Product Details
In our experience, PTFE capillary tubing gets specified when the bore size, material compatibility and fluid routing actually matter - not when a "close enough" tube will do. If the flow path is off, the whole system feels it.
We can supply different diameters, wall thicknesses and lengths depending on what your project needs. If you have a drawing, a sample or just a technical requirement, send it over and we'll check what's practical before you commit.
A few things we regularly work with:
- Custom ID and OD - we'll review your target bore and tolerance
- Different wall thicknesses and cut lengths
- Natural white as standard; other colors depending on the project
- Material and dimensional specs for your evaluation
- Samples for custom projects we can actually run
One honest note: what we can make still depends on the dimensions and production conditions. So if you're unsure, send the drawing or sample first - we'll tell you straight whether it's workable and what we'd recommend.
Material & Properties
Material: virgin polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). We usually start with PTFE for capillary tubing because it gives you a chemically inert flow path, a low-friction bore and stable electrical insulation in one material. That said, the final choice still comes down to the fluid, temperature, pressure and how the tube is actually used - so send us those details and we'll confirm compatibility before you lock the spec.
Chemical inertness
PTFE stands up to most industrial chemicals - mineral and organic acids, bases, oxidisers, alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons and most solvents - and it won't swell, soften or leach in normal service. If your line carries different media on different days, that's a real advantage: one tube can often cover more of the bench instead of one tube per chemical.
Low friction, non-wetting bore
Coefficient of friction is 0.04–0.10, and water absorption is below 0.01%, so the bore sheds liquid rather than holding it. In practice, that means less residual volume between samples, less cross-contamination, faster flush cycles, and less stick-slip when a peristaltic pump pushes a small pulse through a fine bore.
Electrical insulation
Dielectric constant 2.1 at 1 MHz and dissipation factor below 0.0002 - useful when the tube runs near instrument wiring or sensors in wet or conductive areas.
Temperature range
Continuous service from −200 °C to +260 °C, melting point around 327 °C. It stays flexible at cryogenic temperatures and doesn't embrittle on the hot side, so one material can cover both ends of the instrument.
Technical Data Sheet
| Products name | PTFE Tube |
| Tensile Strength | 250 |
| Extensibility | 350 |
| Hardness | 55D |
| Melting Point (°C) | 327 |
| High Temperature (°C) | 260 |
| Low Temperature (°C) | -65 |
| Non Combustion Limit | Rated 94V0 |
| Water Uptake | <0.01 |
| Weathering Resistance | Excellent |
| Density | 2.10 |
| 1MHz Permittivity | 2.10 |
| Dissipation Factor | 0.0002 |
| Resistance to Organic | Excellent |
| Elasticity | Good |
Custom Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Material | PTFE |
| Inner Diameter (ID) | 1/16 inch (1.5875 mm), subject to confirmation |
| Outer Diameter (OD) | To be confirmed according to the required wall thickness |
| Wall Thickness | Custom options, subject to manufacturing review |
| Length | Coil or cut length, subject to availability |
| Color | Natural white; other options subject to confirmation |
| Dimensional Tolerance | Confirmed according to size and drawing |
| Customization | ID, OD, wall thickness, length and other requirements |
Standard specifications
|
Size AWG |
Inner Diameter(ID)(mm) |
Outer Diameter(OD)(mm) |
Packing (meters) |
||||
|
Min |
Normal |
Max |
S |
T |
L |
||
|
30 |
0.25 |
0.30 |
0.38 |
0.76 |
0.76 |
0.6 |
305 |
|
28 |
0.33 |
0.38 |
0.46 |
0.84 |
0.84 |
0.68 |
305 |
|
26 |
0.41 |
0.46 |
0.53 |
0.92 |
0.92 |
0.76 |
305 |
|
24 |
0.51 |
0.56 |
0.66 |
1.16 |
1.06 |
0.86 |
305 |
|
23 |
0.58 |
0.66 |
0.74 |
1.26 |
1.16 |
0.96 |
305 |
|
22 |
0.66 |
0.71 |
0.81 |
1.31 |
1.21 |
1.01 |
305 |
|
21 |
0.74 |
0.814 |
0.89 |
1.41 |
1.31 |
1.11 |
305 |
|
20 |
0.81 |
0.86 |
0.97 |
1.66 |
1.46 |
1.16 |
305 |
|
19 |
0.91 |
0.96 |
1.07 |
1.76 |
1.56 |
1.26 |
305 |
|
18 |
1.01 |
1.07 |
1.17 |
1.87 |
1.67 |
1.37 |
305 |
|
17 |
1.14 |
1.19 |
1.32 |
1.99 |
1.79 |
1.49 |
305 |
|
16 |
1.29 |
1.34 |
1.47 |
2.14 |
1.94 |
1.64 |
305 |
|
15 |
1.45 |
1.5 |
1.65 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
1.8 |
153 |
|
14 |
1.62 |
1.68 |
1.83 |
2.48 |
2.28 |
2.08 |
153 |
|
13 |
1.83 |
1.93 |
2.05 |
2.73 |
2.53 |
2.33 |
153 |
|
12 |
2.05 |
2.16 |
2.31 |
2.96 |
