ECTFE
ASTM D3275 · also Halar
A melt-processable fluoropolymer offering an excellent balance of chemical resistance, permeation barrier, and mechanical toughness at a lower cost than PTFE/PFA, widely applied as protective linings and coatings for corrosive service.
Reference datasheet — ECTFE is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
ECTFE grades and fills
ECTFE is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Powder coating / rotolining grade | Pick for 0.5–2 mm thick pinhole-free linings on steel tanks, scrubbers, ducts and pumps in acid/chlorine service. | 28 | 40 | 200 | 73 Shore D |
Wire & cable / plenum insulation grade | High-speed extrusion grade for plenum-rated data cable jacketing where low smoke and flame spread are required. | 29 | 42 | 280 | 74 Shore D |
Conductive / antistatic (carbon-filled) grade | Carbon-black/carbon-fibre filled compound for static-dissipative tank linings and flammable-solvent handling. | 30 | 35 | 80 | 78 Shore D |
High-purity / semiconductor grade | Low-extractable, low-metal-ion resin for UPW and wet-bench fluid handling, filter housings and membrane supports. | 31 | 45 | 250 | 75 Shore D |
25% glass-fibre reinforced compound | Use where stiffness, creep resistance and dimensional stability of a fluoropolymer part matter more than ductility. | 60 | 6 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways ECTFE is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FILM | Film / thin-sheet extrusion grade | Supply form |
FDA | Food-contact / FDA-compliant grade | Certification |
NATDefault | Unfilled / Natural | Standard supply |
What is ECTFE?
A melt-processable fluoropolymer offering an excellent balance of chemical resistance, permeation barrier, and mechanical toughness at a lower cost than PTFE/PFA, widely applied as protective linings and coatings for corrosive service. ECTFE has a density of 1.68 g/cm³ (0.0607 lb/in³), heavier than 94% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 65°C (149 °F). ECTFE has a yield strength of 31 MPa (4.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 70% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 250% and the elastic modulus is 1.7 GPa (0.247 Msi).
What is ECTFE used for?
- tank and pipe interior linings
- wire and cable jacketing
- chemical process equipment coatings
- battery separator films
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 96/100, better than 98% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 95/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 250%, better than 79% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 1.68 g/cm³ (0.0607 lb/in³), worse than 94% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 11 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 90% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2%, worse than 81% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 78% of polymer grades
ECTFE properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
ECTFE has a density of 1.68 g/cm³ (0.0607 lb/in³), heavier than 94% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 65°C (149 °F).
Mechanical11
ECTFE has a yield strength of 31 MPa (4.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 70% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 250% and the elastic modulus is 1.7 GPa (0.247 Msi).
Thermal11
ECTFE is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 78% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 80 µm/m·K (44.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
ECTFE is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 80 kV/mm (2,032 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (96/100), better than 98% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of ECTFE takes about 210 MJ of energy and emits 11 kg of CO₂ — more than 89% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
ECTFE's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability very good (75/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. ECTFE is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ECTFE
Is ECTFE easy to machine?
Machinable with sharp, high-rake carbide tools, high speed and low feed; the material is tough and gummy, so use coolant/air blast and expect springback on tight tolerances.
Can ECTFE be welded?
Readily fusion, hot-gas and extrusion welded (liners and sheet) at 280–320 °C; adhesive bonding requires plasma or chemical surface activation.
Can ECTFE be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mould/extrude at 260–310 °C with corrosion-resistant (Hastelloy/nickel-alloy) barrels and hot runners; shrinkage 1.5–3.5 %, sheet thermoforms at 180–230 °C, powder applied electrostatically then fused at 260–290 °C.
ECTFE chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE)≈50 mol%, alternating copolymer | 78 – 82 | 80.6 |
| termonomer / stabilizerminor modifier in some commercial grades | 0 – 1 | |
| ethylene≈50 mol% | ≥ 18 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on ECTFE?
Non-stick, low-energy surface — no paint or plating without corona/plasma treatment; pigmented or textured grades preferred over polishing, and coatings are spark-tested for pinholes.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to ECTFE in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D3275
- Trade names
- Halar
How much does ECTFE cost?
ECTFE is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
ECTFE — frequently asked
What is ECTFE used for?
ECTFE is typically used for tank and pipe interior linings, wire and cable jacketing, chemical process equipment coatings and battery separator films. In short: low-cost fluoropolymer lining; strong permeation barrier; electrostatically applied powder coating.
What is the yield strength of ECTFE?
ECTFE has a typical yield strength of 31 MPa (4.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 70% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is ECTFE easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Machinable with sharp, high-rake carbide tools, high speed and low feed; the material is tough and gummy, so use coolant/air blast and expect springback on tight tolerances.
Can ECTFE be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Readily fusion, hot-gas and extrusion welded (liners and sheet) at 280–320 °C; adhesive bonding requires plasma or chemical surface activation.
What surface finishes work on ECTFE?
Non-stick, low-energy surface — no paint or plating without corona/plasma treatment; pigmented or textured grades preferred over polishing, and coatings are spark-tested for pinholes.
Can ECTFE be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mould/extrude at 260–310 °C with corrosion-resistant (Hastelloy/nickel-alloy) barrels and hot runners; shrinkage 1.5–3.5 %, sheet thermoforms at 180–230 °C, powder applied electrostatically then fused at 260–290 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of ECTFE?
ECTFE is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F), and briefly to 180°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does ECTFE cost?
ECTFE is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM D3275 — Standard Specification for E-CTFE Fluoroplastic Molding, Extrusion, and Coating Materials — ASTM International (2019)
- Halar ECTFE Design & Processing Guide / grade data sheets — Solvay Specialty Polymers (Syensqo) (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.2 — Engineering Plastics (fluoropolymers) — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector fluoropolymer property records — CWFG / UL Solutions (2024)
- Fluoroplastics, Volume 2: Melt Processible Fluoropolymers — Elsevier (Plastics Design Library) (2015)
- ECTFE/ETFE (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.