Materials at the Core of Performance
In the context of designing pumping systems for advanced industrial applications, the selection of materials is a decisive factor in ensuring operational reliability, chemical resistance, and long-term durability. With the technical series #Pchem-Materials we will analyze the main materials used in the manufacturing of our pumps, exploring their properties, fields of use, and performance advantages in depth.
The range of materials adopted in our systems includes:
- Plastics such as PP, PVDF, PTFE, and ECTFE (also in versions reinforced with glass fiber and carbon fiber)
- Metals such as Aluminum and Stainless Steel
- Elastomers such as FKM, NBR, EPDM, and Polyurethane Compounds (TPO-TPE-TPV)
- Ceramics
With this series of articles, we will explore how the correct selection of materials plays a decisive role in the design of reliable, safe, and optimized pumping solutions for specific process conditions.
Polypropylene (PP): the versatile plastic material for chemical and ATEX environments
The Polypropylene (PP) is a semicrystalline thermoplastic material belonging to the polyolefin family. It is widely used in the construction of industrial pumps thanks to its excellent balance between chemical resistance, lightness and low cost.
🔍 Main technical properties
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.90–0.91 g/cm³ |
| Operating temperature | up to 90–100 °C |
| Tensile strength | 30–40 MPa |
| Elastic modulus | 1,200–1,500 MPa |
| Water absorption | < 0.01% |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent against acids, bases, salts |
PP is inert to most chemical reagents, making it ideal for pumping corrosive fluids in industrial environments.
🛠️ Reinforced variants: glass fiber and carbon fiber
For applications requiring greater mechanical strength or ATEX compliance, PP versions reinforced with glass fiber (GF) or carbon fiber (CF) are used:
🔹 PP + Glass fiber (30%)
- Elastic modulus increased up to 4,000 MPa
- Tensile strength up to 60 MPa
- Dimensional stability improved
- ATEX compatibility thanks to the reduction of electrostatic accumulation
🔹 PP + Carbon fiber
- Electrical conductivity improved → ideal for potentially explosive environments
- Excellent rigidity and wear resistance
- Low weight compared to metals
🏭 Applications in pumps
PP, in its variants, is used for:
- Pump bodies and structural components
- Pumps for acids, bases, and aggressive fluids
- Water treatment systems and galvanic plants
- ATEX environments (with filled versions)
✅ Why we choose PP
- Reliability in chemical environments
- Versatility in configurations
- Sustainability: recyclable material
- Excellent performance/price ratio
PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride): high performance for extreme environments
The PVDF is a semicrystalline fluoropolymer that stands out for its excellent chemical, mechanical and thermal properties. It is particularly suitable for applications in aggressive environments, where other plastic materials are not sufficient.
🔍 Main technical properties
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.75–1.78 g/cm³ |
| Operating temperature | up to 140 °C |
| Tensile strength | 40–55 MPa |
| Elastic modulus | 1,400–2,000 MPa |
| Water absorption | < 0.04% |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent (strong acids, solvents, oxidants) |
| Flammability | Self-extinguishing |
PVDF is also UV stable and aging resistant, making it ideal for outdoor applications or in corrosive environments.
🛠️ Reinforced variants: glass fiber and carbon fiber
To increase stiffness and mechanical strength, PVDF can be filled with:
- Carbon fiber (CF): improves electrical conductivity → essential for ATEX environments
These filled versions are ideal for structural components of pumps operating in explosive or high-pressure environments.
🏭 Applications in pumps
- Transfer of strong acids and organic solvents
- Pharmaceutical and fine chemical industry
- Water purification and treatment systems
- ATEX and high temperature environments
✅ Why we choose PVDF
- Excellent chemical and thermal resistance
- Long-term durability
- Compliance with ATEX regulations
- High performance even in extreme conditions
PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide): high-performance engineering polymer for harsh environments
The PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide) is a high-performance semicrystalline polymer, known for its exceptional chemical resistance, dimensional stability and thermal resistance. It is particularly suitable for pump components operating in aggressive environments, where mechanical rigidity and long-term durability are required.
🔍 Main technical properties
| Property | Typical value |
| Density | 1.35–1.40 g/cm³ |
| Operating temperature | up to 220 °C (peaks up to 260 °C) |
| Tensile strength | 70–100 MPa |
| Elastic modulus | 3,000–4,000 MPa |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent (acids, bases, solvents, hydrocarbons) |
| Flammability | Self-extinguishing (UL94 V-0) |
| Water absorption | Very low (< 0.05%) |
🛠️ Advantages of PPS in pumps
- Thermal and mechanical stability even at high temperatures
- Chemical resistance to aggressive fluids and organic solvents
- Structural rigidity and excellent workability
- Low deformation under load and excellent dimensional stability
⚠️ Limits and considerations
- Relative brittleness compared to other engineering polymers → to be evaluated in applications with impacts
- Higher cost compared to standard plastic materials
🏭 Typical applications
- Structural components for chemical pumps
- Dosing and transfer systems for aggressive fluids
- Chemical, petrochemical, electronics and automotive industry
✅ Why we choose PPS
- High performance in harsh environments
- Long-term reliability
- Compliance with technical standards and ATEX environments
- Excellent compromise between rigidity, strength, and workability
PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene): maximum chemical inertia for extreme environments
The PTFE is a high-performance fluoropolymer known for its exceptional chemical resistance, low coefficient of friction and thermal stability. It is the reference material for applications where total inertia and long-term durability are required.
🔍 Main technical properties
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.15–2.20 g/cm³ |
| Operating temperature | up to 260 °C |
| Tensile strength | 20–30 MPa |
| Elastic modulus | 500–700 MPa |
| Coefficient of friction | 0,05–0,10 |
| Water absorption | < 0.01% |
| Chemical resistance | Total (acids, bases, solvents, oxidizers) |
| Flammability | Self-extinguishing |
PTFE is hydrophobic, non-stick and self-lubricating, features that make it ideal for pumping aggressive and viscous fluids.
🛠️ Reinforced variants: glass fiber and carbon fiber
Pure PTFE has limited mechanical strength, but it can be enhanced with fillers:
🔹 PTFE + Glass fiber (15–25%)
- Improves rigidity and wear resistance
- Maintains chemical inertia
- Ideal for components subject to mechanical stress
🔹 PTFE + Carbon fiber
- Increases electrical conductivity → essential for ATEX environments
- Improves compression resistance and dimensional stability
🏭 Applications in pumps
- Transfer of highly corrosive fluids
- Pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and food industries
- Ultra-pure applications
- ATEX and high temperature environments
✅ Why we choose PTFE
- Total chemical inertia
- Thermal stability up to 260 °C
- Low friction and non-stick properties
- Compliance with ATEX standards (filled versions)