Fluoroplastic Pipe
What is Fluoroplastic Pipe
Fluroplastic pipe isnormal plastic polythene molecule consists of a carbon chain with hydrogen atoms attached. Yet in fluoroplastics, hydrogen atoms are replaced with fluorine atoms, which dramatically changes their properties.PTFE, FEP, PFA and other fluoropolymers have non-stick characteristics, very high resistance to chemicals and solvents, very high electrical resistance, and incredibly, are ideal for use in very low and very high working temperatures from -200℃ right up to +260℃.By adding extra fillers to the mix, such as carbon, graphite, anti-static and ceramic, it is possible to boost these exceptional properties even further!
Advantages of Fluoroplastic Pipe
Mechanical toughness
Fluroplastic pipe has high tensile strength, making it endure mechanical stress better than other polymers
Flame Resistant
Fluroplastic pipe can withstand temperatures up to 150℃. The panels used in construction are self-extinguishing and could be designed to drop out of their mounting points to let toxic fumes, smoke and heat out of the building faster.
Nonstick surface
The surface of fluroplastic pipe does not allow for dust particles and other pollutants to build-up. This is why ETFE constructions have little to none maintenance at all. The material is considered to be self-cleaning, thus making it a good candidate for glass replacement, at least for windows. (Plus other benefits, of course.)
Abrasion and impact resistance
Fluroplastic tube of the material gives it a good tolerance towards abrasion and impact damages. The scratch resistance of the material can really prolong the life of the product, especially when it is used in industrial or other harsh conditions.
Sterilizable
Fluroplastic pipe can pass several sterilization methods, like gamma irradiation protocols or electron beam sterilization. It’s tolerance towards higher temperatures also makes it autoclavable.
Why Choose Us
Our factory
The factory is located in Yancheng, the beautiful coast of the Yellow Sea. Founded in 2007, it has 150 sets of special equipment and 100 special pipelines. The factory continues to operate in ISO9001:2000 quality system.
Advanced technology
With strong technical force, there are more than 20 middle and senior technicians in undergraduate and junior colleges. The design adopts the most advanced Japanese technology, and the research and development speed is fast, which can meet the various needs of customers.
Wide range of applications
The pipes produced by Tongtong are mainly used in the fields of machinery, chemical industry, aviation, electrical and electronics, national defense industry, cutting-edge technology, medical and electrical insulation and electrical insulation.
Our produce
The existing PTFE tubes, PTFE Plates , PTFE gaskets, PTFE Fittings and Equipments, and has the ability to develop and produce various PTFE products. Excellent products are praised by customers at home and abroad.
PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene)
Also known as Teflon®, PTFE is the grandfather of all fluoroplastics; it is the most unusual and exhibits the best performance in terms of temperature and chemical resistance, and non-stick properties. Compared with similar fluoropolymers, PTFE usually has the best price : performance ratio.
Due to its unique properties, PTFE is ideal for applications in electrical insulation and the protection of electronic components. PTFE is also widely used in high temperature applications, from fire critical applications to terminal insulation on heating elements and jet engines, and external aircraft fittings.
FEP (FluoroEthylenePropylene)
FEP was developed as a “melt processable” version of PTFE. That is, it can be processed by normal plastic methods and can easily be welded and re-moulded. FEP has very similar properties to PTFE, but has a lower maximum operating temperature of +200℃ instead of +260℃. FEP is also highly transparent and resistant to UV radiation.
FEP is widely used for laboratory applications that involves critical or highly corrosive processes. Other applications include auto sampling, chromatography, medical devices, UVC sterilisation equipment, insulation of high temperature cables and encapsulation of sensitive electrical components.
PFA (PerFluorAlkoxy)
PFA was developed as a high temperature version of FEP - it has similar properties, but it can be used at temperatures up to +260℃. PFA is a melt-processable fluoropolymer which can be injected, compressed and transfer moulded.
PFA has similar physical and chemical properties to PTFE, but it has 10 times the flex life and less permeation. PFA has an outstanding crack and stress resistance and a low coefficient friction. The main disadvantage of PFA is that it is more expensive than PTFE or FEP.
From medical tubing to heat exchangers, semi-conductor baskets, pumps and fittings, and valve liners, PFA is widely used in applications that require a higher purity grade, excellent chemical resistance and a high working temperature.
ETFE (Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene Copolymer)
ETFE is a normal thermoplastic, but it is much harder than PTFE & FEP and similar in hardness to nylon – It is therefore used as an “Engineering Plastic”. The improvement in stiffness is paid for by reduced chemical resistance and working temperature.
E-CTFE (Ethylene-Chloro Tri Fluoro Ethylene)
Used mainly for its chemical resistance, E-CTFE is a tough fluoroplastic with similar properties to ETFE.
