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Home > HPLC Fittings & Parts Primer
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Plungers
Using the highest quality zirconia, sapphire and ruby available, our plungers are manufactured to the tightest specifications possible. Their microprecision machined ferrules, the alignment of the rod in the ferrule, their finish, and the optimal crystalline angle (for sapphire and ruby), are combined to provide you the best plungers available. No one provides a higher quality plunger!
Note: While the data comparing sapphire or ruby to ceramic is conflicting at this time, 4CHROM will attempt to provide the original equipment manufacture's recommended material whenever possible.
Check Valves
If you have ever had the pleasure of rebuilding a check valve (or as we affectionately refer to it as "e;chasing the ruby ball"e;), you can appreciate the time saving benefit and reliable performance of our cartridge design. From materials to exacting manufacturing specifications, 4CHROM supplies a cartridge with enhanced dependability.
In the late '80's, research uncovered the cause to some of the unanticipated check valve failures while using acetonitrile as part of the mobile phase. Ruby may suffer an unexpected polymerization on its surface causing the check valve to stick–an undesirable affect in HPLC. We exclusively use ceramic zirconia balls and alumina seats in our cartridges. Not only do ceramic balls and seats prevent the undesirable effect in ACN mobile phases, but zirconia is fifty percent denser than ruby resulting in reduced pulsation.
Each ball and seat used in our cartridge is manufactured with the best finish available. This finish specification provides you the longest lasting and most dependable check valve cartridge. With less variability from cartridge to cartridge, your preventive maintenance schedule can meet its objectives more effectively.
Offered in either stainless steel (SS) or PEEK configurations, our cartridges are designed with a reduced ball travel. This reduced ball travel further enhances their performance by minimizing pulsation.
Additionally, each cartridge is twofold 100% tested. What do we mean by twofold 100% testing? Each matched set of ball and seat are individually tested before being installed into the cartridge. After each cartridge is assembled, they are tested again.
What more can you ask for in a check valve? Easier replacement? Faster replacement? Less wear on mating components? Why not all of the above? 4CHROM offers almost every check valve in our 1Step™ design. Once the tubing is connected, it never has to be disconnected. By using machined PEEK for the threaded portion where possible, there is no risk of galling or damage to your pump head from cross threading.
Lastly, each cartridge uses various colored kel-f caps for the inlet side (depending on whether the cartridge is a 1/8"e;, 1/16"e;, 3/16"e; or Agilent active inlet) and black PEEK for the outlet side. Using such a color-coded method for indicating direction of flow and cartridge type avoids the unnecessary risk of exposing the cartridge bodies to damage such as scratches, etc. during the marking process.
Seal Selection Based on Solvent Conditions
The following chart offers a general guideline as to which seal material may be best suited for your solvent conditions. It is provided merely as a guide and does not express or imply a guarantee of liability or warranty. Your specific mobile phase conditions including temperature and concentrations of each solvent in question will vary the results. These guidelines combined with wear characteristics should help in the selection of the overall best suited seal for your HPLC application. If you have any questions, please give us a call.
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SOLVENT
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4PE (UHMW PE Blend)
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4TC (PTFE Blend)
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Acetamide
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Best Choice
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OK
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Acetone
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Acetonitrile
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Best Choice
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OK
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Acids, weak or dilute
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Best Choice
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OK
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Acid, strong or conc
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Best Choice
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OK
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Acrylonitrile
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Best Choice
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OK
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Aqueous & Aqueous Buffers
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Best Choice
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OK
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Bases
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Best Choice
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OK
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Benzene
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Butanol
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Best Choice
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OK
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Carbon Tetrachloride
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Chloroform
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Cyclohexane
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Dichloroethane
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Dichloromethane
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Dimethyl Formamide
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Best Choice
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Not Recommended
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Dimethyl Sulfoxide
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Best Choice
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Not Recommended
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Ethanol
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OK
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Best Choice
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Ethyl Acetate
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Ethyl Ether
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Ethylene Diamine
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Best Choice
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OK
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Ethylene Glycol
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Heptane
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OK
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Best Choice
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Hexane
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Iso-octane
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Isopropanol
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Best Choice
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OK
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Methanol
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Best Choice
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OK
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Methyl Ethyl Ketone
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OK
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Best Choice
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Pentane
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Pyridine
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OK
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Best Choice
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Tetrahydrofuran
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Toluene
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Not Recommended
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Best Choice
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Xylene
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OK
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Best Choice
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