Fluoropolymers need marketing assistance

Our last post about fluoropolymers was about how it is important to spread the word about your company, products, executives, etc.  This post is similar, yet will discuss using a marketing agency in general and the importance of improving your Web site.

Fluorotherm’s fluoropolymer products can be utilized by many companies in a variety of industries, but it is our job to let that be known.  Small businesses do not always have the time to direct resources towards marketing and advertising though both are important in recruiting new sales.  Many small companies decide to outsource to marketing agencies in order to facilitate marketing and advertising.

Our major products are fluoropolymers such as PTFE, PFA, FEP, and MFA.  In addition, other popular items with our customers include immersion heat exchangers and shell and tube heat exchangers.  We wanted current and potential customers to easily find these items and learn more about them on our Web site.  This was a top priority in working with our marketing firm.

The best suggestion we can provide to other small businesses with Web sites is to clearly display your contact forms on your Web site.  This enables your company to gather their information regarding a desired service/product, and you can also maintain their contact information to provide more insight and information about future products and services.

In addition, our marketing firm helped us with some public relations initiatives and facilitated higher rankings on the search engines for our keywords such as fluoropolymers, PTFE, FEP, MFA, and so on.

What the heck is a Fluoropolymer?

Well, we know what fluoropolymers are, and most firms directly related to our industry do as well, but the general public may not be so familiar with such things as PTFE, FEP, PFA, and PVDF – all of which are fluoropolymers.

The purpose of this post is not to directly discuss fluorotherm’s products, but to mention the importance of educating the public about your products (and services).  There are many ways to promote products in order to increase awareness.

Consider the following:

-  Write a blog about your products.  Just as Fluorotherm writes this blog about fluoropolymers, we encourage all businesses to write about their site, products/services, and company-related information.

-  Issue newsletters.  We offer newsletters directly from our Web site and enable interested parties to stay on our mailing list to keep informed about us.

-  Hire a marketing or pr company.  Many times, small businesses are too busy to conduct important initiatives in-house.  Outsourcing to professionals ensures that objectives are addressed and addressed well by experienced professionals.

- Attend tradeshows.  Tradeshows are great to become acquainted with others in your industry and may invite the opportunity to recruit new talent to your business.

Differences between PTFE (Teflon), FEP, and PFA

The name, “Teflon” is Dupont’s trademark name for its family of fluoropolymers.  At times, it is mistaken that DuPont’s trademark name is meant only to refer to the fluoropolymer, PTFE, when FEP and PFA also can be used under the appellation.

Industry experts also use other names to refer to the fluoropolymers.  FEP, PFA, and PTFE are also known under names such as THV, PVDF, ETFE, ECTFE, and CTFE.

Though all of the fluoropolymers can be cataloged in the same family, they vary slightly in regards to thermal and mechanical properties.

PTFE and PFA have a raised temperature tolerance in comparison to FEP.

FEP and PFA are clear, yet PTFE is translucent.  FEP and PFA have better mechanical properties in comparision to PTFE.

The main differences are in regards to chemical inertness, corrosion resistance ,permeability, and FDA approval.

For more information, visit our Overview of Fluoropolymers
and Typical properties of fluoropolymers.

Immersion Coil Heat Exchangers

We carry a large line of immersion coil products.  Our Immersion Heat Exchanger is made from a PVDF (poly  -vinylidene fluoride).  This modification increases the performance range of the heat exchanger.  Other polypropylene-framed exchangers.

Standard tubing coils of the heat exchangers consist of either FEP (fluoronated ethylene propylene) or PFA (perfluoroalkoxy- vinyl ether) tubing.  Higher steam pressure tubing is also available with custom-sized fluoropolymer heat exchanger tubing.  Fluorotherm can also provide your company with custom-sized fluoropolymer heat exchanger tubing.

PVDV-framed heat exchangers have been championed by clients and labeled as superior to polypropylene frames (especially in situations where the tank or bath temperatures exceed 150* F) and can withstand temperatures up to 210*F.  We recommend PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) frames for jobs where temperatures can exceed 210* F.