PVDF (Poly Vinylidene Fluoride)
PVDF is a very hard plastic roughly comparable to E-CTFE and relatively cheap compared with other fluoroplastics. PVDF has good chemical resistance, but not as good as E-CTFE or ETFE.
PVDF tubing is particularly easy to hand weld and used in conjunction with PVDF sheet can be used to fabricate chemical laboratory equipment.
PVF (Polyvinyl Fluoride)
Also known as Tedlar®, PVF is an extremely robust and durable fluoroplastic with limited chemical and temperature resistance. PVF is tougher and more economical than FEP. PVF is normally used as a film in gas bags used for vehicle emission testing, solar heating panels and printing circuit laminating.
MFA (Methyl Fluoroacetate)
MFA has similar chemical, electrical and temperature properties than PFA, but offers higher clarity, low haze values and high light and UV transmittance.
EPTFE (Expanded PolyTetraFluoroEthylene)
Expanded PTFE (EPTFE) is microporous so air-permeable, and is perfect for any applications that require a permeable PTFE tube. Being microporous, EPTFE is significantly different to conventional PTFE tubing–the material is air-permeable, soft and flexible, and feels somewhat like smooth, spongey marshmallow to the touch.
Excellent Performance In Performance And Application Of Fluroplastic Pipe
The key reason why fluoroplastic pipes can stand out among so many plastic pipe products is that it is relatively good in all aspects, whether it is chemical stability or mechanical properties. It can play an important role in various industries, especially when it is combined with other components, the scope of application will be wider.
1. The applicable range of fluoroplastic pipes to temperature
After testing, it has been proved that the fluoroplastic pipe can be used for a long time in the range of minus 180 to 250 degrees. The key is that its performance can remain stable, which shows that the fluoroplastic pipe has excellent chemical properties. stability.
2. The performance of fluorine plastic pipe to acid, alkali and other substances
Fluoroplastic pipe has the characteristics of being able to withstand various strong acids, strong alkalis and strong oxidants, and it also has a high degree of insulation, which is not affected by temperature and frequency changes.
3. All other characteristics of fluoroplastic pipes
High lubricity, outstanding non-adhesion, small surface tension, etc. are all its advantages. In addition, it has good aging resistance, and it is safe and non-toxic.
4. Applicable industries of fluoroplastic pipes
Due to the characteristics mentioned above, fluoroplastic pipes can be widely used in chemical industry, machinery, electronics, electric power, textile, rubber, food, medical equipment, aviation, aerospace, communication, petroleum and other fields, and all show the Satisfactory use effect.
Select the correct fluoroplastic pipe size. The expanded tube diameter should be significantly larger than the component diameter to allow for a generous amount of shrinkage. The recovered fluoroplastic pipe diameter should be smaller than the component diameter to cover the component.
If covering a large thermal mass with ptfe, preheat the component in an oven at 400°c to prevent the chilling of the ptfe heat shrink tube which causes a loose fit.
Cut the chosen fluoroplastic pipe to the right length, allowing for a small overlap, and apply over the component to be coated.
Set the correct temperature on the hot air gun (see heat shrink temperature above) and start shrinking at one end of component. Point the gun slightly away from the direction you are shrinking to avoid premature shrinking which cause wrinkles.
Slowly rotate the component and gradually move the hot air gun along the length of the part. The gun should shrink 12mm of heat shrink for each revolution.
Take care to allow the free end of the fluoroplastic pipe to stay loose and not to bind on the component. The tube normally lengthens during shrinking, so you should observe a lengthening of the free end.
Continue to shrink past the end of the component and allow the fluoroplastic pipe to neck down to smaller diameter.
Allow the component to cool and trim the excess material with a sharp knife blade.
Fluoroplastic Pipe Production Process
Raw material selection and pretreatment
The raw materials of fluoroplastic product seals mainly include fluororesin, additives, etc. Among them, the choice of fluororesin directly affects the performance of the product. Currently, the mainstream fluororesins on the market include PTFE, PVDF, etc. The melting temperature, fluidity, crystallinity and other characteristics of these resins vary, and they need to be selected according to the use environment and performance requirements of the product.
Molding process
The molding process of fluoroplastic Pipe mainly includes injection molding, extrusion, molding, etc. Each of these processes has its own characteristics and is suitable for Pipe of different shapes and sizes.
The injection molding process is one of the most commonly used processes in the production of fluoroplastic Pipe. The molten fluororesin is injected into the mold through an injection molding machine, and the product of the desired shape is obtained after cooling. The injection molding process has the advantages of high production efficiency and high product precision. According to statistics, injection molding technology accounts for more than 60% of the production of fluoroplastic Pipe.
The extrusion process is mainly used to produce continuous fluoroplastic profiles. The molten fluororesin is extruded into profiles of a certain shape through an extruder, and then the final product is obtained through subsequent processing such as cooling and cutting.
