There has been a gradual growth of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Teflon® from a product used only in high-value applications to a mainstream commercial requirement. However, today, ptfe tubes has become commercially viable in over 200 industrial, consumer and medical applications. Although sheets, rods, coatings and components corner the bulk of the market for PTFE products, PTFE tubing is now emerging as the key growth area and it is widely used across several industries. As a result of which the number of ptfe hose manufacturers are emerging.
What is PTFE Tubing?
PTFE Tubing is defined as a semi-transparent, chemically inert, and non-toxic material that features temperature resistance and a surface that facilitates the flow of fluids. It can be used in service temperatures of up to 260°C. Thus, making it a material of choice in high temperature applications. It also has a breakdown voltage of up to 100Kv/mm which makes it excellent in electrical insulation.
These types of tubes are mostly used in applications requiring resistance to high temperatures, corrosive chemicals, and high voltages. Also, it can be used for other applications such as fluid transfer applications, cabling, and heat-exchanger systems.
Reasons for the extensive use of PTFE Tubing:-
Highly resistant to heat - PTFE has high resistance which suggests that it has extremely high-melting temperatures. Therefore, it is suitable for use in industries where transportation of hot liquids is a daily requirement.
Resistant to Corrosion: PTFE is also resistant to a wide variety of harsh chemicals and acids. Imperbeality is its another important feature, therefore water cannot make its way through. Due to the property of imperbeality, PTFE tubing is the right option to transport chemicals.
Low coefficient of friction: PTFE tubing is absolutely perfect and widely used in catheters and snares due to the low coefficient of friction (0.1).
Here mentioned are the different types and uses of PTFE Tubing:-
The PTFE tube manufacturers typically classify PTFE tubing in three different categories depending on the thickness of the wall and the diameter of tube, such as Pressure hose, Spaghetti tubing and Pipe liner. Within these categories, there is a further classification.
Let’s check out the various type of PTFE tubing:-
Split - In these PTFE tubes, there is a ridge that enables the tubing to be split longitudinally. It’s structure allows medical practitioners to extract PTFE introducers from patient’s bodies without having to dislocate the primary device.
Heat shrinkable - This type of tubing is made up of very thin material. Therefore, as it gets exposed to hot air, it begins to decrease and shrink. This is what makes the manufacturing of wires and glass tubes easier along with other insulation purposes.
Multi-lumen - This type of tubing contains a vast number of smaller tubes within an interior. Each and every layer comprises of a different type of fluid or wire. These types of tubes are used across a number of applications in the medical industry.
PTFE tubing is also used in oil and petrol, for example, to seal and lubricate joints around fuel lines in automotive applications, to its notable chemical inertness. Thus, it helps prevent methanol or gasoline vapors (and odors) from seeping out.
Some common uses of PTFE Tubing:-
In chemical areas, PTFE tubing can be used in pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. For example, corrosion resistant hose are used in corrosives transfer application. However, cosmetic hose is used in cosmetic manufacturing plant, and sanitary and aseptic hose can be utilized for high purity fluid transfer. And, heated hose is used to transfer hot fluids at a maintained temperature.
For automotive and railways, PTFE hose manufacturer supplies different kinds of products such as fuel hose, turbocharger hose, coolant hose, auto-brake hose, motor bike brakes hose, diesel Engine hose, motorsports hose and power steering hose.
There are several other general applications of PTFE Hoses such as charging hose for carton filling machines, high pressure gas hose for gas bottle filling, bottle filling hose for bottle filling machines. And, foodstuffs hose, hose for processing plants and dispensing.
PTFE tubing is used for a variety of industrial applications and since the last few years, it has been increasingly used in medical devices. It has an extremely smooth surface due to very low coefficient of friction.
While purchasing PTFE, it is important to select tubing of the correct material which can perform under the desired conditions, and is commercially viable and available.
