Processing Guide

Everflon
www.everflon.com

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 Introduction
Everflon™ PFA and FEP resins are Everflon™ PFA and FEP dispersions provide
thermo-processable perfluorinated polymers. They remarkable improvements to the applied
are composed from semi-crystalline copolymers of
substrate such as:
TetraFluoroEthylene (TFE) and other modified
• Exceptional chemical inertness
monomers.
• Outstanding thermal resistance
Due to their very low surface energy and coefficient
• High gloss
of friction, Everflon™PFA and FEP resins are

known for providing superior long-term non-stick

• Outstanding smoothness and surface

and release properties. finish

Compared to PTFE, Everflon™PFA and FEP are • Good rub and abrasion resistance
fully melt processable without any reduction of • High moisture repellency
thermal or chemical properties. • Good permeation resistance
• Excellent weathering resistance
• High surface cleanability
• Very good weldability in case of heat
sealing or lamination
• Excellent dielectric properties
Everflon™ PFA and FEP Product Range

Everflon Fluoropolymers supplies the following white water-based

APFO-free Everflon™ PFA and FEP dispersion grade:
• Everflon™ FEP D50
• Everflon™ PFA D450
Both exhibit excellent wetting properties and high shear stability. They have
a very good film forming behavior and are especially suited for top-coat
applications to produce final items with superior gloss.

Property Units Everflon™ FEP D50 Everflon™ PFA D450

Polymer content (on the mixture) % by weight 50 50
Non ionic surfactant (on the mixture) % by weight 6 6
pH >9 >9
3
Density g/cm 1.4 1.4
Melting point °C 260 305
Melt Flow Index (372°C, 5kg) g/10’ 6~12 6~12
Brookfield viscosity (20°C) mPa · s 20 22
Average particle size µm 0.18 0.20
Critical thickness µm 7~10 10~15
APFO content ppm by weight 0 0
 Markets and Applications
Everflon™ PFA and FEP aqueous dispersions are

mainly used for, but not limited to:

• Coating cookware, bakeware and industrial items

• Impregnation of fabrics and clothes (made of glass

or other high temperature resistant fibers)

Everflon™ PFA and FEP resins can be applied neat

without a need to use them in a formulation. Several

passes may be required to obtain the desired Everflon™

load and build up coating thickness without defects.

 Markets and Applications

Common substrates include: Typical industries include:

• Carbon steel • Chemical processing

• Stainless steel • Food processing
• Aluminized steel • Packaging
• Aluminum • Pharmaceutical
• Glass • Pulp and paper
• CeramicsGlass • Electrical and Semiconductor
• Ceramics • Textile
 Good coating adhesion greatly depends on substrate roughness. Roughening can be

obtained either by sand blasting or by chemical etching. Sand blasting is commonly used for

1 general purpose applications and chemical etching is advised for high quality applications.

Special formulations can be applied on untreated surfaces as well.

The residual dust from blasting and abrasion should be blown off with clean, dry air. It is then

Substrate Preparation
advisable to clean the blasted surface to assure good coating adhesion to the substrate. This

can be accomplished with a light cleaning using a solvent (i.e. toluene or MEK) or

alternatively with a chlorinated solvent using a clean rag. Using paper towels should be

avoided to prevent contamination.

All possible care should be taken to avoid depositing lint onto the part.

To avoid surface contamination, only wear clean gloves or use tongs while handling the

substrate.

For best results, dispersions must be formulated according to the specific end use and

application technology. It is recommended to use spraying equipment to apply the primer

2
and finish coat. In the case of one-coat painting systems, a roller application is

recommended. This system could be used to apply both primer and finish coatings.

Paint Formulation
In the formulation of primers, adhesion promoters are required to obtain a good bond to the
Coating Processing substrate. Primers can be based on either inorganic compounds, such as lithium and silicon

salts mainly used in industrial coating applications, or organic compounds, mainly

Metal, ceramic and other surfaces are coated with polyamide-imide derivates).

To formulate the finish coat, various additives such as organic solvents, resins, inorganic
Everflon™ PFA and FEP dispersions to protect them from
fillers, pigments, etc., can be used.
corrosion and to improve their non-stick and chemical

resistance characteristics. Of course substrates must be The paint is applied in two passes:

able to resist the high temperature of PFA and FEP •Priming

3 •Finishing
sintering. Everflon™ PFA and FEP dispersion grades can
The parts should be coated immediately after cleaning the substrate. A primer can be used
be used in their original form, in suitable formulation,
to improve the bond between the coating and the substrate and also help in providing better

Paint Application
and/or suitable primers to improve adhesion to the surface finish and coverage.

substrate. The prepared surface can be primed with a substrate primer so as to improve the bonding of

the coating to the substrate, to better cover up the substrate surface, and provide a more
Typical methods for coating application include spray
uniform appearance for the final coating. In general, only one layer of primer is needed.
coating, roller coating, or curtain coating. Usually the finish coat is applied in several layers to achieve the desired final thickness of the

coating. Often the paint formulation includes two finishing layers:

•Intermediate coat

•Top coat

The intermediate coat can be applied on both wet and dry primer, and the top coat can be

applied on wet or dry intermediate.

 Drying
The coating must be carefully oven dried in order to avoid mud cracking.

4 Recommended drying temperature is above 100 °C according to working conditions.

Ovens equipped with extractor cowls are recommended.

Sintering
Sintering time and temperature profile must be experimentally fixed depending on

5 the dimensions of the item and oven characteristics. Usual sintering temperature is

in the range of 350 °C to 400 °C for about 5 – 10 minutes. Due to possible evolution

of thermal decomposition vapors, which could contain surfactant and polymer

degradation products, ovens equipped with extractor cowls are used.