The molding process is suitable for producing large or complex-shaped fluoroplastic product seals. By placing the raw materials into the mold and pressing them under high temperature and high pressure, the raw materials fill the mold and form the desired shape. The molding process can produce larger-sized and thicker-walled Pipe, but the production efficiency is relatively low.
Post-processing and inspection
After the fluoroplastic Pipe are formed, a series of post-processing and inspection work for seal Pipe are required. Post-processing mainly includes grinding, polishing, cleaning and other operations to improve the appearance quality and surface performance of the product. Inspection is the testing and evaluation of various performance indicators of the product to ensure that the product meets relevant standards and customer requirements.
Fluroplastic Pipe Cleaning and Worth Knowing
All fluoroplastics, PTFE, PFA and FEP have a smooth, non-wetting surface and can usually be cleaned without any problems. Abrasive scouring agents might damage the surface and result in a milkiness of the vessels–especially those made of PFA and FEP. You may use all neutral detergents (pH 7). For a stronger contamination we recommend to use an alkaline detergent up to pH 12. Clean or dry vessels in a laboratory washing machine only when they are completely opened.
Cleaning and re-utilisation of tubing
In principle, fluoroplastic tubing shall only be reused provided the material which shall be conveyed is known and rated with in the chemical resistance chart. If the first conveyed products or components of chemical compounds are unknown, the reuse of tubing cannot be recommended. Appropriate detergents are all water-soluble substances (such as salts, acids, lyes, etc.). Volatile solvents such as alcohols, ester, ketones, low-boiling hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbon, etc. will be reversibly dispended during aerated storage provided the substance was not absorbed by the inner layer of the tubing. After use with toxic or hazardous materials as well as with substances which only can be removed by using organic solvents, the tubing should be professionally disposed.
Autoclaving at +121℃ and 134℃
Vessels made of PTFE, PFA or FEP can be sterilised using steam at +121℃ / 30 minutes respectively at 134℃ / 10 minutes. Besides a steam pressure sterilisation, a dry sterilisation at +160℃ is also possible. In order to avoid any plastic deformation, vessels with screw covers or stoppers have to be open while being autoclaved respectively sterilised. Autoclaving/Sterilisation of closed vessels can destroy them. Sterilisation of vessels made of fluoropolymers with high-energy radiation, gamma radiation or electron radiation is not recommended since this can cause a degeneration of the mechanical properties of the fluoropolymers.
Cleaning for trace analysis
To prevent contamination with cations or anions in trace analysis, the vessels should first be filled with an 1N HCL and HN03 solution. This solution should be left inside the vessels for maximum 6 hours at room temperature before rinsing the vessels with clean distilled water. Following test methods, which are common in the semiconductor industry, the vessel surfaces can also be cleansed by storing them for 24 hours in deionised water at +85℃. In this case the vessels should be rinsed with deionised water as well.
Response times of temperature probes
The response time of a temperature probe is determined by introducing the probe to a step change in temperature and measuring how long the probe takes to reach a certain proportion of its final, steady-state reading. Normally, T50 (the time taken to reach 50% of the final reading) or T90 (the time taken to reach 90% of the final reading) are stated.
Field-proven method of determination: Put the temperature probe in an ice cold water bath and let it reach a steady-state. Then transfer it quickly to a column of steam and monitor its resistance until a steady state is reached again.
Fluoroplastics - Heating
It is difficult to heat PTFE due to its bad heat transmission and since the max. surface temperature may not be exceeded. There are different methods to heat PTFE vessels:
Heating by a heating mantle with surface sensor
When heating with a heating mantle, a large surface of the vessel is covered. This supports the heat transmission and reduces the heating period. The mantle must have a sensor on its surface. This probe measures the temperature on the surface of the PTFE and switches the mantle of upon exceeding +260℃. Only this way temporary overheating and harmful decomposition products are avoided.
We advise against the use of “usual” heating mantles and control systems. Their use may result in the same effects as the use of hotplates.
Heating by a thermostat
The heat transmission is provided by the bath medium (oils or other liquids). Controlled by an adjusted thermostat the temperatures on the surface of the PTFE vessel will not become too high. Depending on the immersion depth, a big surface for a good heat transmission is provided. The only disadvantage is the danger which occurs when working with oils at high temperatures.
Not appropriate methods are
- Flame (e.g. gas burner): With this method, the surface temperature cannot be controlled. Due to temporary overheating harmful decomposition products can occur.
- Hotplate: Overheating can occur as well. Usual hotplates can only be switched on or off. During the heating period, the plate is heated with full energy so that it almost glows. Afterwards, the hotplate is switched off and only heats for a few seconds. This so-called pointing is enough to exceed the maximum temperature of +260℃. It does not make sense to put the adjusting knob only to +150℃. PTFE labware char on the underside and glue to the hotplate. The thermoplastics PFA and FEP melt directly, similar to a hot-melt-type adhesive. This can be prevented by putting an aluminium foil between hotplate and vessels but dangers for health cannot be avoided.