Extruded Tubing Technical Information

Single-Lumen Extruded Tubing Specifications

	Single-Lumen	Single-Lumen Ultrathin Wall	Single-Lumen Microthin Wall
OD Range	From 0.003" (0.076 mm)	0.004"–0.120" (0.102 mm–3.048 mm)	0.020"–1" (0.508 mm–25.4 mm)
OD Tolerance	From ± 0.0003" (± 0.008 mm)	From ± 0.0002" (± 0.005 mm)	From ± 0.0004" (± 0.001 mm)
Wall	From 0.001" (0.025 mm)	From 0.0005" (0.013 mm)	0.00025"–0.003" (0.006 mm–0.08 mm)
Length	Standard: 62" (157 cm) Custom Cutting: Maximum straight length: 96" Longer lengths possible for some sizes Minimum: 0.020" or less
Fluoropolymer Materials	PTFE, FEP, ECTFE, EFEP, ETFE, PCTFE, PFA, PVDF
Typical Thermoplastic Materials (Contact us for additional options)	ABS, Acetal, Arnitel, Bionate, Carbothane, Chronosil, EFEP, Elastollan, EVA, EVAL, HDPE, Hytrel, LDPE, LLDPE, Medalist, NEOFLONTM EFEP RP-5000, NEOFLONTM PFA AP-210, Nylon 11, Nylon 12, Nylon 6, Pebax® 35D, Pebax 45D, Pebax 55D, Pebax 63D, Pebax 70D, Pebax 72D, Pebax/EverGlide®, Pebax/Mobilize, Pebax/PEBASlide, Pebax/ProPell STM PEEK, Pellethane 55D, Pellethane 75D, PET, Polycarbonate, Polypropylene, Polysulfone, Primacor, PVC, Resin, Rezilient, Santoprene, SEBS, Tecoplast, Tecothane, Texin, Thermoplastic Polyimide
Printing	Most can be printed using conventional techniques

Multi-Lumen Extruded Tubing Specifications

OD Range	0.030" (0.8 mm) and up
OD Tolerance	From ± 0.001" (± 0.025 mm)
Lumen Diameter	0.006" (0.152 mm) and up
Length	Standard: 62" (157 cm) Custom Cutting: Maximum straight length: 96" Longer lengths possible for some sizes Minimum: 0.020" or less
Typical Materials (Contact us for additional options)	Polyurethane, Pebax, PET, Nylon, Polypropylene, PEEK, Polycarbonate, HDPE, TPE
Printing	Can be printed using conventional techniques

Co-Extruded Multi-Layer Extruded Tubing Specifications

Up to 3 discrete layers
OD Range	From 0.016" (0.410 mm)
OD Tolerance	From ± 0.00027" (± 0.007 mm)
Wall	From 0.0016" (0.041 mm)
Length	Standard: 62" (157 cm) Custom Cutting: Maximum straight length: 96" Longer lengths possible for some sizes Minimum: 0.020" or less
Materials	Outer jacket: Polyurethane, Pebax, PET, Nylon, Polypropylene, HDPE, TPE Inner jacket: Polypropylene, HDPE, Polyurethane
Printing	Can be printed using conventional techniques

Co-Extruded Striped Extruded Tubing Specifications

OD Range	From 0.020" (0.508 mm)
OD Tolerance	From ± 0.00027" (± 0.007 mm)
Wall	From 0.0016" (0.04 mm)
Length	Standard: 62" (157 cm) Custom Cutting: Maximum straight length: 96" Longer lengths possible for some sizes Minimum: 0.020" or less
Typical Materials (Contact us for additional options)	Polyurethane, Pebax, Nylon, TPE Stripes: a range of radiopaque fillers
Printing	Can be printed using conventional techniques

