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INCUBATORS
Incubators are special ovens used to provide optimum conditions for growth of living things. Its construction is finer than that of oven. The inside is lagged with special materials, which serves as insulators. The temperatures inside it can be maintained between 0 – 80 oc with an accuracy of ± 0.1oc.
They have glass inner doors, which allow the user to check the sample without interfering with the actual conditions inside the chamber. Anhydride incubators have pockets of desiccants e.g. silica gel, which absorbs moisture whereas hydride incubators have trays of water which, evaporates and supply the incubator with the necessary humidity.
Incubators are electrically operated and have thermostats, which regulate and control the temperatures inside.
OVENS
Ovens are used for drying, sterilization and baking. The temperatures inside range from 0- 250 oc. they normally made of two walls lagged with glass wool. They also have thermostats which control the temperatures and uses mercury thermometers. They also have other accessories like ventilators to remove moisture, shelves etc.
MUFFLE FURNACES
Furnaces are used for ashing and fusion . Muffle furnaces are able to withstand temperatures as high as over 1000 oc . They are made of asbestos plates lagged with asbestos wool or powder. The temperatures inside are measured by a pyrometer thermometer or any resistant thermometer and the temperature control device is a thermocouple thermostat. Accessories include chimneys to remove smoke