Uni-bloc Guardian 5000 for vials

Quick Answer: The Uni-bloc Guardian 5000 for Vials is a single-piece heating block with rings of shallow wells that holds small sample vials on a Guardian 5000 hotplate or hotplate stirrer. Compared with the tube version, this Guardian 5000 uni-bloc for vials is thinner and has more, smaller wells.

A Block Shaped for Small Vials

Vials are shorter and narrower than test tubes, so a block made for them looks different. The listing photograph shows a flatter disc than the tube uni-bloc, with a larger number of small, shallow wells in two rings around a central opening and a small probe hole near the rim. Shallow wells suit vials because the vial body sits inside the block while the cap and neck stay above it for handling.

A one-piece block is convenient when all the vials in a run are the same size. It goes straight onto the Guardian 5000 top plate, heats all wells together and needs no base plate. Where vials and tubes have to be heated at the same time, the wedge-shaped sectional block for vials on a base plate is the flexible alternative.

The image file on this listing refers to 15 mm vials, which is a common vial diameter, but the title does not state the well size or count. Check that your vials, such as screw cap vials, match the wells before ordering.

Care & Handling

• Keep caps loose or vented when heating sealed vials of volatile solvents
• Use vials that sit snugly in the wells
• Allow the block to cool fully before removing it from the hotplate
• Clean spills from the wells promptly once cool

Applications

• Warming sample vials before analysis
• Dissolving small amounts of solid in solvent at a controlled temperature
• Running several small-scale reactions in capped vials side by side
• Holding standards and samples at the same temperature during a practical

Specifications

Why Choose LabEquip

The uni-bloc for vials is ordered by analytical and research labs that heat many small samples of one vial size at once. LabEquip can check the well size against your vials and supply the block with other accessories from our general lab products range; contact us for details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the vial uni-bloc different from the tube uni-bloc?

The vial version is thinner, with more, smaller and shallower wells. The tube version has fewer, deeper wells for test tubes.

What vial diameter does the block take?

The image file refers to 15 mm vials, but the listing does not state it. Tell us your vial size and we will confirm the fit.

Is it safe to heat capped vials in the block?

Heating builds pressure in sealed vials. Use vials rated for heating, keep caps loose or vented for volatile solvents, and stay below the solvent’s boiling point.

Do I need a base plate for this uni-bloc?

No. It is a one-piece block that sits directly on the Guardian 5000 top plate.

Can vials be stirred in the block?

Small stir bars in vials may couple through a thin block on a hotplate stirrer, but coupling is weaker than with a beaker directly on the plate.

How do I check the block temperature?

Insert a probe into the small hole near the rim, or place a thermometer in a vial of water in one of the wells, and allow time to settle.

Last Updated: September 2026