An Introduction to Chemours Fluoropolymers - Teflon PTFE, PFA, FEP Fluoropolymers Tefzel ETFE Fluoropolymer Zonyl PTFE Fluoroadditive
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An Introduction to Chemours™ Fluoropolymers Teflon™ PTFE, PFA, FEP Fluoropolymers Tefzel™ ETFE Fluoropolymer Zonyl™ PTFE Fluoroadditive
Vision, Mission, and Core Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Sustainability Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Quality Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Trademark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Product Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Outstanding Properties of Chemours™ Fluoropolymers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 PTFE Fluoropolymers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Melt-Processable Fluoropolymers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Properties of Teflon™ Fluoropolymers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Teflon™ PTFE Granular Molding Resins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Teflon™ PTFE Fine Powders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Teflon™ PTFE Aqueous Dispersions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Zonyl™ PTFE Fluoroadditives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Teflon™ FEP Resins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Teflon™ PFA Resins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Tefzel™ ETFE Resins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Major End-Use Industry Segments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Chemical Processing Industry (CPI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Food Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Oil and Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Aerospace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Semiconductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Cabling Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Electronics/Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 General Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Chemours™ Fluoropolymers Manufacturing Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Growing With the Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Global Research and Technical Service Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Reference Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Vision, Mission, and Core Values to meet or exceed the customer needs that are consistent
with our business strategy.
Vision
We bring Higher Value Chemistry to our customers, Quality
investors, and society. A primary concern of our company and organization is
the quality of our products and services. In order to be
Our Purpose
successful, we offer products or services that:
We help create a colorful, capable, and cleaner world
• Meet a well-defined need, use or purpose
through the power of chemistry.
• Meet customer expectations
Values
• Comply with applicable standards and specifications
The values of Chemours are the cornerstone of who we
• Comply with statutory (and other) requirements of
are and what we stand for. They are:
society
• Customer Centered
• Are made available at competitive prices
Drive customer growth and ours by understanding their
needs and building long-lasting relationships. • Are provided at a cost that will yield a profit
• Refreshing Simplicity Quoted from “International Standard ISO 9002 and
Cut complexity, invest in what matters, and get to ISO 14001 – Quality Management and Quality System
results faster. Elements”.
• Collective Entrepreneurship Trademark
Act like you own the business, while embracing the
Teflon™ is a trademark of Chemours
power of inclusion and teamwork.
for its brand of fluoropolymer
• Safety Obsession resins that can only be licensed
Live our steadfast belief that a safe workplace is a by Chemours for use in approved
profitable workplace. applications.
• Unshakable Integrity Without a trademark license,
Do what’s right for customers, colleagues, and customers may not identify their
communities—always. products with the Teflon™ trademark or use the diamond
logo, as Chemours™ fluoropolymers are sold unbranded with
Sustainability Statement Chemours codes only.
As a global middle class emerges, millions of people are
buying refrigerators and air conditioners, painting homes, Safety Precautions
and purchasing cars. We see more sustainable chemistry Industrial experience has proven that adequate ventilation,
as helping to solve a new equation: meeting growing in properly maintained processing and handling areas, will
demand with a smaller impact. eliminate known hazards to personnel during processing
and handling of Teflon™, Tefzel™, and Zonyl™ resins and
Our commitment extends from the engineering and
dispersions.
manufacturing of our own products to helping customers
improve the footprint of theirs. It includes making the Resin containers should be opened and used in well-
supply chain safer and more sustainable, too. So, we ventilated areas. Equipment used to process at melt
work with customers and partners worldwide to promote temperatures should be provided with local exhaust
safe production, transportation, handling, and use of our ventilation to completely remove all fumes and vapors from
chemicals. the processing area. In addition, care should be exercised
to avoid the contamination of cigarettes and other forms of
Quality Policy smoking tobacco when using fluoropolymer resins.
The Chemours™ Fluoroproducts organization is committed
Before using, personnel should read the Safety Data
to being the established and recognized leader in
Sheet (SDS) and the detailed information in “Guide for
providing quality products and services to our customers.
the Safe Handling of Fluoropolymer Resins” published by
In pursuit of this goal, we will continuously improve our PlasticsEurope (Association of Plastics Manufacturers,
products, processes, and operating systems to enable us Bruxelles).
3
Background and hexafluoropropylene), the first fully fluorinated
melt-processable polymer that could be melt-extruded
A bit of history . . . and injection-molded. Although some temperature
The waxy, white powder resistance was sacrificed relative to PTFE, Teflon™ FEP
discovered in 1938 by remained thermally much superior to most other plastics
Dr. Roy J. Plunkett (right) available at that time. Today, it is widely used as electrical
at the DuPont Jackson insulation for enhanced fire performance, high speed data
Laboratory turned out communication cables, and high temperature wiring for
to be one of the miracle automotive and appliance applications.
materials of this age:
In the 1960s, however, it became evident that a melt-
better known as PTFE
processable fluoropolymer was needed with higher
under the Chemours
strength and stiffness than those of PTFE and FEP
trademark Teflon™ that
resins.
was registered by DuPont
in 1945. In 1970, DuPont introduced Tefzel™ ETFE fluoropolymer,
a modified copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene.
The story of the Teflon™ brand began on April 6,
This polymer has high tensile strength and toughness,
1938 at the DuPont Jackson Laboratory in New
which makes it particularly suitable as wire and cable
Jersey, where Dr. Roy J. Plunkett was researching new
insulation (rated at 155 °C [311 °F] for 20,000 hr
refrigeration gases. Upon checking a frozen sample of
continuous exposure). It is now extensively used
tetrafluoroethylene, he and his associates discovered that
in electrical systems in aircraft, cars, computers,
it had polymerized spontaneously to a white, waxy solid:
telecommunication installations, downhole and logging
polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE.
cables, heating circuits, and other electrical applications.
