Silonite™ Advantage

Stainless steel and glass are the most commonly used materials in GC Inlet and sample handling systems. However, surface imperfections and inherent chemical dependent adsorption exist with even the highest quality 316L stainless steel, causing substantial losses of vapor phase chemicals. At elevated temperatures, surface metal oxides can be catalytic, especially exposed iron on the surface or in pores below the surface. The fact that 316SS is about 67%-70% iron makes catalytic losses a certainty unless the surface is treated with Silonite™. Glass, although more inert than stainless steel, also contains additives which have a negative effect on surface inertness. These include Iron, Sodium and Boron.

Placing a thin layer of Silonite™ over these surfaces eliminates exposure of the sample to these reactive additives and impurities.

Silonite™ Coating

Silonite™ is a ceramic coating treatment developed by Entech to provide an extremely inert surface for chromatography applications. Silonite™ creates an ultra-smooth surface which reduces the potential for chemical adsorption. The high density Silonite™ coating nearly eliminates absorption effects prevalent in plastics such as: Teflon®, Tedlar® or Siloxane treated surfaces.

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SUMMA vs Silonite™ & other TO-15 Canisters

Comparing SUMMA Canisters & Silonite™ Canisters for Air Monitoring – What’s Best? It was about 30 years ago that the first release of EPA Method TO-14 appeared for monitoring of VOCs in ambient air that specified the use of 6L stainless steel canisters having a special internal “SUMMA” passivation to improve chemical inertness…

Silonite™ Applications

We have dozens of examples of ultra inert Silonite™ coated projects, click below to see a few!

The Color Secret

What makes Silonite™ coated parts so colorful? Placing a smooth, transparent coating over stainless steel surfaces results in a phenomenon known as “thin film interference” where light reflecting off the Silonite™ ceramic coating becomes out of phase with light reflecting off the stainless steel surface below. The cancellation of part of the light spectrum and enhancement of other wavelengths turns normal white light into one of several different shades exhibited by Silonite™ coated parts. The actual color formed is an indication of the thickness of the coating. As the thickness increases from 150–1000 angstroms, the apparent color of Silonite™ coating goes through a color progression.

Coated Deactivated Loops

Silonite™ Coated Loops are pre-bent before coating. This creates the most inert internal surface possible. Loops are batch tested using dry, polar standards at room temperature to verify complete inertness.

Download the Silonite™ brochure

Silonite™ is more inert than Metal or Glass and reduces Porosity of Metal Surfaces. Silonite™ is applied as an Ultra Thin Coating which allows complete Surface Bonding.

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