ECTFE VS ETFE

So What's The Practical Deference? 

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. Further complicating the situation are the PFAS potential regulations and the void that will be caused by the exiting of the business by 3M. 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 of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene. ECTFE is a melt-processable, semi-crystalline white, semi-opaque thermoplastic with very good chemical resistance and 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!