ETFE
ASTM D3159 · ISO 12086 · also Tefzel
A tough, melt-processable fluoropolymer with high mechanical strength, radiation and chemical resistance, and good abrasion resistance; used for wire insulation and architectural film glazing (ETFE cushions) rather than pure chemical resistance duty.
Reference datasheet — ETFE 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.
ETFE grades and fills
ETFE is supplied in one standard condition, GF25.
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways ETFE 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 | Architectural / capacitor film | Supply form |
WIRE | High-molecular-weight wire & cable insulation grade | Supply form |
POWDER | Rotolining / electrostatic coating powder | Printing process |
UnfilledDefault | Unfilled / natural injection & extrusion resin | Standard supply |
What is ETFE?
A tough, melt-processable fluoropolymer with high mechanical strength, radiation and chemical resistance, and good abrasion resistance; used for wire insulation and architectural film glazing (ETFE cushions) rather than pure chemical resistance duty. ETFE has a density of 1.73 g/cm³ (0.0625 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 105°C (221 °F). ETFE has a yield strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 78% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 320% and the elastic modulus is 0.85 GPa (0.123 Msi).
What is ETFE used for?
- aerospace/mil wire insulation
- architectural roofing film
- chemical process tubing
- solar panel backsheets
Advantages
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 98/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.03%, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 320%, better than 82% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High mold shrinkage — 3.5%, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.73 g/cm³ (0.0625 lb/in³), worse than 95% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 14 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 22 MPa (3.19 ksi), worse than 78% of polymer grades
ETFE properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
ETFE has a density of 1.73 g/cm³ (0.0625 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 105°C (221 °F).
Mechanical10
ETFE has a yield strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 78% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 320% and the elastic modulus is 0.85 GPa (0.123 Msi).
Thermal11
ETFE is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 0.24 W/m·K (0.139 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 67% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 95 µm/m·K (52.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
ETFE is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 20 kV/mm (508 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 91% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of ETFE takes about 230 MJ of energy and emits 14 kg of CO₂ — more than 91% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
ETFE's machinability is good (62/100, better than 60% 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. ETFE is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ETFE
Is ETFE easy to machine?
Machines like a tough soft plastic — sharp positive-rake carbide tools, high speed, low feed and good chip clearance; parts creep-relax, so allow generous tolerances and stress-relieve near 150 °C before finish cuts.
Can ETFE be welded?
Readily hot-gas, heat-impulse, hot-plate and extrusion welded with ETFE filler at 320–360 °C; film seams are heat-sealed and reach near-parent-material strength, but always use fume extraction (HF risk above ~350 °C).
Can ETFE be formed, bent or molded?
Melt-processable by injection, extrusion, rotolining and film casting at 300–340 °C using corrosion-resistant (Hastelloy/nickel-alloy) screws and dies; shrinkage is high (2.5–4.5%) and moisture-free feed plus purge-out at shutdown are essential.
ETFE 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 |
|---|---|---|
| tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) units≈1:1 mole ratio with ethylene; wt% basis | 72 – 82 | 78 |
| termonomer (PFBE / HFP / PFPVE)bulky side-chain modifier added to suppress high-temperature stress cracking | 0.5 – 5 | 1.5 |
| glass fiberreinforced grades only (GF25) | ≈ 25 | 25 |
| ethylene unitsalternating copolymer backbone | ≥ 18 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on ETFE?
Low surface energy means no paint, adhesive or print will stick without sodium-etch, plasma or corona treatment; the surface is self-cleaning and needs no coating for outdoor service.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to ETFE in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D3159
- ISO
- 12086
- Trade names
- Tefzel
- Also called
- F40
How much does ETFE cost?
ETFE 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.
ETFE — frequently asked
What is ETFE used for?
ETFE is typically used for aerospace/mil wire insulation, architectural roofing film, chemical process tubing and solar panel backsheets. In short: toughest melt-processable fluoropolymer; architectural film grade; radiation-resistant wire insulation.
What is the yield strength of ETFE?
ETFE has a typical yield strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 45 MPa (6.53 ksi) — weaker than 78% of polymer grades.
Is ETFE easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades). Machines like a tough soft plastic — sharp positive-rake carbide tools, high speed, low feed and good chip clearance; parts creep-relax, so allow generous tolerances and stress-relieve near 150 °C before finish cuts.
Can ETFE be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Readily hot-gas, heat-impulse, hot-plate and extrusion welded with ETFE filler at 320–360 °C; film seams are heat-sealed and reach near-parent-material strength, but always use fume extraction (HF risk above ~350 °C).
What surface finishes work on ETFE?
Low surface energy means no paint, adhesive or print will stick without sodium-etch, plasma or corona treatment; the surface is self-cleaning and needs no coating for outdoor service.
Can ETFE be formed, bent or molded?
Melt-processable by injection, extrusion, rotolining and film casting at 300–340 °C using corrosion-resistant (Hastelloy/nickel-alloy) screws and dies; shrinkage is high (2.5–4.5%) and moisture-free feed plus purge-out at shutdown are essential.
What is the maximum service temperature of ETFE?
ETFE is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F), and briefly to 200°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does ETFE cost?
ETFE 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 D3159 — Modified ETFE Fluoropolymer Molding and Extrusion Materials — ASTM International (2021)
- ISO 12086 — Plastics: Fluoropolymer dispersions and moulding/extrusion materials — ISO (2006)
- Tefzel ETFE fluoropolymer resins — properties handbook — DuPont / Chemours (2019)
- Neoflon ETFE product and processing guide — Daikin (2020)
- Nowoflon ET / ETFE film technical data — Nowofol (2021)
- Fluoroplastics, Vol. 2: Melt Processible Fluoropolymers — Ebnesajjad / Elsevier (2015)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector ETFE datasheets — CWFG / UL (2023)
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.