Accession No
6791
Brief Description
MicroWell-10, or single-mode microwave device for chemistry experiments, by Labwell AB, Swedish, 1994
Origin
Sweden
Maker
Labwell AB
Class
chemistry; laboratory apparatus
Earliest Date
1994
Latest Date
1994
Inscription Date
Material
plastic; metal
Dimensions
[Power Supply] width 210mm, depth 447mm, height 440mm; [Power Unit] width 180mm, depth 340mm, height 280mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Gift from Dept. Chemistry, University of Cambridge, in February 2010.
Inscription
[Power Supply & Power Unit]
'MicroWell 10'
Description Notes
MicroWell-10, or single-mode microwave device for chemistry experiments, by Labwell AB, Swedish, 1994.
The whole collection includes several parts, which are: Power Head, Power Supply, Control Unit, power cord, three glass tubes, and a manual.
[Power Head]
Black plastic rectangular cuboid case with a protruding dome lid on the top. There is handle with a red ball for opening the lid. On the left and right sides there are horizontal grooves. The Power Head is connected to the Power Supply.
[Power Supply]
White plastic rectangular cuboid case, connected to the Power Head. On the front panel, there, there are a green main switch, the connector for the Control Unit, and a plaque written 'MicroWell'. On the rear panel, there are the connector for power and signal cables.
[Control Unit]
Grey plastic wedge-like device. The hand-held panel with buttons and a screen is connected to the base by a coil cord. The device has a grey cord that could be connected to the Power Supply on the front panel.
[Power cable]
Black plastic cord with British plug head. This should be connected to the Power Supply on the rear panel.
[Three glass tubes]
Three glass tubes, one with white powder-like residue on the bottom. All without corks.
[Manual]
Bound by black ring binder, with plastic sheets as front and back cover. Black and white and single-side printed on modern A4 paper. With illustrations of different parts of the apparatus. Containing Labwell AB's address in 1994. The front cover indicated that this was version 1.1 .
References
Events
Description
The MicroWell 10 is a single-mode microwave device for chemistry experiments in laboratories. it was designed by Labwell AB, a Swedish company, in 1994. This model is an early product of the company; Labwell AB was only founded in the same year.
The discovery of microwaves was in the Second World War, when there were many experiments on radar technology. American engineer Percy Spencer first noticed the potential use of microwave in 1945. In 1976, he patented what could be considered the first microwave for food and domestic purposes, also catering to the rising industry of processed food.
Microwaves are not only used in kitchens and cafés. They are also used in laboratories because high heat can accelerate reactions. Equipment like the MicroWell 10 provided better control of time span and potency. The model has appeared in many academic papers on microwave chemistry. This particular MicroWell 10 was acquired by the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge when it was launched.
Labwell AB was co-founded by Professor Sharon Stone-Elander at Karolinska Insitutet, Stockholm and scientist Sören Nygren. It was renamed Personal Chemistry in 1999 and finally acquired by Pyrosequencing in 2003, which is now known as the Biotage. The business still focuses on chemistry and biology laboratory equipment.
24/04/2023
Created by: Guey-Mei Hsu on 24/04/2023
FM:47616
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