Ageing tests and heat treatments run according to a fixed temperature profile. FP and M run ramps and steps up to 300 °C, while M records the runs in its internal data logger. Where heat and humidity are required together, for example for reliability testing of electronics at 85 °C and 85 % r.h., KBF PRO is the suitable equipment.