Fluoroplastic FEP Foam Resin

Get to Know FEP PF4610

Everflon+™ FEP PF4610 is a fluoroplastic resin com-pounded with a foam nucle-ating package. This resin is supplied as white pellets and is used in a nitrogen gas-in-jected foam extrusion pro-cess to produce uniform foam cells in the dielectric insulation. Foaming the fluo-roplastic reduces its dielec-tric constant, providing op-portunities for miniaturiza-tion and weight savings. Foamed insulation of Ever-flon+™ FEP PF4610 produces cables for high frequency signal transmission with minimal distortion.

Everflon+™ FEP PF4610 is ideal for producing coaxial cable cores in a broad range of sizes. A typical coaxial cable core would have conductor sizes of 30 AWG or greater, wall thickness of 0.010 in or greater, with void content from 20% to 60%.

These voids are closed cell in nature and range from 0.018 mm ( 0.0007 in) to 0.127 mm in (0.005in) in diameter. Achievable void content will vary based on wall thick-ness and processing conditions.

Processing Guide

Everflon+™ PF FEP can be fed directly to a conventional singlescrew extruder with nitrogen gas injection. The process contact metals must be high-nickel, low-iron alloys suitable for fluoroplastic processing. The process should include devices to monitor diameter, capacitance, and gas flow.

When adding color concentrate, use one compounded in FEP fluoroplastic. Color addition may affect cell formation and capacitance, requiring process adjustment.

Insulation performance is determined by extruder output, wire line speed, and void content. Void content is controlled by nitrogen flow rate, process tem-peratures, and quench point. It is best for the voids to grow after the melt is drawn down onto the wire. Elongated voids in the insulation indicate early growth of the cells in the draw-down cone.

Precaution

Before using Everflon™ FEP resin, refer to the Safety Data Sheet and the latest edition of “The Guide to the Safe Handling of Fluoropolymer Resins”

Open and use containers only in well-ventilated areas using local exhaust ven-tilation (LEV). Vapors and fumes liberated during hot processing of Everflon™ FEP should be exhausted completely from the work area. Contamination of tobacco with these polymers must be avoided. Vapors and fumes liberated during hot processing that are not properly exhausted, or from smoking to-bacco or cigarettes contaminated with Everflon™ FEP , may cause flu-like symptoms, such as chills, fever, and sore throat. This may not occur until sev-eral hours after exposure and will typically pass within about 24 hours. Mix-tures with some finely divided metals, such as magnesium or aluminum, can be flammable or explosive under some conditions.

Data List

Property	Test Method	Unit	Typical Value
GENERAL
Melt Flow Rate at 372 °C (702 °F)/5.0 kg weight	ISO 12086 \ ASTM D2116	g/10 min	8~12
Melting Point	D4591	°C	260
Specific Gravity	ASTM D792		2.15
MECHANICAL
Tensile Strength	ISO 12086 \ ASTM D2116	MPa	24
Elongation at Break	ISO 12086 \ ASTM D2116	%	300
ELECTRICAL
Dielectric Constant	ASTM D150	1 GHz	2.0
Dissipation Factor	ASTM D150	1 GHz	0.0004

Handing & Package

The properties of Everflon™ FEP resins are not affected by storage time. Ambi-ent storage conditions should be designed to avoid airborne contamination and water condensation on the resin when it is removed from containers. Drying at 100 °C (212 °F) for 4 hours is suggested to remove any absorbed moisture.

Everflon™ FEP PF4610 is supplied as pellets and packaged in 25-kg drums with a polyethylene inner lining.