Testing showed that PTFE was a remarkable material. It
In 1972, DuPont introduced Teflon™ PFA, a fluoropolymer
was resistant to almost every chemical and solvent, and
with excellent melt processability and properties rivaling
its surface was so slippery that virtually nothing would
those of PTFE. Teflon™ PFA (perfluoroalkoxy, a copolymer
stick to it.
of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorinated vinyl ether)
Moisture did not affect it, nor did it degrade after offers high-temperature strength and stiffness and
prolonged exposure to sunlight. In addition, it had an excellent stress-crack resistance. It also has the general
unusually high melting point and molecular weight and, characteristics of Teflon™ PTFE, such as resistance to
unlike conventional thermoplastics, the resin would virtually all chemicals, low coefficient of friction, and
not flow above its melting point. Consequently, PTFE excellent dielectric properties. Today, its main use is as
could not be fabricated by conventional thermoplastic lining for corrosion protection in the chemical processing
techniques. industry and for handling high purity chemicals in the
semiconductor industry.
Borrowing from powder metallurgy, DuPont engineers
were able to convert Teflon™ PTFE by compressing it into Low molecular weight PTFE, also called PTFE
blocks that were then sintered and could be machined fluoroadditive, is marketed by Chemours under the
into desired shapes. trademark Zonyl™. These micronized powders are
commonly used as additives in a wide variety of
Subsequently, aqueous dispersions of PTFE were
applications, primarily as minority components in other
developed to coat glass cloth and metal substrates. A
solid or liquid materials to enhance lubricity, reduce wear,
special fine powder grade was invented that could be
and improve non-stick properties.
extruded as a lubricated paste and then sintered to coat
wire and make tubing. Teflon™ AF amorphous fluoropolymers and ECCtreme™
ECA are the latest additions to the family of
After the commercialization of Teflon™ PTFE in the
fluoropolymers.
1940s, new opportunities for fluoropolymers were soon
developed. This led to the need for a fluoropolymer that In 2013, the spinoff of the fluoroproducts businesses
would retain the unique and desirable properties of PTFE within DuPont Performance Chemicals was announced,
but also could be processed by normal thermoplastic launching the Chemours™ Fluoroproducts business. The
conversion methods. separation took place on July 1, 2015 and created a
new, independent, publicly traded company named The
In 1960, DuPont introduced Teflon™ FEP (fluorinated
Chemours Company. The Teflon™ brand and assets are
ethylene propylene, a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene
now owned by Chemours.
4
Product Families
Polytetrafluoroethylene Fluoroethylenepropylene
Perfluoroalkoxy Ethylene-Tetrafluoroethylene
Outstanding Properties of Chemours™ Fluoropolymers PTFE Fluoropolymers
• Chemical inertness • Teflon™ PTFE Granular Molding Resins
• Non-stick/self-cleaning • Teflon™ PTFE Fine Powders
• Low friction/self-lubricating • Teflon™ PTFE Aqueous Dispersions
• Dielectric properties • Zonyl™ PTFE Fluoroadditives
• Weather resistance/non-aging
Melt-Processable Fluoropolymers
• Insensitive to UV • Teflon™ FEP Resins and Dispersions
• Non-toxic • Teflon™ Fluoropolymer Foam Resins (FFR)
• Broad temperature range (–200 to 260 °C [–328 to • Teflon™ PFA Resins and Dispersions
500 °F])*
• Teflon™ AF
• Nonflammable
• ECCtreme™ ECA Resins
*Depending on product type
• Tefzel™ ETFE Resins
Preparation
The manufacture of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)
monomer involves the following steps:
CaF2 + H2SO4 ➡ CaSO4 + 2 HF
CH4 + 3 Cl2 ➡ CHCl3 + 3 HCl
CHCl3 + 2 HF ➡ CHClF2 + 2 HCl
2 CHClF2 ➡ CF2=CF2 + 2 HCl
5
PTFE Fluoropolymers Granular resins are processed in general by compression
molding at ambient temperature, followed by sintering
Some Basics
above the crystalline melting point.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is produced by the
polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) monomer, Teflon™ PTFE Fine Powders
yielding a perfluorinated straight-chain high molecular PTFE fine powders are made by coagulation of PTFE
weight polymer with unique properties. aqueous dispersion. Various grades are available
TFE is polymerized by two different processes, i.e., corresponding to specific applications and methods of
granular (also called suspension) polymerization and fabrication and differ in molecular weight and structure.
aqueous dispersion (emulsion) polymerization. Fine powders are processed in general by the so-called
In general, PTFE resins are homopolymers of “paste extrusion” technique; whereby, the powder is first
tetrafluoroethylene or, in some special cases, modified blended with an extrusion aid (lubricant).
homopolymers containing very small amounts (less than This wetted powder (paste) is then extruded through a die
1%) of an additional perfluorinated monomer. Modified at ambient temperature; after this formative stage, the
homopolymers have special processing and/or end- lubricant is removed and then the extrudate is sintered
use characteristics while maintaining the outstanding above the crystalline melting point. This provides a
properties of PTFE. practical method for producing long lengths of product
Many of the unique properties can be explained by the from a resin that cannot be melt-extruded. PTFE fine
molecular structure of PTFE (see previous page). The powders have the characteristic property that the primary
carbon-carbon bonds, which form the backbone of dispersion particles under the effect of shear form fibrils.
the polymer chain, and the carbon-fluorine bonds are It is this network of fibrils that gives the useful structural
extremely strong. The fluorine atoms form a regular, integrity to the extrudate and allows the manufacture of
protective sheath over the chain of carbon atoms; this end products with unique performance.
sheath protects the polymer molecule from chemical In the case of PTFE fine powder used as an additive, the
attack. It also reduces the surface energy, resulting in a fibrillation properties are important for drip suppression in
low coefficient of friction and non-stick properties. thermoplastics.
