Valco Instruments

If fittings do not make leak-tight seals, the system will not perform properly, no matter how expensive or sophisticated an analytical system’s valves, columns, detectors, or integrators might be. The fittings must also be inert relative to the sample components, provide a flow path which does not induce any turbulence or mixing, and add as little volume as possible to the system.

Fitting designs which best address the aspect of added volume allow the tube ends to butt directly to each other or have bores which match the tubing bore, leaving no dead or unswept volume. Such fittings are called zero dead volume fittings.