Hot air ovens are used for sterilizing items, particularly in hospitals and laboratories. They use dry heat and have a digital thermostat to control temperatures. They are compact and have shorter cycles than steam sterilization units, but only certain materials can be used due to the high temperatures.
A hot air oven is an electronic piece of equipment used to sterilize items. It is often found in hospitals, where medical professionals use it to sterilize surgical equipment. Scientists and laboratory technicians also often use it because a hot air oven does not experience the same internal pressure build-up as other sterilization equipment, such as an autoclave.
The inside of a convection oven contains a digital thermostat that controls the temperature, which usually ranges from 122°F (50°C) to 572°F (300°C). The oven itself is created from a double-walled construction designed to retain heat and reduce energy output. The outside of the unit is made of metal and the inside is made of a bad conductor. There is an air-filled space in between which provides additional insulation. Inside the unit, the heat is distributed evenly with the help of an integrated fan.
Compared to other types of sterilization equipment, hot air ovens are quite compact. The dry heat created by ovens may not be as beneficial in killing harmful organisms as ovens that produce moist heat are. However, the temperatures in this type of oven are generally comparable to those found in other sterilization units. Also, the cycle in a hot air oven is usually much shorter than in steam sterilization units.
These ovens need to be preheated before they can be used properly. The preheat time is essential for the effectiveness of the complete sterilization cycle. Opening the chamber door before it has finished heating allows heating and requires the unit to shut down completely and restart the preheat process.
A conventional hot air sterilizing oven runs a typical cycle at 320°F (160°C). At this temperature, the unit takes approximately 90 minutes to complete its cycle. There are also convection hot air ovens, which use forced air at 374°C (190°F) to shorten the cycle time. Equipment wrapped in a heat-resistant material can be sterilized in a convection oven in about 12 minutes. Unwrapped items only take about 6 minutes to sterilize.
Due to the high temperatures inside hot air ovens, only certain materials can be used with them. Powders and glassware are usually able to withstand extreme heat, as are pieces of surgical equipment that would rust in a moist air furnace. However, other types of medical and laboratory equipment, including metal impression trays, rubber or plastic items, and linens, can be destroyed inside a hot air oven.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
