Lined Equipment

PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) – PVDF is the most commonly used fluoropolymer. It has excellent chemical resistance and tolerates temperatures up to about 230oF, depending on the chemical service. It is a good choice for strong acids and solvents, and to handle de-ionized (DI) water. It is not recommended for caustics.

ECTFE (Ethylene Chlorotrifluoroethylene) – ECTFE has excellent chemical resistance and somewhat stronger resistance to caustic and chloride environments than PVDF. It has the lowest coefficient of expansion of any of the fluorinated materials, making it a good selection for high thermal-cycling environments.

ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) – ETFE resists most chemicals. But even it is vulnerable. For instance, ETFE should not be used with concentrated oxidizing acids at elevated temperatures, alkali amines, certain organic solvents, alkali metals at ambient temperature, fluorine at elevated temperatures and certain halogenated compounds.

PTFE-M (Polytetrafluoroethylene) – The “M” is added to the polymer’s name here because the PTFE is chemically modified with perfluoropropyl vinyl ether to make it melt-flow-processable (so we can weld it easily). It is chemically resistant to virtually all chemicals except alkali metals and fluorine at elevated temperatures.

FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) – While very chemically inert, even FEP is still subject to attack at ambient temperature by alkali metals, alkali metal organics and fluorine.

PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy) – PFA is the most chemically inert of all the fluorinated materials. On the negative side, PFA is susceptible to abrasion.