When you place plastic tubing outside, the sun doesn’t treat it kindly. Standard plastics break down, become brittle, and fail when exposed to ultraviolet rays.
If you’re working with outdoor equipment, industrial systems, or any application where tubing faces direct sunlight, this is a real problem. FEP tubing offers a solution that many engineers and facility managers don’t know about.
Understanding UV Damage to Standard Plastics
Before we talk about FEP, it helps to understand what happens to regular plastic tubing when exposed to sun and UV light. Unlike standard plastics that degrade under sunlight, corrugated FEP tubing and other FEP tubes resist UV damage, maintaining strength and flexibility even in prolonged outdoor exposure.
Standard plastics like polyethylene and PVC are damaged by ultraviolet radiation. UV rays have energy that breaks the chemical bonds holding plastic molecules together. This process is called degradation. Over time, the plastic loses strength and becomes brittle. Eventually, it cracks, breaks, and fails.
You’ve probably seen this happen. Garden hoses left in the sun become hard and crack. Clear plastic covers on outdoor equipment turn yellow and cloudy. Vinyl tubing exposed to months of sunlight starts leaking because the material can no longer hold together.
The speed of degradation depends on several factors:
- How intense the sun is in your location
- How much direct sunlight the tubing receives
- Temperature fluctuations between day and night
- Humidity levels and moisture exposure
- The specific type of plastic being used
In outdoor settings, UV degradation isn’t just an inconvenience. It creates real costs. You have to replace tubing more often. Equipment fails at critical moments. Systems that should last for years stop working in months. This is where FEP tubing changes the game.
What is FEP Tubing?
FEP stands for fluorinated ethylene propylene. It’s a plastic material that belongs to the fluoropolymer family. Unlike standard plastics, FEP has a completely different chemical structure that makes it resistant to high temperatures and UV damage.
Fluoropolymers are plastics that contain fluorine atoms in their molecular structure. This gives them unique properties that make them exceptional for harsh environments. FEP is one of several fluoropolymer options, alongside PTFE (Teflon) and PFA. Each has slightly different strengths, but they all share remarkable UV resistance.
FEP tubing is manufactured as a thin hollow tube. It maintains this shape through a process called extrusion, where the material is pushed through a die to create the hollow center. The resulting tubing is flexible, durable, and ready for use in applications where standard plastics would fail.
Why FEP Resists UV Damage
The fluorine atoms in FEP’s molecular structure create a shield against UV radiation. Here’s how it works in simple terms:
UV rays attack plastic by breaking chemical bonds. In standard plastics, these bonds are relatively weak and vulnerable. The fluorine atoms in FEP form stronger bonds that UV rays cannot easily break. This gives FEP exceptional stability when exposed to sunlight.
Additionally, FEP doesn’t degrade the way standard plastics do. While other materials break down and become brittle, FEP maintains its flexibility and strength even after years of sun exposure. It doesn’t become cloudy or yellow. It doesn’t crack or become hard.
This protection isn’t temporary. Laboratory testing shows that FEP tubing exposed to intense UV light for thousands of hours maintains its properties. In real-world outdoor conditions, FEP tubing regularly lasts 10 to 15 years or more with minimal degradation.
Comparing FEP to Standard Plastic Tubing
Let’s look at how FEP stacks up against the most common alternatives: PVC, polyethylene, and silicone.
PVC Tubing
PVC is widely used because it’s affordable and works well indoors. Outdoors, PVC breaks down relatively quickly when exposed to direct sunlight. Most PVC tubing lasts 2 to 4 years in full sun before becoming brittle and cracking. PVC also becomes more rigid as it degrades, losing flexibility.
FEP outlasts PVC by many years. In the same outdoor conditions, FEP maintains performance for 10 or more years. FEP stays flexible throughout its life, while PVC becomes hard and unusable.
Polyethylene Tubing
Polyethylene is inexpensive and flexible. It’s common in applications like drip irrigation and temporary outdoor systems. FEP’s UV resistance dramatically exceeds polyethylene. While polyethylene might need replacement annually or every other year, FEP can serve reliably for over a decade.
Silicone Tubing
Silicone is flexible and handles high temperatures well. It has better UV resistance than PVC or polyethylene but still degrades when exposed to continuous sunlight. Silicone typically lasts 5 to 7 years in outdoor applications before showing significant degradation.
FEP generally outlasts silicone in pure UV exposure. Additionally, FEP handles wider temperature ranges and maintains tighter tolerances, making it better for precision applications.
PTFE (Teflon) Tubing
PTFE is actually slightly more UV resistant than FEP. However, PTFE is more rigid and less flexible than FEP. It’s also more expensive and harder to work with. For applications requiring longer lengths, FEP is the better choice. For applications where rigidity is acceptable, extruded PTFE tubing offers slightly better UV resistance than FEP, though it is less flexible and more challenging to install.
Real-World Applications Where FEP Excels
FEP tubing proves its value in specific situations where UV exposure is a real problem.
Agricultural and Irrigation Systems
Drip irrigation systems run outdoors in direct sunlight. Farmers used to replace plastic tubing every 1 to 2 years. Switching to FEP means fewer replacements. A FEP-based irrigation system can reliably operate for 10 years or longer. For large agricultural operations, this reduces maintenance costs significantly.
