ECTFE (Ethylene ChloroTriFluoroEthylene) was designed to provide chemical resistance in heavy duty corrosion applications. It is a partially fluorinated polymer (a fluoropolymer), semi-crystalline and can be processed in the melt. Chemically it is a copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene. It is marketed under the brand name Halar ECTFE by Solvay Specialty Polymers.
Since its introduction in 1970, ECTFE has been used in industries where corrosion resistance is needed. It is resistant to acids at high concentrations and temperatures, caustic media, oxidizing agents and many solvents. It is said to have similar chemical resistance to PTFE.
ECTFE has a wide continuous usage temperature range between typically –76 °C and +150 °C. It has good impact resistance and a Young's modulus in the range of 1700 MPa allowing for self-standing items and pressure piping systems. ECTFE offers high impact strength even in cryogenic applications.
ECTFE shows good fire resistance with a limiting oxygen index of 52%.This is between the fully fluorinated polymers PTFE, PFA and FEP with an limiting oxygen index of 95% and other partially fluorinated polymer like PVDF with a limiting oxygen index of 44% and ETFE with an limiting oxygen index of 30%.
Brandnames: HALAR ®