Flexijoint® PTFE Expansion Joints
ChemTite® Ethylene™ Flexijoint® PTFE expansion joints have a proven record worldwide of handling the CPI's most corrosive pipe stress problems. They are formed from isostatically molded, FDA approved, virgin PTFE resin to guarantee product purity and uniform thickness.
ChemTite® Ethylene Flexijoint PTFE expansion joints are flexible connectors and tremor barriers designed to compensate for misalignment, absorb expansion and contraction, and isolate vibration and shock in process piping, tanks and pumps. They also offer a low spring rate to protect stress sensitive FRP, glass or graphite equipment.
Flexijoints are available in sizes 1/2" to 42" and from 2 to 12 convolutions for maximum movement.
Flexijoint has almost universal chemical inertness, high and low temperature resistance, invulnerability to ozone and sunlight, outstanding flex life, and low acoustical impedance (sound dampening properties).
Product Features & Benefits
- PURE 100% VIRGIN PTFE RESIN: The unmatched performance of Flexijoint is due to its exclusive Fluoroforming™ process, a development of ChemTite® Ethylene™. The Fluoroforming™ process employs only high molecular weight resin to utilize pure PTFEwith no pigments or additives which might contaminate contacting fluids by leaching out, or to be vulnerable to blistering. In addition, high molecular weight with tightly controlled crystallinity, inherent in the ChemTite® Ethylene™ Fluoroforming™ process, results in lower permeation rates, outstanding flex-life and maximum tensile strength. Competitors which use paste extruded resin are NOT using Pure PTFE. They must mix a hydrocarbon such as Isopar™ to facilitate PTFE paste extruding.
- UNIFORM WALL THICKNESS: ChemTite® Ethylene’s exclusive Fluorforming™ process guarantees multiple convolution walls of constant uniform thickness for any size. This relationship of heavy wall and geometry is one of the basic reasons for the outstanding performance of Flexijoints. Deep convolutions allow increased axial travel and reduce the force necessary to produce movement or lateral misalignment. As a result, Flexijoints have a longer service life when compared to conventional blow molded or stretch molded expansion joints which introduce stress points and exhibit alarming thinning of the convolution wall and root. Note: Blow-molding is sometimes referred to as “contour” molding by some manufacturers.
- T-BAND™ROOT & SIDEWALL SUPPORT: Flexijoint T-Band™ reinforcement on the outside of the convolutions supports the convolution root and sidewall for improved service life and increased safety in high pressure applications. As pressure and temperature increase, the sidewall of the PTFEconvolutions conforms to the contour of the T-Band, improving stability under pressure.
- T-BAND™ PROTECTION FROM OVER COMPRESSION: Flexijoint T-Band™ metal reinforcement on the outside of the convolutions not only contributes to the pressure rating of the Flexijoint but also limits the total axial movement in compression. The shoulders of the T-Band™ are designed to butt when maximum compression limit has been reached to provide protection from excessive compression for improved safety and increased service life.
- LIMITLINKS™ PROTECTION FROM EXPANSION: LimitLinks™ consist of stainless-steel cables conforming to MIL-C5424 - the government specification for Aircraft Cable, at the ends of which stainless steel ball-shaped terminals are swaged. The opposite ends of each LimitLink™ are firmly anchored in the Flexijoint flanges in a manner which limits over expansion of the Flexijoint, but also leaves the terminals free to swivel as the flanges change position relative to each other during their adjustment to angular misalignment, parallel misalignment, purely axial motion or a combination of all three.
- LIMITLINKS™ & T-BAND™ ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: LimitLinks provide easy installation even when the mating flange bolts don’t align. They also won’t get in the way and they never need to be removed for installation unlike competitors' LimitBolt designed expansion joints which may void warranties. T-Bands cover approximately 75% of the outside of the convolution when not compressed to provide protection from external damage such as falling tools or weld splatter.
Flexijoint® Styles
LimitBolt
Provides resistance to rotational forces and limits lateral misalignments. Unlike competitors, the Flexijoint LimitBolt design does not require the removal of LimitBolts for installation.
LimitLink
The industry standard and regarded as the most reliable PTFE expansion joint for severe services. Flexijoint with LimitLinks allow free swivel as the flanges change position relative to each other during their adjustment to angular and parallel misalignment, purely axial motion or a combination of all three. LimitLink™ also permits installation where mating pipe is not two-holed.
AntiSquirm™
Each T-Band™ incorporates (3) radial spokes which rest on the Limitbolts, thereby restraining the T-Bands that hold the convolutions in balanced geometrical position. This feature will eliminate squirming or buckling effects and dramatically increase operating pressure capabilities in multi-convoluted Flexijoints.
Durcor®-62™
Advanced composite flanges have the strength of steel with 1/2 the weight and will never corrode. ZERO CORROSION RATE! Request brochure “FlexDurcor” for more information.
