Many instrument companies utilize Restek's Silcosteel® process to passivate parts in their injectors, detectors, sample loops, and transfer line tubing. Restek also does custom work for various government agencies or companies non-related to GC for special applications such as space probes or explosive detection.
Any custom metal part can be treated as long as it fits into our reaction chamber or can be plumbed to be leak-free at temperatures above 400° C.

We also further deactivate the Silcosteel® surface with various siloxane chemistries that impart steam resistance or improve sample wetting characteristics.

• However, siloxane deactivations over the fused silica layer will decrease the thermal stability of the Silcosteel® tubing from 1000°C to approximately 400°C for an inert atmosphere or <250°C in the presence of oxygen.
• In many custom applications, scientists have told us that no siloxane layer is needed because the ultra pure fused silica does a sufficient job at shielding the reactive nature of the metal surface

Process GC Applications

MXT capillary columns are made using the Silcosteel® process and are rapidly becoming the column of choice in the process analyzer and portable GC markets.
If you have a process analyzer in your facility, ask yourself, "How long can I afford to shut down my process stream while someone changes the fused silica column that just broke ... again.
Shouldn't I try an MXT?"
Likewise, if you're taking a field portable GC (with its capillary column wrapped into a tiny coil inside a miniature oven) into the middle of nowhere, . . . on the back of a vehicle,
Which would you rather have: breakable fused silica columns or a rugged, inert, and efficient MXT capillary column?

Silcosteel® MXT Columns

• Restek pioneered the technology of coating fused silica onto stainless steel and other metal surfaces to improve inertness and reduce activity.

• The uses for Silcosteel® seem endless.
  Virtually every instrument company now uses Silcosteel® to passivate transfer lines, fittings, and injector parts.
  Restek MXT capillary columns also make use of this innovative technology.
  If you have ideas for how Silcosteel® can work to improve your process,please contact our Restekīs Applied Manufacturing Group. We're here to listen and help

  Silco-steel Products

Silcosteel Products Overview Catalog 8p Update DJVu 2001

Silcosteel . . . is a process for passivating active metal surfaces.

More Inert Than Glass -
far Better than GLT
itīs actually a fused silica layer
available either deactivated (350C max)
or undeactivated (1000C max)

The process which Restek has been refining over the past eight years bonds a thin layer of fused silica to the surface of stainless and various other metals or alloys.

PROPERTIES
compatibility, applications
Customised Parts
MXT Brochure -the "Ultimate" capillary column. PDF
MXT Columns (*.htm index)
Customised Silco-treatment of Parts
Silcosteel Products 98 Catalog

The process is used to make . . . 

• metal MXT capillary columns,

• inert flexible SilcoSMOOTH packed columns,

• rugged inert transfer line tubing for corrosive sample streams,

• passivating various injector or detector parts that come into contact with active compounds.

 Deactivated Fused Silica-Lined Stainless Steel

Silcosteel Deactivation
NOW further enhanced using
the SILTEK process

Now applied to Rtx-5SilMS columns; Guard columns, glass wool, injector liners and Press-tight connectors

Silcosteel

• Silcosteel® Uses
• Process-GC Applications
• How inert is Silcosteel® tubing?
• Silcosteel® Fused Silica Lined Stainless Steel Tubing (Coiled)
• Straight Silcosteel®Tubing
• Use Inert Silcosteel® Fittings to Connect Silcosteel® Tubing
• MXT Capillary Columns Made with Silcosteel® Tubing
• Custom Silcosteel® Service
• Replace Fragile Glass Packed
• Columns with Flexible, Inert Silcosteel
• New ! Silcosmooth Tubing for Packed GC Columns

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