In order to achieve the desired properties such as
Teflon™ PTFE Aqueous Dispersions
toughness and green strength, very high molecular
weight is needed (in range of 106 or 107), resulting PTFE aqueous dispersions are milky white dispersions of
in an extremely high melt viscosity (1–100 GPa·sec PTFE particles suspended in aqueous medium, stabilized
or 1010–1012 P). The material will not flow above its by wetting agents. The dispersion typically contains
crystalline melting point. Consequently, PTFE could not 30–60 wt% polymer particles and some surfactant.
be fabricated by conventional thermoplastic techniques. The PTFE particle characteristics and surfactant type
depend on the application. They can be further formulated
High molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene is to meet specific needs by adding other solid or liquid
manufactured and sold by Chemours in three main types: ingredients.
granular molding powder, fine powder, and aqueous
dispersion, each requiring different fabrication techniques. PTFE aqueous dispersions are applied to substrates
Furthermore, each of the three main types is subdivided by spraying, dipping or impregnation. After applying the
into a number of grades to suit various end uses more dispersion on the substrate, the water and surfactants
precisely. are removed by evaporation and the PTFE is sintered. The
substrate needs to be resistant to the typical sintering
Teflon™ PTFE Granular Molding Resins temperatures of PTFE.
PTFE granular resins (also called molding powders) are In special cases, such as impregnated packing, the PTFE
manufactured in a variety of grades to obtain a different is left unsintered to maintain flexibility.
balance between handleability and end-use properties.
6
PTFE aqueous dispersion can also be used as an additive The melting point of FEP is about 260 °C (500 °F) versus
in thermoplastics (as drip suppressant) or in dusty a first melting point of PTFE of about 340 °C (644 °F).
products to eliminate dust. As with PTFE fine powders, Continuous service temperature of FEP is 205 °C
aqueous dispersion particles also fibrillate under shear, (401 °F) as compared to 260 °C (500 °F) for PTFE.
and these PTFE fibrils form a web within the host material
FEP resins are available in various grades to meet a
that holds the dust or avoids the dripping of burning
variety of processing and end-use requirements. The
droplets in case of a fire.
different grades of FEP vary primarily in molecular weight,
Zonyl™ PTFE Fluoroadditives while they all provide equivalent temperature rating
(205 °C [401 °F]), electrical performance, and chemical
Zonyl™ PTFE fluoroadditives are finely divided, free-
resistance. As the molecular weight and, hence, melt
flowing white powder of PTFE resin. They are a separate
viscosity increases, so does the mechanical performance
and distinctive product line, very different from the well-
and the resistance to stress cracking; however, these
known Teflon™ PTFE molding and extrusion powders. The
improvements occur at the expense of processing ease
differences include:
and mainly of processing speed. Modified grades are
• Lower molecular weight (in range of 2.5 x 104 to available that offer an improved combination of stress
25 x 104) crack resistance and processing speed.
• Smaller particles sizes (2–20 μm) FEP is also available in aqueous dispersion form for
• Different particle shapes and morphology coating and impregnation purposes.
Zonyl™ PTFE fluoroadditives are designed primarily for use Teflon™ Fluoropolymer Foam Resin (FFR)
as minority components in mixtures with other solid or
Foaming fluoropolymer resin insulation reduces
liquid materials. Even in small quantities, they can impart
its dielectric constant, providing opportunities for
some of the unique properties of PTFE to various hosts,
miniaturization and weight savings because lower
such as reduced coefficient of friction and mechanical
insulation wall thickness can be used. In addition, because
wear, and enhanced abrasion resistance. The product
foaming reduces dissipation factor, the resulting insulated
range offers a choice of particle size and morphology to
wire has lower capacitance and attenuation. Foamed
facilitate intimate mixing with dissimilar materials.
insulation also increases the relative velocity of data
transmission over insulated wire.
Melt-Processable Fluoropolymers
Resin and processing requirements are highly dependent
Some Basics
on construction. For thicker wall constructions (i.e.,
The need for resins with the outstanding properties of coaxial RG cable), a resin with a lower melt flow rate (MFR)
PTFE capable of being fabricated by conventional melt is used with higher void content using lower drawdown
processing led to the development of a range of melt- tooling. For thinner wall constructions (i.e., Category 6
processable fluoropolymers such as fully fluorinated FEP and 10G-BASE-T cables), a higher MFR resin is used at a
and PFA resins and partially fluorinated ETFE resins. lower void content using higher drawdown tooling.
This family of copolymers can be processed by Return Loss measures the amount of signal that is
conventional thermoplastic methods, such as melt lost due to reflections along the length of the cable.
extrusion, injection molding, transfer molding, and Successful use of our foamed and fluoropolymer resins
rotational molding. Typical melt viscosities range from generates good adhesion of insulation to the copper
1 x 104 to 45 x 104 P (1 to 45 x 103 Pa·s). conductor, which in turn leads to improved return loss.
Teflon™ FEP Resins Teflon™ PFA Resins
FEP (perfluorinated ethylene-propylene) resin is a PFA resin is a copolymer of TFE and perfluorovinyl ether.
copolymer of TFE and hexafluoropropylene (HFP). It PFA is melt-processable with a melting point at about
retains most of the desirable characteristics of PTFE, but 305 °C (581 °F).
with a melt viscosity low enough for conventional melt
processing. Continuous service temperature is equal to that of PTFE,
i.e., 260 °C (500 °F).
7
PFA offers the excellent combination of properties ECCtreme™ ECA fluoropolymer resin can be melt
characteristic of Teflon™ fluoropolymers: non-aging, processed using standard high temperature fluoropolymer
chemical inertness, exceptional dielectric properties, equipment, at standard operating speeds, and possesses
toughness and flexibility, low coefficient of friction, non- physical, electrical, and chemical properties characteristic
stick characteristics, negligible moisture absorption, and of PTFE. Its features include:
excellent weather and UV resistance.
• High melting point of ~300 °C (572 °F)
Chemically modified grades of PFA are available. These
• Excellent dielectric properties
grades, identified as Teflon™ PFA HP, combine the
properties of standard PFA with enhanced purity and • Excellent chemical and permeation resistance
improved thermal stability in processing. The enhanced
In addition, ECCtreme™ ECA fluoropolymer resin
purity of Teflon™ PFA HP makes it particularly suitable
demonstrates enhanced properties (e.g., higher melting
for applications that require improved color and lower
point, increased melt viscosity, improved stress
extractable ions.
crack resistance) when subjected to post-processing
Teflon™ PFA HP Plus is similar to PFA HP with the heat treatment. This effect, known as epitaxial co-
additional benefits of improved flex life, enhanced crystallization (ECC), occurs when the resin is heated
smoothness, and chemical stress crack resistance. between 290–300 °C (554–572 °F) for a prolonged
period. This post-processing heat treatment offers a
Teflon™ C PFA offers electrical conductivity to dissipate
unique combination of higher stress crack resistance in
static electricity.
combination with higher crystallinity, which is favorable to
PFA is also available in aqueous dispersion form for lower permeation. For more information, visit teflon.com/
coating and impregnation purposes. industrial or contact your Chemours sales representative.
