Founded in 1986, Tef Cap Industries has become a leading manufacturer of tubing for the aerospace, automotive, chemical, medical, pharmaceutical, food, semiconductor, and electronics industries. As an innovator with decades of experience in the business, the professionals at Tef Cap Industries understand the key factors involved in choosing the best tubing for your needs. The two primary areas to consider are the type of tubing and material. PTFE, FEP, and PFA each have distinct characteristics. Depending upon your industry, you may require tubing that’s FDA approved. Flexible tubing, heat-shrink tubing, and extruded tubing have their own applications as well. Be sure to keep the environment and use-case in mind before finalizing your decision or consult the experts to ensure you have the correct tubing for your work.
Discover key considerations to help you choose the right tubing.
Type of Tubing
Heat-shrink tubing is a shrinkable tube, which is most commonly used to cover wires for electronics. It delivers abrasion resistance, as well as environmental protection. You’re probably familiar with heat-shrink tubing being used for stranded and solid wire conductors, connections, joints, and terminals. You’ll find it in many industries, such as automotive and aerospace.
Extruded tubing is produced by heating the material and then forcing it through a die. This process is known as extrusion. PTFE, FEP, and PFA are all capable of undergoing the extrusion process. Many different types of tubing are created in this way, so it’s quite versatile.
Flexible tubing is precisely what the name implies. This is tubing that can bend, twist, and maintain performance. It can be further broken down into corrugated, coiled, and convoluted. Fluid systems often require flexible tubing, especially in the medical industry.
Tubing Material
PTFE is also known as polytetrafluoroethylene. It’s a non-stick material. Thanks to its high electronegativity, it doesn’t get wet and is great for environments where that’s needed. Fluorinated ethylene propylene is usually called FEP. It’s softer than PTFE and doesn’t handle extreme heat as well, but it’s resistant to sunlight. This makes it ideal for outdoor use. PFA, or perfluoroalkoxy, is very similar to PTFE. However, it’s melt-processable. This makes it excellent for heat-shrink tubing.
With these considerations in mind, you should be able to narrow down your choices and identify the right tubing for your needs. Contact Tef Cap Industries at (610) 692-2576 if you have any questions or would like a recommendation.