Product description
Plastic Tri-Clamp adapters with an integrated gasket are designed for hygienic fluid connections in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and single-use processing systems. Unlike a conventional sanitary connection in which the flange and gasket are handled as separate components, the gasket is permanently attached to the plastic adapter.
The integrated-gasket design simplifies connection assembly, reduces the number of loose components that must be positioned during installation and can help reduce errors associated with gasket alignment or handling.
Technical overview
A conventional Tri-Clamp connection normally requires two sanitary flanges, a separate gasket and a clamp. With this type of plastic adapter, the gasket is already fixed to the flange surface. This eliminates the need to manually position a loose gasket between the mating sanitary connections.
The design is particularly suitable for preconfigured and ready-to-use pharmaceutical fluid paths where consistent assembly and reduced handling of individual connection components are desirable.
The fittings are produced and packaged in an ISO Class 7 cleanroom and are available in both mini sanitary and 1-1/2 inch Tri-Clamp configurations with multiple hose-barb sizes.
Operating principle
The fitting connects flexible tubing to a hygienic Tri-Clamp process interface. One side of the adapter incorporates a hose-barb connection for attachment to the tubing, while the opposite side provides the sanitary flange.
The gasket is fixed directly to the flange. When the adapter is positioned against the mating Tri-Clamp connection, the gasket is already aligned with the sealing surface. A sanitary clamp is then installed around the two mating flanges to compress the gasket and form the connection.
Because the gasket remains attached to the adapter, there is no separate gasket that must be manually positioned, held in place or retrieved if it is dropped during installation.
Material options
The product is manufactured as a plastic sanitary fitting with an integrated gasket.
The available source information does not specify the exact polymer grade of the fitting body or the gasket material. These materials should therefore be confirmed for the required configuration before specifying chemical, temperature or process compatibility.
The stated material conformity includes USP Class VI and FDA CFR Title 21 Section 177.1520 requirements. The product is also specified as free from animal-derived ingredients.
Available micron ratings
Not applicable. This product is a hygienic fluid connection component and does not contain filtration media. It therefore has no micron or pore-size rating.
Where filtration is required, an appropriate filter can be incorporated elsewhere in the same single-use or pharmaceutical process assembly.
Design and construction
The adapter combines three functional elements in one connection component: a plastic sanitary flange, an integrated sealing gasket and a hose-barb connection for flexible tubing.
Two sanitary flange formats are available: a compact mini sanitary configuration and a standard 1-1/2 inch sanitary configuration.
| Sanitary connection | Hose barb size |
|---|---|
| Mini Tri-Clamp | 1/8" |
| Mini Tri-Clamp | 3/16" |
| Mini Tri-Clamp | 1/4" |
| Mini Tri-Clamp | 3/8" |
| Mini Tri-Clamp | 1/2" |
| Mini Tri-Clamp | 3/4" |
| 1-1/2" Tri-Clamp | 1/4" |
| 1-1/2" Tri-Clamp | 3/8" |
| 1-1/2" Tri-Clamp | 1/2" |
| 1-1/2" Tri-Clamp | 3/4" |
| 1-1/2" Tri-Clamp | 1" |
Sterilisation and conformity
The plastic sanitary adapters are suitable for integration into sterilised pharmaceutical and single-use assemblies. The stated sterilisation methods include gamma irradiation, ethylene oxide (ETO) and autoclaving.
Available conformity and production information includes:
- USP Class VI
- FDA CFR Title 21 Section 177.1520
- ISO 10993
- Animal Derived Ingredients Free (ADIF / ADCF)
- REACH conformity
- California Proposition 65 conformity
- Non-pyrogenic specification
- Produced and packaged in an ISO Class 7 cleanroom
- ETO compatible
- Autoclavable
- Gamma-sterilisable
The complete process assembly should still be evaluated as a system, because tubing, clamps and other components may have different material and sterilisation limitations.
Typical applications
Plastic Tri-Clamp adapters with integrated gaskets are intended for hygienic and aseptic fluid connections where flexible tubing must interface with a sanitary process connection.
- Single-use assemblies
- WFI sampling
- Aseptic liquid transfer
- Cell cultivation
- Cell harvest
- Fermentation
- Pharmaceutical filling
- Bag and tubing assemblies
- Process vessel connections
- Preconfigured ready-to-use fluid paths
Key benefits
- Integrated gasket: the sealing gasket remains attached to the sanitary flange instead of being handled as a separate component.
- Simplified assembly: reduces the number of individual components that must be positioned when making a Tri-Clamp connection.
- Consistent gasket positioning: the attached gasket helps maintain alignment with the flange sealing surface.
- Reduced handling: operators do not need to separately position or hold the gasket while installing the sanitary clamp.
- Suitable for single-use assemblies: can be incorporated into prefabricated fluid paths and gamma-sterilised ready-to-use assemblies.
- Multiple tubing sizes: mini and 1-1/2 inch sanitary interfaces are available with several hose-barb dimensions.
- Multiple sterilisation methods: stated compatibility includes gamma irradiation, ETO and autoclaving.
- Cleanroom production: manufactured and packaged under ISO Class 7 cleanroom conditions.
Configuration and quotation
The correct adapter should be selected according to both the sanitary process interface and the tubing dimensions used in the fluid path.
For technical selection and quotation, provide the following information where available:
- Required Tri-Clamp / sanitary connection size
- Required hose-barb size
- Tubing inner diameter and outer diameter
- Process fluid
- Operating temperature
- Operating pressure
- Required sterilisation method
- Required conformity documentation
- Whether the fitting will be supplied individually or integrated into an assembly
- Required quantity or annual demand
- Existing assembly drawing or fluid-path specification, if available
The adapter can also be incorporated into custom bag, bottle, tubing, sampling or other single-use assemblies.