Teflon™ AF Resins Tefzel™ ETFE Resins
Teflon™ AF is a family of amorphous fluoropolymers. Tefzel™ ETFE resin is a modified copolymer of TFE and
These materials are similar to other amorphous polymers ethylene. ETFE is melt-processable and mechanically
in optical clarity and mechanical properties, including tougher and stiffer with higher cut-through, abrasion, and
strength. These materials are comparable to other creep resistance than PTFE, FEP or PFA resins.
fluoropolymers in their performance over a wide range of
The chemical, dielectric, and thermal properties approach
temperatures, in having excellent chemical resistance and
those of the fully fluorinated Teflon™ PTFE, FEP, PFA
outstanding electrical properties.
types, albeit that ETFE is affected to varying degrees by
The Teflon™ AF polymers are distinct from other strong oxidizing acids, organic bases (such as amines), and
fluoropolymers in that they are soluble in selected sulfonic acids at high concentrations and near their boiling
solvents, have high gas permeability, high compressibility, point. Its other main features include ease of processing,
high creep resistance, and low thermal conductivity. lower density (1.7) than Teflon™, and improved radiation
Teflon™ AF polymers have the lowest dielectric constant resistance. Tefzel™ ETFE is suitable for continuous service
of any known solid polymer. Teflon™ AF polymers have the up to 155 °C (311 °F) based on the standard 20,000 hr
lowest index of refraction of any known polymer. criterion.
ECCtreme™ ECA Resins Properties of Teflon™ Fluoropolymers
ECCtreme™ ECA fluoropolymer resin is a class of Chemical Inertness/Solvent Resistance
perfluoropolymer specifically designed for use in extreme
Fully fluorinated fluoropolymers (PTFE, FEP, and PFA)
applications requiring an operating temperature up to
are virtually inert to the most aggressive organic and
300 °C (572 °F) in combination with excellent electrical
inorganic chemicals and solvents over a wide temperature
properties and/or chemical resistance. Chemours
range.
developed ECCtreme™ ECA fluoropolymer resin in
response to industry demand for a melt-extrudable, high Chemical inertness means that Teflon™ fully fluorinated
temperature fluoropolymer resin for molding applications. fluoropolymers can be in continuous contact with
another substance with no detectable chemical reaction
8
or degradation taking place. Among others, they are Mechanical Properties
resistant to fuming sulfuric and nitric acids, bases, Tensile strength properties over a wide temperature range
aggressive peroxides, antioxidants (as used in high are shown in Figure 1 measured on grades representative
temperature oils), and methanol (as used in fuel). of the different fluoropolymer families.
This nearly universal chemical compatibility stems from Tefzel™ ETFE is tougher than fully fluorinated fluoro
three causes: polymer grades at low and ambient temperatures. At
• Very strong interatomic bonds between carbon-carbon higher temperatures, the lines converge and above
and carbon-fluorine atoms 120 °C (248 °F), PTFE and PFA have higher tensile
strength than both ETFE and FEP.
• Almost perfect shielding of the polymer’s carbon
backbone by fluorine atoms Flex fatigue resistance is an important property for parts
subjected to repeated stress. It correlates well with the
• Very high molecular weight (or long polymer chain
stress-crack resistance of a material.
length) compared to many other polymers
Fatigue resistance and, therefore, stress-crack resistance
Within normal use temperatures, Teflon™ resins are
of a part can vary by magnitudes depending on the resin
chemically attacked by so few chemicals, that it is more
grade used, processing conditions, and in-use stress level.
practical to describe the exceptions rather than to
tabulate the chemicals with which they are compatible. Molecular weight, composition, crystallinity, and void
content are the main parameters influencing flex fatigue
The only materials known to react with fluoropolymers
resistance. PTFE in general and Teflon™ 62 fluoropolymer
are:
in particular have the highest flex fatigue life among all
• Elemental alkali metals like sodium, potassium, and fluoropolymers and are, therefore, very well suited for
lithium (molten or in solution) applications with alternating and/or long-term stresses.
• Intimate blends of finely divided metal powders Creep and cold flow occurs when a material is subjected
(e.g., aluminum or magnesium) with powdered to a continuous load. With most plastics, however,
fluoropolymers can react violently when ignited, but deformation can be significant even at room temperature
ignition temperatures are far above the published or below; thus, the name “cold flow”.
recommended maximum service temperature for
Tefzel™ ETFE, being a tougher material than Teflon™
fluoropolymers
PTFE, FEP or PFA, is more creep resistant than Teflon™
• Extremely potent oxidizers, fluorine (F2) and related fluoropolymers.
compounds like chlorine trifluoride (ClF3)
The modified grades of granular PTFE have been
• 80% NaOH or KOH solutions at or near the upper developed among others to improve the deformation
service temperature under load. Also the use of a small percentage of filler
reduces the deformation under load substantially. For
Organic solvents do not attack or dissolve fluoropolymers,
instance, glass fiber reinforced with Tefzel™ resin has only
although some permeation may occur as a result of both
1/5 of the deformation under load of an unreinforced
absorption and diffusion.
ETFE.
Similar to the fully fluorinated polymers, Tefzel™ ETFE
has outstanding resistance to attack by chemicals and Friction and Anti-Stick Properties
solvents that often cause rapid deterioration of other PTFE has an extremely low coefficient of friction. Values
plastic materials. Strong oxidizing acids, organic bases, of 0.02 have been reported.
and sulfonic acids at high concentrations and near their
The lowest values are obtained under condition of high
boiling point may affect Tefzel™ resin.
pressure (>3 MPa) and low velocity (
Figure 1. Tensile Strength as a Function of Temperature
ISO 12086 microtensile specimen, speed of testing 50 mm/min (various testing programs)
70
PFA
60 FEP
ETFE
PTFE (modified)
Ultimate Tensile Strength, MPa
PTFE
50
40
30
20
10
0
–50 0 50 100 150 200
(–58) (32) (122) (212) (302) (392)
Test Temperature, °C (°F)
Dielectric Properties (108 – 20 x 109 Hz) when tested at room temperature.
