Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)
PCTFE is a fluoroplastic (fluorine-based thermoplastic). It has a fairly high density among thermoplastics. In addition, it has a moderately high ductility and a moderately low tensile strength. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare PCTFE to: fluoroplastics (top), all thermoplastics (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive (Crushing) Strength
38 MPa 5.5 x 103 psi
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
1.4 GPa 0.21 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
150 %
Flexural Modulus
1.2 GPa 0.18 x 106 psi
Flexural Strength
59 MPa 8.6 x 103 psi
Impact Strength: Notched Izod
160 J/m 3.1 ft-lb/in
Rockwell R Hardness
80
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
36 MPa 5.2 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Glass Transition Temperature
100 °C 210 °F
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi)
110 °C 240 °F
Heat Deflection Temperature At 455 kPa (66 psi)
130 °C 260 °F
Maximum Temperature: Autoignition
580 °C 1080 °F
Maximum Temperature: Decomposition
370 °C 690 °F
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
150 °C 300 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
220 °C 420 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
920 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
0.21 W/m-K 0.12 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
130 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential)
21 kV/mm 0.82 V/mil
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude
16 10x Ω-m
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Density
2.1 g/cm3 130 lb/ft3
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI)
80 %
Water Absorption After 24 Hours
0.0094 %
Common Calculations
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
0.37 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
17 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
4.6 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
11 points
Thermal Diffusivity
0.11 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
14 points
Followup Questions
Further Reading
ASTM D1430: Standard Classification System for Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) Plastics
Fluoroplastics: Volume 2 - Melt Processable Fluoropolymers, Sina Ebnesajjad, 2003
SPI Plastics Engineering Handbook of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 5th ed., Michael L. Berins (editor), 2000
Modern Plastics Handbook, Charles A. Harper (editor), 1999
Plastics Materials, 7th ed., J. A. Brydson, 1999