FEP material – Meaning, Benefits, and Application
FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) is a Fluoropolymer with some extremely useful properties which make it unique in the industrial world. It is used for applications where the advantages of a Fluoropolymer like PTFE (think Teflon®) is required but the material needs to be meltable and is thus easier to form into different shapes.
Holscot in Grantham specialises in the formation of FEP.
FEP Film and FEP Sheet
FEP Film and sheet are similar to other plastic sheets. They come in long rolls and are used for applications where films and sheets are most appropriate. Because of the inertness of Fluoropolymers and the ease with which FEP in particular can be formed, FEP sheet is used for a wide range of industrial processes.
The benefits of FEP film are:
· Chemical resistance
· Low friction
· Transparency
· Low permeability
· Excellent electrical insulation
· Wide thermal range of operation
· Weatherability
· Impact & tear-resistance
· Heat sealable & weldable
The applications for FEP film & sheet are:
· Tank and pipe lining
· 3D printing & moulding
· Wires & cables
· Environmental growth chambers
FEP Tubing
Because FEP is meltable and malleable, it is able to be formed into all kinds of tube shapes and so can be put onto spools & formed into custom shapes.
The benefits of FEP tubing are:
· Transparency
· Low friction
· Excellent chemical resistance
· Wide thermal range of operation
· Can be made in continuous lengths
· Is weldable
The applications for FEP tubing are:
· Electrical wiring insulation (jacketing for telephone & electrical wires)
· Fluid transfer devices
· Underground sampling water lines
· Heat shrink tubing
· Medical tubing
· Computer interconnects
· Heat exchangers
FEP Coating
FEP coating is the process of coating a material in order to take advantage of the properties of FEP. For example, as it is chemically inert, non-stick wear resistant, FEP coating is used in the food processing industry where elements are coated in FEP to prevent contamination and ensure high levels of food & hygiene safety. The same can be said of a number of industrial and medical processes.
The benefits of FEP coating are:
· Low friction
· Excellent chemical resistance
· Wide thermal range of operation
· Can coat a wide range of materials
The applications for FEP tubing are:
· Food processing
· Medical processing
· Packaging
· Textiles
FEP Heat Shrinkable Sleeve
FEP heat shrinkable sleeves are covers used on materials for protection. Whereas a number of materials can be used for heat shrinking, FEP has a low shrinking temperature and can thus be used over a range of materials that could not stand higher temperatures.
The benefits of FEP heat shrinkable sleeves are:
· Lower shrinking temperature than PTFE (can be used on temperature-sensitive materials)
· Low friction
· Excellent chemical resistance
· Wide thermal range of operation
· Can coat a wide range of materials
· Non toxic
· Transparency
