How to find the right Microbore Tubing Connectors AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Microbore Tubing Connectors
- Barb size vs tube ID
- Choose a barb sized for your tubing's inside diameter, and check the maker's recommended ID range for that barb. Microbore tubing has little wall to grip, so an undersized barb leaks and an oversized one splits the tube.
- Luer standard
- For medical and lab connections, use Luer lock or Luer slip fittings to ISO 80369-7, the successor to ISO 594, and choose lock where disconnection is a risk. Luer slip fittings can pull apart under pressure or movement.
- HPLC ferrule depth
- For 1/16 in OD HPLC tubing with 10-32 coned ports, match the ferrule and stem depth to the port vendor, or use adjustable fingertight fittings. A wrong stem depth leaves dead volume or prevents a seal.
- Material and biocompatibility
- Choose polypropylene, polycarbonate, nylon, PVDF or PEEK by chemical compatibility. Require USP Class VI or ISO 10993 materials for patient or cell contact. Solvents craze polycarbonate, and unrated plastics can leach into samples.
Brands that matter
- Nordson Medical: Formerly Value Plastics; large range of microbore barbs and Luer fittings.
- Qosina: Broad catalog of medical-grade Luer and barb connectors.
- IDEX Health & Science: Upchurch HPLC fittings, ferrules and microfluidic connectors.
- Cole-Parmer: Lab tubing connectors in many materials.
What to avoid
- Mixing HPLC ferrules from different vendors without checking stem depth.
- Polycarbonate connectors with solvents such as acetone.
- Non-medical-grade connectors in patient-contact use.