Integrated Solutions Improving Process Accuracy

TrueTube TM

TrueTubeTM
TrueTube is a family of tubing products developed toprovide best-of-breed performance in sample
transport for process and emissions analyzers.
O'Brien Analytical starts with select grade tubing
and enhances its physical characteristics to improve
dry-down, adsorption and corrosion resistance. We
do this by controlling surface roughness, cleanliness,
surface chemistry and reactive contaminants.
Surface Roughness
Surface roughness contributes to adsorption /desorption problems associated with analyzer samplelines. The microphotographs below illustrate one ofthe differences in tube material and selection.
Surface roughness is only one factor to consider
when specifying sample tube material. However, likeother choices in sample system components, it canimprove or limit the repeatable accuracy of theentire system.
Cleanliness and Reactive Contaminants
The O'Brien Analytical TrueTube process removes
drawing oils and other contaminants that are often
present in commercial grade tubing. At the sametime surface iron is removed and the tube is left
with an enriched Cr/Fe and CrO/FeO ratio which
contributes to corrosion resistance.
Seamless 316L SS Tubing
Commercial grade seamlesstubing may have a surface
roughness of greater than80 μ in. Because ofdifferences in manufacturing
processes the surface
500x
roughness of commercial
grade seamless tubing can vary widely. Commercial
grade seamless tubing often has a higher surface
roughness than a similar welded tube.
Welded 316L SS Tubing
The forming operations used
to manufacture welded tubing
produce a product that often
has surface roughness in the40-80 μ inch range. Because
the weld area is considered
500x
inhomogeneous it is moresusceptible to corrosion, particularly pitting. Besides
limiting the life of the installation corrosion also
creates additional sites for the sample to "hang up"
or collect.

Silcosteel and Sulfinert are registered trademarks of Restek Corporation.

®

TrueTube CP
Select seamless 316L stainlesssteel tubing is chemicallypolished and cleaned toproduce a surface finish withless than a 40 μ inch surface
roughness. TrueTube CP also
500x
meets the requirements of
ASTM A632-S3 for thermocouple cleaning and CFOS
per ASTM G93 Level A and CGA g-4.1. It contributes
to improved sample transport times by reducing
surface roughness and eliminating contaminants.
TrueTube FS
A secondary process creates aSilcosteel® fused silica lining
on base TrueTube CP seamless
316L stainless steel tubing.
The fused silica coating
improves the corrosion
500x
resistance and reduces theaffinity of stainless steel to many compounds such as
H2S. Fused silica lined Silcosteel tubes have foundacceptance for transporting low concentration sulfur
samples.
TrueTube EP
The photo illustrates thesuperior surface finish
achieved by electropolished
TrueTube. Electropolishingnot only improves surface
roughness but also provides
500x
enhanced corrosion resistanceby leaving a chromium enriched surface layer. Withan average surface roughness of 25 μ inch this is thesmoothest tube in the TrueTube family. TrueTube EP
provides improved corrosion resistance and reduced
dry-down time.
TrueTube EPS
The ultimate product forcorrosion resistance andaversion to sulfur
compounds. TrueTube EPS
combines the advantages ofelectropolished and500x Sulfinert® fused silica coatedtubing to produce a superior tube. Electropolishingprovides the best possible surface for the Sulfinert
coating process. The TrueTube EPS combinationdelivers results that dramatically outperform either
electropolishing or Sulfinert coating alone.

TrueTube provides
best-of-breed
performance in sample
transport tubing forprocess and emissions
analyzers.

Integrated Solutions Improving Process Accuracy

TrueTube TM

Thermocouple Cleaned
Thermocouple cleaned tubing is free of all drawing
compounds, carbon, dirt, dust and othercontaminants. After cleaning a swatch of lint-free
cloth soaked in acetone is passed through the tube
to verify cleanliness to ASTM A632-S3. The tubing
is then capped to prevent contamination.
CFOSO'Brien Analytical can also supply tubing which has
been cleaned for oxygen service per ASTM G93A
Level A and CGA G-4.1 requirements. After cleaning
the tubing is capped to prevent contamination.
Orbital Weld Fittings and Tubing
We also offer specialty tube and orbital weld
fittings from our sister company Cardinal Systems.
Cardinal is a provider of high purity and ultra highpurity tubing and fittings to the biopharm, medical,
pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries. Theseproducts are available in sizes from 1/4" through6". Tubing is provided in 20' straight sticks.
Orbital weld fittings eliminate the dead space andcrevices associated with compression fittings so
there is no place for sample stream components tocollect and become entrapped.

O'Brien Analytical also offers specialty tube andorbital weld fittings through our sister company
Cardinal Systems a provider of high purity and ultrahigh purity tubing and fittings to the biopharm,
medical, pharmaceutical and semiconductor
industries. These products are available in sizes
from 1/4" through 6". Tubing is provided in 20'straight sticks.
Tech 5 Tubing• Surface roughness of 40μin / 1.0μm Ra.
• High quality seamless and welded 316L SS.
• Thermocouple cleaned per ASTM 632
Supplement S3.
• Purged with filtered nitrogen and capped.
Tech 10 Tubing• Surface roughness of 25μin / 0.63μm Ra.
• High quality seamless 316L SS.
• Exceeds CFOS CGA G4.1 cleaning.
• Fully passivated with nitric acid.
• Rinsed with DI water, purged with filterednitrogen and capped.
Tech 20 Tubing• Chemically polished with a surface roughnessof 15μin / 0.20μm Ra.
• High quality seamless 316L SS.
• Low particulate cleaning.
• Fully passivated with nitric acid.
• Final rinse with heated 18 megohm DI water,purged with filtered nitrogen until dry andcapped.
• Final cleaning and packaging performed in acleanroom.
Tech 25 Electropolished Tubing• Electropolished to 10μin / 0.μm Ra.
• 316L SS tubing meets ASTM specifications forconsistent physical, dimensional and chemicalcomposition.
• Restricted sulfur content insures low
non-metallic inclusions.
• Final cleaning and packaging performed in a
Federal Standard 209 Class 10 cleanroom.
• 0.1μ filtered 18 megohm 60°C deionized waterrinse until effluent surpasses 17.5 megohm.
• Dried with 0.005 μ filtered 120°C nitrogen andcapped.

ISO 9001:2000

Certificate No.
CC1504-0001122

Worldwide Offices:
1900 Crystal Industrial Ct. • St. Louis, MO 63114 • Ph 314/236-2020 • Fax 314/236-2080
Mallekotstraat 65 • B 2500 Lier Belgium • Ph (+32) 3 491 9875 • Fax (+32) 3 491 9876
Suite 400 • 609 14th Street NW • Calgary, AB T2N 2A1 • Ph 403/730-7277 • Fax 403/730-7279
sales@obcorp.com • www.obrien-analytical.com©2005 O’Brien Corporation • QLT-OBA-TUBES • 1 NOV 05

Specialty Cleaning
O'Brien Analytical also provides thermocouple andCFOS cleaning for commercial grade tubing.