Gloster-flon tape® is made of 100% expanded PTFE. For this reason, it is completely flexible, conformable and resistant to most industrial chemicals.
In the article we have prepared, we want to give you more details about the benefits of using expanded PTFE and, specifically, Gloster-flon adhesive tape.® marketed by Epidor Seals and Rubber Technologies.
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What is expanded PTFE?
PTFE stands for polytetrafluoroethylene and is commonly known as Teflon. Expanded PTFE is a variant created from virgin PTFE 100 %, i.e. without fillers, which has ideal characteristics in applications where the material is required to be spongy/expanded. The spongy character is due to the distribution of the PTFE fibers that form a microporous structure.
The sealing of a flange with many surface irregularities poses a problem in addition to that of sealing the process fluid itself. In this case, sponge PTFE is much better suited to the flange surface than, for example, a gasket made of compressed fibers.
Another example would be low-torque bolted connections such as plastic, glass, enameled or fiberglass-reinforced plastic flanges. The use of expanded PTFE allows sealing with a lower torque than that required by a compressed fiber gasket.
Differences between PTFE and expanded PTFE
You are probably wondering what the differences are between conventional PTFE and expanded PTFE.
Both materials share similar properties that are optimal for industrial applications. However, expanded PTFE stands out due to a superior versatility PTFE and, consequently, its manufacture covers different formats according to dimensions, densities and thicknesses.
Expanded PTFE tape Gloster-flon®
This time we are going to introduce you to the Gloster-flon tape.®. Expanded PTFE is usually found as a sheet or as a cut gasket for flanges, covers or machine bodies.
However, sometimes, due to the geometry to be sealed, a cut gasket may not be the best solution in the sense that its fabrication may be more laborious than one might think.
Gloster-flon expanded PTFE adhesive tape can be used in these situations.® that adapts perfectly to the perimeter to be sealed, both in its shape and with the irregularities that the sealing surface may have.
Gloster-flon tape® has excellent chemical and thermal stability, which makes it applicable to stainless steel, glass and plastic surfaces, among others. materials. It does not age, is resistant to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is extremely flexible and has an unlimited shelf life. What's more, it generates no waste of any kind.
In the case of the Gloster-flon ribbon®, We speak of expanded PTFE because it stretches in only one direction and acquires a higher mechanical resistance in the longitudinal direction of the tape.
Gloster-flon tape® is available in reel format in variable lengths, as required, and rectangular geometry with tape widths from 3.0 mm to 40.0 mm. Thicknesses range from 1.5 mm to 7.0 mm (other thicknesses and sizes on request).
| Rectangular section | |
| 3,0 x 1,5 | 17,0 x 6,0 |
| 5,0 x 2,0 | 20,0 x 7,0 |
| 7,0 x 2,5 | 22,0 x 5,0 |
| 10,0 x 3,0 | 25,0 x 5,0 |
| 12,0 x 4,0 | 28,0 x 5,0 |
| 14,0 x 5,0 | 40,0 x 5,0 |
Technical characteristics of expanded PTFE tape Gloster-flon®
The most important technical characteristics of Gloster-flon expanded PTFE tape are as follows®:
- - White color.
- - Almost universal chemical resistance: inert to most acids, bases, esters, hydrocarbons, aromatics, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, lubricants and fuels, among other substances.
- - pH range: 0 to 14.
- - Operating temperature range: -240 ºC to +290 ºC.
Gloster-flon® expanded PTFE tape certifications®
Gloster-flon tape® has a series of certifications of great interest to certain sectors of the industry:
- • FDA CFR 21 section 177.1550, for PTFE articles in contact with food products.
- - European Regulation (EC) No. 1935 / 2004.
- - Migration tests for metals according to European Regulation (EC) No. 10 / 2011.
- - Migration tests with food simulants A, B and D2 according to BSS EN 1186-3.
- - Test with gaseous oxygen at 60 ºC and 16 bar by the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), being suitable for such service.
- - Tested according to DVGW G 260 for gases other than liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at 50 ºC and 16 bar by the German Gas and Water Association (DVGW), being suitable for this service.
Finally, it should be noted how easy it is to install the adhesive tape. Gloster-flon®.
Installation is as simple as simple The area to be sealed should be cleaned, free of grease and dust; unroll the necessary quantity; present the tape and remove the protection from the self-adhesive side. In the case of closing a perimeter, we recommend overlapping the ends of the tape by about 2 cm.
We hope this article has been of interest to you. If you still have any doubts, contact our professional sealing team. They will advise you in the best possible way.