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Characteristics of Perfluoroalkoxy Plastic (PFA)
| Clarity | Transparent | Impact Resistant | Excellent |
| Moisture Barrier | Excellent | Heat Resistance | Excellent |
| Oxygen Barrier | Excellent | Cold Resistance | Excellent |
| Acid Resistance | Excellent | Sunlight Resistance | Excellent |
| Grease & Oil Resistance | Excellent | Specific Gravity | 2.15 |
| Maximum Utilization Temp. | 482°F | Tensile Strength | 4000-4500 psi |
| Minimum Utilization Temp. | -454°F | Melting Point | 582°F |
| Stiffness | Moderate to High | Flexibility | Excellent |
Other Characteristics of PFA:
PFA is a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene with a perfluoralkyl vinyl ether. PFA is a highly durable plastic similar in characteristic to PTFE. With an extremely low absorption point and permeability levels, PFA could be used for trace element analysis, isotopic separations, sample digestions and handling of sensitive biological solutions.
Chemical Resistance :
| Acids – Dilute | Excellent |
| Acids – Concentrated | Excellent |
| Alcohols | Excellent |
| Bases | Excellent |
| Hydrocarbons, Aliphatic | Excellent |
| Hydrocarbons, Aromatics | Excellent |
| Hydrocarbons, Halogenated | Excellent |
| Ketones | Excellent |
| Oils, Minerals | Excellent |
| Oil, Vegetable | Excellent |
PFA for Laboratories:
PFA is commonly used for liners and tubing, making it a valuable laboratory material, particularly because of its excellent chemical resistance. Its high temperature resistance could make it an excellent piece of equipment for any laboratory using liquids at very high temperatures. PFA is autoclavable by steam at 121°C (249.8°F). It can also be sterilized by ethylene oxide gas or formalin/ethanol chemicals.
Recycling:
PFA does not have it's own recycling code symbol. However, PFA can be recycled into many other products. Recycled PFA can be used for industrial applications. For more information regarding PFA recycling see the Plastic Container Recycling Page
Other Plastic Container Material
PET Plastic
HDPE Plastic
PVC Plastic
LDPE Plastic
PP Plastic
PS Plastic
PETG Plastic
PMP Plastic
PTFE Plastic
Vinyl Plastic
Acrylic Plastic
ABS Plastic
Rubber Plastic
PU Plastic
Epoxy Plastic
Nylon Plastic
Polycarbonate Plastic
*Note: Always be sure to test your products with the material/container chosen. Any information presented is for reference only, be sure to verify and test.