Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene mechanical properties

Copolymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene and ethylene were introduced by Allied Chemicals under the trade name Halar in the early 1970s. This is essentially a 1 1 alternating copolymer compounded with stabilising additives. The polymer has mechanical properties more like those of nylon than of typical fluoroplastic, with low creep and very good impact strength. Furthermore the polymers have very good chemical resistance and electrical insulation properties and are resistant to burning. They may be injection moulded or formed into fibres. 

Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) has better mechanical properties than PTFE because the presence of the chlorine atom in the molecule promotes the attractive forces between molecular chains. It also exhibits greater hardness and tensile strength, and considerably higher resistance to cold flow than PTFE. Since the chlorine atom has a greater atomic radius than fluorine, it hinders the close packing possible in PTFE, which results in a lower melting point and reduced propensity of the polymer to crystallize [7]. The chlorine atom present in ethylene chlorotrifluoro-ethylene (ECTEE), a copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTEE), has a similar effect on the properties of the polymer. 

Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer (ECTFE, E/CTFE) n. A fluoroplastic with good mechanical, thermal, electrical, processing, and resistance properties. 

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