Fluoropolymer Extruded Tubing Specifications

Fluoropolymer Properties Chart

Property	ASTM	PTFE	FEP	PFA	ETFE	PVDF	PCTFE	ECTFE
General
Chemical/Solvent Resistance	D543	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Density	D792	2.22 g/cc	2.15 g/cc	2.15 g/cc	1.7-1.86 g/cc	1.76-1.88 g/cc	2.10-2.17 g/cc	1.68 g/cc
Water Absorption	D570	<0.01%	<0.01%	<0.03%	<0.03%	<0.06%	<0.02%	<0.01%
Refractive Index	—	1.35	1.338	1.34	1.40	1.42	1.435	1.447
Standard Percent Crystallinity	—	>90%	70%	48-70%	50%	35-70%	30-70%	50-55%
Mechanical
Specific Gravity	D792	2.13-2.20	2.12-2.17	2.12-2.17	1.70-1.76	1.78	2.12	1.68
Elongation	D638	200-550%	325%	300%	300%	50-400%	100-250%	200-300%
Tensile Strength	D638	20-35 MPa	23 MPa	24 MPa	37-50 MPa	17-48 MPa	34-39 MPa	30-48 MPa
Young's Modulus	D638	0.39-0.6 GPa	0.44-0.64 GPa	0.45 GPa	0.49-0.78 GPa	0.5-5 GPa	1.4 GPa	1.4-2.1 GPa
Flexural Modulus	D790	0.275-0.7 GPa	0.58 GPa	0.6-0.7 GPa	0.7-1.2 GPa	1.3-7 GPa	1.2-1.4 GPa	1.6-2 GPa
Hardness Durometer	—	50-65 Shore D	55 Shore D	55-60 Shore D	63-75 Shore D	65-82 Shore D	80-90 Shore D	70-90 Shore D
Coefficient of Friction	—	0.02 (on steel)	0.05 (on steel)	0.2 (on steel)	0.06 (on steel)	0.15 (on steel)	0.08 (on steel)	0.19 (on steel)
Thermal
Melting Point	—	327°C	260°C	305°C	267°C	173°C	212°C	240°C
Glass Transition Temperature	—	127°C	80°C	100°C	40-80°C	-35°C	120°C	85°C
Upper Service Temperature	—	260°C	204°C	260°C	176°C	150°C	132°C	150-170°C
Thermal Conductivity	—	0.25 W/m-K	0.19-0.25 W/m-K	0.15-0.25 W/m-K	0.24 W/m-K	0.17-0.19 W/m-K	0.84 W/m-K	0.151-0.157 W/m-K
Linear Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	D696	>11.6 10^-5/°C	8.3-10.5 10^-5/°C	13 10^-5/°C	13 10^-5/°C	6.6 10^-5/°C	7 10^-5/°C	NA
Electrical
Dielectric Constant	D150	2.1 MHz	2.1 MHz	2.1 MHz	2.6 MHz	8.5 MHz	2.6 MHz	2.55 MHz
Dielectric Strength	D149	>1400 V/mil	>1400 V/mil	>1400 V/mil	1600 V/mil	1700 V/mil	3000 V/mil	NA
Volume Resistivity	D257	>10¹⁸ ohm-cm	>10¹⁸ ohm-cm	>10¹⁸ ohm-cm	>10¹⁶ ohm-cm	>10¹⁴ ohm-cm	>10¹⁷ ohm-cm	>10¹⁶ ohm-cm
Surface Resistivity	D257	>10¹⁷ ohm/sq.	>10¹⁷ ohm/sq.	>10¹⁷ ohm/sq.	>10¹⁵ ohm/sq.	>10¹⁴ ohm/sq.	>10¹⁵ ohm/sq.	>10¹⁴ ohm/sq.