Forming
To obtain pans and special shapes, the sintered semi-finished items are
6 molded in suitable drawing dies.

Characteristic Suggested Additives Potential Drawbacks

Surface homogeneity High boiling organic Foaming

(no mud-cracking) solvents
Wetting agents

Coating critical Silicon or acrylic Discoloration

thickness resins

Silicon or acrylic Dispersion settling

Coating hardness resins
Dispersion settling
Metallic powders
Thermosetting resins Discoloration

Mica Dispersion settling

Coating appearance Inorganic pigments Dewetting

Main improvement effects of additives in coatings

 Substrate Preparation
A fabric roll is positioned on the delivery spool of the impregnation machine. The free end of
1 the fabric is coupled to a driving belt to run through the machine. The glass fabrics are

usually sized in order to protect the twisting of strand filaments. The size is often removed by

heating in the oven of the impregnation machine.

Dispersion Formulation
Everflon™ PFA and FEP dispersions can be diluted in order to promote penetration of

2 polymeric particles through the fabric meshes. The final thickness of Everflon™ PFA and

FEPis reached by several passes at different dispersion dilutions.

Dipping
Everflon™ PFA and FEP dispersion is poured into the bath of the impregnation machine.
The fabric is dipped by passing it through the bath.
3
Applicators may have to optimize the number of passes and relevant dispersion formulations

according to their specific needs.

Impregnation Processing
The impregnation of fabrics is a complex procedure that includes Drying
The operation is done to eliminate excess dispersion at each pass. Suitable devices
several passes to obtain the desired final Everflon™ PFA and FEP
4 for squeezing are squeeze rollers or blade systems.
deposition. Further, there are slight differences according to the kind of

substrate chosen (glass fiber, woven glass cloth, and polyaramide or

other high temperature resistant fibers or fabrics).

Characteristic Suggested Additives Potential Drawbacks
Yarn impregnation is similar to that of fabric impregnation, but simpler
Wettability
No fish-eyes Wetting agents Foaming
and faster. In this case squeezing and sintering are not necessary and

only one impregnation step is usually sufficient to achieve the desired Surface homogeneity
No mud-cracking Silicon or acrylic Discoloration
resins
Everflon™ PFA and FEP deposition.

The top layer can be prepared from anyEverflon™ PFA and FEP No bubbles Antifoaming agents Dewetting

dispersion for the purpose of:

Surface hardness
• Improving surface finish and gloss Mica Dispersion settling

• Enhancing rub and abrasion resistance Glass beads Dispersion settling

• Providing better weldability in case of heat sealing or lamination

Antistatic surface
Superconductive Dispersion settling
processes Carbon and dewetting
 Sintering
The impregnated fabric must be carefully

5 oven dried in order to avoid mud cracking

and bubbles due to flash evaporation of

water. Recommended drying temperature is

100 – 150 °C according to working

conditions. Ovens equipped with extractor

cowls are advised.

Forming
The first section of the oven is devoted to
6 heating the fabric to remove additives. The

maximum temperature in this section is

300 °C. The second section of the oven is

devoted to sintering Everflon™ PFA and

FEP dispersion. Sintering time and

temperature profile must be experimentally

fixed depending on fabric speed and oven

characteristics. Usual sintering

temperature is in the range of 350 – 400

°C. Due to possible evolution of vapors,

ovens equipped with extractor cowls are

used. The fabric is then wound on a

crabbing spool.

Manufacturing
Impregnated fabrics are mainly utilized as
7 conveyor belts and tapes. Cloths of

suitable length are cut from crabbing

spools and finished. Conveyor belt edges

are reinforced by sewing or sticking,

similarly tapes and bosses are inserted.

Additional Technical Information

Storage and Handling

The usual precautions for safe storage and handling of fluoropolymer dispersions must be enforced according

to material safety documentation and experience. Please contact Everflon Fluoropolymers for a copy of the

relative Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Everflon™ PFA and FEP dispersions must be stored under suitable temperature conditions to ensure

prolonged stability. Temperatures lower than 5 °C must be avoided to prevent irreversible settling. Also, some

settling may occur on prolonged standing and/or heat exposure. It is therefore strongly recommended that the

product is always kept at temperatures below 35 °C. The optimum storage temperature range is 10 – 25 °C.

It is also advisable that the product be gently rolled or stirred once per month and prior to use.

Prolonged exposure of the liquid to air could lead to some coagulation at the surface due to water evaporation.

For this reason and also to avoid contamination, keep the containers closed when not in use.

Ammonium hydroxide is used by Everflon Fluoropolymers to set pH to approximately 9.0 at the time of

shipment. High ambient temperatures can deplete the ammonia level and reduce pH. Declining pH eventually

favors bacterial growth, which causes odor and scum. The pH should be measured and maintained between

9 and 10.

See SDS for detailed advice on waste disposal methods.

 Stay in touch
Safety and Toxicology
Everflon Fluoropolymers

Before using Everflon™ PFA and FEP dispersions consult the product Safety Data Sheet and follow all label

directions and handling precautions.

As with all fluoropolymer materials, handling and processing should only be carried out in well ventilated

areas. Vapor extractor units should be installed above processing equipment. Fumes must not be inhaled
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and eye and skin contact ought to be avoided. In case of skin contact, wash with soap and water. In case of

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eye contact, flush with water immediately and seek medical help. Do not smoke in areas contaminated with

powder, vapor or fumes.

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