Material guide
ECTFE, ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene
ECTFE, ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene. A fluoropolymer that takes the best of both worlds: chemical resistance close to PTFE, but with clearly better mechanical strength and impact resistance. The material you pick for linings and coatings in the most aggressive process environments.
What it is
ECTFE stands for ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene and is one of the fluoropolymers. What makes the material interesting is the balance: it has broad chemical resistance close to the pure fluoropolymers, while being tougher, more impact resistant and mechanically stronger than PTFE, for example. It takes strong acids, bases and oxidizing media, and gives a good barrier against gases and liquids. ECTFE is most often used as a protective layer, lining or coating where a structure in another material has to be protected against an aggressive medium. The material also takes a wide temperature range and ages well. It is a premium material chosen for its chemical resistance combined with mechanical toughness. The group is described in more detail further down.
Properties
Broad resistance to strong acids, bases and oxidizing media
Better mechanical strength and impact resistance than the soft fluoropolymers
Good barrier against gases and liquids, suitable as a protective layer
Wide temperature range and good resistance to aging
Good abrasion resistance compared with the purer fluoropolymers
Physiologically inert and clean, suitable for the process industry
Common applications
ECTFE sits where a structure needs protection against really aggressive chemistry. Typical applications are linings and coatings in tanks, tubes and vessels in the chemical process industry, plus protective layers in equipment that handles strong acids or oxidizing media. The material is common in the semiconductor and surface treatment industries and in flue gas cleaning, thanks to its combination of chemical resistance and mechanical durability. When a customer needs fluoropolymer resistance on a surface that also has to take mechanical stress and impact, the choice often lands on ECTFE.
Limitations
ECTFE is an expensive specialty material, so it is chosen when the chemical environment genuinely calls for it. Against certain media the pure fluoropolymers PTFE and PFA are even more resistant, so for the very broadest chemical resistance they can be the better choice. ECTFE is not a high temperature material in the class of PEEK either. Since it is mostly used as a coating and lining, we carry it in a limited number of formats, see below. If a cheaper fluoropolymer or an engineering plastic is enough for your case, there are more affordable options.
Grades and variants
ECTFE is a pure fluoropolymer among the chemically resistant plastics in the range.
Base grades
- ECTFE standard form, the most common delivery form, with broad chemical resistance and good mechanical toughness.
- Welding rod and roll, for joining and lining in chemically exposed structures.
ECTFE belongs to the same family as PTFE, PVDF, PFA and FEP, but leans toward mechanical toughness and is used mainly as a protective layer. If you are unsure which fluoropolymer suits your medium, get in touch and we will go through the chemical list with you.
Machining
ECTFE is turned and milled with ordinary carbide tools, but the material is both harder and more slippery than PE-HD, so it needs keener edges and more care. Welding works with the right method. Glue does not bite, as with all fluoropolymers, so plan for mechanical fasteners.
Formats we can supply
We carry ECTFE as sheet and tube, plus as roll and welding rod. You can see formats and dimensions in the range. Want a piece cut to size? Enter the dimensions in VisualCutter and you see the price right away. For other formats in ECTFE, get in touch and we will see what we can source.