Metal treatment technology - Dry lubrification

PTFE-VICOTE-PEEK Line - FRICTION REDUCTION

Tomace srl, thanks to the deep knowledge of each coating

and depending on the operating conditions of the component to be coated, is able to locate in its range, the most suitable coating to meet the specific needs of the customer or, if necessary, to develop new customized formulations

The range of coatings consists mainly of fluoropolymers.
These are actually "high tech" materials having very high performances

The main characteristics of fluoropolymers can be summarized as follows:

Low stick: the surface energy is very low, and offer excellent performances against wetting and stick of foreign substances.

Resistance to specific environmental conditions: they are transparent to UV light, extremely resistant to oxidation and keep their properties even at very low temperatures; fluoropolymers, furthermore, are resistant to microorganisms and absolutely not biodegradable.

Light conveyor: they convey light very well, and they have a very low refractive index.

Absence of contaminants: they are inherently pure and, therefore, do not give rise to chemical pollution.

Corrosion resistant: they are resistant to aggressive chemicals in a wide temperature range.

Heat resistant: among fluorinated polymers there are some that offer a continuous service temperature of 260°C, with peaks for short periods.

Fire resistant: there are degrees with LOI greater than 95; also the optical density of the smokes produced when burning is low.

Wear resistant: they are among the materials having the lowest coefficient of friction and this implies a low abrasion.

Electrical resistant: they have a great set of properties, such as low loss factor, high arc resistance and high drilling resistance; these features persist in a wide range of environmental conditions.

Long service life: they are characterized by an excellent resistance to aging, even in the presence of high temperatures and aggressive chemicals; they also have a high resistance to dynamic stress, such as vibration or flexing.

The categories of fluoropolymers are multiple:

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), and FPA (perfluoroalkoxy), which, in turn, combined with other resins, allow to obtain an infinite variety of products able to enhance its particular feature for any specific use.

PTFE

It is the founder of the family of fluoropolymers whose chemical formula is polytetrafluoroethylene which for brevity we refer to as PTFE. This fluoropolymer coating provides anti-friction surfaces which have very high "no stick" features and a low coefficient of friction. It can be continuously used at 300°C and, intermittently up to 315°C. Its main use is for industry, with a wide range of applications in the food industry, textile industry, rubber and plastics, automotive, paper and packaging machinery. In the chemical industry the PTFE is of poor application, as it is limited by the permeability of the film, either for the low thickness (35/40 microns), or for the sintered composition.

FEP

It is a fluoropolymer derived from the founder whose chemical formula is: copolymer of ethylene - propylene fluorinated; for brevity referred to as FEP. Unlike PTFE, FEP is a thermoplastic element and therefore it melts during cooking by providing a coating with a non-porous surface. FEP has high non-stick property, low friction coefficient and excellent chemical resistance. We can get multiple layers of coating by FEP and so we can reach up to 60 microns thick. The FEP coatings can be continuously used at a temperature of 200°C and, intermittently to 205°C. FEP is mainly used for industrial applications that require either a very high level of non-stick and an excellent resistance to chemical corrosion; therefore it finds application in the chemical industry and in the production of molded parts as its high non-stick property makes the detachment of the mold easier.

PFA

Even this fluoropolymer is derived from the founder, its chemical formula is: tetrafluoroethylene for fluorinated, and has got a partially crystalline powder form. As the FEP is a thermoplastic element and therefore provides a coating with a non-porous surface with a low coefficient of friction and an excellent chemical resistance. It can work at a continuous temperature of 260°C. and intermittently till 310°C. With PFA It is possible to obtain coatings up to 150 microns thick and over with few layers. It is resistant to an even wider range of chemicals than the FEP. It can be said that its mechanical, electrical and thermal properties are similar to those of the PTFE resin.

SOL GEL

It is the new non-stick ceramic coating and it is free of PTFE and PFOA (all ceramic coatings are free of these ingredients).

Being ceramic, it is built to withstand extreme temperatures (850°F/455°C).
It does not contain polluting solvents and works at lower temperatures, saving energy and money.

Metal surface treatment and finishing