Guide to Selecting Tubing for Pumps and Fluid Handling Systems
The right pump tubing is crucial when building your fluid processing pump system. Before you choose, consider all aspects of your application: chemical compatibility, operating temperature, pressure, necessary regulatory approvals, gas permeability of the tubing, and cleaning/sterilization requirements.
Use the "Tubing Selection Guide" below to help you select the appropriate tubing for your application. The Chemical Compatibility guide and the chemical resistance summary in the table below are only guidelines. Chemical resistance and tubing wear may vary according to use always test the tubing you select under the actual conditions.
We are here to help you determine just the right tubing for your pump and fluid handling needs. Learn more about chemical classifications and formulations below.
Chemical Resistance Classifications
A —No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
B —Little or no damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
C —Some effect after 7 days of constant exposure. Effects may include: cracking, crazing, loss of strength, discoloration, softening, or swelling. Softening and swelling are reversible in some cases.
D —Not recommended for continuous use. Immediate damage may occur.
"_" —Test data unavailable or not applicable.
| Formulation | Operating temperature |
Resin certification(s) |
Durometer | Chemical resistance summary | Permeability (approx)† Units: {cc-mmsec-cm2-cm Hg } x 10-10 |
||||||||
| Acids, weak |
Acids, strong |
Bases, weak |
Bases, strong |
Ozone | UV light |
CO2 | H2 | O2 | N2 | ||||
| Bev-A-Line® IV | -60 to 160°F (-51 to 71°C) |
FDA, USP, USDA, | 80 (D) | B | D | B | B | D | |||||
| Bev-A-Line® V | -60 to 200°F (-51 to 93°C)* |
National Formulary | 80 (D) | B | B | B | B | D | |||||
| Bev-A-Line® XX | -60 to 160°F (-51 to 71°C) |
FDA*, NSF* | 55 (D) | C | D | C | D | C | A | ||||
| C-FLEX® | -100 to 275°F (-73 to 135°C) |
FDA, USP, USDA, GMP | 50 (A) | A | A | A | A | B | 150 | ||||
| Chemfluor® 367 | -400 to 450°F (-240 to 260°C) |
FDA | 58 (A) | A | A | A | A | A | |||||
| Copper | -60 to 400°F (-53 to 204°C) |
None | D | D | C | C | A | A | |||||
| EPDM food-grade; PTFE-lined; wire-reinforced |
-40 to 300°F (-40 to 148°C) |
FDA, USDA, 3A | A | B | A | A | |||||||
| ETFE | -150 to 302°F (-101 to 150°C) |
GMP | 75 (D) | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||
| FEP | -454 to 400°F (-270 to 205°C) |
FDA, USP, GMP | 55 (D) | A | A | A | A | A | A | 5.9 | 1.3 | 14 | 2.0 |
| Gum rubber | -15 to 158°F (-26 to 70°C) |
GMP | 35 (A) | A | D | A | B | C | D | 1311 | 492 | 307 | 118 |
| Hypalon® | 40 to 220°F (4 to 104°C) |
None | 70 (D) | A | |||||||||
| Kynar® | -40 to 260°F (-40 to 127°C) |
FDA, USP, USDA | 80 (D) | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||
| MFA | -103 to 482°F (-75 to 250°C) |
USP | 59 (D) | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||
| Norprene® | -75 to 275°F (-60 to 135°C) |
GMP | 61 (A) | A | B | A | C | A | B | 1200 | 80 | 200 | |
| Norprene® food-grade | -60 to 275°F (-51 to 135°C) |
FDA, NSF, GMP | 61 (A) | A | B | A | C | A | B | 1200 | 80 | 200 | |
| Norprene® pressure | -60 to 275°F (-51 to 135°C) |
FDA, 3A, NSF | 61 (A) | A | B | A | C | A | B | 1200 | 80 | 200 | |
| Nylon | -60 to 200°F (-51 to 93°C) |
None | A | D | A | C | C | D | 20 | 19 | 5.4 | 1.1 | |
| PEEK | Up to 212°F (Up to 100°C) |
None | A | A | A | A | A | A | |||||
| PFA | -320 to 500°F (-195 to 260°C) |
FDA, USP, GMP | 60 (D) | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||
| PFA-450 high-purity | -320 to 500°F (-195 to 260°C) |
FDA, GMP | 60 (D) | A | A | A | A | A | A | ||||
| PharMed® | -75 to 275°F (-59 to 135°C) |
FDA, USP, NSF, GMP | 64 (A) | A | B | A | C | A | B | 1200 | 80 | 200 | |
| Polyethylene | -100 to 175°F (-73 to 80°C) |
FDA, USDA | 50 (D) | A | D | B | B | B | A | 280 | 60 | 20 | |
| Polyethylene, FEP-lined |
-100 to 175°F (-73 to 80°C) |
FDA, GMP | A | A | A | A | A | A | 5.9* | 1.3* | 14* | 2.0* | |
| Polyimide | -418 to 896°F (-250 to 480°C) |
USP, NEMA | A | A | A | A | A | A | |||||
| Polypropylene | 32 to 250°F (0 to 121°C) |
FDA, USDA | 75 (D) | A | D | B | B | C | D | 90 | 25 | 4 | |
| Polyurethane (clear, aqua-tint) |
