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Temperature ratings on Thermo Scientific™ Nalgene™ products and other information

Resin Max Use Temp. (°C)2 HDT1
Temp. (°C)		 Brittleness
Temp.
(°C)13		 Tranparency Microwavability Autoclaving4 Sterilization4
Gas Dry Heat Radia-tion Disin-fectants
LDPE 80 45 -100 Translucent Yes No Yes No Yes Yes
HDPE 120 65 -100 Translucent No No Yes No Yes Yes
PP 135 107 0 Translucent Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
PMP 145 80 20 Clear Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
FLPE 120 65 -100 Translucent No No Yes No Yes Yes
ETFE 150 104 -105 Translucent Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
FEP 205 70 -270 Translucent Marginal3 Yes Yes Yes No Yes
PFA 260 166 -270 Translucent Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
PTFE/TFE 260 200 -100 Opaque Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
PETG 70 70 -40 Clear Marginal3 No Yes No Yes Some
PC 135 138 -135 Clear Marginal3 Yes5 Yes No Yes Yes
PSF 165 174 -100 Clear Yes Yes Yes Yes5 Yes Yes
PVC(rigid) 70 90 -30 Clear Yes No Yes No No Yes
PVC
(tubing)		 82 -32 -32 Clear Yes14 Yes14 Yes No No Yes
PMMA 50 93 20 Clear No No No No Yes Some
TPE 121 <23 <-50 Opaque Yes Yes Yes No Yes Some
SAN 85 98 20 Clear Yes No Yes No Yes No
Resin Flexibility Permeability
(cc.-mil/100 in2-24 hr.-atm)		 Permeability
(cc.-mm/m2-24hr.-Bar)		 Water Vapor Transmission Rate
(g-mm/m2-24hr.-Bar at 38°C,90%RH)15
N2 O2 CO2 N2 O2 CO2
LDPE Excellent 180 500 2,700 180 500 2,700 15.5-23.3
HDPE Rigid 42 185 580 42 185 580 4.6-6.2
PP Rigid 48 240 800 18.65 93.25 310.84 3.9
PMP Rigid 8,000 32,00 115,000 3,109.42 12,433.68 44,683.32 775
FLPE Rigid 42 185 580 16.32 71.88 225.36 4.6
ETFE Rigid 30 100 250 11.66 38.86 97.14 1.65
FEP Excellent 320 750 2,200 124.34 291.41 854.82 6.20
PFA Excellent 291 881 2,260 118.07 342.31 878.13 2.00
PTFE/TFE Rigid - 307.5 - - 117.48 - 4.0
PETG Moderate 10 25 125 3.89 9.71 48.57 18.13
PC Rigid 50 300 1,075 19.43 116.57 417.69 115
PSF Rigid 55 300 700 21.37 16\16.57 271.99 -
PVC
(rigid)		 Rigid 2-20 4 4 0.78-7.77 1.55 1.55 0.90-5.1
PVC
(tubing)		 Excellent 8.3-33.3 16.7-100.1 166.8-583.8 3.22-12.94 2.60-38.89 64.81-226.84 15-80
PMMA Rigid 2.78 12.4 68 1.08 4.80 26.40 55.20
TPE Excellent 31-145 85-646 900-8,634 12.05-56.34 33.03-251 0.70-3,354.76 -
SAN Rigid - - - - - - -
Resin Water Absorption (%) Non-cytototxicity6 Suitability for Food & Bev. Use7 Reg. Part 21 CFR Refractive Index Melting Point Range
(°C)		 Glass Transition Temp Range
(°C)		 Specific Gravity
LDPE <0.01 Yes Yes9 177.1520 1.5400 85-125 -25 0.92
HDPE <0.01 Yes Yes9 177.1520 1.5100 125-138 -25 0.95
PP <0.02 Yes Yes 177.1520 1.4735 160-176 -20 to -5 0.9
PMP 0.01 Yes Yes11 177.1520 1.4630 235 N/A 0.83
FLPE <0.01 Yes Yes9 177.1615 1.5100 125-138 -125 0.95
ETFE 0.03 Yes Yes 177.1550 1.3580 265 N/A 1.7
FEP <0.01 Yes Yes 177.1550 1.3380 275 N/A 2.15
PFA <0.02 Yes Yes 177.1550 1.3580 302-310 N/A 2.15
PTFE/TFE <0.01 Yes Yes 177.1550 1.3500 320-330 120-130 2.2
PETG 0.13 Yes Yes10 177.1315 1.57 265 81 1.27
PC 0.35 Yes Yes 177.1580 1.5860 N/A 154 1.2
PSF 0.3 Yes Yes 177.1655 1.6330 N/A 185-195 1.24
PVC(rigid) 0.15-0.75 Yes Yes12 176.180/
175.3		 1.5390 N/A 70-105 1.34
PVC
(tubing)		 0.15-0.75 Yes Yes12 176.180/
175.3		 1.5390 N/A 75-105 1.34
PMMA 0.35 Yes Yes 177.1010 1.4893 85-105 N/A 1.2
TPE 0.05-5.1 Yes Yes 177.2600 - N/A N/A 0.93
SAN 0.2 - Yes 177.1040 1.5700 108 N/A 1.07
  1. Heat deflection Temperature is the temperature at which a bar deflects 0.01" at 66 psig (ASTM D648). Materials may be used above Heat deflection temperatures in non-stress applications; see Max. Use Temp.