2.77 |
2.56 |
153 |
|
11 |
2.31 |
2.41 |
2.57 |
3.21 |
3.01 |
2.81 |
153 |
|
10 |
2.59 |
2.69 |
2.84 |
3.49 |
3.29 |
3.09 |
153 |
|
9 |
2.90 |
3.00 |
3.15 |
4.00 |
3.76 |
3.40 |
100 |
|
8 |
3.28 |
3.38 |
3.53 |
4.38 |
4.14 |
3.78 |
100 |
|
7 |
3.65 |
3.76 |
3.94 |
4.76 |
4.52 |
4.16 |
100 |
|
6 |
4.11 |
4.22 |
4.41 |
5.22 |
4.98 |
4.72 |
100 |
|
5 |
4.62 |
4.72 |
4.95 |
5.72 |
5.48 |
5.22 |
100 |
|
4 |
5.18 |
5.28 |
5.53 |
6.28 |
6.04 |
5.78 |
100 |
|
3 |
5.81 |
5.94 |
6.20 |
6.94 |
6.70 |
6.44 |
100 |
|
2 |
6.55 |
6.68 |
6.93 |
7.68 |
7.44 |
7.18 |
100 |
|
1 |
7.34 |
7.46 |
7.75 |
8.46 |
8.22 |
7.96 |
100 |
|
0 |
8.26 |
8.38 |
8.69 |
9.38 |
9.14 |
8.88 |
100 |
Applications
We see PTFE capillary tubing for precision fluid transfer used most often where bore size, chemical compatibility and repeatability actually matter. These are the applications that come up again and again:
- Laboratory analytical instruments - sample introduction, autosampler-to-detector transfer and waste lines. The inert bore keeps the sample unchanged; the low-retention wall helps stop carry-over.
- Precision fluid control and dosing - dispensing needles, peristaltic pump lines and low-volume dosing. Low friction means a repeatable pulse without stick-slip; tight bore tolerance helps keep volume consistent.
- Microfluidic devices - chip inlets/outlets, reagent feed and droplet generation. Fine bore with clean, burr-free ends seats well into chip ports; natural translucency lets you spot bubbles early.
- Industrial instrumentation and sensors - sensor leads, pressure-tap, purge and sampling lines. Chemical inertness plus a wide temperature window covers ambient and hot-side connections.
- Chemical and high-purity transfer - aggressive or high-purity reagents where metal ions, plasticisers or leachables are a concern. No plasticiser, no stabiliser to migrate.
- Medical-adjacent fluid handling (grade-dependent) - if your project calls for USP Class VI / ISO 10993 material, tell us up front and we'll confirm what grade and documentation we can actually support.
Customization & Quality Control
For custom PTFE capillary tubing, the fastest way is to send us your drawing or target dimensions - ID, OD, wall thickness and cut length. We'll review it, tell you straight whether it's practical to make, and talk through sample requirements before production if needed. If you need dimensional inspection records or material documentation, flag that early - we'll confirm what we can actually support for your specific project
FAQS
1. What dimensions and tolerances are available for PTFE capillary tubing?
It depends on bore size, wall thickness and how we run the tube. Send your target ID, OD, wall, cut length and tolerance - we'll confirm what's realistic and how consistent we can hold it in production.
2. How do I select the correct ID and OD for my fluid transfer application?
ID affects pressure drop; OD decides how it fits your connectors. Give us flow rate, length, viscosity, pressure, temperature and connection size, and we'll help you narrow it down. If it's tight, test a prototype first - cheaper than fixing a mismatch later.
3. Is PTFE capillary tubing compatible with aggressive chemicals and solvents?
PTFE handles most aggressive chemicals, but not all. Send the fluid, concentration, temperature and pressure - we'll check before you pick a tube, instead of relying on "PTFE is inert."
4. What are the operating temperature and pressure limits of PTFE capillary tubing?
There's no single number for every tube. It depends on grade, size, wall thickness, process and working conditions. Thin-wall tube is not the same as thick-wall - don't use the material temperature rating as the pressure rating. Send your exact size and conditions and we'll confirm.
5. Can PTFE capillary tubing be customized to specific dimensions and lengths?
Yes - custom ID, OD, wall, cut length and tolerance are reviewable, subject to what's actually manufacturable. A drawing or sample gets you the fastest answer. Colors, packaging and MOQ we'll discuss separately.
6. Is PTFE capillary tubing suitable for microfluidic and analytical instruments?
It can work well for selected microfluidic systems, analytical instruments and sampling lines - especially where chemical resistance and small size matter. But flow rate, tolerance, fluid compatibility and connection method still decide it. For very low flow or tight tolerance, validate it in your actual system first.
Request a Quote
Sourcing PTFE capillary tubing for your equipment or an OEM project? Send your drawing, target dimensions or a sample photo. We'll review it and come back with what we can actually make and quote - not a catalogue guess.