Teflon™ PTFE, FEP, and PFA fluoropolymers have unique The peak dissipation factor is around 0.0003. PFA peaks
electrical properties: a very low dielectric constant at 0.0010 between 1 GHz and 20 GHz. The family of
(relative permittivity) of 2.1 over a wide frequency range modified PFA such as PFA HP and HP Plus grades have
from 100 Hz to 50 GHz. It is important to note that the significantly lower peak dissipation factor of 0.0004
velocity of propagation of a signal down the length of close to PTFE.
cable is directly influenced by the dielectric constant and For FEP, the dissipation factor increases slowly from
dissipation factor of the insulation material. The lower the less than 0.0001 at 1 kHz to 0.0006 at 30 MHz
dielectric constant, the higher the velocity. The dielectric and peaks out at 0.0010 between 1 GHz and 5 GHz.
constant can be decreased by reducing the density of the Special chemically modified grades of FEP have a lower
insulation. Techniques have been developed to lower the dissipation factor (see Figure 2).
dielectric constant and dissipation factor of the dielectric
Tefzel™ ETFE has a dielectric constant of 2.6 and
material by creating voids; thereby, allowing data cables
dissipation factor of 0.0006 at low frequency (Volume resistivity is above 1016 Ω.m (for ETFE, above Test samples, exposed for many years to practically
1014 Ω.m). Resistivity is not affected by heat aging nor all climatic conditions, have shown that Teflon™ PTFE,
temperatures up to recommended service limits. For FEP, and PFA and Tefzel™ ETFE fluoropolymers are fully
applications where tribocharging (electrostatic charge) weather-resistant (see Note). Results show neither aging
may occur, special grades exist that dissipate static nor embrittlement. Because no plasticizers, anti-oxidants
electricity. or other additives are used during its processing, there is
no leaching out of substances.
Surface arc resistance of Teflon™ resins is high and is
not affected by heat aging. When Teflon™ resins are Note: With the exception of glass fiber-reinforced with
subjected to a surface arc in air, they do not track or Tefzel™ resin that was affected in accelerated weathering
form a carbonized conducting path. When tested by the resistance testing.
procedure of ASTM D495, Teflon™ PTFE and FEP resins
pass the maximum time of 300 sec without failure. Temperature Resistance (–200 °C [–328 °F] Up to
260 °C [500 °F])
No tracking was observed with PFA for the duration of the
Teflon™ and Tefzel™ fluoropolymers are extremely stable
test (test was stopped after 180 sec without any sign of
at high temperatures; PTFE and PFA can be used
tracking).
continuously at 260 °C (500 °F), FEP at 205 °C (401 °F),
Tefzel™ ETFE has a dry arc resistance of about 70 sec. and ETFE at 155 °C (311 °F).
Weather/UV Resistance At those temperatures, at least 50% of their respective
and original mechanical properties are retained after
Teflon™ and Tefzel™ fluoropolymers are extremely
20,000 hr (according to ISO 2578 and IEC 60216). At
hydrophobic and shed water almost totally. A moisture
cryogenic temperatures, these products retain a measure
absorption ofFlammability resins; but, in addition, these resins offer weldability,
Teflon PTFE, FEP, and PFA are essentially nonflammable.
™ improved resistance to deformation under load, increased
They will sustain combustion only in an environment permeation resistance, and a higher dielectric breakdown
containing >95% oxygen (oxygen index). The flash point voltage.
is 530 °C (986 °F). Tefzel™ ETFE has an oxygen index of After polymerization, the high molecular weight raw
30. PTFE, FEP, PFA, and ETFE are rated by Underwriters polymer is then ground to small particle sizes.
Laboratories Inc. as Flame Class UL 94V-0.
These finely divided particles allow for molding of parts
Heat of combustion is extremely low at 5 kJ/g (for ETFE essentially free of voids with high properties and are most
12.5 kJ/g); this provides an additional safety advantage appropriate for uniform mixing with fillers. On the other
as the “fuel-load” or the energy contained in the material hand, the small particles have more tendency to stick
that could be released in a fire event is very low. For together, resulting in poor handleability.
comparison, the heat of combustion of polyethylene
A balance between handleability and moldability is
is 46 kJ/g; therefore, PE will generate more heat in
achieved by agglomerating (pelletizing) the finely divided
a fire situation and will propagate a fire contrary to
resin. Various resin grades with different degrees of
fluoropolymers (which are self-extinguishing).
pelletization are available, each with its specific set of
Flame propagation and rate of heat release of flow, fill density, and physical properties.
fluoropolymers are low. When exposed to flame, they burn
but do not continue to burn when the flame is removed. Processing
Flame rating according to ASTM D635 is average time of Due to the extremely high viscosity above its melting
burning (ATB)Compression molding can be divided into: Teflon™ PTFE Fine Powders
• General compression molding PTFE fine powders are made by polymerizing TFE
in an aqueous medium (sometimes called emulsion
• Sheet molding
polymerization). The primary PTFE dispersion particles
• Big billet molding thus formed have an average particle size of 0.2 µm.
• Automatic molding This raw dispersion is coagulated into 350–650 μm
agglomerates. The agglomerates are then dried gently,
• Isostatic molding
avoiding any shearing.
