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- Top 5 tubing materials and their lab applications<\/a><\/li>\n
- Key factors to consider when choosing tubing material<\/a><\/li>\n
- Flexible vs rigid tubing<\/a><\/li>\n
- Need help finding the right tubing?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Top 5 Tubing Materials and Their Lab Applications<\/h2>\n
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- Peroxide vs. Platinum-Cured Silicone<\/strong><\/strong>Silicone is a highly versatile tubing material, available as peroxide-cured in platinum-cured options. Peroxide-cured silicone<\/a> features less compliance making it more cost-effective for general-purpose use. While platinum-cured silicone<\/a> provides superior purity and lower extractables, making it ideal for sensitive applications like pharmaceuticals.
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Case Study<\/strong>: A pharmaceutical lab specializing in biologics, platinum-cured silicone tubing was selected for use in the cell culture harvest process. This tubing was chosen for its superior purity, ensuring that the sensitive biological fluids remained uncontaminated during transfer. The platinum curing process minimized extractables and leachables, which was critical in maintaining the integrity and viability of the harvested cells. The flexibility and biocompatibility of the platinum-cured silicone tubing made it ideal for this application, ensuring smooth and reliable transfer of the cell culture without compromising the final product\u2019s quality.<\/li>\n- TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)
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\nTPE tubing<\/a> combines the flexibility of rubber with the durability of plastic, making it a popular choice in labs requiring a balance between flexibility and chemical resistance. TPE is also known for its low extractables and leachables, making it ideal for biopharmaceutical applications.
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\nCase Study: <\/strong>Soft TPE tubing was utilized in a chromatography gravity-feed column for protein purification. The tubing\u2019s flexibility and chemical resistance made it an ideal choice for this application, where precise control of flow rates was crucial. TPE tubing\u2019s low extractables and leachables ensured that the purity of the proteins was maintained throughout the process, avoiding contamination and preserving the integrity of the samples. Its durability also allowed the tubing to withstand repeated use in the gravity-feed column, ensuring consistent and reliable performance in the purification process.<\/li>\n- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride<\/strong>)Often referred to as \u201cvinyl\u201d tubing, PVC tubing<\/a> is known for its clarity, chemical resistance, and affordability. It\u2019s widely used in laboratories for general-purpose applications where transparency is required for monitoring fluid flow.
\n![\"coiled](\"https:\/\/www.coleparmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/PVC-tubing-coil.png\")
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\nCase Study<\/strong>: In a laboratory focused on microbiology, PVC tubing was chosen for use in a vacuum filtration setup. The tubing\u2019s clarity allowed researchers to easily monitor the filtration process, ensuring that the liquid was being properly filtered without interruption. The chemical resistance of PVC tubing also provided reliable performance when filtering different media, while its affordability made it a practical choice for the lab\u2019s frequent use of vacuum filtration in various experiments.<\/li>\n- TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate)<\/strong><\/strong>TPV tubing<\/a> offers excellent chemical resistance and durability, with a flexible nature that makes it easy to work with in various lab settings. It is often used in applications where both strength and flexibility are needed.
![\"picture](\"https:\/\/www.coleparmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/TPV-Tubing-Coil.png\")
\nCase Study:<\/strong> In a microbiology lab, TPV tubing was selected for use in an agar dispensing system. The tubing\u2019s excellent chemical resistance ensured that it could handle the hot, viscous agar without degrading, while its flexibility made it easy to integrate into the dispensing setup. TPV\u2019s durability allowed the tubing to maintain its integrity through repeated cycles of dispensing, providing reliable performance and reducing downtime for maintenance. The consistent, smooth flow of the TPV tubing ensured that the agar was dispensed accurately into Petri dishes, critical for producing uniform culture media in high-throughput lab environments.<\/li>\n- PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy Alkane)
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\nPFA tubing<\/a> is highly resistant to chemicals and extreme temperatures, making it ideal for harsh lab environments. It is often used in applications involving aggressive chemicals or where ultra-high purity is required.
