Chemical resistance simplified
To choose the best lab plastics for your application, download our guide or request a printed poster for your lab.
Nalgene carboys are time-tested workhorses in the lab, known for their leakproof guarantee and unmatched rugged construction. Nalgene carboys are made from high-quality plastic resin materials, and meet rigorous standards. That's why millions of Nalgene carboys are safely at work in laboratories and bioproduction facilities around the world. Choose from a wide range of quality carboys to fit your application, from dispensing DI water to mixing reagents, media and bulk vaccines.
Shop for Nalgene carboys
Select your carboy by plastic material
Good chemical compatibility, translucent, autoclavable | Good chemical compatibility, translucent, autoclavable | Good chemical | Good chemical | Window clear, impact resistant, freezer to autoclave | Enhanced chemical compatibility with organic solvents |
PP | PPCO | HDPE | LDPE | PC | FLPE |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
8L-50L | 9L-50L | 8L-33L | 4L-50L | 9L-20L | 9L-20L |
Milky white translucent | Milky white translucent | Milky white translucent | Milky white translucent | Window clear | Milky white translucent, yellowish tint |
Autoclavable | Autoclavable | Not autoclavable | Not autoclavable | Autoclavable | Not autoclavable |
Max use 135oC | Max use 121oC | Max use 120oC | Max use 70oC | Max use 130oC | Max use 120oC |
Brittle2 below 0oC | Brittle2 below -40oC | Brittle2 below -100oC | Brittle2 below -76oC | Brittle2 below -135oC | Brittle2 below -100oC |
Complies with Part 21 CFR 177.1520 for food use | Complies with Part 21 CFR 177.1520 for food use | Complies with Part 21 CFR 177.1520 for food use1 | Complies with Part 21 CFR 177.1520 for food use1 | Complies with Part 21 CFR 177.1580 for food use | Complies with Part 21 CFR 177.1520 for food use1 |
BPA-Free | BPA-Free | BPA-Free | BPA-Free | Contains BPA | BPA-Free |
Phthalate-free | Phthalate-free | Phthalate-free | Phthalate-free | Phthalate-free | Phthalate-free |
What chemicals are compatible with my plastic carboys?
| Acids, dilute or weak | E | E | E | E | E | E |
| Acids^ strong, concentrated | G | G | G | G | N | G |
| Alcohols, aliphatic | E | E | E | E | G | E |
| Aldehydes | G | G | G | G | F | G |
| Bases/alkali | E | E | E | E | N | F |
| Esters | G | G | G | G | N | G |
| Hydrocarbons, aliphatic | G | G | G | F | G | E |
| Hydrocarbons, aromatic | N | N | N | N | N | E |
| Hydrocarbons, halogenated | N | N | N | N | N | G |
| Ketones, aromatic | N | N | N | N | N | G |
| Oxidizing agents, strong | F | F | F | F | F | F |
For a more detailed chemical resistance guide by chemical and application temperature, please refer to Chemical resistance guide or request a printed poster for your lab or contact Nalgene Technical Support.
| E | No damage after 30 days constant exposure at 20oC. |
| G | Little or no damage after 30 days constant exposure at 20oC. |
| F | Some effect after 7 days constant exposure at 20oC. |
| N | Not recommended. Immediate damage may occur. |
Why are Nalgene carboys leakproof? It’s in the design.
Click image to enlarge
We stand behind every Nalgene carboy and jerrican you buy
Nalgene carboys and closures are engineered to work together with a strong, semi-buttress thread design that prevents stripping. We offer a leak-proof* guarantee because we manufacture and test both components together as part of our routine quality inspection process.
For help selecting the best product for you lab, use the Nalgene Bottle and Carboy Online Selection Guide ›
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Guidelines and tips for choosing the right carboy for your lab application
Nalgene containers are made from a wide variety of plastic types to meet the needs of virtually any laboratory application. Care should be taken to ensure chemical compatibility between the type of plastic chosen and the intended contents of the carboy. Likewise, some plastic materials provide better performance at high or low temperature extremes than others.
For help selecting the Nalgene carboy that are perfect for your lab applications, use our online selection guide, or request a copy of our chemical compatibility wall chart, or for personal assistance, contact the Nalgene Technical Support.
Nalgene carboys are made only from the highest-quality plastic materials that meet pharmaceutical-, laboratory- and food-grade standards; our plastic resins are selected to minimize additives and reduce potential leachables. Nalgene carboys are manufactured in our ISO 13485:2003 registered manufacturing facilities. Most of our plastic resin materials are DMF registered and meet a number of regulatory specifications including: USP Class VI, EP monographs, EU food-contact directives, CONEG, RoHS, CA Prop 65, SARA Title III Sec. 313, and 21 CFR pt 177. For regulatory claims and certifications applicable to specific Nalgene carboys, please contact Nalgene Regulatory Support at
RocRegSupport@thermofisher.com.
Resources
Related information
Additional resources
- Break the Glass Habit Brochure
- Bottle and Carboy Selection Guide
- Plastic Properties Reference Magnet
- Plastic Labware Chemical Resistance Wall Poster
Footnote:
1. HDPE and LDPE are acceptable for: Nonacid, aqueous products; may contain salt, sugar or both (pH above 5.0). Dairy products and modifications; oil-in-water emulsions, high or low fat. Moist bakery products with surface containing no free fat or oil. Dry solids with the surfaces containing no free fat or oil (no end-test required) and under all conditions as described in Table 2 of FDA Regulation 177.1520 except condition A - high temperature sterilization (e.g., over 100°C / 212°F)
2. Brittleness temp is the temperature at which an item made from the material may break or crack if dropped. This is not the lowest use temperature if care is exercised in use and handling
*The term “leakproof” applies to Thermo Scientific Nalgene products that meet the following criteria: a) Bottle/flask/funnel closure systems with closures smaller than 100mm, after they are filled with water, inverted, withstand air pressure of 2psig for 2 minutes, and no water escapes;. b) Bottle/funnel/flask closure systems of larger than 100mm after they are filled with water, inverted for 15 minutes, and no water escapes. Note: these tests, using other liquids, may not yield the same results. To ensure safe usage, customers are advised to test Thermo Scientific Nalgene bottles and closures under conditions of their planned applications. Thermo Scientific Nalgene products are leakproof at ambient temperature and pressure when used with their Nalgene closures.
^Except for oxidizing acids, see "Oxidizing acids, strong."