Agilent Technologies Agilent 1260 Infinity System User's Manual page 106

6
Appendix
Solvent Information
PEEK
PEEK (Polyether- Ether Ketones) combines excellent properties with regard
to chemical resistance, mechanical and thermal stability. It is stable in a
pH range of 1 to 12.5 and inert to many common solvents. There are
several known incompatibilities with chemicals such as chloroform,
methylene chloride, THF, DMSO > 1 %, strong acids (nitric acid > 10 %,
sulphuric acid > 10 %, trichloroacetic acid, sulfonic acids), halogenes or
aequous halogene solutions, phenol and derivatives (cresols, salicylic acid
etc.). When used above room temperature, PEEK is sensitive to bases and
various organic solvents, which can cause it to swell.
Polyimide
Agilent uses semi- crystalline polyimide for rotor seals in valves and needle
seats in autosamplers. One supplier of polyimide is DuPont, which brands
polyimide as Vespel, which is also used by Agilent.
Polyimide is stable in a pH range between 1 and 10 and in most organic
solvents. It is incompatible with concentrated mineral acids (e.g. sulphuric
acid), glacial acetic acid, DMSO and THF. It is also degraded by
nucleophilic substances like ammonia (e.g. ammonium salts in basic
conditions) or acetates.
Polyethylene (PE)
Agilent uses UHMW (ultra- high molecular weight)- PE/PTFE blends for
yellow piston and wash seals, which are used in 1290 Infinity pumps and
for normal phase applications in 1260 Infinity pumps.
Polyethylene has a good stability for most common inorganic solvents
including acids and bases in a pH range of 1 to 12.5. It is compatible to
many organic solvents used in chromatographic systems like methanol,
acetonitrile and isopropanol. It has limited stability with aliphatic,
aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, THF, phenol and derivatives,
concentrated acids and bases. For normal phase applications, the
maximum pressure should be limited to 200 bar.
106 1260 Infinity Binary LC - System User Guide