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\nCase Study:<\/strong> In a lab specializing in cryogenics, PFA tubing was chosen for use in the storage and transfer of cryogenic samples. The tubing\u2019s exceptional resistance to extreme cold made it ideal for handling liquid nitrogen and other cryogenic fluids, ensuring that the samples were preserved at ultra-low temperatures without risk of tubing failure. PFA\u2019s high chemical resistance and purity were crucial in preventing contamination, maintaining the integrity of the samples during storage. The durable, non-reactive nature of PFA tubing ensured consistent performance in the demanding environment of cryogenic sample storage, safeguarding valuable research materials.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nKey Factors to Consider When Choosing a Tubing Material<\/h2>\n
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right tubing material for your application. From chemical compatibility to compliance, it is important to understand that each tubing material is uniquely designed for specific applications.<\/p>\n
Choose the best tubing material for your laboratory application based on these factors:<\/p>\n
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- Temperature
\n<\/strong>Resistance to fluid and operating temperature is crucial, especially if your lab processes involve extreme heat or cold. Tubing that can withstand the required temperature range will prevent failures and ensure consistent results.<\/li>\n- Chemical Compatibility
\n<\/strong>Certain chemicals can react with the tubing material by leaching into your sample or degrading the tubing. Other compounds can stick to tubing and release later, causing sample contamination. Utilize the Cole-Parmer Chemical Compatibility Database<\/a> to ensure compatibility.<\/li>\n- Compliance
\n<\/strong>Tubing materials must meet specific regulatory requirements for certain applications, especially in food, beverage, or pharmaceutical labs. Choosing compliant tubing ensures you meet industry standards, such as FDA or USP Class VI standards, to ensure safety and reliability. Quickly and easily access your Cole-Parmer Certification of Compliance<\/a> for applicable tubing materials at your convenience.<\/li>\n- Flexibility and durability
\n<\/strong>Tubing must be flexible enough to accommodate your equipment and durable enough to withstand repeated use without cracking or breaking. Tubing with the right level of flexibility can easily adapt to your lab\u2019s specific configuration, reducing the risk of kinks or blockages that could impede fluid flow. Durability is crucial for ensuring the tubing can endure the physical stresses of your lab environment. Whether it\u2019s repeated bending, exposure to high pressures, or contact with aggressive chemicals, durable tubing resists wear and tear, extending its lifespan and reducing the need for frequent replacements.<\/li>\n- Color and transparency
\n<\/strong>Do you need to be able to visually monitor flow or do you need to protect your sample from UV rays? Transparent tubing allows you to see what\u2019s flowing inside, which is crucial for monitoring and maintaining the process. Opaque tubing, ideal for outdoor applications, can protect your sample from UV light and ozone degradation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nFlexible vs. Rigid Tubing<\/h2>\n
When choosing tubing material for your application, the hardness, or durometer, plays an important role.<\/p>\n
Durometer, or Shore durometer, is a standardized device used to measure the hardness of plastics. Shore hardness is expressed by a number ranging from 0 to 100 on either a Shore A or Shore D scale. The higher the number on the scale, the harder the material<\/p>\n
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- Flexible tubing<\/a> features a Shore A<\/strong> durometer<\/li>\n
- Rigid tubing<\/a> has a Shore D<\/strong> durometer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"picture](\"https:\/\/www.coleparmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Depositphotos_295562778_XL-003.jpg\")
Flexible tubing is characterized by its pliability, allowing it to bend and conform to different shapes and angles. This makes it ideal for applications where the tubing needs to navigate through tight spaces or for use in peristaltic pump heads.
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<\/p>\nRigid tubing, as the name suggests, is much less pliable and designed to maintain its shape even under pressure. This type of tubing is ideal for applications where structural stability and resistance to deformation are critical.<\/p>\n
Need Help Selecting the Right Tubing?<\/h2>\n
- Rigid tubing<\/a> has a Shore D<\/strong> durometer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Chemical Compatibility
- TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)
- Key factors to consider when choosing tubing material<\/a><\/li>\n