PTFE Tubing: Process Parameters and Their Impact

PTFE Tube extrusion is considered to be one of the most difficult processes within the polymer space. All polymers have their typical properties and these properties impact both their processing and machining. PTFE tube comes with such varied process parameters, that every tube manufacturer will find it difficult to find a combination that works consistently.

 Parameters and their effect on the End-product

Whenever you think of PTFE processing one of the first things that are overlooked but needs our attention, is handling resin. Due to the structure of PTFE tubing, the fibrils that form extrusion depend on the strength of the final tubing. One of the reasons for the poor formation of fibrils is excessive shearing of the resin, before extrusion. This then, causes a dent in the achievement of good final properties.

·         Blending- Blending is one of the parameters which impact the final product and this can only be fixed with extensive trial and error. Unless the blending is done in the correct manner, the final extrudate will either be too soft or too dry. Also, if the blend is not uniform, the preform billet will have uneven densities, and the extrusion will then have quite a few issues.

·         Preforming-Preforming is mainly done to create a shape that can be fitted easily into the extruder. Preforming ideally has two functions: first, obviously, it gives shape and second, it also removes any air pockets from within the material. The process has to be done keeping in mind the one fact that too little pressure does not allow for an adequate venting of the air within the material. 

·         Extrusion-Extrusion is certainly one of the most important steps, as when the preform billet gets loaded into the extruder, then the preceding processes have already defined a lot of the tube’s most defining characteristics. However, it is also true that extrusion offers the tube its final shape and this process primarily helps maintain the adequate pressures on the billet at the same time ensuring the concentricity of the final tube. 

·         Sintering- When the tube is heated the temperature has to be heated for both a drying section along with a sintering section. The drying section needs have to be adequately warm to evaporate all traces of vapour from the tube. And, if it is too warm, the vapours may get ignited. Also, although PTFE does not melt, it may do so under its weight, it may even get elongated during sintering, causing changes in dimensional deviations. Therefore the temperature needs to be sent to make sure that the PTFE is able to reach the characteristic ‘gel state’ just before it goes out of the sintering chamber, so it can cool down when it reaches the room temperature. 

Apart from the above-mentioned parameters, PTFE tube also undergoes various other processes such as pigmentation, the addition of anti-static fillers and also the extrusion of specific profiles. Each of these requirements needs to undergo all of the above processes and understand how they need to be modified for a specific end-result.

What is the Difference between Hoses and Pipes?

Hose and tubing are sometimes used interchangeably but they do have one big difference that separates them. Hoses are typically reinforced in some way or the other.  Some of the common typical reinforcements are embedded braid reinforcement, reinforcement with a stiffer plastic or other material, wire reinforcement, a very heavy wall or dual walls. Between a hose and a pipe, a hose is generally used and rated for applications dealing with high pressure. On the other hand, tubing is not reinforced and is sometimes used for lower pressure applications or gravity flow.

In some cases, read applications both a hose and a tubing can be used. But when in doubt, about which one to use, the important thing is to ensure that the tubing or hose you select is according to the set of instructions advised by the manufacturer who states clearly how to handle them.

Hose and pipe can be described as lengthy hollow cylinders used to transfer and transport liquids. They are really very efficient in transferring liquids from one point to the other. Each hose or pipe is perfect passageways for different kinds of liquids used in industries and even at home.

Descriptions of Hoses and Pipes

What is a Hose?

A hose is a hollow-shaped tube which is created to transfer liquids from one end to the next. These are built according to application and performance. They are typically designed based on a number of things such as their weight, length, pressure rating, straight hose, coil hose and also chemical compatibility. There are a number of hoses which are demarcated according to their applications, such as fire hose, garden hose or air hose. They are generally used with spigots or clamps in order to keep a tab on the flow of the liquid.

What is a Pipe?

A pipe, such as PTFE hose pipe, is a tubular section or a hollow cylinder which is used to make substances flow from one end to another. This is typically utilized in a number of ways such as railings, structural applications, and fabrication. Tube and pipes can be interchangeable. However, according to engineering and the industry, these terms denote separate things and have separate definitions. Pipes are usually used for long-term purposes or even permanently. The flow of the liquids is also supported by tees and elbows.

Chief Differences between Hose and Pipes

The main differences between a hose and a pipe are as follows,

• A hose is much smaller than a pipe.
• The hose is made of a more flexible material when compared with pipes. Pipes are made up of rigid tubes. Hoses are made up of a number of materials which are polyethylene, polyurethane, natural or synthetic fibres like nylon while pipes are composed of metals, fiberglass, ceramic, plastic and concrete. 
• A hose usually has a circular cross section while other pipes may or may not have one.
• Hoses are mostly used at home and are seldom used in large industries while pipes are a permanent fixture in both home and large industries.
• When compared to hoses, pipes can be used in transferring substances that flow naturally such as powders, gases, and slurries.

Different kinds of hose such as PTFE braided hose and different kind of pipes are largely used today. There are various manufacturers who strive to make immaculate products looking to improve men’s ease of use of these materials.

What is a hose? Which Company Manufactures Best Measuring Hoses

The industrial rubber hose is used as a connector in different kinds of equipment in different industries. Their feature includes excellent flexibility and also bending properties.

