FEP Tubing & PFA Tubing

FEP tubing and fluoropolymer tubing for medical devices

Microspec is a pioneer in the extrusion of thermoplastic fluoropolymers, including FEP, EFEP and PFA. Fluoropolymers are chosen when a tube needs a very slick surface, strong chemical resistance or high temperature resistance that other medical polymers cannot match. They appear in catheter liners, wire and cable jackets, and tubing that carries aggressive fluids.

Unlike PTFE, which cannot be melt extruded in the usual way, FEP, PFA and EFEP are melt-processable. That means we can run them on our extrusion lines with the same proprietary tooling and process control we use for polyurethanes and nylons, and hold the same tight tolerances.

FEP, PFA and EFEP compared

FEP tubing

FEP is the most widely used melt-processable fluoropolymer for medical tubing. It offers a low coefficient of friction, so wires, guidewires and devices slide through it easily. It is chemically inert, transparent, and stays flexible across a wide temperature range. FEP is also used as heat shrink tubing, where an expanded tube recovers onto a part when heated.

PFA tubing

PFA shares FEP’s chemical resistance and slick surface but tolerates higher temperatures. It is a good candidate for tubing that must survive repeated high-temperature sterilization or exposure to hot, aggressive fluids.

What we watch when extruding fluoropolymers

Fluoropolymers run at much higher melt temperatures than polyurethanes or nylons, and they are unforgiving of contamination. Tooling, temperatures and draw-down all have to be matched to the resin. Because our machine shop builds our own tips and dies in-house, we can adjust tooling quickly as a part moves from prototype to production.

Fluoropolymers are naturally difficult to bond. If your design needs a fluoropolymer liner inside a polyurethane or nylon jacket, tell us early. Material choice and process order matter, and we can talk through options before tooling is cut.