  2. Ratings based on 5-minute tests using 600 watts of power on exposed, empty labware. Caution: Do not exceed Max. Use Temp., or expose labware to chemicals that heating cause to attack the plastic or be rapidly absorbed.
  3. Plastic will absorb heat.
  4. STERILIZATION
    - Autoclaving (121°C, 15 psig for 20 minutes) – Clean and rinse items with distilled water before autoclaving. (Always completely disengage the thread before autoclaving.)
    • Certain chemicals which have no appreciable effect on resins at room temperature may cause deterioration at autoclaving temperatures unless removed with distilled water beforehand.
    • Gas - Ethylene, oxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide.
    • Dry Heat (160°C, 120 minutes)
    • Disinfectants – Benzalkonium chloride, formalin/formaldehyde, ethanol, etc.
    • Radiation – gamma irradiation at 25kGy (2.5 Mrad) with unstabilized plastic.
  5. Sterilization reduces mechanical strength. Do not use PC vessels for vacuum applications if they have been autoclaved. Refer to Use and guidelines for Thermo Scientific™ Nalgene™ Labware for detailed information on sterilizing.
  6. "Yes" indicates the resin has been determined to be non-cytotoxic, based on USP and ASTM biocompatibility testing standards utilizing a MEM elution technique on a WI38 human diploid lung cell line.
  7. Resins meet requirements of the CFR21 section of the Food Additives Amendment of the Federal Food and Drug Act. End users are responsible for validating compliance for specific containers used in conjunction with their particular packaging applications.
  8. Acceptable for aqueous foods only, at temperatures up to 121°C/250°F. Not sanctioned for use with alcoholic or fatty foods at any temperature.
  9. Acceptable for:
    • Nonacid, aqueous products; may contain salt, sugar, or both (pH above 5.0).
    • Dairy products and modifications; oil-in-water emulsions, high or low fat.
    • Moist bakery products with surface containing no free fat or oil.
    • Dry solids with a surface containing no free fat or oil (no end-test required) and under all conditions as described in Table 2 of FDA regulation 177.1520 except condition A – high-temperature sterilization(e.g., over 100°C/212°F).
  10. Acceptable for:
    • Alcohol foods containing not more than 15% (by volume) alcohol; fill and storage temperature not to exceed 49°C (120°F).
    • Non-alcoholic foods of hot fill to not exceed 82°C (180°F) and 49°C (120°F) in storage.
    • Not suitable for carbonated beverages, beer, or packaging food requiring thermal processing.
  11. Straight-sided jars, beakers, and graduated cylinders only.
  12. Acceptable for aqueous, oil, dairy, acidic, and alcohol foods up to 70°C/160°F.
  13. The brittleness temperature is when an item made from the resin may break or crack if dropped. This is not the lowest temperature if care is exercised in use and handling.
  14. The tubing will become opaque from absorbed water.
  15. WVTR = Water Vapor Transmission rate in g-mm/m2 – 24 hr. – 1 BAR at 37°C and 90% Relative Humidity.
Title: Temperature ratings on Thermo Scientific™ Nalgene™ products and other information
Description: Max Use Temp., HDT Temp., Brittleness Temp., Transparency, Autoclaving, Sterilization, Specific Gravity, Flexibility, Permeability, Water Vapor Transmission Rate, Water Absorption, Non-Cytotoxicity, Suitability for Food and Beverage Use, Refractive Index, Melting Point Range, and Glass Transition Temp. Range
Published: 6/3/2010
Last Edited: 1/23/2023

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