Fluorostore F015090 - 5 Metric PTFE Tubing, 3 mm ID x 4 mm OD, 5' Length, Semi-Transparent

The classic, original, the gold standard. PTFE was the "miracle" fluoropolymer invented in the 1940's by DuPont - a product originally without a market and hard to process. Most other materials continue to use PTFE as a reference for chemical resistance.

The high viscosity in the gel state (it does not truly melt) of PTFE prevents it from being processed conventionally in extruders or injection molding. It is therefore dry molded or extruded in hydraulic extruders with (paste extrusion) or without (ram extrusion) lubricants. Paste extrusion of PTFE yields a flexible tubing. However, it occurs in a batch process and thus long continuous lengths are limited to the batch size, unlike the melt processable fluoropolymers - FEP, PFA and ETFE. The unique properties of PTFE cover an impressive range - high use temperature compared to other polymers, almost universal chemical resistance, excellent electrical properties at high voltage and high signal frequencies, non-stick characteristics, usefulness under extreme low temperatures (cryogenic conditions), UV resistance. However, mechanical strength and wear resistance are not criteria for which PTFE is recommended - which is one reason for the development of FEP, PFA and ETFE.

Manufactured by Fluorotherm in the USA, it is semi-transparent in color and FDA approved.