What is fluoropolymer tubing?

What is “fluoropolymer” in the first place?

Fluoropolymer was discovered by Dr. Planket at Dupon Company in the USA in 1938. The sample he discovered was polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This was the first discovery of fluoropolymers. After his discovery, various research was done for fluoropolymers besides PTFE, which includes PFA, FEP and so on.

Nowadays, due to its special functions and excellent characteristics, fluoropolymer has become a material indispensable in a wide variety of fields such as medical, chemical, semiconductor, information technology, automobile, aerospace and submarine, and household products.

Picture: A stone that originates the fluoropolymer

Main characteristics of fluoropolymers

Strong to Heat Heat-resistant and flame-retardant

Heat-resistant and flame-retardant Fluoropolymer is a material that does not melt or break easily at high temperatures. Strong chemical bonds generate energy that can maintain their strength even at temperatures as high as 260°C. This makes it suitable for parts used in extremely hot environments, such as engines and machinery whose temperature becomes high.
Change Resistant Chemical-resistant, weather-resistant, staining-resistant

Stable Chemical-resistant, weather-resistant, staining-resistant Fluoropolymers prevent attack by other substances through strong chemical bonding. It is resistant to chemicals such as acids and alkalis, and does not corrode or discolor easily. This makes them suitable for parts used in chemical plants and places where chemicals are handled.
Electrical Resistant Resistant to electricity Insulation properties

Fluoropolymers have extremely high electrical resistance per unit volume and thus energy loss is high, making them difficult to conduct electricity. This characteristic does not change, especially at high temperatures and high-frequency interference. For this reason, it is used as a coating material for electric wires and as an insulator for electronic components.
Smooth Lubricity Low friction (smoothness), non-adhesive

Fluoropolymers have a very smooth surface and low friction. These characteristics allow the material to be used as the coating on moving parts of machines or to prevent objects from sticking together.

Category of Fluoropolymer Tubing

Straight Tubing

Also called spaghetti tubing (spa tubing) have insulating, non-adhesive, and lubricity properties. It is used for thin tubing for medical devices, taking advantage of its high resistance to chemicals and its stable properties.
Penn & Nitto offers a variety of types in its "Finetube" series.
Heat-shrinking Tubing

Heat shrink tubing uses a special fluoropolymer that shrinks when heated to coat objects and control their physical properties such as insulation, non-adhesiveness, and lubricity.
It is widely used in medical devices, aerospace, electronic components, etc., because it easily protects inside materials from external environments (chemical resistance, moisture proof, stain proof).
Flexible Tubing

Flexible tubing is flexible and bendable and is widely used as piping materials for semiconductor, liquid crystal, and quartz manufacturing equipment, analytical instruments, measuring instruments, and physical and chemical equipment. Its flexibility allows high degree of freedom of piping.

Applications of fluoropolymer tubing

Semiconductor

Manufacturing equipment / sensors / heat-resistant covers, piping components, etc.
Medical, physical and chemical

Catheters / testing equipment / analytical equipment, etc.
Electronic equipment

Computer and office automation equipment / magnetic heads / rolls / harnesses, etc.
Power and Telecommunications

Power, optical, and submarine cables / communication antennas / radar, etc.
Foods and chemical

Conveying and kneading rollers / hangers / thermometers / heat exchangers, etc.
Aerospace

Satellite / shuttle / airplane etc.
Automotive

Thermistors / harnesses / push cables / fuel cells, etc.
Others

Vehicles / home appliances / electrical and electronic parts, etc.

Fluoropolymers Penn & Nitto sell

PTFE

The term "fluoropolymer" often refers to PTFE, which is the most widely used resin in terms of production volume and usage.

Precise Name

Tetrafluoroetylene
PFA

It has properties comparable to PTFE and can be welded and molded.

Precise Name

Tetrafluoroetylene Perfluoroalkylvinylether Copolymer
FEP

Although its heat resistance is inferior to that of PTFE, it can be weld-molded, and its other properties are superior next to those of PTFE.

Precise Name

Tetrafluoroetylene Hexafluoropropylen Copolymer

Products

Flexible tubing

The inner diameter remains almost unchanged even when tube is bent, excellent in flexible piping, and the tube can be expanded and contracted. It can be used to the inside of equipment in small spaces. It is also used as a piping material for fluid transfer in various fields.

Heat shrink tubing

Tubing that shrinks when heated, used for coating parts, etc. It can provide heat resistance, insulation, non-adhesiveness, and slipperiness to the covering objects.
Various shrink ratios and sizes are available for a variety of applications.