NMR Tubes

Thin, glass tubes of different lengths, wall thicknesses, outer diameters, cambers, concentricities, and I.D. and O.D. tolerances designed to hold samples during nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis; may include tube cap.NMR tubes are required for analyzing samples using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Choose an NMR tube that most closely matches the frequency (MHz) of your spectrometer.

Typically made of borosilicate glass and offered in seven- and eight-inch lengths, the outer diameter of the tube can range from 3mm to 10mm, with 5mm being the most common. For greater testing precision, look for thin-walled NMR tubes. Quartz NMR tubes with low boron concentrations of boron are also available if boron NMR is used.

NMR tubes are available in reusable or disposable versions. Some versions have screw caps, with or without septa. Polyethylene caps are the most common.

Specifications for NMR tubes may include concentricity and camber.

• Concentricity is how round the tube is and is measured using the inner and outer walls
• Camber is a measure of the tube’s straightness; poor camber can cause the tube to wobble during rotation, which can produce spinning side bands

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy allows you to observe the local magnetic fields around atomic nuclei. As radio waves excite the nuclei, their resonance is detected by a sensitive radio receiver that provides information about the molecule’s electronic structure. NMR spectroscopy is also used to identify monomolecular organic compounds, proteins, and other complex molecules.