Ram extrusion is a way of manufacturing continuous
This “spongy” agglomerate has a very high specific
length of rods, tubes or profile by feeding successive
surface area (>10 m2/g) and can absorb low surface
charges of PTFE powder to a die tube, where a
tension liquids (lubricants). A unique property of PTFE fine
reciprocating ram compacts the powder. Subsequent
powders is that under the effect of shearing, the particles
charges are then compressed onto each other and forced
become oriented in the shearing direction and are drawn
by the ram through the die tube that is heated above the
into long thin fibers. This effect, called fibrillation, is used
melting point of PTFE, where the PTFE particles and the
in the “paste extrusion” process; whereby, the coherent
individual charges are sintered together.
fibrous matrix thus formed gives structural integrity to the
Details of these processes can be found in Chemours extrudate (green strength) before it is sintered.
brochures “Compression Molding of Teflon™ PTFE” and
The various grades of fine powders differ in molecular
“The Ram Extrusion of Teflon™ PTFE”.
weight and molecular structure, extrusion pressure, and
Typical Applications reduction ratio capability and are chosen primarily on
the basis of available processing equipment and end-use
• Gaskets, seals, valve seats, bellows, diaphragms
requirements.
• Piston rings, hydraulic seals
Modified grades containing small amounts of other
• Corrosion resistant linings fluoromonomers have been developed. These polymers
• Bearing pads offer unique processing and end-use properties such as a
wider processing “window”, superior fatigue resistance for
• Brake pad sensors, oxygen sensor seals
demanding high performance applications (i.e. automotive
• High-tension circuit breakers, commutator rings or aerospace hose), more clarity, lower permeability, as
• Printed wiring boards well as, in some cases, weldability.
• Laboratory equipment, beakers Processing
• Iron sole plates Fine powders are processed by the so-called paste
• Ski binders extrusion process. In this process, the powder is first
Table 2. Grade Selection of Teflon™ PTFE Fine Powders
Final Product Processing Capability Applications
High reduction ratio (1500:1–5000:1) Hook-up wire, automotive wiring
Wire and Cable Medium reduction ratio (300:1–2000:1) Heating cable, appliance wiring
Low reduction ratio (1000:1) Spaghetti tubing, catheter
Hose and Tubing Unsupported industrial tubing, catheter, convoluted tubing,
Low/medium reduction ratio (250 mm), low reduction ratio Pipe liners, column liners
Lined Pipe and Fittings
Small to medium diameter (mixed with a lubricant (typically a liquid hydrocarbon) Teflon™ PTFE Aqueous Dispersions
under controlled temperature conditions; pigments and/ PTFE aqueous dispersions are milky white liquids
or fillers can also be incorporated at this stage. After consisting of hydrophobic, negatively charged
mixing, the blend is conditioned for some time to allow submicrometer particles of PTFE resin suspended in
for complete and uniform absorption of the lubricant by water. The most common dispersion has an average
the resin particles. This mixture is then compacted at low particle size of 0.2 µm (200 nanometer), the optimum
pressure into a preform that is afterwards loaded into the particle size for most applications. The raw dispersion
cylinder of a paste extruder. The lubricated resin is then is typically stabilized, neutralized, and concentrated.
pressed with a piston through a tooling or shaped orifice Stabilization with a nonionic or anionic surfactant
to form a coating on a wire, tubing, beading, or ribbon. improves shear stability, wetting of substrate, and helps
The shear stress exerted on the lubricated resin during film formation in coating operations.
extrusion confers strength to the extrudate by fibrillation. The high utility of these dispersions is due to their fluid
After extrusion, the lubricant is completely removed form. This property is especially useful because Teflon™
(green strength) by evaporation, and the extrudate is PTFE resins are not suitable for processing in molten or
sintered—sometimes followed by further post-forming dissolved form.
operations. Teflon™ PTFE aqueous dispersions are available in
Note that in some applications, the extrudate is left un- different grades designed according to the application,
sintered (e.g., thread sealant tape, sealing cord). each with a specific molecular weight and molecular
structure, dispersion particle size and shape, added
Details of these processes can be found in Chemours
surfactant type and quantity, pH and solids content.
brochures, “Paste Extrusion of PTFE Fine Powder” and
“Processing Guide for Fine Powder Resins”. Aqueous dispersions of Teflon™ FEP and PFA melt-
processable fluoropolymers as well as Zonyl™ PTFE
Typical Applications fluoroadditives are also available.
• Automotive sensor wires
Processing
• Coaxial cables for radio frequency
Uses for PTFE dispersions fall into general categories of
• Seat heating wiring coating, impregnation, finishing, and blending.
• Appliance wiring In the case of coating of glass fabric, PTFE aqueous
• Aircraft wiring dispersion is applied by dipping the glass fabric in a bath
with dispersion. In a typical coating process, the glass
• Wire conduits
fabric is continuously unwound from a roll and fed into a
• Chemical transfer hose and tubing dip bath, where it is submerged in a Teflon™ PTFE aqueous
• Convoluted tubing dispersion. The impregnated fabric emerges from the
bath, excessive dispersion is wiped off the fabric, the
• Tubing, small diameter tubing, chromatography tubing,
fabric enters the drying zone to remove water, followed by
heat shrinkable tubing
“baking” to remove organic wetting agent(s), and finally a
• Lined pipe and fittings sintering zone. Finished or semi-finished product is wound
• Heat exchanger tubing up on a receiving roll. The same fabric is passed through
the equipment a number of times until the desired weight
• Hydraulic hose
and thickness are achieved.
• Fuel tubing—aircraft, automotive
A variety of porous structures can be impregnated
• Push-pull cable liner with PTFE dispersion. The dispersion is well-suited for
• Gaskets, sealants impregnation because of its low viscosity, extremely small
particles, and the effect of the surfactant that aids in
• Filters, membranes
wetting the surfaces and promotes capillary action.
• Monofilaments, fibers
• Profiles
14Table 3. Grades of Teflon™ PTFE Aqueous Dispersions
Grades Main Characteristics Major Uses
General-Purpose Ease of handling, good wetting Impregnation of yarns for gaskets and packing
Fabric Coating (glass fiber, Kevlar ®
High buildup, surface smoothness, weldability, good Coated architectural fabrics, coated glass fabric for
aramid fiber) wetting, low foam, shear stable belting, flexible wiring boards, cast film
Film forming, good properties at high temperature,
Metal Coating Coatings for industrial and cookware applications
impermeable, high critical cracking thickness (CCT)
Specialties Wetting, good fixation, high temperature, long-lasting High-performance, woven glass fiber filter bags, bearings
Additive Homogeneous, ease of handling Drip suppressant in thermoplastics, binder in batteries
Typical Applications such as gears, benefit from improved wear resistance and
• Architectural membranes (flexible coating) reduced friction. Stick-slip behavior can be eliminated.
