PTFE-Rohr: Eigenschaften, Anwendungen und Wartung

Was ist ein PTFE-Schlauch?

Polytetrafluorethylen (PTFE)-Schläuche sind Fluorpolymerschläuche, die für ihre außergewöhnliche chemische Beständigkeit, thermische Stabilität und geringe Reibung bekannt sind. PTFE-Schläuche werden durch Extrusionsverfahren aus hochreinen PTFE-Harzen hergestellt. Das Ergebnis sind halbtransparente bis undurchsichtige weiße Schläuche mit glatter Oberfläche. Die einzigartige Molekularstruktur des Materials, bestehend aus Kohlenstoffatomen, die von Fluoratomen umgeben sind, macht es zu einem der chemisch inertesten Materialien auf dem Markt.

applications of ptfe tubing

the unique combination of properties makes ptfe tubing suitable for demanding applications across multiple industries:

chemical processing

ptfe tubes serve as liners or transfer lines for aggressive chemicals including concentrated acids (96% sulfuric acid, 37% hydrochloric acid), strong bases (50% sodium hydroxide), and organic solvents (acetone, toluene). their 0% permeability to most chemicals prevents contamination.

semiconductor manufacturing

in cleanroom environments, ultra-high purity ptfe tubing (with <0.1 ppb metallic impurities) transports high-purity chemicals and gases. the material's outgassing rate of <1×10⁻⁹ torr·l/s·cm² makes it ideal for vacuum systems.

medical and pharmaceutical

medical-grade ptfe tubing (usp class vi compliant) is used in catheters, drug delivery systems, and bioprocessing equipment. its non-thrombogenic surface reduces platelet adhesion by 90% compared to other polymers.

automotive and aerospace

ptfe fuel lines withstand ethanol-blended fuels and maintain flexibility at -40°c. in aircraft, ptfe tubing is used in hydraulic systems (withstanding 3000 psi at 200°c).

electrical insulation

ptfe tubing provides volume resistivity >10¹⁸ Ω·cm for high-voltage applications. its dielectric constant of 2.1 remains stable from -40°c to 260°c.

maintenance and care of ptfe tubes

proper maintenance extends ptfe tubing lifespan beyond its typical 10-15 year service life in most applications:

cleaning procedures

for chemical contamination:

• immerse in 10% nitric acid solution at 60°c for 30 minutes

• rinse with deionized water (18 mΩ·cm resistivity)

• dry with nitrogen gas (99.999% purity) at 80°c

for particulate contamination:

• ultrasonic clean in isopropyl alcohol (ipa) at 40 khz for 10 minutes

• purge with filtered compressed air (0.1 μm filtration)

installation best practices

• maintain bend radius >5×od to prevent kinking

• use ptfe-compatible fittings (316l stainless steel or peek)

• avoid axial loads >50 n during assembly

storage conditions

• store at 15-25°c in 40-60% rh

• protect from uv exposure (causes <0.1% degradation/year)

• keep in original packaging until use to prevent surface contamination

performance monitoring

regularly inspect for:

• wall thickness reduction (>10% decrease indicates replacement)

• surface cracks (use 10× magnification)

• changes in flexibility (test at -20°c for critical applications)