Why Teflon tubing is the preferred tubing choice for many medical device manufacturers

 Manufacturers of medical devices are always looking for ways to improve the performance of their products. Manufacturers will need to be aware of a variety of trends when bringing products to market. Connecting metals and plastic is one of the most popular trends in medical device manufacturing. Another option is to allow "real-time" data to be sent to a diagnostic system. Manufacturers of medical devices are constantly on the move in order to create the most current products that meet healthcare needs and trends.

The FDA enforces strict regulations for medical device manufacturers. There are three types of medical devices: I-III. The most heavily regulated class III medical devices is the one that's not. Medical device manufacturers need to be concerned about their devices' effectiveness, as they can be intrusive. A defective medical device can literally cause death. A medical device manufacturer may be sued if their device fails to work or causes an adverse event. Medical device manufacturers must ensure that their Teflon products are high quality.

These are the challenges medical device manufacturers face. This is why they often choose PTFE tubing. PTFE, a fluoropolymer, has been around for a while. If you've ever heard of Teflon(r), then you know what we mean when we talk about PTFE. A fluoropolymer chemical compound is one that contains a large number of fluorocarbons.

PTFE tubing stands out because of a variety of features. PTFE tubing has nonstick properties, just like all fluoropolymers. This is why PTFE is used so often in cookware. PTFE doesn't react to chemicals and manufacturers don’t need to worry about any adverse reactions. PTFE has one of the lowest coefficients of friction among all polymers. It can be used at temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and has excellent electrical properties. It is highly resistant to UV radiation, weatherability, and other elements.

For a variety of medical device applications, PTFE tubing is used by manufacturers. It is the preferred fluoropolymer for automobile manufacturers and electrical wiring manufacturers. Fluorotherm offers PTFE tubing as one of the many types of fluoropolymer tube. To get an idea of which fluoropolymer is best for your application and industry, we encourage you to look at all our offerings.

Applications

When you need to protect sheaths from high-temperature environments, or simply fluid transfer avenues, fluoropolymers such as PTFE can be your best choice. In the automotive industry, for example, you might need a product that can be used as a fuel liner or abrasion-resistant cable lining. Because of their light weight and non-leaching properties, fluoropolymers may be required by aerospace companies. Fluoropolymer tubing is required for scientific environments and labs that use NMR or other spectroscopy equipment. It can handle liquid and gas flow processes with thermal stability.

Fluoropolymers are a high-purity material that can be used in the environmental industry. This makes sample collection easier and more accurate. Fluoropolymers can also be used by general and heavy industries for their extraordinary physical endurance, chemical resistance and flexibility.

Highlights of PTFE Tubing

PTFE tubing is the gold standard for fluoropolymer tubes and offers many benefits to a wide range of industries. Let's take a look at some of the most important properties of PTFE tubing.

• Useful for electrical wire insulation, medical device tubing or fluid flow tubing, and protective jacketing.
• Superior thermal properties that can withstand temperatures as high as 680°F and cryogenic conditions as low at -320°F
• Excellent electrical properties with a low dielectric factor of 2.1 between 40 degrees F and 448 degrees F
• Features a static coefficient for friction of 0.08 to 500 psi load
• Chemically inert to many organic and inorganic chemical substances