Fluoropolymer Lined Metals
Metal lines with fluoropolymers carry the desirable qualities of both materials. Products such as PTFE-lined pipe feature the strength, rigidity, and durability of metal with the high corrosion resistance, high purity, and reduced friction conferred by polymers, making them an excellent option for demanding industrial applications.
Types of Fluoropolymers
Fluoropolymers are a type of plastic with carbon-fluorine bonds. These incredibly strong bonds and their unique properties make them ideal for use in demanding applications. At Andronaco, we use several fluoropolymers to line metal and composite piping and accessories. Andronaco offers the highest molecular weight and highest purity polymer options for the most demanding applications. Andronaco starts with the best polymer grades and robust processes to ensure the liner tests for consistency in thickness which leads to fewer failures after installation. If permeation is a concern, Andronaco has testing which proves their polymer liners permeate 3 times less than competitive alternatives. This can only be achieved through extensive manufacturing capabilities, including ram extrusion and the most molding processes known in the industry under one brand. The breadth of polymer processing including the highest quality standards at Andronaco are unique in the lined pipe industry.
Polytetrafluoroethylene
PTFE-lined pipe is chemically inert and nontoxic. It resists chemicals, corrosion, UV light, and solvents. PTFE linings are widely used in the chemical, water treatment, and food and beverage industries. PTFE has a temperature range of -400 to 500 F (-240 to 260 C), and it is unique in that it is the most difficult polymer to process and is not field fusible.
Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene
FEP is a brilliant alternative to PTFE with only slightly less temperature range and chemical resistance. This can be a nice tradeoff for easier processing, enabling it to be fused in the field. FEP has a temperature range of -400 to 400 F (-240 to 204 C). It has great potential as a high purity liner option when PTFE is not an option due to limited processability in the field.
Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene
ETFE-lined pipe has the highest abrasion resistance of the fluoropolymers. ETFE is another alternative to PTFE with improved processing, field fusibility, and high abrasion resistance. The tradeoff is its temperature range of -300 to 300 F (-184 to 149 C).
Perfluoroalkoxy Fluorocarbon
PFA-lined pipe rivals PTFE with a temperature range of -328 to 500 F (-200 to 260 C). It is also well known for high purity grades used in the semiconductor industry. PFA has a low coefficient of friction, making it more abrasion resistant than any other fluoropolymers except ETFE. It is easily processed and field fusible.
Polyvinylidene Fluoride
PVDF-lined pipe has a smaller temperature range of -4 to 302 F (-20 to 150 C). However, it has a low coefficient of friction, making it less abrasion resistant than ETFE but higher than many other fluoropolymers. PVDF is widely used for lining pumps and other components in chemical manufacturing.
Industries Served
Our Fluoropolymer-lined pipe, fittings and accessories can meet the most demanding applications in many industries, including:
- Chemical manufacturing
- Oil and gas
- Petrochemical
- Pharmaceutical
- Wastewater treatment
- Energy (i.e. Green Hydrogen, Biofuels)
- Mining (i.e. Lithium, Critical Minerals, Lithium Recycling)
- Semiconductors
- Steel processing
Fluoropolymer Lined Pipes, Fittings, and Accessories
Our team at Andronaco Industries has over seven decades of proven performance manufacturing high-quality piping systems, including PTFE, FEP, PFA, ETFE, and PVDF-lined pipe, valves, and fittings. Contact us to request more information about our Ethylene™ ChemTite® polymer-lined metal pipes, valves, and fittings. If metals are an issue for corrosion under insulation or ultra-high purity requirements demand a different solution, check out our composite piping system called Durcor® which has the same fluoropolymer lining options with similar strength and installation requirements as lined steel without metals. It is the emerging enabler for ultra-high purity and reliable corrosion resistance in large plants which require low maintenance costs.
What is PTFE? Understanding the Material and Its Uses for Industrial Applications
Industrial operations that move caustic, acidic, hazardous, corrosive, or high purity fluids through pipes will benefit from PTFE linings.
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