Fluoropolymer Materials

PTFE	PTFE was the first fluoropolymer to be discovered. It is also the most difficult to process. Because its melt temperature is only a few degrees shy of its degradation temperature, it cannot be melt-processed. PTFE is processed using a sintering method, where the material is heated to a temperature below its melting point for an extended period of time. The PTFE crystals unravel and interlock with each other, allowing the plastic to take the shape it is intended to take. PTFE has been used in the medical industry as early as the 1960s. Today, it is typically used for split-sheath introducers and dilators, as well as lubricious catheter liners and heat shrink tubing. Because of the chemical stability and low coefficient of friction, PTFE is an ideal catheter liner.
FEP	FEP is chemically very similar to PTFE. It adds on a CF3 pendant group every fourth carbon, which dramatically lowers its crystallinity. Because it is less crystalline than PTFE, its melt temperature is lower, which allows it to be melt-processed. All of its other material properties are nearly identical to those of PTFE. It is used for a variety of purposes where sterilization and heat resistance are the biggest factors. It can also be used to make high-temperature heat shrink tubing used for reflow catheter layups.
ECTFE	ECTFE is a copolymer of PE and PCTFE. It is known for impact strength and good low temperature properties. For this reason, it is used as a gasket material for stored gases, particularly oxygen. It can also be used as a filtering material.
EFEP	EFEP is a copolymer of FEP and polyethylene. This fluoropolymer is special because it can bond with other materials without requiring an etching step, yet it still retains the chemical resistance that is the trademark of fluoropolymers. It is also more optically clear than other fluoropolymers.
ETFE	ETFE is a copolymer of PTFE and polyethylene. This allows the polymer to take on some of the properties of both individual plastics. It is also very resistant to UV light. It is used for medical applications that involve exposure to UV light on a regular basis. It is often considered a high strength version of FEP or PFA.
PCTFE	PCTFE is known primarily for its low water vapor transmission rate. Because of this, it is often used in packaging of things that are extremely moisture-sensitive. It is also used for chemical-resistant barriers and coatings. The addition of the chlorine atom into its structure dramatically lowers its melting temperature due to chlorine's bulkiness.
PFA	Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) is the melt-processable fluoropolymer with the highest temperature resistance. It is often compared with FEP, which it surpasses in fatigue life, but falls short in moisture resistance. Its advantage in medical applications is that it is similar to PTFE in fatigue life but can be manufactured in more complex ways as it is melt-processable.
PVDF	Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is used when chemical purity is a must. It also demonstrates piezoelectric behavior, which is a contraction or expansion in response to a magnetic field. It is a popular material used to create tools used for protein separation.

Melt Fluoropolymers Specifications

Material	Features	Capabilities	Configurations	Fillers	Sterilization	Enhancements
Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)	Chemical Resistance Melt-Processable Good Dielectric Properties Good Surface Lubricity	OD up to 0.4" Wall down to .0015" 2-10 Lumens Custom Heat Shrink Sizes	Beading/Custom Profiles Multi-Lumen Heat Shrink	Bismuth Trioxide Barium Sulfate Titanium Dioxide Tungsten Custom Colors	EtO Steam/Autoclave	Notching/Drilling Flaring/Flanging/Tipping Etching
Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE)	Chemical Resistance Melt-Processable Good Dielectric Properties Aging-Resistant	OD up to 0.4" Wall down to .0015" 2-10 Lumens	Beading/Custom Profiles Multi-Lumen	Bismuth Trioxide Barium Sulfate Titanium Dioxide Tungsten Custom Colors	EtO Steam/Autoclave Gamma E-Beam	Notching/Drilling Flaring/Flanging/Tipping Etching
Ethylene Fluorinated Thylene Propylene (EFEP)	Chemical Resistance Adherence to Polymers Without Etching Very High Transparency	OD up to 0.4" Wall down to .0015" 2-10 Lumens	Beading/Custom Profiles Multi-Lumen	Bismuth Trioxide Barium Sulfate Titanium Dioxide Tungsten Custom Colors	EtO Gamma	Notching/Drilling Flaring/Flanging/Tipping
Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)	Chemical Resistance Melt-Processable High Purity Good Stiffness	OD up to 0.4" Wall down to .0015" 2-10 Lumens	Beading/Custom Profiles Multi-Lumen	Bismuth Trioxide Barium Sulfate Titanium Dioxide Tungsten Custom Colors	EtO Steam/Autoclave	Notching/Drilling Flaring/Flanging/Tipping Etching
Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)	Chemical Resistance Easily Melt-Processable High Purity	OD up to 0.4" Wall down to .0015" 2-10 Lumens	Beading/Custom Profiles Multi-Lumen	Bismuth Trioxide Barium Sulfate Titanium Dioxide Tungsten Custom Colors	EtO Steam/Autoclave Gamma E-Beam	Notching/Drilling Flaring/Flanging/Tipping Etching
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)	Chemical Resistance Good Temp Resistance Melt-Processable Excellent Stiffness	OD up to 0.4" Wall down to .0015" 2-10 Lumens	Beading/Custom Profiles Multi-Lumen	Bismuth Trioxide Barium Sulfate Titanium Dioxide Tungsten Custom Colors	EtO Steam/Autoclave Gamma E-Beam	Notching/Drilling Flaring/Flanging/Tipping Etching
Ethylene Chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE)	Chemical Resistance Melt-Processable Good Dielectric Properties Good Surface Lubricity	OD up to 0.4" Wall down to .0015" 2-10 Lumens	Beading/Custom Profiles Multi-Lumen	Bismuth Trioxide Barium Sulfate Titanium Dioxide Tungsten Custom Colors	EtO Steam/Autoclave	Notching/Drilling Flaring/Flanging/Tipping Etching

