FEP Dupont, Chemours FEP
FEP, Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene, has all the desirable properties of TFE (PTFE) but with a lower service temperature of 200 degrees C (392 degrees F). Unlike TFE, FEP can be injection molded and extruded by conventional methods into FEP rods, FEP tube, FEP Film, FEP Sheet and special profiles. This becomes a design and processing advantage over TFE.
What is FEP material?
FEP plastic is a copolymer of tetrafluoroethlene and Hexafluoropropylene. This melt-processible fluoropolymer exhibits excellent resistance to heat, wear and chemicals. Polymer Plastics offers besides Dupont FEP, Daikin Neoflon FEP and Chemours FEP.
It is like PTFE in that it is a soft material with low tensile strength, and low wear resistance. FEP is chemically inert and insoluble in all but a few exotic solvents. Like TFE, FEP is manufactured by DuPont/Chemous and sold under the name of FEP.
In direct comparison to TFE, FEP material has a lower heat resistance (-400 degrees F to +392 degrees F), a higher coefficient of friction and poorer wear resistance. They are similar in their electrical properties, chemical inertness, strength, moisture absorption, and anti-stick characteristics.
Applications include electronic items such as wire covering and FEP spaghetti tubing, FEP linings for pipes in the chemical industry, aircraft wiring, and glazing for solar energy collectors.
Properties, Applications and Availabilities for the FEP Sheet and Rod
| Properties | Applications | Availabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Heat resistant | Wire insulating | Rod: .125″ to 6.00″ |
| Chemically inert | Chemical fluid handling | Sheet: .093″ to 2.00″ |
| Excellent electrical properties | Medical tubing | FEP Film: .003″ to .060″ |
| Zero moisture absorption | “O” Rings | FEP Tube |
| Transparent | Seals | FEP Tubing: See fluid handling tubing |
| Radiation resistant | Gaskets | Standard Color: Translucent white |
| Very Low gas permeation and outgassing | Semi Conductor equipment | |
| Outdoor UV Resistant | Hostil Environments | |
| Hot Air weldable for tanks | Food Processing | |
| Microwave insulation | ||
| FEP Sheet Sizes Available | ||
| minimums may apply | ||
| Specifications | 3″ x 3″ – .002, .005 thickness | |
| ASTM D211683 | 6″ x 6″ – .010 thickness | |
| LP 389A | 6″ x 12″ – .015 thickness | |
| 12″ x 12″ | ||
| 12″ x 24″ | ||
| 18″ x 18″ | ||
| 24″ x 24″ |
Specifications
ASTM D 2116 (types I, II, III, or IV) FDA and USDA 21 CFR-177.1550 3A Sanitary Standard 20-17 USP Class VI