Fluoropolymer Extrusion

Lamina specialises in the extrusion of melt-processable fluoropolymer materials FEP and ETFE. We produce fluoropolymer tubing products for the electrical, medical, oil and gas, and mechanical industries, with bore sizes ranging from 0.125mm to 16.0mm. We excel at producing innovative, close-tolerance products to meet special applications.

Products may be supplied on continuous reel or cut to length, in both tube and lay-flat sleeve form.

Key Benefits

• High temperature resistance
• Flexibility
• Wide range of properties available from FEP and ETFE
• Glass clear grades available
• Good electrical properties
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Coloured grades available
• Available as lay-flat sleeve

FEP Extruded Tube

FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) extruded tubing is used in diverse applications across several industries due to its excellent chemical resistance, high purity, transparency, flexibility, and thermal stability.

Superior Electrical Properties

FEP offers excellent dielectric strength and a very low dielectric constant, making it an outstanding electrical insulator. These properties remain stable across a wide range of frequencies, which is beneficial for high-frequency applications and ensuring signal integrity in telecommunications and data transmission cables.

Wide Temperature Range

FEP insulation is stable and performs reliably over a broad continuous working temperature range, typically from -200°C to +200°C (-328°F to +392°F). This stability allows its use in both extremely hot and cryogenic environments, such as aerospace and industrial ovens.

Exceptional Chemical Resistance

FEP is chemically inert to nearly all industrial chemicals, solvents, acids, and bases. This makes it ideal for use in harsh chemical processing plants, medical equipment, and other demanding environments where exposure to corrosive substances is a concern.

Flame Retardancy and Low Smoke

FEP is naturally flame retardant with a very high oxygen index. In a fire, it melts but does not drip or decompose, which helps limit the spread of flames. It also produces very low smoke emissions, ensuring visibility for escape in fire situations.

Weatherability and UV Resistance

FEP offers strong resistance to UV radiation and general weathering, ensuring it does not degrade, crack, or become brittle over time when used in outdoor applications.

Melt Processability

Unlike PTFE, which requires a complex sintering process, FEP can be melt-extruded using conventional thermoplastic processing techniques. This allows for the production of consistent, continuous, and long lengths of wire insulation more easily and often more cost-effectively.

Durability and Mechanical Properties

FEP has high impact strength, high resistance to abrasion, and a low coefficient of friction, which minimises wear and tear and facilitates easier installation through conduits or tight spaces.

Biocompatibility and Purity

High-purity grades of FEP are available and are considered biocompatible, making it suitable for use in medical devices and pharmaceutical applications.

Optical Clarity

FEP is transparent (or carries a minor bluish tinge), which can be an advantage in applications where visual inspection of internal components is required.

Primary Applications

Fluid Transfer

FEP tubing is widely used for safely transferring corrosive chemicals, solvents, strong acids, bases, and high-purity fluids. It is virtually chemically inert and has a smooth, non-stick internal surface that prevents contamination and material build-up.

Electrical Insulation

Due to its excellent dielectric strength and low dissipation factor, FEP tubing is a superior material for insulating wires, cables, connectors, and other components in electrical and electronic systems, especially in high-voltage or high-frequency applications.

Medical Devices

The material’s biocompatibility, high purity, and ability to be sterilised (via ETO, gamma irradiation, or autoclaving) make it ideal for medical and pharmaceutical applications such as catheters, intravenous (IV) lines, fluid delivery systems, and protective coatings for surgical instruments and probes.

Laboratory and Analytical Equipment

FEP’s optical clarity and chemical compatibility are crucial for laboratory uses including chromatography systems, sample transfer lines, gas analysis, and environmental monitoring equipment, where sample integrity is paramount.

Further Applications

Aerospace Engineering

Used in fuel lines and for protecting wiring in aircraft and spacecraft, due to its resistance to aviation fuels, hydraulic fluids, and extreme temperature variations.

Semiconductor Manufacturing

The high purity and low extractables of FEP tubing make it an ideal choice for critical fluid handling and chemical delivery systems in semiconductor cleanroom environments.

3D Printing

FEP film and tubing is used in UV-cured resin 3D printers at the base of the resin reservoir, owing to its high UV light transparency and non-stick properties, which allow hardened resin to release cleanly from the surface.

Protective Sleeving and Coatings

FEP can be extruded into heat-shrinkable sleeves used to protect temperature sensors, thermocouples, and printing rollers from corrosive environments and high temperatures.

Water Treatment

UV resistance allows FEP tubing to be used as UV spirals for disinfection of water and in groundwater analysis equipment.

ETFE Extruded Tube

Lamina also produces ETFE (Ethylene TetraFluoroEthylene) extruded tubing, a tougher, higher-strength fluoropolymer suited to the most demanding industrial, electrical, automotive, and aerospace environments.

View ETFE Extruded Tube