Polycarbonate (PC) Labware

Polycarbonate is used to make Nalgene desiccators, bottles, centrifugeware, vacuum chambers, and many other items where clarity, strength, and a wide application temperature range are key requirements. Polycarbonate bottles are often used for containing media and other pH-neutral to mildly acidic aqueous solutions.

*Meets the requirements of the Food Additives Amendment of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

The following table contains general use exposure ratings at 20^oC. The ability of plastic materials to resist chemical attack and damage is dependent also on temperature, length of exposure to the chemical, and added stresses such as centrifugation. For more detailed chemical resistance ratings for Nalgene products and materials, please consult the resources referenced at the bottom of this page.

*Except for oxidizing acids; for oxidizing acids, see "Oxidizing agents, strong."

Autoclaving
Polycarbonate is autoclavable, but autoclaving will cause the material to lose strength. Repeated autoclaving will shorten the life of reusable polycarbonate products such as bottles and centrifugeware. Items to which a vacuum will be applied, such as Nalgene vacuum chambers and vacuum desiccators must never be autoclaved as weakening of the material may result in implosion when a vacuum is applied.

Cleaning
It’s critically important to wash polycarbonate only in pH-neutral cleaning solutions. Basic pH solutions will cause damage to the clear surface, causing clouding and pitting of the plastic. Nalgene L900 detergent is the recommended cleaning solution for washing polycarbonate labware to extend product life.

Plastic aging
Inspect polycarbonate regularly and before each use for signs of aging including permanent discoloration (yellow, brown, orange, or pink), crazing (spider web cracks), stress cracking (vertical cracks), or permanent clouding or pitting. Replace polycarbonate pieces when you see signs of aging occur to prevent failure during use. 

Footnotes:
[1]. Heat Deflection Temperature is the temperature at which an injection molded bar deflects 0.1” when placed under 66 psig (ASTM D648) of pressure. 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 which heating will cause to attack the plastic or be rapidly absorbed.
[3]. The plastic will absorb and retain significant amounts of heat resulting in an unexpectedly hot surface.
[4]. STERILIZATION: Autoclaving (121°C, 15 psig for 20 minutes)—Clean and rinse items with distilled water before autoclaving. (Always completely disengage 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.
     EtO Gas—Ethylene Oxide: 100% EtO, EtO:Nitrogen mixture, EtO:HCFC mixture
     Dry Heat—exposure to 160°C for 120 minutes without stress/load on the polymer parts
     Disinfectants—Benzalkonium chloride, formalin/formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, etc.
     Radiation—gamma or beta irradiation at 25 kGy (2.5 MRad) with unstabilized plastic
[5]. Sterilizing reduces mechanical strength. Do not use PC vessels for vacuum applications if they have been autoclaved. Refer to Use and Care Guidelines for 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 an MEM elution technique with WI38 human diploid lung cell line.
[7]. “Yes” indicates the resin has been determined to be non-cytotoxic, based on USP and ASTM biocompatibility testing standards utilizing an MEM elution technique with WI38 human diploid lung cell line.
[12]. The brittleness temperature is the temperature at which an item made from the resin may break or cracked if dropped. This is not the lowest use temperature if care is exercised in use and handling.
[13]. Max. Use Temp. °C: this is related to the maximum continuous use temperature, ductile/brittle temperature, and glass transition temperature and represents the highest temperature at which the polymer can be exposed for the matter of minutes to 2 hours where there is little or no loss of strength.

Sterilizing reduces mechanical strength. Do not use PC vessels for vacuum applications if they have been autoclaved. Refer to Use and Care Guidelines for NALGENE Labware for detailed information on sterilizing.

For assistance choosing products appropriate for your application, please speak with a Nalgene Technical Support Representative team by phone at +1-585-586-8800 or (1-800-625-4327 US toll free), or email your request to technicalsupport@thermofisher.com.

In Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, please contact technical support by phone at +800-1234-9696 (toll free) or +49-6184-90-6321, or email your request to techsupport.labproducts.eu@thermofisher.com.

Regulatory support: for regulatory documentation of product or material claims, please contact Nalgene Regulatory Support at RocRegSupport@thermofisher.com.