ECTFE VS ETFE

So What's The Practical Difference? 

There is a lot of buzz in the plastics Semiconductor world about fluoropolymers, given the concerns surrounding the viability of the supply chain to service the anticipated demand. The situation is made more complicated by potential PFAS regulations. The exit of 3M from the business will also create a gap. 

The fact is that fluoropolymers provide unique properties that cannot be easily replaced. They are inert, pure, and inherently flame-resistant, to name a few. As multiple industries rely on fluoropolymers, knowing where materials can be interchanged or optimized for specific applications becomes important.

ECTFE (Halar®) is a polymer manufactured by Solvay. Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene is a copolymer made from ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene. ECTFE is a white, semi-opaque thermoplastic. It can be melted and processed easily. This material has excellent chemical resistance and good barrier properties. 

ECTFE is a logical step up from PVDF in terms of chemical resistance while providing similar mechanical properties to PVDF and greatly enhanced mechanical properties compared to PTFE and PFA.

ETFE (Tefzel®) is a partially fluorinated copolymer of ethylene and trifluoroethylene (TFE). This chemical modification provides significantly higher strength relative to PTFE or PFA. It is less flexible than PTFE but has superior impact strength and abrasion resistance. 

Compared to ECTFE, the fully fluorinated TFE group allows for superior chemical resistance, while the partially chlorinated group in ECTFE enhances the mechanical properties. ETFE is a "tweener" when you need better mechanical properties than PFA or PTFE; however, when you need the nearly bullet-proof chemical resistance of PTFE and PFA.

WHETHER OPTIMIZING YOUR RESIN SELECTION FOR THE APPLICATION OR SIMPLY TRYING TO SECURE THE MATERIALS TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR DEMANDS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PORT PLASTICS OFFICE FOR ALL YOUR SEMICONDUCTOR PLASTICS NEEDS!