Fluoropolymer Consulting

Fluoropolymers and Heat Exchangers

The job of the heat exchanger is to transfer heat. It's as simple as that. Your home is probably being heated right now by an HVAC system that uses a heat exchanger. Depending on the age of your system, you might have a metal heat exchanger. In situations like this, a metal heat exchanger might be ok as the temperatures will not reach the temperatures that will be present in industrial applications. In addition to that, highly corrosive applications are not used to heat or cool your home either. 

However, heat exchangers that are used for industrial applications must deal with highly corrosive acids and chemicals. And the temperatures could reach hundreds of degrees. A metal heat exchanger will not last too long in those temperatures. Also, metals like steel are highly susceptible to corrosion, so any heating transfer applications involving corrosive acids are out. And because many industrial applications involve scenarios requiring ultra purity, metal is not the best for this either as the corrosion will affect the integrity of the chemical.

This is why industrial manufacturers, chemical refineries, and others are looking at heat exchangers made from fluoropolymers. Fluoropolymers are polymers based in fluorocarbons. They are chemically inert, can withstand high use temperatures, and they are highly durable. Fluoropolymers are used for everything from fluoropolymer tubing in automotive systems to non-stick surfaces on pots and pans. 

According to fluoropolymer products manufacturers, here are some of the reasons why fluoropolymers are being used for heat exchangers in industrial settings: 

• They are able to handle bath temperatures over 300 degrees F.
• They can withstand steam at pressures up to 80 psig.
• They are corrosion resistant.
• They are nonreactive to most chemicals.
• They are constructed for durability and longevity.  

If you are thinking about heat exchangers for industrial processes like chemical processing, ore processing, metal plating, mining, and many more, those made from fluoropolymers are a must.