Vials, caps and septa

Autosampler vials and caps for GC and HPLC

Brown supplies autosampler vials in borosilicate glass (type I, hydrolytic class 1) and in polypropylene. All glass vials are produced in a class 7 cleanroom (ISO 14644-1) and are dimensionally checked with opto-electronic equipment. This guarantees consistent quality for every vial in every batch.

Available in the following versions:

• Standard screw-top vials: 2.0 ml, 12×32 mm, screw cap 8-425 or 9-425 (clear and amber)
• XL® wide opening vials: 40% wider opening than standard, reduces needle damage; screw cap 9-425
• Crimp-top vials: 2.0 ml with 11 mm crimp neck, standard and wide opening (clear and amber)
• Snap ring vials: 2.0 ml with 11 mm snap ring, wide opening
• 4.0 ml vials: 15×45 mm, screw cap 13-425; compatible with Shimadzu AOC-14/SIL-2AS, Perkin-Elmer and Waters WISP
• Plastic micro-vials: 0.3 ml and 0.7 ml in polypropylene, 11 mm crimp or 9-425 screw cap (clear and amber)
• Maximum Recovery vials: 1.6 ml with conical bottom (50 µl); injection possible from 5 µl; wide opening, 11 mm crimp or 9-425 screw cap
• Shell vials: 2.0 ml and 4.0 ml for single use in autosamplers that do not pressurise the vial

All vials are packed in resealable transparent CLAMPACK® packaging that prevents contamination during storage and transport.

Chromatography vials for headspace analysis

Brown supplies headspace vials for virtually all common headspace autosamplers. All vials have a reinforced bottom with a specific radius design that withstands internal pressure build-up during analysis.

Compatible systems and matching vials:

In addition to crimp-top vials, magnetic screw-top headspace vials (10 and 20 ml) are also available. These vials work with a magnetic steel screw cap that is picked up by a robot magnet, so crimping is not needed. Compatible with CTC, Agilent, Gerstel, Perkin-Elmer, Shimadzu, Thermo, Varian and many others.

Crimp seals and aluminium closures

A correct seal is just as important as the vial itself. Brown supplies aluminium crimp seals in sizes 8 mm, 11 mm and 20 mm, with a wide choice of septum materials:

• Rubber/ETFE: for routine analysis, temperature range up to 120°C
• Silicone/PTFE: excellent resealability, up to 200°C
• PTFE/Silicone/PTFE: three-layer, reduces coring with multiple injections
• Butyl/PTFE: recommended for long-term storage
• Ultra Clean Silicone/PTFE: conditioned for ultra-low bleed, for GC/MS applications
• Pre-cut septa (single slit, cross slit, star slit): for easy needle penetration

All crimp seals are available in 5 colours (silver, red, blue, gold, green) for colour-coded sample organisation. Septa are pre-assembled as standard and ready to use.

Bi-Metal® magnetic crimp seals (20 mm): specially designed for the CTC Combi PAL®. The outside is aluminium for easy crimping; the inner part is tin so the robot magnet can pick up the seal. Available in red, blue, green, gold and silver, with Butyl/PTFE, Silicone/PTFE or Silicone red/PTFE septa. Also suitable for SPME (8 mm hole).

Snap-on® caps

Polyethylene snap-on caps offer a practical alternative to crimp seals: no crimper needed, easy to apply and a consistent sealing pressure of approx. 30 psi. Available in sizes 8 mm, 11 mm, 13 mm and 20 mm, and in 5 colours. Septum choice:

• PTFE, Silicone/PTFE, PTFE/Silicone/PTFE, Rubber/ETFE
• Pre-cut versions: single slit, cross slit, star slit
• Linerless (moulded septa 0.25 mm for single use)

The 11 mm snap caps are OEM-compatible with Agilent (including 5182-0540, 5182-0541, 5182-0566, 5182-0542, 5182-0550).

Limited volume inserts and micro-sampling

For analyses with small sample volumes or costly standards, Brown offers a complete system of Microsert® limited volume inserts:

• Conical inserts in 50, 100 and 300 µl
• Cylindrical inserts in 200 and 400 µl
• Hanging inserts (156105): centre automatically in the vials without spring or plastic feet, for wide-opening crimp vials

Vials are also available with pre-assembled inserts (hanging, integrated and bonded), for immediate use without extra accessories.