FlexArmor®
PTFE lined metal expansion joints provide double containment protection and higher pressure ratings. Visit the FlexArmor page for more information.
Hinged
Flexijoint Hinged style expansion joints contain pivots which only allow the unit to bend in a single plane. Their hinge mechanisms are very effective at absorbing pressure — thrust and other external loads such as the weight of adjacent piping, which relieves the piping designer of having to provide additional supports and anchors as required by standard type expansion joints.
AnchorBase™
AnchorBase is basically an anchor built around a LimitBolt Flexijoint. It is ready for bolting to a footing, floor, or other structural element of suitable mass. Distance from Flexijoint centerline to base bottom conforms to ANSI B16.5 for 150 lb base fittings.
Universal
Flexijont Universal expansion joints consist of two bellows separated by a PTFE lined pipe spool. The primary purpose of this arrangement is to have a unit which will accept large amounts of lateral deflection and substantially reduced force (spring rate) required to cause movement.
Gimballed
The Gimballed Flexijoint is basically the same as the hinge type except that instead of being limited to deflection in only a single plane, it can accept bending in any plane. It contains two sets of hinges connected to a central floating gimbal ring. Gimballed joints are the most reliable form of a flexible connector and are widely used for complex piping systems where proper anchoring & guiding may not be feasible. These flexible connectors, usually in pairs, will permit piping to float in relation to terminal points.
Specials
Don’t want flanges on your expansion joints? Ethylene can provide cuffed ends for clamping directly to piping or virtually any other end connection on Flexijoints, including Tri-Clamp & Victaulic. Contact Ethylene for details.
Technical Details
Vacuum Ratings for Flexijoint® Bellows
The vacuum rating of a Flexijoint will decrease with increasing temperature, diameter, and number of convolutions. The table below gives the maximum working temperature for a Flexijoint operating at full vacuum.
Vacuband™ vacuum rings enable Flexijoints through 42” diameter to be rated for full vacuum at temperatures to 350°F. The Vacuband is a metal hoop inserted into the root of the convolution. Metal selection is based on the customer's specifications; materials such as Tantalum, Hastelloy®, Monel, stainless steels, Nickel and Zirconium are commonly used. Consult the factory for sizes or temperatures not listed.
| Maximum Temperature (°F) for Full Vacuum Service (without Vacubands) |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Number of Convolutions | ||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| *Consult Factory | |||||||||||
| 1/2 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 425 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| 3/4 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 425 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| 1 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 425 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| 1.25 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 425 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| 1.50 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 425 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| 2 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 425 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| 2.5 | 425 | 425 | 425 | 400 | 400 | 350 | 350 | 300 | 300 | 250 | 250 |
| 3 | 425 | 425 | 400 | 350 | 350 | 300 | 300 | 250 | 250 | 200 | 200 |
| 4 | 400 | 400 | 350 | 300 | 300 | 250 | 250 | 200 | 200 | 150 | 150 |
| 5 | 400 | 350 | 300 | 250 | 250 | 200 | 200 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| 6 | 320 | 300 | 250 | 200 | 200 | 150 | 100 | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF |
| 8 | 250 | 200 | 200 | 150 | 100 | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF |
| 10 | 200 | 200 | 150 | 100 | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF |
| 12 | 150 | 120 | 100 | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF |
| 14-16 | 120 | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF |
| 18-24 | 100 | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF |
| 28-42 | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF | *CF |
Flexijoint® Weights
Example: An 8" Diameter, 5 convolution Flexijoint weighs 32 + (5-2) (3) = 41 lbs.
Note: Weights can be substantially reduced for low pressure applications.
| Approximate Weight of Flexijoints® (Pounds without packaging) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Size (Inches) |
Limitlink™ Flexijoint with Two Convolutions |
Amount to Add for Each Convolution |
| 1/2 | 2 | 0.1 |
| 3/4 | 2 | 0.2 |
| 1 | 3 | 0.2 |
| 1-1/4 | 3 | 0.2 |
| 1-1/2 | 3 | 0.3 |
| 2 | 6 | 0.4 |
| 2-1/2 | 9 | 0.6 |
| 3 | 10 | 0.8 |
| 4 | 14 | 1 |
| 5 | 17 | 1 |
| 6 | 21 | 2 |
| 8 | 32 | 3 |
| 10 | 44 | 4 |
| 12 | 68 | 5 |
| 14 | 88 | 7 |
| 16 | 117 | 9 |
| 18 | 132 | 12 |
| 20 | 161 | 14 |
| 24 | 230 | 21 |
| 28 | 350 | 26 |
| 30 | 400 | 29 |
| 32 | 475 | 29 |
| 36 | 650 | 42 |
| 42 | 910 | 64 |
Literature
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