Life Science Pharmaceuticals
Corrosion-Resistant Products for Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical manufacturing demands a level of material discipline that goes beyond corrosion resistance alone. Process fluids include concentrated acids, caustics, solvents, and active pharmaceutical ingredients that attack conventional piping and equipment. At the same time, product purity requirements mean that the materials in contact with process fluids must not leach, contaminate, or degrade in ways that compromise product quality or regulatory compliance.
Cortrol supplies corrosion-resistant piping, hose, pumps, valves, and chemical storage products for life science, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing applications. Our product line includes fluoropolymer-lined piping, high-purity silicone and PTFE hoses, sealless pumps, and supporting components selected for compatibility with the aggressive chemicals and strict purity standards found in pharmaceutical processing environments.
Cortrol supplies corrosion-resistant fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) equipment and components for odor control systems, including scrubber vessels, ductwork, exhaust stacks, dampers, and the chemical feed systems that support them. Our products are sourced from manufacturers with decades of experience building FRP equipment for corrosive air handling and gas treatment applications.
PTFE-Lined Piping
Life Science and Pharmaceutical process piping frequently handles concentrated acids, caustics, solvents, and cleaning chemicals that require both broad chemical resistance and a non-contaminating fluid contact surface. PTFE lining provides near-universal chemical resistance combined with a non-reactive, non-leaching surface that supports product purity requirements.
Cortrol supplies PTFE-lined steel pipe and fittings from ChemTite (a division of Andronaco Industries) for pharmaceutical chemical handling applications. ChemTite PTFE-lined piping is selected by pharmaceutical process engineers for its higher-quality liners suited to high-purity service and VentGuard inserts that manage permeation to extend pipe life in highly corrosive chemical service.
For utility, waste treatment, and chemical storage piping where PTFE lining is not required, Cortrol also supplies FRP pipe and fittings, thermoplastic pipe, and dual-laminate piping systems.
High-Purity Hose
Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical process systems rely on flexible hose connections for fluid transfer, filling, portable equipment hookups, CIP jumpers, and other applications where rigid piping is not practical. The two materials that meet pharmaceutical purity requirements are platinum-cured silicone and smooth bore PTFE, and Cortrol supplies both through PureFlex (a division of Andronaco Industries).
PureFlex hose products relevant to pharmaceutical applications include:
Platinum-cured silicone hoses. Manufactured from biopharmaceutical grade elastomer meeting or exceeding USP 23 Class VI, FDA 21CFR-177.2600, USDA, and 3A criteria. These hoses are designed for fluid transfer, filling, and steam or air service in pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing. They impart no taste or odor, feature high tear resistance and hydrophobic properties, and are available in wire reinforced and braid reinforced configurations.
Smooth-bore PTFE hoses. Chemical-resistant hoses with broad compatibility for solvents, acids, caustics, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. PTFE provides a non-reactive, non-leaching fluid contact surface suitable for high-purity chemical transfer.
FlexChem® hoses. Fluoropolymer-lined chemical transfer hoses with full-flow design, corrosion resistance, and the flexibility needed for process connections in pharmaceutical chemical handling systems.
Pumps
Pump selection in life sciences and pharmaceutical applications are driven by two priorities: chemical compatibility with the process fluid and prevention of contamination from the pump itself. Mechanical seal failures are a primary source of both leaks and product contamination in chemical pumping applications.
Cortrol supplies sealless magnetic drive pumps from ANSIMAG and Finish Thompson for pharmaceutical chemical transfer. Sealless mag drive pumps eliminate mechanical seals entirely, removing the most common source of leaks and fugitive emissions. ANSIMAG pumps feature ETFE-lined wetted components for broad chemical resistance. Finish Thompson offers mag drive centrifugal pumps in polypropylene, PVDF, and ETFE-lined construction, as well as vertical and multistage configurations for pharmaceutical process layouts.
For waste handling, slurry transfer, and utility service, RamParts heavy-duty AODD pumps provide sealless, air-driven operation capable of handling corrosives, abrasives, and viscous fluids.
Valves
Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical chemical systems require valves that combine chemical resistance with reliable shutoff and precise flow control. Valve material mismatches in solvent, acid, or caustic service can lead to chemical attack, leaks, and product contamination.
Cortrol supplies corrosion-resistant butterfly, ball, plug, diaphragm, and sampling valves with wetted materials selected for compatibility with specific pharmaceutical process and utility chemicals. Sampling valves support quality control and in-process testing requirements.
Chemical Storage
Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical manufacturing relies on bulk storage of process chemicals including, acids, caustics, solvents, and cleaning solutions for CIP systems. Tank material must be compatible with the stored chemical at full concentration and temperature, and in some cases must also prevent contamination of the stored product.
Cortrol supplies FRP tanks, polyethylene tanks, and lined steel tanks for pharmaceutical chemical storage applications. Tank selection depends on the specific chemical, concentration, temperature, and whether the application is process-side or utility-side service.
Cortrol supplies the components that make up a complete scrubber chemical feed system:
Supporting Components
Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical piping and process systems include flanged connections, equipment interfaces, and flexible transitions that require the same level of chemical resistance and material integrity as the major system components.
Expansion Joints
PTFE expansion joints absorb thermal movement, vibration, and misalignment in chemical piping systems, protecting glass-lined reactors, FRP piping, and other stress-sensitive equipment connections common in pharmaceutical process layouts.
Gaskets
PTFE gaskets provide chemically resistant sealing at flanged connections throughout process and utility piping systems.
Custom Fabrication
Frontier Plastic Fabricators provides custom spools, headers, nozzles, and fittings to address the non-standard transitions and connections common in pharmaceutical facility piping layouts.
Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical Applications Served
Cortrol’s products support a range of pharmaceutical manufacturing applications, including:
- API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) production and intermediate processing
- Solvent handling and recovery systems
- Acid and caustic chemical feed and distribution
- Clean-in-place (CIP) chemical supply piping
- Waste treatment and neutralization systems
- Utility chemical storage and distribution
Get Application-Specific Support
Pharmaceutical manufacturing presents unique requirements around chemical compatibility, purity, and regulatory compliance. Cortrol can help evaluate your process chemicals, operating conditions, and system layout to identify piping, hose, pump, and valve solutions that meet both your corrosion resistance and product integrity requirements.