Our fluoropolymer products can be used for a variety of jobs within many industries.  We recommend visiting our site and taking a look at the specific statistics provided according to the fluoropolymer desired.

Fluoropolymer – PTFE

The fluoropolymer, PTFE,  can be applied to many business initiatives, yet many business owners do not realize its usefulness.

PTFE was initially discovered by DuPont’s Dr. Roy Plunkett and was given the name of Teflon.

In its early years, PTFE was widely used by the steel and chemical processing industries.  Tubing and hoses made or covered with PTFE is conducive to safe and efficient caustic and corrosive chemical transfer.

PTFE can be used in an idle fashion or used in conjunction with other contributants to manufacture a product.

PTFE – Thermal qualities

The fluoropolymer can withstand temperatures exceeding 680*F

During cryogenic conditions, PTFE can maintain down to -320*F

PTFE – Electrical qualities

PTFE has a low dielectric constant of 2.1 (between -40*F and 480*F within a frequency range of 5 Hz to 10 GHz)

The fluoropolymer is also a great insulator (surface resistivity of 3.6X 1012 ohms)

PTFE – UV and Radiation qualities

PTFE is incredibly resistant to UV and radiation (radiation dose threshold for PTFE at 2-7 X 104 rads)

PTFE – Wear and Friction qualities

PTFE has a static coefficient of friction of 0.08 and 500 psi load

It is highly suitable in regards to bridge bearing pads, pipe support pads, and mounting pads for heavy manufacturing.

For further information about PTFE, go to Fluorotherm.com

Fluoropolymer – FEP

Fluorinated ethylene propylene or FEP is a fluoropolymer product. It can be applied in a variety of ways to benefit business activities.

Applications of FEP

- heat shrink and non-shrink tubing
- heat exchangers
- medical tubing
- telephone wire coating and insulation
- telephone wire jacketing
- release film
- valve and chemical equipment lining
- cable
- foamed coaxial cable
- computer wiring
- underground water lines

Properties of FEP

- FEP hosts excellent electrical properties, so it is highly valuable in regards to electrical activities and insulation.

- FEP is inert to most chemicals and solvents, so it is applicable for most chemical activities.

- FEP products are not influenced by extreme weather temperatures. It is resistant to UV radiation as well.

For further data and statistics on FEP, continue to Fluorotherm.com

Fluorotherm’s Chemically Resistant PTFE, FEP and PFA Products are the Materials of Choice

To Our Valued Customers,

Beginning this month, we would like to selectively pick one of the unique characteristics of fluoropolymers and briefly elaborate on the reasons why they are the materials of choice over other polymers for applications that require specific performance criteria.

 

Some of these criteria may require electrical, chemical inertness, non-shedding, optical, thermal (both high temperature and cryogenic conditions), ultraviolet light transparency, lubricity, weathering and corrosion resistance characteristics, among others. Fluoropolymers such as PTFE, FEP and PFA uniquely meet one or a combination of these criteria.

 

Chemical Resistance

 

Specifically perfluorinated fluoropolymer materials such as PTFE, FEP and PFA contain only carbon and fluorine with single chemical bonds in the chemical structure. Their hydrocarbon counterparts, such as polyethylene and polypropylene; contain carbon and hydrogen. The morphology or structural shape of the fluoropolymer molecule containing strong C-F single bonds is uniquely tailored to prevent chemical attack of the carbon-carbon backbone by most common chemicals. Think Caesar’s Roman army with rectangular shields that received better protection against flying spears than the round shields of opposing armies.

 

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is highly resistant to attack by most highly corrosive chemicals. For example, Fluorotherm has many instances of heat exchangers and other products that continue to operate in hot sulfuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids. Our heat exchanger designs were originally introduced to the market in the mid-1960′s., and new combinations of increasingly robust design and materials have evolved ever since.  An example of our heat exchanger frame initially installed in 1982 is shown below. The tubing material has been replaced but the frame is relatively clean considering its exposure to hot nitric and hydrofluoric acids for  26 years.