PEEK Extruded Tubing Specifications

	Single-Lumen	Multi-Lumen	Profile/Beading
OD Range	Up to 0.5" (12.7 mm)	Up to 0.4" (10.16 mm)	Beading with OD from 0.003"–0.125" (0.0762 mm–3.175 mm)
Wall	From 0.001" (0.025 mm)	Minimum wall between Lumen/OD - 0.005" (0.127 mm)	Custom profiled Lumen with round/profiled OD
Length	Standard: 62" (157 cm) Custom Cutting: Maximum straight length: 96" Longer lengths possible for some sizes Minimum: 0.020" or less
Printing	Can be printed using conventional techniques

Tapered & Bump Extruded Tubing Specifications

Available in single- or multi-layer co-extruded configurations. Tapered wall thickness with constant ID available.
OD Range	From 0.02" (0.5 mm)
OD Tolerance	From ± 0.0003" (± 0.008 mm)
Wall Transition	From 0.001" (0.025 mm) over discrete transition
Length	Standard: 62" (157 cm) Custom Cutting: Maximum straight length: 96" Longer lengths possible for some sizes Minimum: 0.020" or less
Typical Materials (Contact us for additional options)	Polyurethane, Nylon, Pebax, Polyethylene, TPE
Printing	Can be printed using conventional techniques

Profile Extruded Tubing Specifications

Can be designed in various shapes (eg, crescent, H-shape, rod)
OD Range	0.010"–0.14" (0.254 mm–3.56 mm)
OD Tolerance	± 0.0003" (± 0.007 mm)
Wall	N/A
Length	Standard: 62" (157 cm) Custom Cutting: Maximum straight length: 96" Longer lengths possible for some sizes Minimum: 0.020" or less
Fluoropolymer Materials	PTFE, FEP, ECTFE, EFEP, ETFE, PCTFE, PFA, PVDF
Typical Thermoplastic Materials (Contact us for additional options)	Polyurethane, Pebax, PET, Nylon, Acetal, HDPE, Polypropylene
Printing	Can be printed using conventional techniques

