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Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)

PCTFE is a fluoroplastic (fluorine-based thermoplastic). It has a fairly high density among thermoplastics. In addition, it has a moderately high ductility and a moderately low tensile strength. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare PCTFE to: fluoroplastics (top), all thermoplastics (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.

Mechanical Properties

Compressive (Crushing) Strength

38 MPa 5.5 x 103 psi

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus

1.4 GPa 0.21 x 106 psi

Elongation at Break

150 %

Flexural Modulus

1.2 GPa 0.18 x 106 psi

Flexural Strength

59 MPa 8.6 x 103 psi

Impact Strength: Notched Izod

160 J/m 3.1 ft-lb/in

Rockwell R Hardness

80

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)

36 MPa 5.2 x 103 psi

Thermal Properties

Glass Transition Temperature

100 °C 210 °F

Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi)

110 °C 240 °F

Heat Deflection Temperature At 455 kPa (66 psi)

130 °C 260 °F

Maximum Temperature: Autoignition

580 °C 1080 °F

Maximum Temperature: Decomposition

370 °C 690 °F

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical

150 °C 300 °F

Melting Onset (Solidus)

220 °C 420 °F

Specific Heat Capacity

920 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F

Thermal Conductivity

0.21 W/m-K 0.12 BTU/h-ft-°F

Thermal Expansion

130 µm/m-K

Electrical Properties

Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential)

21 kV/mm 0.82 V/mil

Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude

16 10x Ω-m

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Density

2.1 g/cm3 130 lb/ft3

Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI)

80 %

Water Absorption After 24 Hours

0.0094 %

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial

0.37 points

Stiffness to Weight: Bending

17 points

Strength to Weight: Axial

4.6 points

Strength to Weight: Bending

11 points

Thermal Diffusivity

0.11 mm2/s

Thermal Shock Resistance

14 points

Followup Questions

Further Reading

ASTM D1430: Standard Classification System for Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) Plastics

Fluoroplastics: Volume 2 - Melt Processable Fluoropolymers, Sina Ebnesajjad, 2003

SPI Plastics Engineering Handbook of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 5th ed., Michael L. Berins (editor), 2000

Modern Plastics Handbook, Charles A. Harper (editor), 1999

Plastics Materials, 7th ed., J. A. Brydson, 1999