PFA Tubing (perfluoroalkoxy alkanes) is made from a hexafluoropropylene/perfluoroether copolymer. It has a wide operating temperature range, is chemically inert (except for fluorine and some alkali metals), and outperforms other fluoropolymers in terms of flexibility and optical clarity. Due to its low-off gas offset, PFA tubing is intrinsically pure, and it complies with FDA and USP requirements for food contact and material biocompatibility. In regulated environments such as laboratories, tubing is preferred for applications involving high temperatures or harsh media.

Perfluoroalkoxy tubing has better short-term flexibility, tensile strength, and transparency than PTFE tubing. It also has a similar dielectric constant as polytetrafluoroethylene and is chemically and thermally resistant. Due to its reduced long-term flex life, PFA is marginally inferior to PTFE in applications prone to repeated folding.

Applications

Typically employed in Food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications when a transparent, non-toxic carrier is required to transport very aggressive chemicals and solvents. Due to its dielectric qualities, PFA tubing can also be utilised as electrical cable sleeving or in compressed air applications.

Key Features

• Mechanical strength is high over a wide temperature range.
• Chemical and solvent resistance is exceptional.
• Excellent optical clarity (refractive index 1.34).
• Low off-gassing results in excellent purity.
• Weather resistance is excellent.
• Excellent dielectric characteristics
• Moisture absorption is very low.
• Non-stick characteristics are excellent.
• Food Approved.

Standards

• FDA regulation 21 CFR 177.1550 applies to perfluorocarbon resins that can be safely used in food contact.
• Compliant with USP Class VI.
• The polymer has a UL94 V-0 flammability certification, which will self-extinguish when exposed to flame.