teflon training, session 1 lq3

SMC Teflon® Products Training

Session 1 Basic IntroductionLQ3 HyperFlare®

Introduction to Fluoropolymers used by SMC

• Teflon®

is a registered trademark of the DuPont Corporation. The generic term for Teflon is “fluoropolymer”. DuPont now has many competitors but they are still the market leader in fluoropolymers.

• Fluorpolymers’ unique properties include significant chemical and heat resistance, very low surface friction, and a great ability to withstand corrosion, even in the most challenging environments, where chemical resistance is required.

• Fluoropolymers are integral to clean environments because of the very low or, in most cases, non-existent presence of metallic and other contamination that can ‘leach’ into the media.

• The short list of chemicals that can attack Fluoropolymers and break down the critical bond between Carbon and Fluorine atoms are dissolved alkali metals (such as Sodium in Liquid Ammonia), Chlorine Trifluoride, gaseous Fluorine at elevated temps, and aggressive Fluoro-surfactants.


SMC uses several of the Fluoropolymer product families in our high purity product line:

• PTFE: Polytetrafluoroethylene. Daikin M139 resin• Excellent resistive properties, solid form => machined• Valve diaphragms, manifolds, low qty prototypes• High production cost, low surface friction

• PFA: Perfluoroalkoxy. DuPont 440HP-J, 451HP-J resins• Similar properties to PTFE, injection molded/extruded• Valve/fitting bodies, PFA tubing.

• PVDF: Polyvinylidene Fluoride: Kynar resin• Slightly lower resistive properties to specific chemicals• Valve bonnets/actuator housings. High strength.

• FEP: Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene: DuPont 135HP-J resin• Slightly lower resin grade, injection molded/extruded• FEP tubing, special jacketing material on electrical cables


Fluoropolymer components have a wide range of industry uses:• Semiconductor processing• Medical applications• Chemical manufacturing• Food processing (FDA compliance proof required)• Textile processing, industrial cleaning operations• Wastewater treatment• Solar cell fabrication• Flat panel fabrication• Hydrogen fuel cell production• Large capacity battery production• And more…

Primary US/European competition for fluoropolymer components:• Entegris, Saint Gobain, Parker, Swagelok, Gemu

Primary Japanese competition for fluoropolymer components:• CKD, Advance, Surpass, Koganei, Asahi, Tokyo Kieso

HyperFlareHyperFlare Series LQ3Series LQ3


PFA Nut PFA Fitting body

PFA Tubing


No fine threads are used with the LQ3 design. The use of ACMEthreads that are trapezoidal in shape ensure no cross-threadingand aid in attaining the superior high temperature (200C), vibrational, and pressure pulsation application performance.


Unique collet (gripper) design produces a robustconnection, yielding superior performance for pressure, temperature, side load, and tensile load.3rd party test data available.

The PFA nut is tapered on the ID and will apply a holdingforce on the collets whentightened.


PFA nut can not be over-torqued due to physical stop as part of the fitting body. This ensures the primary sealing point is not damaged when tightening.

When the nut is engaged with the fitting body stop, a lateral force is exerted on the ACME threads. This force applies a side load on the threadsand aids in preventing the nut from loosening from temp and pressurevariations.

Radius at end of pipe nipple creates a swept flow path that allows for quick cleanup and fewer particulates that can accumulate at this Location more easily with the std flare design.


Boss detents (2) prevent coldflow movement of PFA tubingby gripping the tube when the nut is engaged. Creates primary Seal.

3rd boss detent ensurestube stability. CreatesSecondary seal.

Tube strain relief design used for all sizes of PFA nuts. Allows for side load of tubing without compromising the sealing point ofthe flare.

Real time cross-section photos of LQ3 vs. Flowell, a Japanese version of the stdflare fitting design. Notice thedeformation of the flare on the Flowell fitting as a result of no support and prevention of cold flow.



Flare depth for sizes ¼” – ¾” is the same as standard flarefitting design. Larger sizes, 1”, 1-1/4”, and 1-1/2” are a deeperflare design for the LQ3. This ensures the leak-free protection onthe larger OD tube connections. Use SMC flare tools to prevent improper flares for these sizes.


The proper torque required for the std flare designrequires the user to measure the gap between the nut and body – this is not practical and is too subjective toover-torqueing that can damage the primary seal surface. Under torqueing can result in not enough force applied to the sealing surface, allowing leaks to occur.

No outer tube support results inpoor side load capability and noprotection to cold flow, both ofwhich allow for leaks to occur.

The use of fine threads increases the risk of cross-threading which willcompromise the force applied to the sealing surface, allowing leaks tooccur.

The sharp edge of the male fittingnipple creates an entrapment areafor particulate and is not easilyflushed out.


The std flare does not contain many of the newerchemicals used.

This is a CuSO4 applicationwhere leakage is observed on a pump outlet, into a pulse dampener.

Using the LQ3 will save the user $$ and time by preventing these leaks!


Flare ToolsFlare Tools


Flare tool designed for the 1/8” and ¼”LQ3 fitting sizes. Uses a cold flare processthat forces a flare pin into the ID of the tubingthat is held in place be a tubing holder.

SMC is the ONLY manufacturer that can providean 1/8” flare fitting connection. It is much more reliable than the compression style fitting, with no risk of losing the small compression ring.


LQ3 PFA nut spanner wrenches assist the user in ensuring thenut engages with the fitting body stop. Typically used on the larger OD tube fittings.

teflon training, session 1 lq3

Documents

hyperflare series lq3

fitting body stop

sealing surface

cold flow

acme threads

force applied

fluoropolymer components

side load