Fluoroplastic PFA Resin

Get to Know PFA 403

Everflon™ PFA 403 is a general-purpose fluoroplastic resin available in pellet form. Compared with other grades of Everflon™ PFA, its most unique features are a relatively low flow rate, greatly increased flex life, and enhanced resistance to environmental stress-cracking over both Everflon™ PFA 410 and 420 Everflon™ PFA 403 is preferred when extended service is required in hostile environments involving chemical, thermal, and mechanical stress.

Everflon™ PFA 403 is used when traditional extrusion and molding processes are required for producing products with the superior properties of a fluoroplastic resin. Compared to other thermoplastics, the high melt strength and thermal stability of Everflon™ PFA 403 can be used to improve processing rates.

Compared with other fluoroplastics, creep resistance at high service temperatures provides a superior balance and level of end-use properties. Everflon™ PFA 403 combines the processing ease of conventional thermoplastics with many properties similar to those of polytetrafluoroethylene.

Properly processed products made from neat Everflon ™ PFA 403 resin provide the superior properties characteristic of fluoroplastic resins: chemical inertness, exceptional dielectric properties, heat resistance, toughness and flexibility, low coefficient of friction, non stick characteristics, negligible moisture absorption, low flammability, performance at temperature extremes, and excellent weather resistance.

In a flame situation, products of Everflon™ PFA 403 resist ignition and do not promote flame spread. When ignited by flame from other sources, their contribution of heat is very small and added at a slow rate with very little smoke.

Typical Applications

Applications for Everflon™ PFA 403 include extruded tubing for use in handling aggressive fluids at high pressures; chemical linings for pipes used in the chemical processing industry; film for high flex service; and traditional extruded, injection-molded, or blowmolded articles requiring the unique performance of Everflon™

Processing Guide

Everflon™ PFA 403 can be processed by conventional melt extrusion, and by injection, compression, and transfer molding processes. High melt strength and heat stability permit the use of relatively large die openings and high temperature draw-down techniques that increase production rates. Reciprocating screw injection molding machines are preferred.

Corrosion-resistant metals should be used in contact with molten fluoroplastic resin. Extruder barrel should be long, relative to diameter, to provide residence time for heating the resin to approximately 390 °C (730 °F)

Precaution

Equipment used to process at melt temperatures should be provided with local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to completely remove all fumes and vapors from the processing area. In addition, care should be exercised to avoid the contamination of cigarettes and other forms of smoking tobacco when using fluoroplastic resins. Before processing any fluoroplastics, read the Material Safety Data Sheet.

Data List

Property	Test Method	Unit	Typical Value
GENERAL
Specific Gravity	ASTM D792		2.15
Critical Shear Rate, 372 °C (702 °F)		1/s	12
MECHANICAL
Flexural Modulus	ASTM D790	MPa (psi)
23 °C (73 °F)			625 (90,000)
250 °C (482 °F)			69 (10,000)
MIT Folding Endurance (0.20 mm, 8 mil film)	ASTM D2176	Cycles	500,000
Hardness Durometer	ASTM D2240		D55
ELECTRICAL
Dielectric Strength, Short Time, 0.25 mm	ASTM D149	kV/mm (V/mil)	80 (2,000)
Dielectric Constant, 1 MHz (106Hz)	ASTM D150		2.03
Dissipation Factor, 1 MHz (106Hz)	ASTM D150		<0.0002
Volume Resistivity	ASTM D257	ohm·cm	10¹⁸
OTHER
Water Absorption, 24 hr	ASTM D570	%	<0.03
Weather and Chemical Resistance			Outstanding
Limiting Oxygen Index	ASTM D2863	%	>95
Continuous Service Temperature		°C (°F)	260 (500)
Flammability Classification	UL 94		V-0

Handing & Package

The properties of Everflon™ PFA resin are not affected by storage time. Ambient storage conditions should be designed to avoid airborne contamination and water condensation on the resin when it is removed from containers. Everflon™ PFA is supplied as pellets and is available in 25-kg multilayer bags with an integral polyethylene liner.

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