Screw caps and septa

Polypropylene 8-425 and 9-425 screw caps are available as open top (for separate septa) and with pre-assembled septum. Colours: natural, black, blue, red, yellow, green. Septum choice: Silicone/PTFE, PTFE/Silicone/PTFE, Rubber/ETFE, Butyl/PTFE and pre-cut versions. An Ultra Clean version for GC/MS is also available.

Vial kits in KITPACK®

All autosampler vial kits are supplied in the resealable transparent KITPACK® packaging. Each kit contains vials and matching closures with a pre-assembled septum, so you can start right away. Available as:

• Screw vials with 8-425 screw caps (clear or amber, 6 septum variants)
• XL® screw vials with XL® 9-425 caps (clear or amber, 6 variants)
• Crimp vials with 11 mm aluminium crimp seals (clear or amber, 6 variants)
• Crimp vials with 11 mm snap caps (clear or amber, 8 variants)
• Plastic PP vials with crimp seal, snap cap or screw cap (clear or amber)

Storage and accessories

• Vialtainer®: storage racks for 77 (12×32 mm) or 88 (15×45 mm) vials, clear polystyrene with alphanumeric indexing
• Vialstation®: acrylic stations for 28 or 50 vials, stable on the lab bench; crimping is possible while the vials are still in the station
• Crimpers and decrimpers: manual steel version in sizes 8, 11, 13, 20, 28, 30 and 32 mm
• Decapper pliers: economical plier version for 8, 11, 13 and 20 mm

Other products in the range

• Serum bottles (10 to 100 ml, clear and amber) with 20 mm aluminium crimp, stoppers and freeze-dry stoppers
• Injection vials (5 to 50 ml, type I borosilicate glass) with Standard, Tear-Away and One-Piece crimp seals
• Sample vials (1.5 to 60 ml) for general storage with phenolic screw caps and a choice of SBR, Butyl/PTFE, cork/PTFE or cork/aluminium liners
• Bio-Grip culture vials (4 to 12 ml): autoclavable, for safe handling of infectious material
• EPA/VOA vials (20 to 60 ml) for water sample analysis of volatile organic compounds
• Soil test bottles (150 ml, GL45) for soil sample analysis
• GC injection port septa: premium silicone in 9.5 / 11.0 / 12.5 / 17.0 mm; standard (300/350/400°C) and ultra-low bleed (325/400°C); a Shimadzu-specific version is also available
• Scintillation vials (20 ml, low-potassium borosilicate glass) for radionuclide counting

Why choose our chromatography vials and caps?

Broadly compatible: Brown vials and caps are designed as drop-in replacements for OEM products from Agilent, Shimadzu, Perkin-Elmer, Thermo Scientific, Waters, Varian, CTC, SGE, Unicam, Beckman and more. You use the same vials without being tied to one manufacturer.

Controlled quality: Production in a certified cleanroom (ISO 14644-1 class 7 / US Federal Standard 209E class 10,000). Type I borosilicate glass (hydrolytic class 1, SCHOTT™). Quality assurance according to ISO 9001.

Complete range in one place: From micro insert to 100 ml serum bottle, from crimp seal to crimper: everything from one supplier. This simplifies purchasing and guarantees compatibility between vial, cap and septum.

Fast delivery: Inacom supplies the most common items directly from stock. Less waiting, less downtime in your laboratory.

Personal advice: Not sure which septum material best suits your application, or which vial is compatible with your autosampler? Our specialists are happy to help you find the right combination.

Frequently asked questions

Are Brown vials compatible with my Agilent autosampler?

Yes. Brown supplies vials that are direct OEM replacements for the Agilent 7693, 7683, 7673, 1050, 1090, 1100, 1200, 1260 and 1290. Both standard and XL® wide opening vials are available, with matching crimp seals and snap caps.

Which septum material should I choose for GC/MS?

For GC/MS applications where low septum bleed is essential, we recommend the Ultra Clean Silicone/PTFE septa. These are conditioned to remove siloxanes. They are available in both aluminium crimp seals and screw caps.

Can I use Brown headspace vials in my Perkin-Elmer HS system?

Yes. Brown supplies headspace vials produced specifically for the Perkin-Elmer F42, F45, HS40, HS100, HS101, HS110, HS6 and HS16, with the correct beveled top and reinforced bottom.

What is the difference between crimp, snap and screw cap?

Crimp seals are fitted to the vial with a crimper and offer the best pressure resistance. Snap-on caps offer a comparable seal without the need for a crimper. Screw caps are the quickest to open but less suitable for higher internal pressure. We are happy to advise which closure best suits your application.