This versatile material boasts an extremely high melting point, high flexural strength, a low coefficient of friction and hydrophobicity.
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Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer derived from tetrafluoroethylene. This versatile material boasts an extremely high melting point, high flexural strength, a low coefficient of friction and hydrophobicity. PTFE is also chemically inert, which makes it the ideal choice of material for rubber bonding to create chemical-resistant gaskets, especially for use in chlorine electrolysis.
In this blog, we delve deeper into what chlorine is, its uses, PTFE’s chlorine resistance, and why its many beneficial properties make it a useful material for chlorine production.
Chlorine (Cl) is a naturally occurring chemical element and one of the basic building blocks of matter. A yellow-green gas at room temperature, chlorine is the second-lightest of the halogens. It appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table, and its properties are, for the most part, intermediate between the two. Elemental chlorine at high concentrations is extremely dangerous and toxic to most living organisms.
Chlorine is obtained from salt (sodium chloride), one of the most abundant minerals on earth. This occurs through the chlor-alkali process, which involves the electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution. It is an exceptionally efficient process that produces several useful by-products. Hydrogen, which is used as an energy source in manufacturing facilities, and sodium hydroxide, which is used in the manufacture of many industrial and consumer products.
Elemental chlorine and chlorine-generating compounds are commonly used for disinfection. As well as the chlorination of swimming pools and drinking water, chlorine disinfection has improved the lives of billions of people worldwide. It is also an essential chemical building block used to produce a huge range of products that contribute towards technology, nutrition, public health, security, and transportation.
Chlorine chemistry is fundamental to the production of everything from food and medicines to mobile phones and computers. It is also employed in countless less obvious applications, such as contact lenses, bulletproof vests, paint, solar panels, and prosthetics. In fact, chlorine is used in the manufacture of an almost exhaustive array of consumer products, about two-thirds of which are organic chemicals like polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Given the dangers associated with chlorine, chlorine-based applications require gaskets that deliver reliable sealing and formidable chemical resistance. PTFE is known for its chemical inertness and low friction, making it the ideal chemical-resistant material for use with highly aggressive chemicals like chlorine.
TRP Polymer Solutions is a leading exponent of chlorine electrolyser cell gaskets and PTFE-protected gaskets for chemical processing. We use PTFE to provide a chemically resistant veneer for a rubber seal, creating an energised yet chemically resistant PTFE/rubber-bonded seal. In combination with EPDM, the addition of a PTFE veneer to the gasket creates a product with a long service life (in excess of 10 years), affordable cost, and reduced risk of creep.
In addition to chemical applications, the durability and flexibility of PTFE make it a versatile polymer used across a variety of industries. This includes the manufacture of pharmaceutical seals, oil-resistant rubber seals, and food-safe O-rings, as it is likewise valued in these applications for its chemical resistance and inertness.
As a leading producer of custom rubber moulding components, TRP Polymer Solutions can reduce your maintenance costs and equipment downtime by significantly improving the lifespan and performance of your pumps, valves, couplings, custom rubber seals, and custom rubber gaskets. We specialise in developing durable and reliable chemical-resistant gaskets for the chemical processing industry, including specialised PTFE rubber-bonded gaskets specifically for chlor-alkali processing applications.
To find out more about how our chemical-resistant gaskets with PTFE veneers can benefit your chlorine application, or to discuss your requirements in more detail, please contact TRP Polymer Solutions today on +44(0)1432 268899 or email sales@trp.co.uk.
28 Sep 2020 • 
4 min read
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