High‑pressure PEEK tubing is used in chromatography systems requiring bioinert, metal‑free fluid paths with reliable pressure performance and chemical compatibility. This category includes laboratory‑grade PEEK tubing designed for use in HPLC, UHPLC, LC‑MS, capillary LC, and other sensitive analytical workflows.
PEEK tubing is commonly selected as an alternative to stainless steel when adsorption, metal interaction, or flexibility are a concern.
Material & Manufacturing Characteristics
All PEEK tubing in this category is manufactured from virgin PEEK resin, providing:
Excellent chemical resistance
Low analyte adsorption
High dimensional stability
Mechanical strength suitable for high‑pressure chromatography
No additives are introduced into the base PEEK polymer. Color is applied either through controlled pigmentation (solid‑color tubing) or external co‑extrusion (striped tubing), ensuring that performance of the internal fluid path is preserved.
PEEK’s modulus and mechanical properties make it well suited for bioinert applications where stainless steel is undesirable.
PEEK Tubing Types & Selection Guidance
Solid‑Color PEEK Tubing
Solid‑color PEEK tubing is commonly used for routine HPLC applications where flexibility, solvent compatibility, and cost efficiency are important.
Key characteristics:
Chemically resistant and flexible
Suitable for everyday HPLC use
Tolerance: ± 0.05 mm for both ID and OD
Most economical PEEK tubing option
Striped Indicator PEEK Tubing
Striped PEEK tubing consists of natural PEEK with an external color stripe applied by co‑extrusion. The color stripe is present only on the outside of the tubing.
Advantages:
Maintains a pure PEEK internal surface
Provides visual indication of solvent compatibility issues
Helps identify tubing ID at a glance
If aggressive solvents interact with the tubing wall, color degradation can indicate that tubing replacement is recommended. For this reason, striped or natural PEEK tubing is generally preferred over pigmented tubing when solvent compatibility is uncertain.
Tolerance: ± 0.05 mm for both ID and OD
Ultra‑T™ Precision PEEK Tubing
Ultra‑T™ PEEK tubing is manufactured with significantly tighter dimensional tolerances and is recommended when flow‑volume precision is critical.
Applications include:
LC‑MS
Capillary LC
Micro‑flow and low‑dead‑volume systems
Key characteristics:
Tolerance: ± 0.025 mm for both ID and OD
Minimizes volumetric variation and flow irregularities
Typically, not required for routine analytical HPLC
Ultra‑T™ tubing is selected when even small flow deviations can impact results.
Pressure & Performance Considerations
PEEK tubing supports high‑pressure operation appropriate to its internal diameter and system configuration. Selecting the proper tubing ID and length is essential to:
Maintain pressure stability
Minimize system dead volume
Preserve chromatographic efficiency
Short, well‑routed tubing lengths help improve system performance and reproducibility.
FlexiTubes™ – Coiled PEEK Tubing Option
For applications requiring extended tubing lengths without clutter, FlexiTubes™ coiled PEEK tubing provides a space‑saving solution while maintaining performance. The coiled geometry can also contribute to pulse dampening in certain flow conditions.
👉 View FlexiTubes™ coiled PEEK tubing options
Applications & Use Cases
High‑pressure PEEK tubing is commonly used for:
HPLC and UHPLC solvent delivery
LC‑MS fluid paths
Bioinert analytical workflows
Method development and system optimization
Capillary and micro‑flow chromatography
Fittings & Compatibility Guidance
PEEK tubing performance depends on proper fitting selection.
👉 View HPLC connection fittings
For mobile‑phase connections immersed directly in solvents, it is recommended to use PEEK or ETFE fittings and ferrules for chemical compatibility and long‑term reliability.
👉 Learn more about selecting fittings for solvent‑immersed connections
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