FLUROFLEX® - PTFE Bellows | Contact SGL CARBON

FLUROFLEX® - PTFE Bellows

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“ Optimize Bellow Geometry and Wall Thickness For the optimization of the bellow design it is important to find a careful balance of wall thickness and geometry. A thin wall thickness will lead to a low burst pressure but also good flexibility. A high bellow wall thickness without a change in bellow geometry and a limitation on bellow movement will lead to premature failure due to PTFE crimping (over compression in convolution radius). ”

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R&D, Engineering & Manufacturing Performance

Dr. Schnabel FLUROFLEX® bellows are manufactured from virgin paste-extruded POLYFLURON® PTFE. They are designed for maximum flex-life in a wide range of high temperature/high purity Chemical Process Industries (CPI) applications. General FLUROFLEX® bellows or flexible connectors or expansion joints, are used in piping systems to absorb vibration caused by rotating equipment, to absorb thermal expansion and contraction of piping systems and protect stress-sensitive process equipment (glass, glass-lined steel, FRP, graphite, dual laminate, etc.). PTFE is ideal for use as a bellow material because of its nearly universal corrosion resistance, low spring rate and unique flexural fatigue resistance (flex life). Providing this system flexibility, any bellow is virtually designed to be the most sensitive link in a piping system. Dr. Schnabel has conducted long-term POLYFLURON® PTFE studies to ensure comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the bellow design, manufacture and quality control to maximize performance and safety. We can supply our POLYFLURON® PTFE with static dissipating (antistatic) properties suitable for use with solvents and other liquids where electrostatic charge is an issue.

Dr. Schnabel uses Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to optimize the bellow geometry and wall thickness. This analysis identifies the maximum stress location on the inside of the convolutions. Consequently Dr. Schnabel FLUROFLEX® bellows are designed to minimize the stress peaks in the most sensitive areas during operation.

Manufacturing of Bellows

Dr. Schnabel FLUROFLEX® bellows are made of virginal paste-extruded POLYFLURON® PTFE and are formed without machining to offer highest mechanical strength. A specially developed manufacturing process by Dr. Schnabel assures uniform wall thicknesses of FLUROFLEX® bellows and sets the benchmark for highest quality, function and safety.

Best Liner

Through more than 50 years of experience, Dr. Schnabel has continuously optimized the POLYFLURON® PTFE processing techniques to manufacture bellows. After sintering, Dr. Schnabel’s virgin paste-extruded POLYFLURON® PTFE has uniform strength in both axial and lateral directions. The crystallinity, density and tensile strength are adapted to the requirements for bellows and constantly measured and controlled to guarantee the best performance. In addition, tests have shown that virgin paste-extruded POLYFLURON® PTFE is far superior to isostatically moulded PTFE in terms of reduction in permeability (see NACE-Paper 400).