Chemical Processing Plants
Many chemical facilities have outdoor process lines. The chemicals inside the tubing require tubing that won’t leach or contaminate. The sun outside requires UV-resistant materials. FEP fits both needs. It handles aggressive chemicals and maintains integrity under intense sunlight.
Outdoor Laboratory Equipment
Research facilities sometimes have outdoor testing equipment. Sample lines and transfer tubing need to resist UV while maintaining chemical compatibility. FEP tubing allows equipment to run reliably in outdoor conditions without the tubing becoming a failure point.
Water Treatment and Pumping Systems
Outdoor pumping stations and water treatment facilities use transfer lines constantly exposed to sun. FEP tubing stays functional through years of operation without the brittleness and cracking that plague standard plastic tubing.
Industrial Equipment Cooling Lines
Some industrial equipment located outdoors uses cooling fluid circulated through tubing. UV damage to standard plastic cooling lines causes leaks that stop production. FEP tubing reliability eliminates this failure mode.
Marine and Coastal Applications
Boats and coastal facilities have exposed piping and tubing. The combination of intense UV from sun reflection off water, salt spray, and high temperatures makes material durability critical. FEP tubing handles all these stressors effectively.
Performance Characteristics Beyond UV
FEP tubing offers advantages beyond just UV resistance. Understanding these additional benefits helps you make the right material choice.
- Temperature Stability: Performs well from -40°F to 400°F, staying stable in extreme hot or cold conditions.
- Chemical Resistance: Resists oils, solvents, fuels, and corrosive substances, making it ideal for chemical applications.
- Low Friction Surface: Naturally slippery, reducing friction and preventing materials from sticking inside.
- Low Absorption: Does not absorb water or moisture, so it won’t swell or degrade in humid environments.
- Flexibility: Remains flexible for easy routing and installation without cracking.
Installation and Compatibility
Installing FEP tubing is similar to installing standard plastic tubing. It uses the same connections and fittings in most cases. This makes retrofitting systems from standard plastic to FEP straightforward.
FEP tubing comes in various sizes from small diameter (1/8 inch) up to large diameter (several inches). Wall thickness varies depending on the application. Thinner wall tubing is more flexible, while thicker wall tubing provides more pressure rating and rigidity.
When selecting fittings and connectors, make sure they’re compatible with FEP. Most brass and stainless steel fittings work fine. Some plastic fittings made from standard plastics can degrade when used with FEP, so choose fittings specifically rated for fluoropolymer tubing.
Pressure ratings for FEP tubing are typically lower than those of rigid plastics. FEP works well for low to moderate pressure applications. For very high-pressure systems, you might need specialized high-pressure FEP tubing or consider alternative materials.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
FEP tubing requires minimal maintenance. This is one of its advantages over standard plastic that needs careful monitoring and regular replacement.
- Periodically inspect exposed FEP tubing: Inspect for any signs of damage like punctures or cuts. Even though the material is UV-resistant, physical damage still matters. A tear in the tubing will leak regardless of UV resistance.
- Keep the area around tubing clean: Debris and dirt don’t damage FEP, but can collect moisture that creates other problems. Occasional cleaning with water keeps the tubing looking good.
- Check connections and fittings regularly: Check to make sure they stay tight. Vibration and temperature cycles can loosen fittings over time. This is true regardless of the tubing material.
In extremely harsh environments with intense salt spray or industrial pollutants, occasionally rinsing the tubing helps extend its life and keeps it clean.
Making the Decision for Your Application
Choosing between FEP and standard plastic tubing comes down to several factors. Consider your location and UV exposure. If tubing will be in direct sunlight most of the year, FEP makes sense. If it’s shaded or only in partial sun, standard plastic might be adequate.
Think about replacement costs and downtime. In systems where replacement is expensive or inconvenient, FEP’s longer lifespan justifies a higher upfront cost. In simple systems where replacement is easy, standard plastic is more economical.
Evaluate temperature exposure. If tubing will experience temperature extremes, FEP’s stability matters. In stable temperature environments, other factors become more important.
Consider chemical exposure. If tubing carries aggressive chemicals, FEP’s chemical resistance is valuable. For water or simple liquids, standard plastic works fine.
Think about system criticality. In systems that must keep running, FEP’s reliability reduces risk. In non-critical applications, acceptable failure rates for standard plastic are fine.
Why FEP Tubing Is the Smart Choice for Outdoor Applications
FEP tubing represents a step forward in material science for outdoor and high-UV applications. It’s not the right choice for every situation, but where UV exposure is a real challenge, FEP delivers exceptional durability.
Standard plastic tubing degrades in sunlight. FEP doesn’t. This simple difference compounds over the years into dramatically longer service life, reduced maintenance costs, and more reliable systems.
If you’ve been frustrated by plastic tubing that cracks and fails after a year or two in outdoor conditions, FEP is worth investigating. The higher upfront cost is often recovered through years of trouble-free operation without replacement.
For your next outdoor tubing project, evaluate whether FEP makes economic sense. In many cases, you’ll find that switching from standard plastic to FEP delivers both performance improvements and long-term cost savings. That’s the real advantage of weathering the storm with FEP tubing. Ready to upgrade your outdoor tubing for long-lasting performance? Contact Tef Cap Industries today to learn how FEP can work for your project.