Fluoropolymer materials

The main characteristics of fluoropolymers are chemical inertness, high heat resistance, low coefficient of friction, UV resistance and excellent electrical insulation properties. ScanTube fluoropolymer tubing and profiles are ideal for chemical, electrical, automotive, mechanical and heat exchanger applications. The main difference within the fluoropolymer materials is that PTFE is not melt processable, all other is. PTFE can not be injection or blow molded, extruded by conventional means, nor vacuum formed.

If you follow the links on the navigationbar on top of the page will find find general information about the fluoropolymer materials we use and if you follow the links just below you will find a summary of properties for the fluoropolymer materials processed by ScanTube.

Summary of properties PTFE, PFA and FEP
Summary of properties MFA, THV and ETFE
Summary of properties ECTFE, PVDF and PEEK

ScanTube only user first class resins associated with manufacturers such as:

DuPont (Teflon^®, Tefzel^® ), Dyneon (Dyneon^TM), Daikin (Neoflon^®), Victrex (Peek^®), Asahi (Fluon^®), Solvay Solexis (Algoflon^®, Hyflon^®, Halar^®, Solef ^®,  Hylar^®), Arkema (Kynar^®, Kynarflex ^®).

PTFE is the most chemically resistant plastic known. Only a few chemicals react with it. It has excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties and a low coefficient of friction. Its mechanical properties are low compared to other engineered plastics, but it can be improved by adding fillers such as glass fiber, carbon, graphite and similar materials. PTFE has almost ideal dielectric properties. Its dielectric constant (2.1) and power-loss factor (0.0002) are low and remain so over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies. In certain applications, such as fuel hoses, some electrical conductivity is required to dissipate static charges. When exposed to flame, PTFE decomposes leaving just a little residue. PTFE is extremely inert and stable up to a temperature of 260 ° C. Take the flame away and PTFE goes out. PTFE is also virtually unaffected by oxygen, ozone and UV light. Since the PTFE is not melt processable, it must be compressed and then sintered to become a useful plastic. PTFE, though a thermoplastic, has a viscosity at its melt temperature so high it cannot be processed by conventional extruding or molding techniques.

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PFA is a melt processable fluoropolymer resin with a very high purity. Its properties are those of PTFE and include resistance to practically all chemicals, broad temperature range, resistance to weathering, low friction and excellent electrical insulation properties. More specifically, PFA is a fluorocarbon where the carbon atoms are fully bonded to fluorine atoms. The carbon-fluorine single bond is among the strongest known and results in PFA being virtually chemically inert and nonwettable by fluids such as water. General plastics and elastomers, in contrast to metals, absorb varying quantities of materials they contact, especially organic liquids. Absorptives in PFA are unusually low and a chemical reaction between the resin and other substances is rare. Closely related to absorption is permeation. PFA displays the highest resistance to creep of all fluoropolymer resins except PTFE, which is important in the design of fluid handling systems.

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FEP process by conventional means. PTFE and FEP are similar in their excellent dielectric properties, chemical inertness, toughness at low temperature, low coefficient of friction, anti-stick properties and weatherability. The property differences between PTFE and FEP lie mainly in their upper service temperature limitations. FEP is more transparent and has a higher modulus of elasticity at low temperatures than PTFE. As all fluoropolymers, it can be steamed or chemically sterilized according to any industrial method. FEP is very transparent and together with its weatherability, it is for example ideal for use in sight gauges. It meets FDA requirements for repeated contact with food. Non-stick properties allow transport of viscous, sticky materials without line clogging.

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MFA is designed for high temperature applications in the chemical and electrical industry. Furthermore, items fabricated with MFA exhibit outstanding surface smoothness. This surface means less cross-contamination, greater product yield, and a system that is easier to clean. MFA shows good mechanical properties over a broad temperature range, from cryogenic to 250 ° C. MFA shows very low haze values and very high values of transmittance both in the visible region and also in the UV region. As well as PFA and FEP, MFA have low friction coefficient values, slightly higher than the lowest value shown by PTFE.

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THV offers high resistance to chemicals, high flexibility, low processing temperature and excellent transparency. It can be e-beam cross-linked and it can be used in multilayer constructions. It has excellent permeation resistance to hydrocarbon and "flex" fuels and other aggressive chemicals. THV features exceptional optical clarity and transmittance, particulary in the UV and visible regions of the solar spectrum. It is also easier to bond to many elastomers and plastics than other fluoropolymers.

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ETFE has excellent mechanical strength, toughness and stress crack resistance combined with excellent chemical resistance, electrical and thermal properties. It provides excellent resistance to attack by chemicals and solvents. In addition to its chemical resistance, ETFE has excellent mechanical strength, stiffness and abrasion resistance. This may be important for process applications where abrasive slurries often accelerate wear and degradation of alternative materials.

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ECTFE has excellent electrical insulating properties. At ambient temperatures, its mechanical properties compare to those of nylon 6. It has superb impact resistance at ambient and sub ambient temperatures. ECTFE has good resitance against chemicals and extremely low permeation rate. The weatherability and resistance to radiation is excellent.

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PVDF has very good creep resistance that is superior to that of other fluoropolymers. Its exceptional properties include; low smoke generation and flame spread, mechanical strength and toughness, high abrasion resistance, thermal stability and purity, and resistance to most chemicals and solvents. PVDF is resistant to UV light and radiation and shows low permeability to most gases and liquids. It has high dielectric strength, and high dissipation factor limits at high frequencies. There are two types of PVDF, the standard one is rigid, the second type is more flexible.

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PEEK is a high temperature engineering thermoplastic, and technically not a fluoropolymer type of material. It is insoluble in all common solvents and, being semicrystalline, has excellent resistance to a very wide range of organic and inorganic liquids. PEEK has excellent creep and wear resistance, even at very high temperatures. Together with the good flexural and tensile characteristics, the creep properties of PEEK provide an excellent balance of properties for applications where the material is required to withstand high loading for long periods at high temperatures without permanent deformation.

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