PCTFE tubes
When a component has to stay dimensionally stable under load, hold a reliable barrier against moisture and gas, and keep performing at cryogenic temperatures, PCTFE is the fluoropolymer engineers turn to.
Vanéflon produces PCTFE tubes as semi-finished stock, extruded and compression-moulded to tight tolerances and ready to be machined into valve seats, seals, bushings and other precision parts. Standard sizes are available from stock, and custom dimensions are produced to your exact requirements.
You may also know this material under its trade names Kel-F and Neoflon. Whichever your drawing specifies, it refers to the same base polymer, and Vanéflon can supply it as tube, billet or finished part.
What is PCTFE?
PCTFE stands for polychlorotrifluoroethylene, a high-performance fluoropolymer in the same family as PTFE.
The difference lies in the molecule: PCTFE replaces one fluorine atom with chlorine, and that single change makes the material noticeably more rigid, stronger and more dimensionally stable, with far lower gas and moisture permeability. It is these qualities, rather than low friction, that define where PCTFE earns its place.
The material was originally sold as Kel-F and is today produced as Neoflon. The Kel-F name is no longer on the market, but it is still widely used across the industry, so you will encounter all three terms, PCTFE, Kel-F and Neoflon, describing the same polymer.
Properties of PCTFE tubes
PCTFE sits at the top end of the fluoropolymer range. Its standout characteristics make it indispensable for demanding, high-purity and low-temperature environments:
- Exceptional dimensional stability and high resistance to cold flow, so parts hold their shape and their tolerances under sustained load.
- Excellent cryogenic performance, keeping its mechanical integrity down to extremely low temperatures.
- Outstanding gas barrier, with the lowest water vapour transmission rate of the common fluoropolymers.
- Near-zero moisture absorption, which keeps parts stable in humid and vacuum conditions.
- Excellent chemical resistance to most acids, bases and oxidising agents.
- Radiation resistance and stable electrical insulation.
- Food contact compliant, meeting FDA and EU 10/2011 requirements.
Technical specifications
- Material: PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene)
- Also known as: Kel-F, Neoflon
- Temperature range: -273 °C to +170 °C
- Chemical resistance: Excellent
- Moisture absorption: Near-zero
- Gas permeability: Very low (lowest water vapour transmission rate of the common fluoropolymers)
- Food contact: FDA compliant, EU 10/2011
- Processing: Extrusion and compression moulding
Not sure which PCTFE grade fits your application?
Values are indicative and depend on grade. Download the PCTFE datasheet for the full technical detail or ask our team for the grade that suits your application.
Extruded and compression-moulded PCTFE tubes
Not every tube is made the same way, and the production route matters for your part. Alongside conventional extruded PCTFE tubes, Vanéflon produces tubes and billets using cold and hot compression moulding. This gives considerable freedom in size and length while holding tight tolerances on inside and outside diameters alike, which is exactly what high-precision machining demands.
With hundreds of moulds in house, we press tubes and billets as close to your final dimensions as possible. That near-net approach reduces machining time, cuts material waste and shortens lead times. If your project calls for a size we do not already hold, Vanéflon can produce its own moulds at short notice to deliver precisely what you need.
Every PCTFE tube leaves our facility with full traceability and certification. Post-treatment such as tempering, grinding and cutting is available on request, so your stock arrives ready for the next step.
Available dimensions and cut-to-size
Vanéflon supplies PCTFE tubes in a wide range of outer diameters, inner diameters, wall thicknesses and lengths. Standard sizes are typically held in stock for fast delivery, while custom and near-net dimensions are produced to your specification. Cut-to-size service means you receive tube that is ready to machine, with tight and repeatable tolerances on both bores.
Tell us the OD, ID, wall thickness and length you need, along with your application, and we will confirm availability, tolerances and lead time.
Applications of PCTFE tubes
PCTFE tubes are trusted wherever reliability is non-negotiable:
- Cryogenics and energy: valve seats, seals and components for liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen and LNG, where the material’s low-temperature stability is essential.
- Aerospace: valve seats, gaskets and sealing components that perform across extreme temperature swings.
- Semiconductor: high-purity gas delivery where contamination cannot be tolerated.
- Chemical processing: handling and transfer of aggressive media.
- Pharmaceutical and life science: moisture-barrier and sterile-contact parts backed by food and pharma compliance.
PCTFE compared to PTFE, PFA and PEEK
Choosing a fluoropolymer is always a question of the application.
- Compared to PTFE and PFA, PCTFE is more rigid and dimensionally stable, with a far better moisture and gas barrier, which is why it wins for precision cryogenic sealing.
- PTFE remains the more cost-effective, lower-friction choice for less demanding tolerances, while PEEK offers higher mechanical strength at elevated temperatures.
- PCTFE is more expensive than PTFE, but for cryogenic and high-end aerospace work it remains indispensable.
If you are weighing up materials, our specialists are happy to help you make the right call.
Why choose Vanéflon for PCTFE tubes
High-quality products
With more than 45 years of experience in high-performance plastics from a base in the centre of Flanders, Belgium, Vanéflon possesses the necessary know-how from powder to final product. Thanks to our extensive knowledge and continuous monitoring by technical experts, every PCTFE tube is fully traceable and certified.
Excellent service & support
We strive for a one-on-one relationship with our customers. The Vanéflon team is always ready to answer your questions and to guide you in projects tailored to your needs, from material selection to the finishing of the most complex parts.
Cost efficiency
We analyse the needs of our customers to provide the most efficient solution possible, pressing PCTFE tubes and billets near-net to reduce machining time and material waste.
Delivery reliability
We deliver as promised, with flexible VMI systems that offer seamless support to our customers’ logistical processes, whether you need standard tube from stock or a near-net billet in a size no one else holds.
Frequently asked questions
Request a quote
Looking for a reliable partner for PCTFE tubes? Vanéflon supports you from material choice through to the finishing of the most complex parts. Request a quote or reach out to our team, and we will come back with availability, tolerances and lead time.
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