UsingFerruleswithSRI GCs
When connecting the column to the
injection port,make sure the end of
the column is situated the proper
distance inside the injection port
and tighten the nut with your fingers
as far as it will go. Take the 7/16”
wrench and tighten the nut about
one half turn. You should be able to
feel the ferrule squish slightly, and
the column should not slide even if
you tug on it.
Soft graphite fer-
rules can be smashedor broken
if theyare tightened toomuch.
Graphite ferrules canbeused to
connect packed column tubing to
other connections besides the in-
jectionport, butmetal ferrulesmay
also be used.
Graphite reducing ferrules can
connect different sizednuts to dif-
ferent sizes of tubing to create a
gas-tight seal. In the example to
the right 1/16” stainless-steel tub-
ing is connected to a 1/8” fitting.
Graphite reducing ferrules areof-
tentimesmore convenient and less
expensive than installinga
Swagelok reducingunionand
metal ferrules. Reducing ferrules
are available inmany sizes inboth
hardand soft graphitematerials.
Page 5
Reducing ferrules fit 1/8”
nuts but hold tubing
smaller than 1/8”
A 1/8” ferrule sized to hold
a 1/8” tube is called a
straight ferrule
