Heathrow Scientific Arctic Squares® Cryogenic Storage Box - Polycarbonate | Liquid Nitrogen Safe to -196°C

Standard polypropylene cryoboxes get the job done in most freezers, but when sample integrity demands a tougher container, polycarbonate is the upgrade that matters. The Heathrow Scientific Arctic Squares® Cryogenic Storage Box is molded from clear polycarbonate that withstands temperatures from −196 °C (liquid-nitrogen vapor phase) all the way to 121 °C autoclave cycles — a range no polypropylene box can match. The transparent walls let you visually confirm tube fill levels and cap colors without opening the lid, cutting unnecessary cold-chain breaks. Available in 25-place, 81-place, and 100-place configurations, each Arctic Squares® box features a numbered alphanumeric grid, a secure friction-fit lid, and a footprint compatible with standard upright and chest freezer racks.

Features and Benefits

• Polycarbonate Construction: Optically clear PC delivers superior impact resistance and a temperature range of −196 °C to 121 °C — outperforming polypropylene in liquid-nitrogen vapor-phase and autoclave environments.

• Multiple Capacity Options: Choose 25-place (5 × 5) for small sample sets, 81-place (9 × 9) for standard microtube storage, or 100-place (10 × 10) for maximum density — all within the same footprint family.

• Transparent Walls: Clear polycarbonate lets you verify tube positions, fill levels, and color-coded caps at a glance without removing the lid, reducing freeze-thaw exposure during inventory checks.

• Autoclavable (121 °C): Withstands repeated gravity and liquid autoclave sterilization cycles without warping, yellowing, or losing dimensional accuracy.

• Alphanumeric Grid: Molded coordinate markings on the base enable precise sample tracking that integrates directly with LIMS and electronic freezer inventory systems.

• Color-Coded Variants: The 25-Place ships in Red, the 81-Place in an Assorted 4-color pack, and the 100-Place in Blue — supporting visual segregation across sample categories.

Specifications

Laboratory Applications

• Liquid-nitrogen vapor-phase biobanking where polypropylene boxes crack below −130 °C — polycarbonate Arctic Squares® remain intact at −196 °C

• Clinical biorepositories requiring transparent storage for visual audit of tube fill levels and cap integrity during routine freezer inventory checks

• Stem-cell and cell-line cryopreservation where autoclavable, chemical-resistant containers are mandated by facility SOPs

• Pharmaceutical stability studies storing small reference sample sets in the compact 25-place format to conserve controlled-environment freezer space

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Arctic Squares® boxes be used with liquid-nitrogen immersion?
Polycarbonate is rated to −196 °C and withstands vapor-phase LN₂ storage. For full submersion in liquid nitrogen, ensure the lid is vented or slightly loosened to allow nitrogen gas to escape and prevent pressure build-up.

What is the difference between Arctic Squares® and the standard PP storage boxes?
Arctic Squares® use polycarbonate instead of polypropylene, giving them a wider temperature range (−196 °C vs. −80 °C), optical clarity for visual inspection, and higher impact resistance. The trade-off is a slightly higher price point per box.

Do these boxes fit the same freezer racks as standard cryoboxes?
Yes. The 81-place and 100-place models share the standard 5.2 × 5.2 in (133 × 133 mm) cryobox footprint. The 25-place model uses a compact 3.0 × 3.0 in footprint that fits racks designed for quarter-size boxes.

What colors come in the 81-Place Assorted pack?
The Assorted option (HS23381B) ships one box each in Red, Purple, Blue, and Green — four boxes in a pack of 4.

Quality Assurance

Heathrow Scientific Arctic Squares® cryogenic storage boxes are manufactured from medical-grade polycarbonate and inspected for optical clarity, dimensional accuracy, and lid-fit consistency. Each lot is verified to maintain structural integrity through repeated freeze-thaw cycling between −196 °C and 121 °C.

Academic and Institutional Pricing

LabSupplies.com offers tiered quantity pricing for academic and research institutions. As an authorized dealer, we ship directly from USA inventory.