Lubricious, chemically inert, and thermally stable, fluoropolymers are the materials of choice in a wide variety of medical applications. Depending on how they are manufactured, our fluoropolymers are broken down into two categories:

• Paste fluoropolymer
• Melt fluoropolymers

General fluoropolymer properties

• Low coefficient of friction
• Useful mechanical properties maintained from -450° F to 500° F for PTFE; -450° F to 400° for FEP
• Chemically inert
• Wear resistant
• High dielectric strength

Paste fluoropolymer (PTFE)

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a lubricious, chemically inert, thermally stable polymer. It makes an excellent heat shrink tube with expansion ratios of up to 4:1. PTFE also allows precise process control that makes it possible to maintain tight tolerances and produce tube walls as thin as 0.0010 inches.

PTFE is an excellent choice for tubing, beading, profile, and multi-lumen constructions. These products are made to your specifications.

Applications

• Catheter liner
• Fluid transfer
• Electrical insulation

Configurations

• Beading (Solid Rod)
• Custom profile and shapes
• Heat shrink tubing, including Microbore
• Ultra-lite Wall Tubing
• Multiple Lumen

Dimensions

• OD: 0.006" (0.15mm) - 1.50" (38.10mm)
• ID: Down to 0.001" (0.025mm)
• Wall thickness: Down to 0.001" (0.025mm)
• Solid Rod: 0.005" (0.13mm) - 0.125" (3.175mm)

Tolerances

• OD ± 0.001" (0.025mm)
• ID ± 0.0005" (0.013mm)
• Wall ± 0.0005" (0.013mm)

Fillers

• Bronze powder
• Carbon black
• Glass beads
• Molybdenum disulfide
• Polyamide-Imide (PAI)
• Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)
• Radiopaque metals
• Custom colors

Sterilization methods

• EtO and Autoclave

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Melt fluoropolymers (FEP, PFA, ETFE, MFA, THV)

Melt fluoropolymers have excellent heat forming abilities allowing precision tipping for Medical applications. For vascular access applications, fluoropolymers are more lubricious than polyethylenes, as well as being tough and flexible. All fluoropolymers can be sterilized by EtO and Autoclave techniques, with FEP and ETFE also having the ability to tolerate Gamma sterilization.

FEP makes an excellent heat shrink tube with expansion ratios of up to 1.67:1, with close tolerances and walls as thin as 0.003".

Applications

FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene)

• Regional anesthesia (epidural catheters)
• Intravenous catheters
• Vascular access ( dilators and sheaths, intro needle assemblies)
• Fiber optics
• Insulin delivery
• Catheter Liner

ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene)

• Intravenous catheters
• Fluid transfer
• Electrical insulation

PFA, MFA (Perfluoroalkoxy)

• In vitro diagnostics
• Fluid transfer

THV (Tetrafluoroethylene, Hexafluoropropylene, Vinylidene Fluoride)

• Fiber optics

Dimensions

• OD 0.018" (0.46mm) - 0.300" (7.62mm)
• ID Down to 0.007" (0.18mm)
• Wall thickness: Down to 0.001" (0.025mm)

Tolerances

• OD ± 0.001" (0.025mm)
• ID ± 0.002" (0.05mm)
• Wall ± 0.0005" (0.013mm)

Fillers

• Barium sulfate (BaSO₄)
• Bismuth Trioxide (Bi2O₃)
• Bismuth Subcarbonate (Bi₂Co₃)
• Tungsten (W)
• Custom colors

Sterilization methods

• EtO and Autoclave
• Gamma (FEP and ETFE only)

Configurations

• Custom colors
• Custom compounding
• Available in cut lengths or on spools
• Heat Shrink Tubing

Value-added capabilities

• Braiding
• Curving
• Drilling
• Flaring
• Forming
• Printing
• Shaping
• Skiving
• On Line SPC