Greene Tweed strengthens high-performance materials portfolio for analytical and life sciences 

Greene Tweed, which has operated for 160 years as a specialist in engineered polymers, focuses on high-performance materials for analytical and life sciences applications. The company designs and manufactures thermoplastics, elastomers and sealing solutions that must maintain performance under aggressive chemical, pressure and temperature conditions typical of modern laboratory and clinical instruments.

In this sector, components in analytical instrumentation must retain dimensional stability, chemical resistance and mechanical strength in harsh environments. Material choice is therefore critical for instrument uptime, data quality and safety. Greene Tweed has drawn on more than a century of applied material science to support a wide range of analytical and life sciences platforms, including chromatography systems, haematology analysers, DNA synthesis equipment, pumps and solenoid valves.

At the core of this strategy sits a portfolio of elastomers and thermoplastics that has been developed for thermal stability, chemical resistance and robust mechanical performance. One of the flagship families is Chemraz^® perfluoroelastomer (FFKM), which the company describes as its most chemically resistant elastomeric material. Chemraz formulations tolerate a broad spectrum of aggressive solvents, acids and bases and carry temperature ratings up to 323 °C (615 °F).  

This combination of properties has positioned Chemraz for use in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems, tissue processing platforms, automated synthesis equipment, blood analysers and other analytical instruments where seal failure could compromise sample integrity or safety.

Chemraz compounds can form O-rings, gaskets and more complex seal geometries, which allows engineers to incorporate the material into both standard interfaces and highly customised assemblies. Field experience in analytical laboratories has supported claims of long service life and predictable performance under repeated thermal and chemical cycling.

Alongside elastomers, Greene Tweed has promoted its thermoplastic families, including Arlon^® and Avalon^®. Arlon is based on polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a tough and rigid engineering thermoplastic with high chemical resistance, low moisture uptake and good mechanical strength at elevated temperatures.  

Avalon^® materials derive from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) technology and target applications that require high lubricity, flexibility at low temperature and strong resistance to aggressive media. Avalon components exhibit a low coefficient of friction and robust resistance to strong acids.

The company has also emphasised its Metal Spring Energized (MSE^®) seal technology. These custom-designed seals maintain contact under extreme temperatures, high pressures and corrosive chemical exposure. Variants such as Canted Coil MSE seals support applications where precise movement are critical.

Further elastomer families include Fusion^® fluoroelastomer (FKM) and Fluoraz^® fluoroelastomer (FEPM). Fusion FKM targets environments with high temperatures, high  pressures and corrosive chemicals and often appears in O-rings, seals and gaskets. Fluoraz FEPM focuses on extreme resistance to volatile chemicals, acids and bases and retains performance in high-temperature steam, which can confer several advantages compared with standard fluoroelastomer solutions.

Greene Tweed supports these material systems with a global engineering network. More than 200 engineers worldwide provide exceptional responsiveness and support for your most critical applications. This network aims to ensure consistent excellence in service across multiple regions and regulatory markets.

The company has framed its position in the analytical and life sciences sector around reliability and collaboration. Its experts work with customers to match material properties to specific challenges such as aggressive solvent gradients in chromatography, extended exposure to biological samples in haematology analysers or repeated thermal cycling in DNA synthesizers. By focusing on tailored solutions rather than generic components, Greene Tweed seeks to support technological advances in analytical science while it safeguards uptime, sample integrity and operator safety. at perform without fail. Greene Tweed is committed to delivering innovative and customized solutions that drive your technological advances. Let our experts help you find the right material for your specific challenge.