Extruded PTFE Tubing Properties

More and more, PTFE tubing is replacing carbon and other metal piping that deteriorates rapidly. Now and for the future, PTFE will continue to serve the industry in critical applications.

Chemical Qualities*: PTFE is inert to the following chemicals

Inorganic Chemicals	Organic Chemicals	Other
Aqua Regia	Alcohols	Biological Fluids
Hydrofluoric Acid	Esters	Fragrances
Fuming Sulfuric Acid	Ketones	Food
Chlorosulfuric Acid	Highly Halogenated Organics	Printing Inks & Dyes
Boiling Sodium Hydroxide Solution	Aromatic Solvents	Low Level Radioactive Substances
Chlorine Gas	Amines	Oxidizers
Hydrogen Peroxide		Industrial Oils
Acid Chlorides
Hot, Fuming Nitric Acid

*Among the only chemicals known to attack PTFE are molten alkali metals and their solutions, chlorine trifluoride, and gaseous fluorine at elevated temperatures and pressures.

Thermal Qualities:

PTFE tubing can withstand temperatures up to 680 °F for limited periods of time.* Under cryogenic conditions, PTFE remains strong down to -320 °F.

*Above 500 °F, mechanical properties become a limiting factor

Electrical Qualities:

PTFE tubing has superb electrical properties, indicated by a low dielectric constant of 2.1 between -40 °F and 480 °F within a frequency range of 5 Hz to 10 GHz.

PTFE tubing is also an excellent insulator with surface resistivity of 3.6 X 1012 ohms (even at 100% relative humidity).

Short time dielectric strengths range from 500 volts/mil (1 mil = 10-3 in) for thicknesses greater than 100 mils to 4000 volts/mil for very thin films.

UV and Radiation Qualities*:

Extruded PTFE tubing has excellent UV resistance and weatherability, with a radiation dose threshold for PTFE at 2 – 7 X 104 rads. Absence of oxygen increases radiation resistance by a factor of at least 10.

*Resistance to electron and gamma radiation is relatively poor

Wear and Friction Qualities:

PTFE tubing has a relatively slippery and smooth surface, with a static coefficient of friction of 0.08 and 500 psi load.

The PTFE properties make it particularly suitable for use as bearing pads, under high pressure-low velocity load conditions. Examples are bridge bearing pads, pipe support pads, and mounting pads for heavy manufacturing.

Short List Applications:

1. Non-Shrink & Heat Shrink Tubing
2. Heat Exchangers
3. Coatings
   1. Carburetor Shafts
   2. Medical Catheter Guide Wires
   3. Mold Release
   4. Cryogenic Applications
   5. Automotive Brake Parts
   6. Jet Fuel Filters
   7. Bearing Pads

Chemical Reasoning for PTFE Properties

High C-F Bond Strength & No UV Absorption Sites		Thermal Stability Oxidative Stability Non-Flammability Chemical Resistance Resistance to Weathering
Enormous Chain Length		High Melt Viscosity
Low Inter-chain Forces		Excellent ToughnessLow Coefficient of Friction
Low Forces Between F Atoms and Molecules		InsolubilityLow Solvent Absorption
High Crystallinity		Non-Stick PropertiesLow Water Absorption
No Permanent Dipole		Low Dielectric Constant
No Surface Chemistry		High Static Charge

Source:http://ptfe-machinery.com/extruded-ptfe-tubing-properties/