Elastomeric seals for diverse environments improve in
• Electrical insulation in motors, generators tear and abrasion resistance. Lithographic, flexographic,
• Top-coat for aerospace wiring and gravure inks can be formulated for better image
protection and higher productivity.
• Flexible wiring boards
• Non-stick conveyor belting When used alone as a powder or in a paste or spray,
Zonyl™ fluoroadditives can be made into all-purpose
• Non-stick film for heat sealers
solid lubricants. As a paste, for example, they can be
• Impregnated yarns for gaskets and packing used as high-performance sealants or as lubricants for
• Coated filter bags wear surfaces in hostile environments. The powder can
be dispersed in water or an organic solvent to provide
• Bearings
another option for direct use or as an additive.
• Fibers
Because of their inherent low molecular weight, Zonyl™
• Binders for disposable or rechargeable batteries fluoroadditives are not to be used as molding or extrusion
powders. Unlike some other micropowders on the market that
Zonyl™ PTFE Fluoroadditives
are based on reprocessed PTFE, Zonyl™ fluoroadditives are
Zonyl™ fluoroadditives are part of the Chemours family of manufactured from virgin PTFE or are directly polymerized;
fluoropolymers. They are white, free-flowing, low molecular hence, a better uniformity and inherent cleanliness.
weight PTFE powders designed for use as additives
in other materials or systems. They differ from PTFE Processing
granular resins and fine powders because of their very Zonyl™ fluoroadditive powders are popular because they
small particle size, typically in the range of 2 to 20 µm, can contribute some of their unique properties to the host
low molecular weight, and the way they are handled and material to which they are added. However, the suitability
processed. Zonyl™ MP fluoroadditives can be used over a of an additive powder for mixing with and enhancing a
wide range of temperatures from -190 to 250 °C (374 given host is determined by many other factors, including:
to 482 °F) and, depending on the application, may provide
• Size, distribution, and form of the particles
non-stick properties, improved lubricity, and better wear
resistance and reinforcing properties. • Lot-to-lot uniformity
Depending on the material, Zonyl™ fluoroadditives can • Dispersibility
enhance abrasion resistance, reduce coefficient of friction • Surface area
and mechanical wear, reduce surface contamination,
• Color retention
and modify appearance of the host material. Zonyl™
fluoroadditives also provide specific benefits to • Contamination
specialized products. For example, thermoplastic parts, • FDA compliance/EEC Food Approval
15Table 4. Grades of Zonyl™ PTFE Fluoroadditives
Grades Main Characteristics Major Uses
Granular PTFE-Based Low specific surface area (2.3–4.5 m /g), non-agglomerated powder
2
Thermoplastics, printing inks, coatings
High specific surface area (5–11 m2/g), friable agglomerates of small Thermoplastics, elastomers, coatings, lubricants and
Fine Powder PTFE-Based
(0.2 μm) primary particles greases
High specific surface area (8–12 m2/g), friable agglomerates of small
Elastomers, printing inks, coatings, coil coating,
As Polymerized PTFE (0.2 μm) primary particles. Low level of active end groups. In compliance
greases
with FDA regulations
Milky, white, 59–61% solids dispersion of 0.2 μm PTFE particles,
Aqueous Dispersion Additive for paints, coatings, mold release
stabilized with nonionic wetting agent
For example, particle characteristics of an additive offers are designed to provide just the right combinations
powder can affect both the process and the performance of powder characteristics to meet the needs of diverse
of products made from the additive. If the particles are products and processes.
too small or too large, surface defects may appear in
Details of these products and their processing can be
molded thermoplastic parts. Ink formulations favor a
found in Chemours brochure “Zonyl™ Fluoroadditives: A
narrow distribution of relatively small particles that remain
Minor Component…A Major Enhancement”.
stable and uniformly distributed during processing.
Because of the careful selection of base materials, Typical Applications
uniformity is a major feature of Zonyl™ fluoroadditives. Other • In modifying thermoplastics for reduced friction and
powders, even with ideal particle size, distribution, and other stick-slip, improved wear resistance, increased PV
powder characteristics, can cause problems if they are limits
either not uniform from lot to lot or are contaminated.
• In elastomers for improved abrasion resistance,
The results of particle size and distribution measurements coefficient of friction, tear strength, and mold release
can depend a great deal on sample preparation and test
• In lithographic, flexographic, and gravure inks for better
methods. Data should, therefore, be accompanied by a
rub and scuff resistance, slip, and surface smoothness
detailed definition of the test method used. For example,
the Coulter Counter makes electrical measurements on a • In coatings (both water- and hydrocarbon-based) for
dispersion of powder particles in a solution of electrolyte, better water repellency, stain and scrub resistance,
and it consistently yields smaller values than the L&N enhanced anti-stick, and low friction behavior
MICROTRAC II that makes optical measurements on
• In modifying sealant and lubricants for reduced wear
a laser beam, forward scattered through a dispersion
and friction
of powder particles. Both methods assume spherical
particles and measure on a volume basis. • In extrusion process as a processing aid
No Universal Formulas
The plastics, inks, and elastomers industries produce
a vast array of products using a countless variety of
processes. An additive used in these industries may end
up in a molten plastic, a complex aqueous or solvent
formulation of ink, or an elastomer being milled or cured
at high temperatures. Even small differences in host
materials or processes may require different powder
characteristics for best results. For these reasons, only
general guidelines can be proposed for such diverse
applications. The multiple product grades Chemours
16Teflon™ FEP Resins contact with molten resin should be made of corrosion-
Teflon FEP is a fluorinated ethylene propylene resin that
™ resistant metals. Larger length-over-diameter extruder
meets the requirements of ASTM D2116 “Standard barrels are used to provide enough residence time at
Specification for FEP-Fluorocarbon Molding and high production rates to melt these high-temperature
Extrusion Materials”. It is available as pellets or stabilized polymers. For injection molding, reciprocating screw
aqueous dispersions. Applications for this family of designs are recommended.
