PTFE(Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a type of polymer used in many different industries. It is used to make the non-stick coating of pans and is also used to coat pipes in the oil and gas industries.
Due to its characteristics, PTFE is extensively used to manufacture pipelines and other parts required in the pipework. It is highly resistant to corrosion and can resist high temperatures up to a point. Here are some of the benefits of using PTFE in pipeworks-
PTFE Is Weather Resistant
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a weather-resistant material. It can withstand severe weather conditions. It can withstand fairly high temperatures and is also resistant to corrosion. They last longer compared to standard uncoated steel pipes. PTFE enhances the structural integrity of the pipes.
When screws and nuts are coated with PTFE, they become corrosion-resistant. They don’t react with any of the liquids passing through. This ensures the longevity of the pipework. Construction workers use items from PTFE parts manufacturer to make sure that the pipework lasts longer.
PTFE Is Almost Inert
Polytetrafluoroethylene is inert by nature. It hardly reacts with any chemicals. It is hydrophobic, i.e., it repels water and doesn’t allow residues. It is due to these characteristics the polymer becomes a highly potent material for coating pipes.
The polymer is used in pipeworks in the oil and petroleum industries to transport oil safely. These industries also use PTFE valves bought from oil and gas valve manufacturer to ensure secure oil transport. The coating is both heat resistant and a bad conductor, preventing accidental fires in the pipeline.
PTFE Offers Good Price-To-Performance Ratio
The polymer is extremely cheap to manufacture and offers an exceptional cost-to-performance ratio. They require minimal maintenance and easily last 4-5 years before it requires renovation.
Using it to coat pipelines saves the cost of frequent maintenance while also strengthening the steel base in the process. Coating the steel with the polymer reduces the frictional properties of steel, making it very slippery. This facilitates the transfer of any liquid or chemical through the pipes.
High Permeability And Minimal Leakage
The molecular structure of the polymer is such that it prevents the leaking of molecules from transferring liquid through the molecular structure. This ensures that the liquid passes through the pipes without much wastage sticking to the surface of the pipes.
High permeability also effectively decreases the wear and tear of the material, making it more durable when transferring heavy liquids through the pipes. PTFE decreases maintenance costs while also increasing profit margins.
Efficient For Long Distance Transportation
PTFE pipelines facilitate long-distance transportation of liquids. Due to their durability and low maintenance requirement, they are used by oil and natural gas industries to transport the crude oil extracted from the digging site to the purification and manufacturing plants.
Industries of almost every sector use polymer-coated pipelines for long-distance transportation. They line the outer surface of the pipes with COB LED strips to make them easily visible at night so that workers can identify the pipes when they require fixing.
Low Refractive Index
Polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon, has a very low refractive index. It prevents certain chemicals from changing colors when they come in contact with sunlight when being transported.
Chemicals like Nitric acid are very unstable and often decompose when they come in contact with sun rays. The decomposed compounds dissolve in the compound itself and hamper the purity of the chemical. Due to its high refractive index, Teflon prevents sunlight from coming in contact with the chemicals. Thus it maintains the quality and purity of the chemicals being transported.
High-Pressure Resistance
PTFE coating makes pipelines resistant to pressure. It is used in water filtration and drainage facilities. When water is purified, it is passed through purification sieves at very high pressure, and PTFE pipes are used to withstand that pressure.
PTFE Is Food Safe
PTFE is approved by the FDA and has no toxic effects on food. The polymer-coated pipework is also used in the cold drinks manufacturing industries. Due to its unreactive nature and high structural integrity, it doesn’t react with the CO2 in carbonated drinks. It is also used in chips packing industries to carry Nitrogen and fill them up in the chips’ packets.
Conclusion
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a very useful polymer and is therefore used in many different industrial sectors. It is extensively used to coat steel pipes to increase their strength and also make them water resistant. The polymer has inert characteristics and does not react with any chemical or liquid that is passed through the pipes.
It is very affordable and increases a company’s annual profits when transporting chemicals and oil. It is resistant to corrosion, pressure, and heat and requires low maintenance. It is FDA approved and so is also in food manufacturing. It is one of the essential polymers used in industries.
