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ETFE Rod
Available Configurations
Properties common to all products in this list
| Diameter | Length |
|---|---|
| 11 mm to 19 mm | 10 mm to 1000 mm |
Need custom configurations? Please contact us.
Key Features
ETFE Rod (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene fluoropolymer) is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer rod combining the chemical resistance and electrical insulation of the fluoropolymer family with substantially better tensile strength and resistance to cold flow than PTFE:
Substantially better tensile strength and creep resistance than PTFE
The ethylene co-monomer units in the ETFE backbone produce a higher degree of crystallinity than PTFE, resulting in tensile strength and resistance to cold flow under sustained compressive or tensile load that is substantially better than PTFE. This makes ETFE rod a practical choice for precision-machined valve seats, seals, and bushings where PTFE would creep unacceptably under the operating load over time.
Broad service temperature range from below −100°C to 150°C
Good mechanical properties are retained from cryogenic temperatures below −100°C to approximately 150°C, covering most chemical processing, laboratory, and industrial service environments without the thermal brittleness at low temperature that limits some engineering polymers.
Chemical resistance to strong mineral acids, alkalis, and most industrial solvents
ETFE resists attack by strong mineral acids, alkalis, and most industrial solvents across its service temperature range, qualifying precision-machined ETFE components for use in aggressive chemical process equipment where metallic valve seats and seals would corrode and other engineering polymers would swell or dissolve.
UV transmission into the UV range
ETFE transmits well into the UV, a property not shared by most engineering polymers, qualifying ETFE rod as a UV-transmitting window and rod element in photochemical apparatus, photoreactors, and spectroscopic instruments where UV transparency of the structural component is a design requirement.
Good electrical insulation and high-frequency performance
The low dielectric constant and low loss tangent of ETFE across a wide frequency range qualify ETFE rod as an insulating component in high-voltage and high-frequency electrical assemblies where the combination of chemical resistance and stable dielectric properties across the service frequency range is required.
Industrial Applications
ETFE rod is selected over PTFE when load-bearing precision machined fluoropolymer components are required, and over engineering polymers when chemical resistance to aggressive media is the primary constraint:
- ✦ Precision machined valve seats, seals, and bushings in aggressive chemical process equipment
- Used as valve seats, seals, and insulating bushings machined to close tolerances in aggressive chemical process equipment, where PTFE would creep under the operating seat or seal load, other engineering polymers would be attacked by the process fluid, and metallic components would corrode. ETFE’s combination of chemical resistance and adequate creep resistance fills this gap.
- ✦ Electrical insulation components in high-voltage and high-frequency assemblies
- Applied as insulating rods, stand-offs, and structural components in high-voltage and high-frequency electrical assemblies, where the combination of stable dielectric properties, chemical resistance to cleaning agents and process fluids, and service temperatures to 150°C qualifies ETFE over lower-temperature polymer insulators.
- ✦ UV-transmitting rod and window elements in photochemical apparatus
- Used as UV-transmitting structural rod and window elements in photochemical reactors, flow photochemistry apparatus, and UV spectroscopic instrument housings, where ETFE’s UV transmission combined with its chemical resistance to photochemical process solvents qualifies it over absorbing polymer alternatives.
- ✦ Chemically resistant structural components in experimental reactor and electrochemical cell assemblies
- Applied as chemically resistant structural components in experimental reactor and electrochemical cell assemblies, where the combination of chemical inertness to electrolytes, solvents, and process gases, adequate mechanical strength for self-supporting structures, and freedom from metallic contamination qualifies ETFE for precision laboratory cell construction.
- ✦ Reference fluoropolymer for tribological, permeation, and surface chemistry investigations
- Used in research as a reference fluoropolymer for tribological wear rate measurements, permeation studies, and surface chemistry investigations, where ETFE’s well-defined composition, semi-crystalline microstructure, and commercially available rod geometry provide a consistent reference material for comparative fluoropolymer property studies.
Material Properties
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Acids - concentrated | Good |
| Acids - dilute | Good |
| Alcohols | Good |
| Alkalis | Good |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | Good |
| Greases and Oils | Good |
| Halogenated Hydrocarbons | Good |
| Halogens | Good |
| Ketones | Good |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Dielectric constant @1MHz | 2.6 |
| Dissipation factor @ 1MHz | 0.0005 |
| Dielectric strength( kV mm⁻¹ ) | 25 |
| Surface resistivity( Ohm/sq ) | >10¹⁴ |
| Volume resistivity( Ohmcm ) | 10¹⁶ |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Flammability | V0 |
| Radiation resistance | Fair |
| Refractive index | 1.403 |
| Resistance to Ultra-violet | Excellent |
| Limiting oxygen index( % ) | 30-32 |
| Water absorption( % ) | 0-0.03 |
| Density( gcm⁻³ ) | 1.7 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Hardness - Rockwell | R50 |
| Elongation at break( % ) | 250-350 |
| Tensile modulus( GPa ) | 0.8 |
| Izod impact strength( J m⁻¹ ) | 1000 |
| Tensile strength( MPa ) | 28-48 |
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Heat-deflection temperature - 0.45MPa( C ) | 105 |
| Heat-deflection temperature - 1.8MPa( C ) | 70 |
| Lower working temperature( C ) | -100 |
| Upper working temperature( C ) | 150-160 |
| Specific heat( J K⁻¹ kg⁻¹ ) | 1900-2000 |
| Thermal conductivity( W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ ) | 0.24@23°C |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion( x10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ ) | 90-170 |
Tolerances
| Diameter | +20% / -10% | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | <100mm | ±1mm |
| Length | >=100mm | +5 / -1% |