PFA-Lined Products
Industry Applications
Products
At GFT9, we specialize in the manufacturing and supply of PFA-lined valves (ball valves, check valves, sampling and control valves), sight glasses, strainers, pump spare parts, and custom-made PFA products. Our extensive experience in precision engineering and manufacturing enables us to offer both standard and customized solutions tailored to industry-specific challenges.
GFT9 | PFA Lining Solutions
Key Properties of PFA-Lined Products
PFA-Lined Products: Industry Applications
Chemical Industry
Applications: In the chemical industry, PFA plays a crucial role in protecting equipment that handles highly corrosive chemicals. From acid production to solvent transfer, PFA-lined components such as valves, strainers, and sight glasses safeguard against aggressive substances like hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and alkalis. These components are vital for processes such as chlor-alkali production, where managing highly corrosive materials is critical. Additionally, PFA’s high resistance to solvents makes it indispensable in chemical reactors and mixing vessels where purity and safety are paramount.
Key Chemicals: PFA is engineered to resist a wide range of harsh chemicals used in the chemical sector, including hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and acetic acid (CH3COOH). PFA’s ability to withstand these strong corrosives without degradation ensures uninterrupted production and protects valuable processing equipment from erosion and wear.
Benefits of PFA: PFA’s chemical inertness ensures that it does not react with or contaminate chemicals, making it ideal for sensitive manufacturing processes. Its high-temperature resistance further ensures safe operation even in extreme conditions. By using PFA-lined components, manufacturers can significantly extend the lifespan of their equipment while maintaining operational efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.
Products: PFA-lined valves, sight glasses, and strainers provide the ultimate protection in chemical applications, preventing corrosion and ensuring reliable performance. Our products offer non-stick, chemically resistant solutions that withstand the harshest conditions, ensuring long-term durability and regulatory compliance for the chemical manufacturing industry.
Pharmaceutical and Biopharma
Applications: PFA plays a vital role in sterile environments, where it is used for transferring high-purity Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). In biotech fermentation systems, PFA-lined sampling valves are essential for maintaining the sterility of media and preventing contamination. These valves ensure that the integrity of the biological processes is maintained, which is critical in the production of sensitive biopharmaceuticals. PFA’s resistance to aggressive cleaning solvents and sterilization acids further ensures the quality of the end product, meeting the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.
Key Chemicals: Biological media, cleaning solvents, and acids used for sterilization (such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)) are commonly used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. PFA’s superior chemical resistance makes it the ideal material for handling these substances without leaching or degradation, maintaining the purity of sensitive biological processes.
Benefits of PFA: PFA’s non-reactive properties and smooth surface minimize contamination risks in the transfer of high-purity APIs. This ensures compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) required in pharmaceutical production. PFA’s inertness prevents chemical interaction with sensitive media, preserving the integrity of both the materials being transferred and the manufacturing process itself.
Products: Our Clean Room Series, featuring electro-polished stainless steel bodies, ensures that all components meet GMP standards for pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications. PFA-lined valves, sight glasses, and sampling valves are engineered to provide reliable performance in the most demanding sterile environments, ensuring both safety and regulatory compliance.
Semiconductor and Wafer Production
Applications: In wafer production, PFA-lined piping systems are crucial for delivering ultra-pure chemicals like hydrofluoric acid (HF) used in wafer etching and cleaning processes. These processes require materials that ensure the highest levels of cleanliness and precision, as even the smallest contaminant can lead to costly defects in microchip manufacturing. PFA-lined solutions provide a reliable barrier against contamination, making them indispensable for the semiconductor industry. Ultra-pure water is also handled through PFA-lined components to maintain purity standards during the wafer cleaning stages.
Key Chemicals: Hydrofluoric acid (HF), commonly used in wafer etching, and ultrapure water are key chemicals in semiconductor production. HF is extremely corrosive, and PFA's resistance to this acid ensures safe and efficient handling. Additionally, ultrapure water is required in cleaning processes, where contamination can severely impact the quality of microchips.
Benefits of PFA: PFA's chemical inertness prevents contamination, which is critical in high-precision applications like semiconductor and wafer production. Its non-reactive nature ensures that even aggressive chemicals like hydrofluoric acid will not leach into the system, protecting the integrity of ultra-pure chemicals and maintaining a contamination-free environment. This ultimately ensures the quality and reliability of microchip production, making PFA an essential material for this industry.
