The Accerated Growth of Fluropolymers and Fluropolymer Tubing

The acceleration in the use of fluropolymer materials and in particular fluropolymer tubing in modern industry has been staggering since its accidental discovery back in 1938. Fluropolymer’s properties for friction and heat resistance as well as chemical stability has made fluropolymers an optimum choice for industries that demand materials that remain useful and safe in extreme conditions. Conditions such as: extreme heat, acidic environments or transfer of volatile liquids, electrical environments, and even in outer-space as Nasa has used fluropolymers on their shuttles.

Some of the industries commonly cited as the biggest users of fluropolymer tubing are also high growth industries including but not limited to: Medical, Laboratory Research, Pharmaceutical, Food Processing, Automotive, Aeronautic, Textile, Military, Electrical, Chemical, Food & Beverage Processing, 3D Printing, Petrochemical, and Robotics.

In 2010, the fluropolymer industry as a whole had a revenue of $5.8 billion dollars with an estimated growth rate of 6.5%. By 2019 the fluropolymer market is estimated to reach a net worth of $8.8 billion or higher and at least one report from Gran View Research has the fluropolymer market reaching $11.11 Billion by 2022.  These figures are not precise and estimates do vary. As technology advances and more & more technology companies are born, the use of these materials are only primed to increase.

Research into the applications of fluropolymers has also spiked. The American Chemical Society published a study in 2011 that the number of citations regarding fluropolymers in scientific research per year in 1993 was well under 500, but in 2011 had topped 4000.

Fluropolymers and fluropolymer tubing has become an indispensable part of our everyday lives. As industry has become more keenly aware of the benefits and the dynamic range of the uses of fluropolymers, they have continued to apply these materials to products and devices that we use everyday.

Things You Need To Know About Fluoropolymer Tubing

A fluoropolymer is a unique polymer that consists of molecules of fluorine and carbon, which makes for a high-performing plastic material that can withstand high-temperature and harsh chemical environments. It's characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids and bases, making it the perfect material in a wide variety of industries and applications! With that said, let's dive into some of the key things you need to know about fluoropolymer tubing.

Long History & Background

The use of fluoropolymer tubing dates back to many decades and PTFE tubing if often considered the original 'gold' standard. Since its creation, circa 1938, many different variations of fluoropolymer tubing were developed. Each variation features distinct advantages and some of other forms include:

            PTFE Tubing (the original fluoropolymer tubing)

            FEP Tubing

            PFA Tubing

            ETFE Tubing

            PVDF Tubing

            H2 Tubing

            Heat-Shrink Tubing

Excellent Resistance To Temperatures & Chemicals

Majority of the forms of fluoropolymer tubing is chemically inert, which means the material is not chemically reactive. This is extremely beneficial in all types of applications because if there is fluid transfer or gas transfer involved in the application, the material will maintain its strength and not 'bleed' into the fluid. On top of that, some tubing, like PTFE for instance, can withstand working temperatures up to 680 degrees Fahrenheit for limited periods, but it's mechanical properties remain stable at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, fluoropolymer tubing can withstand cryogenic conditions down to -320 degrees Fahrenheit.

Versatile Applications

Fluoropolymer tubing can be found in various industries from automotive applications (engine hoses, fluid lines, etc.) to aerospace applications (fluoropolymer tubing is extremely lightweight) to use in scientific labs where tubing are needed for equipment like NMR instruments. Additionally, the use of fluoropolymers can be found in general industry applications where heavy equipment needs high-performing materials to withstand corrosive fluids and high temperatures.

These are some of the key things you need to know about fluoropolymers and now that you have an understanding of how well they perform, you can rely on their stability in your own industry applications!