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Custom FEP Spiral Tubes Scalable tubing
- Resistant to all strong acids, alkalis, oxidants and organic solvents including aqua regia.
- Extremely low surface energy (non viscous), extremely low friction coefficient, excellent hydrophobicity and oleophobicity.
- Long time working temperature between -200°C and +200°C.
- Extremely high purity, odorless and non-toxic (at normal processing temperatures), excellent weather resistance (without aging).
- Highly transparent (transparent to UV band), with a light transmittance of>95% and extremely low haze.
- Excellent insulator.
Item No.: C25951613
Description
FEP spiral tube is a special structural pipe made of fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer (FEP), commonly in the forms of FEP Coiled Tubing and Spiral FEP Tubing. Its core design is a spiral structure in the shape of a spring, which gives it excellent elasticity, flexibility, and resistance to twisting.
The typical application of this pipe is as an FEP Spiral Sample Line, used in injection systems for analytical instruments such as ICP-MS and HPLC, or in scenarios where safe sampling from sealed containers is required. It can easily expand and contract to accommodate limited operating distances, and automatically retract after release, greatly saving space and avoiding pipeline clutter.
To meet complex system integration requirements, suppliers can provide Custom FEP Spiral Tubes with fitting, pre assembled according to customer requirements for length, diameter, and interface type (such as NPT, sleeve fittings), ensuring plug and play and sealing integrity of the system. These products can also be referred to as FEP Coils or FEP Spring Loaded Tubing, highlighting their built-in elastic recovery properties.
In summary, FEP Retractable Tubing is an ideal choice for transporting high-purity, corrosive fluids and gases in the semiconductor, biopharmaceutical, and chemical industries due to its inherent chemical inertness, high purity, non adhesiveness, and excellent corrosion resistance. It provides reliable performance while optimizing equipment space layout.
Precautions：
1. In film processing and use
Heat sealing: It is the most common processing method for FEP films. Accurate control of temperature, pressure, and time is necessary. Insufficient temperature can lead to insufficient sealing strength; Excessive temperature or pressure can cause thinning, perforation, or decomposition of the film.
Welding (hot air welding, hot plate welding): Accurate temperature control is also required. The outlet temperature of the welding gun needs to be calibrated with a thermocouple to avoid local overheating caused by direct blowing.
Demoulding properties: FEP is an excellent demoulding material due to its extremely low surface energy. But this also means that printing and gluing on its surface are extremely difficult and must be processed.
Mechanical protection: FEP film is relatively soft and easily scratched. During the process of unwinding and using, it is necessary to ensure that the guide rollers are smooth and free of burrs, and it is best to wear gloves during operation.
2. In the extrusion of pipes and cables
Extruder cleaning: Before stopping the machine, the barrel must be thoroughly cleaned with general-purpose plastics such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). Heat sensitive materials such as ABS and POM should never be used to clean the machine to prevent residue from carbonizing and decomposing at high temperatures during the next start-up, which could contaminate FEP products.
Screw design: Low shear screws are usually used to avoid excessive shear heat causing local overheating and decomposition of the material.
Mold design: The flow channel should be highly smooth to avoid dead corners and prevent material retention and decomposition.
3. In 3D printing (as a consumable tube)
Bowden Tube: FEP tube is commonly used as a consumable tube for 3D printers due to its low friction coefficient and temperature resistance.
Length: It should not be too long to reduce pushing resistance.
Inner diameter matching: The inner diameter needs to be closely matched with the diameter of the consumables (usually 1.75mm). If the gap is too large, it will cause inaccurate control, and if it is too small, it will increase resistance.
Regular inspection: After prolonged use, the interior may be worn or accumulate debris, requiring regular inspection and replacement to prevent printing quality issues.
4. Safety and Health (Most Important!)
Processing ventilation: Any high-temperature processing operation must be carried out under a good fume hood or strong exhaust system to eliminate any trace harmful gases that may be generated.
Personal protection: Operators should wear gas masks (organic vapor filter boxes), goggles, and chemical resistant gloves.
Leakage treatment: In case of overheating and smoking, immediately cut off the power supply, evacuate personnel quickly to upwind areas, and have professional personnel wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for treatment. Do not inhale smoke through your mouth.
Fire hazard: FEP itself is not flammable, but once burned, it will produce highly toxic and corrosive smoke. Carbon dioxide or dry powder fire extinguishers are required.
Heat sealing: It is the most common processing method for FEP films. Accurate control of temperature, pressure, and time is necessary. Insufficient temperature can lead to insufficient sealing strength; Excessive temperature or pressure can cause thinning, perforation, or decomposition of the film.
Welding (hot air welding, hot plate welding): Accurate temperature control is also required. The outlet temperature of the welding gun needs to be calibrated with a thermocouple to avoid local overheating caused by direct blowing.
Demoulding properties: FEP is an excellent demoulding material due to its extremely low surface energy. But this also means that printing and gluing on its surface are extremely difficult and must be processed.
Mechanical protection: FEP film is relatively soft and easily scratched. During the process of unwinding and using, it is necessary to ensure that the guide rollers are smooth and free of burrs, and it is best to wear gloves during operation.
2. In the extrusion of pipes and cables
Extruder cleaning: Before stopping the machine, the barrel must be thoroughly cleaned with general-purpose plastics such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). Heat sensitive materials such as ABS and POM should never be used to clean the machine to prevent residue from carbonizing and decomposing at high temperatures during the next start-up, which could contaminate FEP products.
Screw design: Low shear screws are usually used to avoid excessive shear heat causing local overheating and decomposition of the material.
Mold design: The flow channel should be highly smooth to avoid dead corners and prevent material retention and decomposition.
3. In 3D printing (as a consumable tube)
Bowden Tube: FEP tube is commonly used as a consumable tube for 3D printers due to its low friction coefficient and temperature resistance.
Length: It should not be too long to reduce pushing resistance.
Inner diameter matching: The inner diameter needs to be closely matched with the diameter of the consumables (usually 1.75mm). If the gap is too large, it will cause inaccurate control, and if it is too small, it will increase resistance.
Regular inspection: After prolonged use, the interior may be worn or accumulate debris, requiring regular inspection and replacement to prevent printing quality issues.
4. Safety and Health (Most Important!)
Processing ventilation: Any high-temperature processing operation must be carried out under a good fume hood or strong exhaust system to eliminate any trace harmful gases that may be generated.
Personal protection: Operators should wear gas masks (organic vapor filter boxes), goggles, and chemical resistant gloves.
Leakage treatment: In case of overheating and smoking, immediately cut off the power supply, evacuate personnel quickly to upwind areas, and have professional personnel wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for treatment. Do not inhale smoke through your mouth.
Fire hazard: FEP itself is not flammable, but once burned, it will produce highly toxic and corrosive smoke. Carbon dioxide or dry powder fire extinguishers are required.