Secondary Process Specifications

Tipping

Materials	Capabilities	Dimensions	Tolerances	Performance Characteristics	Some Clinical Applications
All thermoplastic polymers can be formed, including: LDPE HDPE Polyethylene (PE) copolymers Polypropylene (PP) Polyurethane (PU) & PU blends Pebax® PEEK Tungsten-loaded	Closed tips Tapered tips Radiused tips Angled tips Soft tips Radiopaque tips Neck down Butt welds Overlap welds Flaring Bulbous tips Polyimide reinforced Constant IDs Tapered IDs Flashless Deflashed	Dimensions from 2 Fr - 45 Fr Taper lengths from 0.039" (1 mm) - 3.543" (90 mm)	Tip OD tolerances ±0.0002" (0.005 mm) General tolerances ± 0.001" (0.025 mm)	High temperature tipping Process controls Fast cycle times 1-, 2-, & 4-up tipping Validatable processes	Aneurysm embolization Peripheral Neurovascular Tracheal Urinary Angiographic Central venous catheters CVC IV tips Dilator tips Coronary Contraceptive devices - IUCD And more

Printing

Materials	Capabilities	Dimensions	Tolerances	Performance Characteristics	Some Clinical Applications
Pre-treated polyethylene (PE) Pre-treated polypropylene (PP) Polyurethane (PU) Polyamide (PA) Polystyrene (PS) ABS Polycarbonate (PC) Rigid & soft PVC Coated substrates Thermoset plastics	Text Numeric Depth marks Corona surface treatment Plasma surface treatment Medical-grade TPU, TPR, & PP solvent-based inks Range of colors available	360° marking Single-plane printing Adjustability for various tube diameters Print areas up to 33.465" (850 mm)	Position tolerances up to 0.02" (0.500 mm)	Y- & Z-axis servo drives Y-axis servo control allows the pad to pick up various artworks from a single cliche Adjustable vacuum control Automatic pad cleaning	Angiographic catheters Balloon catheters Contraceptive devices - IUCD Dilators Tracheal devices Urinary devices And more

Hole Forming

Materials	Capabilities	Dimensions	Tolerances	Performance Characteristics	Some Clinical Applications
Teflon® PTFE Teflon® FAP Silicone Polyimide Pebax® PEEK Polyurethane (PU) PVC (vinyl) Latex & natural rubber TPE PET Polycarbonate (PC) Acrylic Polyethylene (PE) Nylon 6 & small diameter nylon 12 Delrin® (acetal) Polypropylene (PP)	Any hole or skive pattern is achievable	Holes as small as 0.009" (0.229 mm) Razor-sharp cutting edges Drill edge diameters sharpened to ±0.0007" (0.018 mm)	Multi-lumen configurations from 2 - 8+ lumens	Drill tip registration Hole plug detection Precise location & performation of individual lumens Long drill life Collet-style drill head for punches & ejector pins Three cutting tip profiles: outside, middle, & inside	Aneurysm embolization Peripheral Neurovascular Contraceptive devices - IUCD Drainage catheters And more

Over-Molding

Materials	Capabilities	Dimensions	Tolerances	Performance Characteristics	Some Clinical Applications
Wide variety of thermoplastic polymers Substrate Materials Extruded shafts Braided shafts Metal hypotubes	Over-molding Insert molding Y-connectors & hubs Strain reliefs Luers, connectors, & hubs Other assemblies Incorporated into handles Profiles, size, & performance are limitless	All projects assessed separately based on material selection, quantity, and size	General tolerances ±.002" (0.051 mm) - ±.003" (0.076 mm)	Increased product value Additional functionality Reduced post processing & assembly Repeatable & validatable Single cavity & up to 4 or 8 cavities Cold or hot runners	Common catheter shafts - luers, connectors, hubs Strain reliefs Handles Endoflator devices And more

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Components & Technologies

Extruded Tubing Technical Information

Single-Lumen Extruded Tubing Specifications

Multi-Lumen Extruded Tubing Specifications

Co-Extruded Multi-Layer Extruded Tubing Specifications

Co-Extruded Striped Extruded Tubing Specifications

Fluoropolymer Extruded Tubing Specifications

Fluoropolymer Properties Chart

Fluoropolymer Materials

Melt Fluoropolymers Specifications

PEEK Extruded Tubing Specifications

Tapered & Bump Extruded Tubing Specifications

Profile Extruded Tubing Specifications

Secondary Process Specifications

Tipping

Printing

Hole Forming

Over-Molding