COC and COP Manifolds
COC and COP plastics offer many advantages over traditional amorphous plastics used in fluidic manifolds (such as acrylic, polycarbonate, and Ultem). COC and COP plastics retain their properties to near glass temperature, and they are suitable for optical applications.
COC and COP Manifolds At A Glance
- Best in class for transparency and light transmission
- Low autofluorescence, UV transparent for fluorescent imaging applications
- Low water absorption (hydrophobic, less than 10x acrylic)
- Biocompatible
- Superior chemical resistance for the amorphous material class
- Resists most polar solvent like acetone, and methanol and acids and alkalis,
- Very brittle and hard; does not scratch easily
- Wide range of grades to 275°F working temperature
- Suitable for optical applications
- Excellent durability
- Dimensionally stable
- Low creep
More about COC & COP for Fluidic Manifolds
COC and COP plastics share glass’s exceptional optical properties while also offering exceptional transparency, low birefringence, a high Abbe number, and high heat resistance. Unlike polycarbonate and acrylics, COC and COP exhibit moisture insensitivity, giving them an advantage over competing materials.
The materials’ biocompatibility makes COC/COP great options for microfluidics and life science, although the unavailability of stock shapes is a potential downside.