The PTFE hose can be used in a number of the operating environment. They are available in a wide range of size option, and also a varying range of pressure and temperature and also fluctuating chemical resistance.

The Applications of PTFE Lined Hose

The application of industrial hoses is tried in different production manufacturing and distributing areas. They are used in chemical engineering, petroleum, shipyards, agriculture, tankers, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and many other industries. Besides the above, they can also be used for steam, hot and cold water, ventilation, fire protection, cooling, hydraulic etc.

Different Kinds of Industrial Hoses

Besides adjusting to the physical and chemical conditions, industrial hoses have to adhere to executive standard as far as the chemical material and engineering of the inner and outer hose tube is concerned. The different kinds of industrial hoses are as follows,

·         Water hose- This kind of hoses are used for gardening, irrigation, fire, building, agricultural fertilizers, equipment and tank cleaning, manure, industrial waste water drainage.

·         Hot water and steam hose-This kind of hose can be used for refrigeration equipment cooling water, also in food processing, the engine cold or hot water and they are specifically used for hot water and saturated steam of the dairy plant. 

·         Air hose-Air hoses are used in a number of areas such as pneumatic lines, compressors, and systems, spray guns and sprayers, blowing machines etc. 

·         Beverage and food hose-This kind of hose is made of high quality polyurethane, which is chiefly made for the purpose of extraction or suction and also for injection/pressure in the industries such as food and pharmaceutical.

·         Ventilation hose- This kind of hoses are used for specific purposes like handling dust, gases, air, smoke, chips, abrasive dust, fumes, sawdust, chips, powdered and other granular materials in industries like chemical, agriculture, wood and so on.

·         The chemical hose-The chemical hose is specifically used to transport acidic chemical products. It resists most chemicals and also the hostile environment as it is lined with a non-stick inner surface.

·         Material handling hose-This kind of hose is used for transporting substances like mist, powder,  gas, fibers, particles, gravel, fertilizer,  cement, coal dust, and so on.

·         Oil transmission hose- This kind of hose pipes are used for transmission of oil, petroleum and other petroleum based products in both land and the ocean.

Advanced Fluro Tubes manufacturers are regarded as one of the best PTFE hose manufacturers in India. They are an ISO 9001:2015 certified company and their plant are located on the outskirts of Mumbai, India.

They are regarded as the one of the best, as their company boasts of an experienced management and their focus is on providing top-notch customer experience, consistent quality, and striving towards improving the product. Advanced Fluro Tubes caters to industries like Electrical, Chemical Process Industry, Oil and gas, Instrumentation, Automobile, Power, and Steel Pharmaceutical etc.

Why is Teflon (PTFE) white while fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), a Teflon Co-Polymer, is Transparent?

Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE tubes are more popularly known as non-stick coatings are two-coat systems which include the primer or topcoat systems. These products have the properties which include good abrasion resistance and chemical resistance. Operating temperature of any fluoroplastic (260°C/500°F), which generates an extremely low coefficient of friction. 

What is Teflon FEP?

FEP or fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer non-stick coatings that can flow and melt easily when baked provide nonporous films. 

Here are some of the differences between fluoropolymers, PTFE and FEP.

PTFE

• Polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, was one of the first of the synthetic fluoropolymers to be produced. It is certainly one of the most widely used Fluoropolymer.
•  The color of the natural PTFE tubing is opaque to practically transparent. It also has the property of having the lowest surface friction of all materials. This ensures that it has high flow rates and very low chances of congestion
• The PTFE has a superior non-stick surface and is perfect for cookware and bakeware. It makes both cooking and cleaning very easy.
• Non-stick coatings are used widely in guns and ammunition as they reduce the amount of wear on the barrel of the gun when fired.
• PTFE coatings are also known as hydrophobic. This means that liquids run straight off material or surface that has been coated with PTFE. This is largely due to its high electronegativity.

FEP

• The Fluorinated ethylene propylene, or FEP as it is better known as is slightly different to PTFE but it has some non-stick properties of Teflon.
• The properties of FEP differs from PTFE is that it is softer than PTFE and melts at a far lower temperature. This is the very reason that the use of FEP for cookware and bakeware.
• Another great benefit of FEP is that it is completely transparent. So whatever you pour in it and whichever surface it covers the color won’t change and it will remain the same.
•  FEP is also resistant to sunlight, so it is terrific for all weather applications. This is particularly useful for outdoor wiring and equipment that undergoes weathering. FEP is usually used in applications where clarity is the number 1 norm like for example soil analysis and/or sight glasses and so on.

PTFE and FEP are similar in their chief material properties. The main difference between PTFE and FEP lies in the maximum operating temperature and the colour. PTFE looks milky/white and FEP is clear transparent.

Fluorocarbons of different types are colorless so they make transparent liquids, as has been explained. They can make transparent solids also because of the sintering processes in manufacture helps trap bits of polymer that possess different indexes of refraction against each other. The light scatters at the interface like when in any homogenous liquid solidifies. It is the light scattering which makes the solids white.

There are transparent Teflon tubes which can prove that Teflon without the defects can make it scatter light and turn white.