-40 to 180°F (-40 to 82°C) |
None | 95 (A) | B | D | B | B | A | 395 | 66 | 10.5 | 17.1 | |
| Polyurethane (red, green, blue, black) |
-70 to 185°F (-57 to 85°C) |
None | 95 (A) | B | D | B | B | A | 395 | 66 | 10.5 | 17.1 | |
| PTFE | -400 to 500°F (-240 to 260°C) |
FDA, USP, GMP | 50 (D) | A | A | A | A | A | A | 6.8 | 1.0 | ||
| PTFE color-coded |
-400 to 500°F (-240 to 260°C) |
None | 50 (D) | A | A | A | A | A | A | 6.8 | 1.0 | ||
| PVC | 10 to 140°F (-12 to 60°C) |
None | 65 (A) | A | A | A | A | A | A | 6.8 | 1.0 | ||
| PVC Bubble® | -5 to 180°F (-21 to 82°C) |
None | 55 (A) | A | D | A | D | B | D | 1305 | 1345 | ||
| PVC food-grade | 10 to 140°F (-12 to 60°C) |
FDA, 3A, USDA | 65 (A) | A | A | A | A | A | A | 6.8 | 1.0 | ||
| PVC reinforced | -5 to 180°F (-21 to 82°C) |
FDA, USDA, NSF, 3A | 65 (A) | A | D | A | A | B | D | 36 | 36 | ||
| PVC wire-reinforced |
25 to 150°F (-4 to 65°C) |
FDA, USDA, 3A, NSF | 70 (A) | A | D | A | A | B | D | 36 | 36 | ||
| Silicone, peroxide-cured |
-60 to 460°F (-51 to 238°C) |
FDA, USP, GMP | 50 (A) | B | D | A | A | A | 20,132 | 6579 | 7961 | 2763 | |
| Silicone, platinum-cured |
-60 to 460°F (-51 to 238°C) |
FDA, USP, USDA, GMP | 50 (A) | B | D | A | A | A | 20,132 | 6579 | 7961 | 2763 | |
| Silicone reinforced, peroxide |
-60 to 400°F (-51 to 204°C) |
FDA, USP, GMP | 60 (A) | B | D | A | A | A | 20,132 | 6579 | 7961 | 2763 | |
| Stainless steel, 316 | -65 to 550°F (-53 to 289°C) |
None | A | B | A | C | A | A | |||||
| Tygon®, FEP-lined |
-40 to 180°F (-40 to 82°C) |
FDA*, USP*, GMP | 67 (A) | A | A | A | A | B | B | 5.9* | 1.3* | 14* | 2.0* |
| Tygon® fuel/lubricant |
-35 to 165°F (-37 to 74°C) |
GMP | 57 (A) | B | C | C | D | A | A | 100 | 12 | 22 | |
| Tygon® food/beverage |
-49 to 165°F (-45 to 74°C) |
FDA, NSF, 3A | 63 (A) | A | B | A | B | B | D | 270 | 30 | 60 | |
| Tygon® high-purity |
-94 to 125°F (-70 to 52°C) |
FDA, USP, GMP | 72 (A) | A | C | A | A | B | B | 745 | 135 | 45 | |
| Tygon® high-purity reinforced |
-94 to 125°F (-70 to 52°C) |
FDA, NSF, GMP | 72 (A) | A | C | A | A | B | B | 745 | 135 | 45 | |
| Tygon® lab; vacuum |
-58 to 165°F (-50 to 74°C) |
FDA, GMP | 55 (A) | A | D | A | D | B | D | 360 | 40 | 80 | |
| Tygon® LFL |
-58 to 165°F (-50 to 74°C) |
FDA, USP, GMP | 56 (A) | A | A | A | B | ||||||
| Tygon® pressure |
-47 to 165°F (-44 to 74°C) |
FDA, 3A, NSF | 65 (A) | A | A | B | A | 2700 | 600 | 300 | |||
| Tygon® sanitary silicone pres. |
-112 to 320°F (-51 to 160°C) |
FDA, USP, NSF, GMP | 70 (A) | B | D | A | A | A | |||||
| Tygon® silicone |
-112 to 392°F (-80 to 200°C) |
FDA, USP, NSF, GMP | 50 (A) | A | C | A | A | B | B | ||||
| Tygon® ultra chemical-resistant |
-108 to 125°F (-78 to 52°C) |
GMP | 72 (A) | A | C | A | A | B | B | 4840 | 980 | 350 | |
| Tygothane® pressure |
-100 to 180°F (-73 to 82°C) |
FDA, NSF | 82 (A) | C | C | B | D | A | 1680 | 180 | 60 | ||
| Vinyl | -45 to 180°F (-43 to 82°C) |
GMP | 67 (A) | A | D | A | A | C | D | 360 | 40 | 80 | |
| Viton® | -25 to 400°F (-32 to 204°C) |
GMP | 75 (A) | A | A | C | D | A | A | 79 | 15 | 4.3 | |
*Based on liner
†At 25°C
Bev-A-Line Reg TM Thermoplastic Processes, Inc.
Bubble Reg TM Sherwood Medical Industries Inc.
Chemfluor, Norprene, PharMed, Tygon, Tygothane Reg TM Norton Performance Plastics Corp.
C-FLEX Reg TM Consolidated Polymer Technologies, Inc.
Hypalon, Viton Reg TM DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C.
Kynar, Superflex Reg TM Elf Atochem North America
Pump tubing for a wide range of applications and markets
Pump tubing is used for a variety of applications and in a wide range of markets and industries such as:
- Life Science Research Solutions, Products, and Resources
- Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biopharma Production
- Safety
- Controlled Environment and Cleanroom Solutions
All have trusted Masterflex® pump tubing for their specific needs. Visit our website or contact us for further information.
The tubing guide you need
Need more guidance on selecting peristaltic pump tubing? Our Masterflex® pump tubing selection guides can help: Learn more about matching peristaltic pump tubing to the fluid you plan to use.
We’re here to help you keep your research going. Contact us with any questions you have about pump tubing.