FLUOROTHERM TEFLON® IMMERSION HEAT EXCHANGER – 1982 INSTALLATION – AND STILL OPERATING !

 

FEP (polytetrafluoroethylene-co-hexfluoropropylene) and PFA (polytetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoro alkoxyvinyl ether) have similar chemical resistance to PTFE. Tubing made of these materials have a long life in aggressive environments in the simultaneous presence of harsh chemicals and high temperatures compared to other plastics and materials where failure may occur due to either structural or thermal degradation.

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Extreme chemical inertness of perfluorinated polymers serves well in a broad range of industries and applications. Some of these include the oil well and oil services industries; refinery and petrochemicals, pharmaceutical applications; the chemical process industry (CPI); pulp and paper mills, environmental sampling and laboratory environments among others.

 

The list of chemicals that are compatible with our tubing materials is too numerous to mention. In fact, it is easier to list the few materials that do not work with our fluoropolymers. For additional information please click on the following link:http://www.fluorotherm.com/chemical_resistance.html

 

 

For additional information on chemical resistance of PTFE, FEP, PFA and PVDF please contact us at sales@fluorotherm.com. We will be happy to discuss the suitability of our products in your particular application and suggest alternatives if necessary.

Corrosion Resistant Load Bearing Metal Rods: PTFE, FEP, PFA

Fluorotherm introduces corrosion resistant load bearing metal rods; with complete encapsulation in PTFE, FEP, PFA. These rods may be used to support work in a corrosive environment such as a plating or coating bath, as carrier to transport work in a chemically agressive environment and in numerous other uses.

The rigidity of the metal core provides strength that cannot be matched by plastic rods. A PTFE or other adapter of appropriate configuration over the encapsulated rod can be used as points of support. 

PTFE, FEP, PFA rod with bracket

This encapsulated construction provides the strength of metal and the chemical resistance of Teflon® type materials. Such construction can bear up to 700 lb loads in nitric, HF; hydrochloric and sulfuric acid baths and other hazardous atmospheres.

The complete fluoropolymer encapsulation is distinctly superior to heat shrink tube covering where the wall thickness is too light to sustain reasonable loads or abrasive wear, without tearing or cracking. The high continuous use temperature of PTFE, FEP or PFA permits these materials to be used up to 400 deg F.

To see how Fluorotherm’s Encapsulated Rods in Action click can assist you please visit Fluorotherm’s Website

 

 

 

Fluorotherm introduces Thermally Conductive H2 PFA and FEP fluoropolymer tubing

Fluorotherm introduces Thermally Conductive H2 PFA and FEP fluoropolymer tubing to significantly enhance the heat transfer rate for cooling and heating applications. This tubing is incorporated in Fluorotherm heat exchangers that are used in a broad range of industries such as steel, metal finishing, galvanizing plants and chemical processing applications. The tubing composition has been optimized to provide the best combination of thermal conductivity and strength while retaining the basic non-stick property of fluoropolymers. Optimization relates to the nature of the fillers, purity, shape factors, and loading, among others. Fluorotherm H2 tubing has been proven and characterized by field tests. The thermal conductivity, based on field testing data, ranges from about 2 to 2.5 times that of natural plastic.

Our H2 heat exchangers are lower profile and require significantly less space than other plastic heat exchangers for a given heat load. For example, sulfuric acid recovery and recycling in galvanizing operations requires half the amount of H2 surface area compared to PVDF or polypropylene heat exchangers. In addition, Fluorotherm heat exchangers are relatively easily cleaned by virtue of the geometry of the Fluorotherm heat exchangers and the inhererently non-stick property of H2 tubing.

Helpful Fluoropolymer Information from a Trusted Source

Fluoropolymers

Hello everyone, this blog is meant for people with questions and concerns about different fluoropolymers and fluoropolymer products.

Please come to this blog and let us know your questions or concerns and feel free to visit  www.fluorotherm.com for more information. 

Thanks and we look forward to helping you.