resins include melt extrusion, injection molding, transfer Details of these processes can be found in “Teflon™/Tefzel™
molding, coating, and impregnating. Products made Fluoropolymer Melt Extrusion Guide”, “Teflon™/Tefzel™
from Teflon™ FEP are known for their excellent chemical Fluoropolymer Transfer Molding Guide,” and “Injection
resistance, superior electrical properties, and high Molding Guide for Melt Processable Fluoropolymers”.
service temperatures of up to 205 °C (401 °F) based
on the 20,000 hr criterion and meet the requirements of Typical Applications
International Standard ISO 6722 class G (–40 to 225 °C • Data communication cable jackets and primaries
[–40 to 437 °F]) – Road vehicles – 60 V and 600 V single-
• Appliance wiring
core cables. In addition, Teflon™ FEP provides outstanding
low-temperature toughness and unique flame resistance. • Heating cables
FEP compounds are available with proprietary and • Automotive engine wiring
patented foam nucleants added for physical foaming, • Aerospace wiring
e.g., for foamed coaxial cable dielectrics (to achieve low
• Electric submersible pump motor insulation
attenuation, low dielectric heating, and high speed of
propagation). • Electrical motor sleeves
• Chemical lining
Processing
• Lined valves
Teflon™ FEP fluoropolymer resins are processed by
conventional melt-extrusion techniques and injection, • Heat shrinkable tubing
compression, transfer, and blow-molding processes. • Tubing, small diameter tubing, chromatography tubing
The high melt strength and draw-down capability of
• Shatterproof lamp covering
these resins facilitate the use of large dies and draw-
down tooling to increase production rates. Equipment in • Architectural fabrics (top coat)
Table 5. Grades of Teflon™ FEP Resins
Grades Main Characteristics Major Uses
Wire insulation, tubing (≤2 mm diameter), injection molded
General-Purpose High productivity, MFR 5–7 g/10 min
parts
Optimized productivity and stress-crack resistance balance
Optimum Output-Performance Wire and cable insulation and jackets
MFR 4–10 g/10 min
High Productivity Highest stress-crack resistance, MFR ≤5 g/10 min Tubing (≥2 mm diameter)
Films, chemical linings, high stress applications, wire and
Maximum productivity, MFR >20 g/10 min
cable applications
High Output
Small wire and cable insulation (≤1.0 mm diameter),
Low dissipation factor, MFR >20 g/10 min
injection molded parts
Foamed cable insulations, high-frequency data cable with
Foam Resins Nucleating system compounded resins
minimum distortion
Aqueous Dispersion Ease of handling, wetting Top coat on wiring or architectural fabric
17Teflon™ PFA Resins properties of Teflon™ PTFE. Products manufactured from
Teflon™ PFA is a perfluoroalkoxy copolymer resin that Teflon™ PFA can offer continuous service temperatures
meets the requirements of ASTM D3307 “Standard up to 260 °C (500 °F). Teflon™ PFA provides superior
Specification for Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)-Fluorocarbon creep resistance at high temperatures, excellent low-
Resin Molding and Extrusion Materials”. It is available as temperature toughness, and exceptional flame resistance.
pellets, powder, or aqueous dispersion. The range of Teflon™ PFA HP and PFA HP Plus grades have
Teflon™ PFA combines the processing ease of been designed specifically for critical-purity processes
conventional thermoplastic resins with the excellent where enhanced purity and improved thermal stability
Table 6. Grades of Teflon™ PFA Resins
Grades Main Characteristics Major Uses
High speed extrusion, high productivity, low molecular weight,
Small gauge wire coating, injection molding
MFR 20–30 g/10 min
Extrusion and injection molding resin, intermediate molecular weight, Wire and cable insulation and jacketing, injection or blow-
MFR 9–19 g/10 min molded articles, tubing extrusion
General-Purpose
Extrusion and injection molding resin, intermediate molecular weight, Tubing extrusion, injection or blow-molded articles,
higher stress crack resistance MFR 4–6 g/10 min chemical linings
Highest resistance to stress cracking, high molecular weight, Lining of components for chemical processing industry,
MFR 1.6–2.3 g/10 min transfer molded articles, tubing extrusion
Premium resin with lowest level of extractables, low molecular weight, Low loss, small diameter data cables, small injection
maximum productivity, MFR 20–40 g/10 min molded parts for high-purity applications
Fluid handling components for critical high-purity
Premium resin with the lowest level of extractables, low molecular
processes like semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and
weight, MFR 12–19 g/10 min
biotechnology
High Purity (HP) Fluid handling components for critical high-purity
Premium resin with the lowest level of extractables, intermediate
processes like semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and
molecular weight, higher stress crack resistance, MFR 4–7 g/10 min
biotechnology
Fluid handling components for critical high-purity
Premium resin with the lowest level of extractables, high molecular
processes like semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and
weight, high stress crack resistance MFR 1.7–2.3 g/10 min
biotechnology
Fluid handling components for critical high-purity
Premium resin with the lowest level of extractables, improved flex life
processes like semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and
and stress crack resistance, MFR 10–20 g/10 min
biotechnology
Fluid handling components for critical high-purity
Ultrahigh Purity Premium resin with the lowest level of extractables, improved flex life
processes like semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and
(HP Plus) and stress crack resistance, MFR 5–9 g/10 min
biotechnology
Fluid handling components for critical high-purity
Premium resin with the lowest level of extractables, improved flex life
processes like semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and
and highest stress crack resistance, MFR 1–3 g/10 min
biotechnology
Special Purpose Grades
Premium resin in powder form with the lowest level of extractables, Pump housing, containers, fittings with unusual shapes for
Rotational Molding Resin
improved flex life and stress crack resistance, MFR 5–8 g/10 min handling of high purity chemicals
Anti-Static Static dissipating semi-conductive resin Lined components for CPI
Aqueous Dispersion Ease of handling, wetting Top coat on wiring and architectural fabric
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