Products: In wafer production, PFA-lined valves, strainers, sight glasses, and custom solutions ensure the smooth handling of chemicals while maintaining a cleanroom-compatible environment. These components are engineered to meet the stringent requirements of the semiconductor industry, providing protection against chemical exposure and ensuring that no impurities affect the production process.
Mining, Fracking, and Critical Minerals
Applications: In mining, PFA-lined components are essential for safely handling slurry and aggressive chemicals such as nitric acid (HNO₃) in gold leaching processes. Companies like Glencore have significantly reduced maintenance downtime by adopting PFA linings in acid-handling equipment, allowing for more reliable operations in harsh conditions. PFA-lined solutions are vital in mining operations where continuous exposure to corrosive substances occurs, safeguarding the equipment in challenging environments.
Key Chemicals: Nitric acid (HNO₃), sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), and hydrochloric acid (HCl) are commonly used in the mining industry, especially in ore extraction and leaching processes. These chemicals can quickly corrode unprotected equipment, making PFA's chemical resistance crucial for extending service life.
Benefits of PFA: PFA’s superior abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance ensure that pumps, valves, and other equipment endure harsh mining conditions. This durability significantly enhances operational reliability by reducing wear and preventing corrosion-related failures, leading to lower maintenance costs and fewer unscheduled downtimes.
Products: In the mining sector, PFA-lined strainers, valves, sight glasses, and check valves are critical for handling the highly corrosive substances involved in leaching and mineral extraction processes. These products provide long-lasting protection and ensure the smooth operation of mining operations exposed to aggressive chemicals.
Energy and Hydrogen Production
Applications: PFA-lined components are crucial in water electrolysis, where hydrogen is separated from water using high-voltage electricity. This process demands materials that can withstand high temperatures and exposure to electrolytes like potassium hydroxide. PFA's impermeability and chemical resistance are ideal for lining valves and containers to prevent hydrogen embrittlement and leakage during storage and transport in compressed or liquid form. Finally, PFA-lined parts are used in fuel cell manufacturing and operation to ensure chemical stability against hydrogen and oxygen reactions.
Key Chemicals: Hydrogen gas (H₂), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and oxygen.
Advantages of PFA: Outstanding resistance to reactive hydrogen environments and harsh electrolytes ensures long-term durability in these critical applications
Products: PFA-lined valves and strainer as well as custom solutions
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Power Generation
Applications: Used in flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems to protect against high temperatures and corrosive gases. For example, PFA-lined valves can manage the sulfur dioxide scrubbing process. In nuclear and thermal power plants, PFA-lined components offer protection against harsh chemicals used in cooling and energy generation processes.
Key Chemicals: Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂), a major component in flue gas, is highly corrosive and requires materials that can withstand prolonged exposure. High-temperature steam (H₂O) used in cooling and energy generation processes also presents significant challenges to materials, particularly in power plants, where maintaining system integrity under heat stress is critical.
Benefits of PFA PFA’s high thermal stability and chemical resistance make it ideal for handling aggressive gases like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and extreme temperatures in power generation systems. The material ensures long-term reliability and corrosion protection in applications where other materials would degrade rapidly, making it essential for maintaining system efficiency and safety over time.
Products: PFA-lined valves and strainers are commonly used in these industries to ensure smooth operation in systems exposed to aggressive chemicals and high temperatures. Additionally, custom-made PFA solutions are engineered to meet specific industry needs, providing unparalleled protection in complex applications like cooling systems and gas scrubbing.
Water Treatment & Wastewater Management
Applications PFA-lined components are essential in water and wastewater systems. In chlorination systems, they resist erosion caused by reactive chlorine, ensuring consistent disinfection. Similar, in ozonation systems, PFA-lined valves and sight glasses withstand ozone’s (O₃) oxidizing nature, ensuring safe operations.While in industrial wastewater handling, they manage aggressive alkaline and acidic fluids, extending equipment lifespan and minimizing downtime.
Key Chemicals: Chlorine (Cl₂), Ozone (O₃) employed in water purification for oxidation of contaminants and Alkalis and Acids, found in industrial effluents, challenging equipment integrity without PFA protection.
Benefits of PFA: PFA's chemical resistance ensures durability against chlorine, ozone, and corrosive industrial chemicals. Its non-leaching properties maintain water purity, while extended longevity reduces operational costs by minimizing component replacement.
Products: PFA-lined valves (ball and control) regulate flows in corrosive environments. Sight glasses enable process monitoring without degradation. Strainers with PFA linings protect downstream systems by filtering particulates from aggressive fluids.