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Introduction
All of the materials from which BetterBottle carboys, and fittings are made have been carefully selected and tested. All are approved for food and beverage use by the FDA and/or NSF (see below).
Suggested Uses -
BetterBottle carboys and fittings are primarily intended for
use with fluid mixtures or solutions that would generally be considered
potable (e.g., wine, beer, distilled spirits, juices, teas, water etc.).
BetterBottle carboys, plain or equipped with fittings, function extremely
well as fermenters or as containers for potable water. The carboys and
fittings can be washed and sanitized with aqueous solutions of the washing
and sanitizing agents commonly used in winemaking, brewing, and home dish
washing, provided recommended concentrations and contact times are
observed (see the Wash/Sanitize
tab at the left of this page).
| BetterBottle Materials
Listing | ||||
| Materials |
Items |
Approval |
Temperature Limits
For Items
| |
| Working |
Washing | |||
| PET - nominally
amorphous (Clear) |
• Bottle bodies | FDA Kosher statement |
-30 to
60°C -22 to 140°F see low temp footnote1 |
<60° C (<140°F)2 |
| PET - nominally
crystalline (Opaque) |
• Racking Adapter (body &
nut) |
FDA | -20 to
75°C -4 to 167°F see low temp footnote1 |
<75° C (<167°F)2 |
| Teflon (PTFE) | • Racking Adapter Slip
Washers • Pail Adapter Slip Washer |
FDA | -40 to
200°C -40 to 400°F |
OK to Boil |
| Teflon
(FEP)-Encapsulated Viton |
• Racking Adapter body
O-ring • PET Closure large O-ring |
FDA | -26 to
200°C -15 to 400°F |
OK to Boil |
| Viton | • SimpleFlo Valve
O-rings • Pail Adapter body O-ring • PET Closure small O-ring • DryTrap O-ring • Racking Adapter lock O-ring • Pail Adapter lock O-ring |
FDA | -26 to
200°C -15 to 400°F |
OK to Boil |
| Buna-N (replaced with Viton 1st Qtr of 2009) |
• Racking Adapter lock
O-ring • Pail Adapter lock O-ring |
FDA or NSF |
-40 to
120°C -40 to 250°F |
OK to Boil |
| PET-Lined polyolefin tubing | • Outer layer
of Bev-Seal Ultra® PET-lined tubing |
NSF | -30 to
60°C -22 to 140°F |
<60° C (<140°F)2 |
| High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) | •
Funnel |
NSF | -40 to
120°C -40 to 250°F |
OK to Boil |
| Polypropylene (PP) | • Closure Fittings hose barbs | FDA | -40 to
135°C -40 to 275°F |
OK to Boil |
| 302 & 316 Stainless | • DryTrap
retainer & clip • SimpleFlo valve ring & clip |
NSF | N/A | OK to Boil |
| Borosilicate Glass | • DryTrap ball | NSF | N/A | OK to Boil |
1 PET becomes somewhat brittle at very low temperatures. 2 Refer to the Clean/Sanitize tab at the left side of this page for details regarding safe water temperatures. | ||||
The special PETs used to make BetterBottle carboys and fittings are extremely resistant to chemical damage. However, there are some chemicals that can damage them, just as there are some chemicals that can damage most other materials used in winemaking and brewing (e.g., glass, stainless steel, rubber, vinyl, nylon, polystyrene, acetal, polyolefins (PE, HDPE, PP) etc.).1,2 In general, contact with concentrated aliphatic ketones (e.g., essence oils) should be avoided and contact with strong caustics, including caustic detergents, should be minimized (see the Wash/Sanitize tab at the left of this page). The following table of chemicals that are known to damage BetterBottle carboys and the components of BetterBottle fittings is intended only to highlight those chemicals that are especially likely to be encountered by winemakers and brewers. It is not intended as comprehensive list. For more complete data regarding chemical resistance see the references cited below.1-6 Suitability for particular application that is not specifically recommended by BetterBottle must be carefully determined by responsible persons, who are familiar with the science of plastic materials, state and federal regulations, and the particular application.
Note: Though not recommended as storage containers for concentrated alcohols, because alcohols are flammable, it is worth noting that BetterBottle carboys are very resistant to alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, and iso-propanol. If a BetterBottle carboy has been labeled using a magic marker type of pen, the writing can be removed using one of these alcohols.
| Short Table Of Common Chemicals
To Avoid | ||||||||
| Chemical
|
% Conc. |
Temp °C |
PET (Carboys) |
PET (Fittings) |
Viton
|
Teflon (FEP & PTFE) |
HDPE
/ LDPE
|
PP
|
| Acetic Acid | 5-6 |
15-25 |
Slow Deterioration |
Slow Deterioration |
Slow Deterioration |
OK |
OK |
OK |
| Hydrochloric Acid |
10 |
15-25 |
Slow Deterioration |
Slow Deterioration |
OK |
OK |
OK |
OK |
| Ketones (Aliphatic) |
80 |
15-25 |
Rapid Damage |
Damaged |
Damaged |
OK |
Damaged |
Slow Deterioration |
| Ammonium hydroxide |
6 |
15-25 |
Slow Deterioration |
Slow Deterioration |
Slow Deterioration |
OK |
OK |
OK |
| Potassium hydroxide |
10 |
15-25 |
Damaged |
Damaged |
Slow Deterioration |
OK |
OK |
OK |
| Sodium hydroxide |
10 |
15-25 |
Damaged |
Damaged |
Slow Deterioration |
OK |
OK |
OK |
1 Cole-Parmer - Chemical Resistance Data Base (Accessed 09/15/2011)
2 Nalgene Labware - General Chemical Resistance Data Base (Accessed 09/15/2011)
3 Southeastern Automation, Inc. - Rosemount Analytical Division - Chemical Resistance Chart (Accessed 09/15/2011)
4 Harrington Industrial Plastics, LLC - Chemical Resistance Guide (Accessed 09/15/2011)
5 Apple Rubber Products - Chemical Compatibility (Accessed 09/15/2011)
6 Moskala,E.J. and Jones, M. Evaluating Environmental Stress Cracking of Medical Plastics. Medical Plastics and Biomaterials. May, 1998 (Accessed 09/15/2011)
BetterBottle carboys are incredibly durable (See the Durability tab to the left of this screen), because they have been carefully designed and the special PET used to make them has amazing tensile strength and resistance to flex fatigue. Because they are so durable, It is tempting to aerate or de-gas by vigorously rocking or swirling filled carboys. If this is done on a solid surface, with the carboys vertical, the PET around the edge of the bottom will be flexed into temporary, but deep, wrinkles that will stress the PET unnecessarily and may eventually cause cracks to develop. See the How-To Tips section, under the Product Information tab at the top of this page for suggested methods for rocking and swirling.