Industrial Halar ECTFE (ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene) Coatings

Industrial Halar ECTFE is a high-performance, semi-crystalline fluoropolymer coating and film that offers heavy-duty resistance to corrosion, chemicals, and fire. Halar ECTFE combines a unique blend of properties to deliver long-lasting performance for a wide range of applications and allows for numerous design possibilities. Notable properties of ECTFE include excellent chemical resistance, outstanding permeation resistance, exceptional surface properties, good adhesion and high purity. Introduced in 1970, ECTFE has been widely used in industries that require a durable, corrosion resistant coatings, linings, jacketing or membranes. ECTFE coatings are resistant to acids in high concentrations and temperatures, caustic media, oxidizing agents and many solvents.

ECTFE coatings and materials are lightweight, light-transparent and offer long-term stability in sunlight and harsh weather. The smooth ECTFE surface limits the adhesion of dust and dirt and reduces the risk of contamination buildup and corrosion.

ECTFE has a wide continuous usage temperature range from -105ºF to +300ºF. It offers exceptional impact resistance and a Young’s modulus in the range of 1700 MPa, which allows for self-standing items and pressure piping systems. ECTFE offers high-impact strength even in cryogenic applications.

Halar ECTFE is widely used in many applications, including Architectural Membranes; Chemical Processing; Chemical Resistant Membranes; Front sheet Films for Photovoltaic Modules; Coatings, Linings and Jacketing for Oil & Gas Applications; Plumbing Pipes and Valves for Industrial Systems; Protective Linings for Piping and Tanks; Coatings and Linings for Semiconductors; Jacketing for Wire & Cable Applications

ECTFE demonstrates good fire resistance with a limiting oxygen index of 52%. This is between the fully fluorinated polymers PTFE, PFA and FEP with a limiting oxygen index of 95% and other partially fluorinated polymers like PVDF with a limiting oxygen index of 44% and ETFE with a limiting oxygen index of 30%.

ECTFE also offers exceptional electrical insulation—high resistivity, low dielectric constant, and low dissipation factor—making it ideal for use as wire and cable jacketing. Similar to other fluoropolymers, ECTFE has good UV resistance, allowing its use for outdoor applications. ECTFE filmscan be transparent.

ECTFE can be applied in different ways, including:

• Electrostatic powder coating on metal surfaces
• Roto-lining on metal surfaces
• Sheet lining on metal surfaces or fiber-reinforced plastic
• Extrusion or injection molding of self-standing items
• Roto-molding of self-standing items
• As protective film with adhesive

ECTFE powder has been used for several decades in electrostatic powder coating. It has a good film forming characteristic, can be applied in certain cases directly to the metal without a primer and leads to a high coating thickness. ECTFE powder coatings thickness normally varies from 0.2 mm to over 2 mm with a special grade for high build up.

The most important application of ECTFE is in the field of corrosion protection. ECTFE has been used for several decades in different industries:

• Bleaching towers in pulp and paper
• Sulfuric acid production and storage
• Flue gas treatment in particular in the SNOX and WSA process
• Electrolysis collectors or drying towers in the chlorine industry
• Transport vessels for hazardous goods, in particular class 8
• Halogen related industry (bromine, chlorine, fluorine)
• Acid handling (sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrogen halides, hydrogen sulfide, etc.)
• Mining applications, in particular high-pressure heap leach

ECTFE is available as monofilament fiber for applications in the chemical process industry and in flue gas treatment. In many ways the chemical properties resemble PTFE but with a lower melting point. Halar ECTFE is marketed by Solvay Specialty Polymers, a subsidiary of Solvay.