Each impact-resistant tube contains 1,6 mm aluminum oxide particles and 1,6 mm silicon carbide particles.

• Effective for applications such as RNA and protein isolation
• Irregular, angular shape of the crystals give lower shearing
• Matrix F tubes have white caps
• Can be stored at room temperature
• DNase and RNase free

Silicon carbide has relatively low density and high strength and hardness, and therefore is effective at breaking tough, hard, or brittle cell membranes. This is useful in applications such as isolation of intact organelles, and super-molecular structures where lysis conditions necessitate high impaction but low shearing.