GENERAL PURPOSE TUBES

The general purpose tubes and hoses are used for the general purposes which do not require high range of purity of the compound. These are mostly used in many domestic appliances and in the workshops or hobby applications because of their excellent flexibility.

MEDICAL/FOOD GRADE TUBES

These are specially designed hoses and tubes which are made in a manner so that they do not react with any medical or food material. They are sterilized in standard autoclaves in order to make them fit for the application in which they come in close contact with the food ingredients, body tissues and fluids or sensitive drugs. In this particular type of tubing the manufactured silicone tubes and hoses are completely tasteless, odorless, and non-toxic with a special property which does not support bacterial growth.

The high pressure tubes and hoses are made by strengthening their composition with wire or polyester braids which combats expansion and flattening. These tubes are mostly used when then the tubes are in direct contact with pressurized gases or suction is conducted. However, sharp edged clamps and fitting should be avoided near the tubes as they have low tensile strength and resistance to steam which may cause excessive wear and tear.

USES OF SILICONE TUBES IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

Silicone has a multiple usage in the industrial sector because of its excellent properties and types which provide a very wide area for functioning. Some of these uses are:

PTFE (POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE) RODS

PTFE or Teflon, polytetrafluoroethylene, is made of fluorine and carbon bonds which provide one of the strongest chemical linkages by displaying a compact symmetrical arrangement of atoms. The result of this bond and chain configuration is relatively dense, chemically inert and thermally stable polymer. PTFE has the ability to resist attacks of heat and most chemicals. PTFE rod exhibits the lowest electrical constant and lowest dissipation factors as compared to all the other solid materials. Also, because of strong chemical linkage, PTFE rod shows very little attraction for dissimilar molecules. The result of this phenomenon is low coefficient of friction of 0.05. Also, due to its chemical bonding the PTFE rods are virtually insoluble.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PTFE RODS
Some of the key characteristics of the PTFE rods are:
• Outstanding resistance towards chemicals
• Extremely low friction or coefficient of friction
• It is soft and formable
• It has excellent bearing and wearing properties.
• It has great weathering resistance
• It performs exceedingly well at elevated temperatures
• It is considered as non-toxic
• It has excellent dielectric properties
• It has high anti adhesiveness
• It has zero moisture absorption.
• Also, it has excellent radiation resistance.

PROPERTIES OF PTFE ROD

FEP GRADE
PROPERTY	UNIT	100	TE-9302N
MECHANICAL PROPERTY
Melt Flow Rate	g/10min	6.6	3
Specific Gravity		2.15	2.12-2.17
Water Absorption, 24hr	%	0.004	<0.01
Tensile Strength, 23 °C	Psi	4,000	4,354
Elongation, 23 °C	%	340	300
Compressive Strength, 23 °C at 5% strain	psi	2,200	2,200
Impact Strength, 23 °C, Notched Izod	J/m	No break	No break
Flexural Modulus, 23 °C	psi	90,000	95,000
Durometer Hardness, Shore D	D	56	55
Coefficient of Friction		0.25	0.25
Deformation Under Load, 23 °C, 1000 psi,	%	0.50	0.50
24 hr.
THERMAL PROPERTIES
Melting Point	°C
Deflection Temperature (66 psi)	°C
Oxygen Index	%
Max. Service Temperature	°C
Thermal Conductivity	W/m-K
Flammability
ELECTRICAL PROPERTY
Surface Resistivity	Ohm-sq	10¹⁵	10¹⁵
Volume Resistivity	Ohm-cm	10¹⁷	10¹⁸
Dielectric Strength (10 mil film)	V/mil	2,000	2,000
Dielectric Constant, 21 °C, 100 kHz		2.06	2.06
Dissipation Factor, 21 °C, 100kHz		0.0003	0.0002-0.001
Arc Resistance	sec	165	165

APPLICATIONS OF PTFE RODS

Some of the widely accepted applications of PTFE rods are:
• It is widely used in scientific equipment
• It is of great use in medical equipments
• It is used for pump spare parts
• It is used for valve fitting components
• It is used for the manufacture of coaxial cable connectors
• It is also used in the making of transformers and capacitors.
• Baffles are also made using PTFE.

AVIALABLE SIZES OF PTFE RODS

The most widely available sizes (in diameter) are 0.062" to 9.000". However, the custom sizes are designed and made on special request of the customers. OPERATING TEMPERATURES The PTFE rods maintain a high viscosity at 327 °C. However, PTFE can operate between -200 °C to +260 °C.