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Alcoa
Nestlé
Fonterra
Saputo
ARYZTA
George Weston Foods
Allied Pinnacle
Laurent
Mackies Bakeware
American Pan
KAAK
KEMPF
SASA
Latrobe Magnesium
Goodman Fielder
Pfizer
Rio Tinto
Defence Department
Coating Technologies

Tefzel (ETFE) Coating Services

Tefzel is the toughest fluoropolymer in the Chemours family — specified when valves, spools, diverters and process hardware need more than a non-stick film. AST applies Tefzel at film builds from 250µm standard service up to 2000µm heavy lining.

AST is the only licensed industrial fluoropolymer applicator in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, with yearly technical and quality audits by Chemours Global and a lifetime warranty on workmanship.

Last updated: April 2026

What Tefzel coating is, in one paragraph

Tefzel is the Chemours trade name for ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), a melt-processable fluoropolymer that is tougher, more abrasion-resistant and capable of thicker film builds than PTFE, PFA or FEP. It is specified where mechanical performance matters as much as chemical resistance — valve internals, pipeline spools, diverters, fabricated process hardware, and heavy-duty linings up to 2 mm thick. It is not a high-temperature coating: maximum continuous service is 150°C, so hotter applications stay with PTFE or PFA.

Tefzel vs Other Fluoropolymers — Mechanical Performance

How ETFE compares to PTFE, PFA and FEP on the properties that drive specification.

PropertyETFE (Tefzel)PFAPTFEFEP
Mechanical Toughness1st — toughest2nd3rd4th
Abrasion / Wear Life1st — best2nd3rd4th
Max Film BuildUp to 2000µmUp to 500µmUp to 205µmModest
Coefficient of Friction0.30–0.400.14–0.200.04–0.100.14–0.25
Max Continuous Temp150°C260°C260°C205°C

ETFE leads on toughness, abrasion and film build — the three mechanical characteristics most often missing from thinner PTFE or PFA systems.

Tefzel Film Build Range

The film build determines what job the coating can do. Tefzel spans the widest range of any fluoropolymer.

250–500µm

Standard service

Valve bodies, spool bores, fittings and general process hardware where mechanical protection is the driver rather than thick-build barrier.

500–1000µm

Heavy industrial

Diverters, wear-exposed pipe internals, fabricated assemblies in abrasive or two-phase flow service.

1000–2000µm

Heavy-duty lining

Large vessel and tank linings, severe-service spool sections, and components where a true protective lining thickness is required.

Why Customers Specify Tefzel

The specification drivers that make ETFE the right choice over lighter fluoropolymer films.

Toughest of the fluoropolymer family — highest impact and cut-through resistance
Superior abrasion and wear life under flow-assisted erosion
Film builds from standard service to 2000µm heavy lining
FDA-compliant grades available for food-contact service
Broad chemical resistance — acids, bases, solvents and process chemistry
Genuine service life extension on valves, spools and process hardware

How AST Applies Tefzel

Electrostatic powder spray, baked in stacked coats. Film build is grown layer by layer, not laid down in a single pass.

1

Surface preparation

Grit blast to an anchor profile suited to ETFE adhesion. Contamination, scale and residual coatings are removed to expose clean base metal.

2

Primer application

A compatible ETFE primer is sprayed and flashed to lock the system to the substrate. Primer chemistry is matched to the topcoat.

3

Multi-coat topcoat build

ETFE powder is applied by electrostatic spray. Each coat is baked individually at 295–300°C, then recoated. Film thickness is built up in layers to the target tier.

4

Final cure and QA

Final cure, cool-down, and verification checks — film thickness, adhesion and finish — before release. Holiday testing is available for lining-thickness applications.

Typical Tefzel Applications

Common equipment categories AST coats in Tefzel across oil and gas, chemical process and heavy industry.

Ball, gate, butterfly and control valve internals
Diverters and flow splitters
Pipeline spools and interconnecting fittings
Fabricated process assemblies and skid hardware
Tank and vessel linings in heavy-build thicknesses
Pump bodies, wear plates and housings

When Tefzel Is Not the Right Choice

ETFE is a specialist answer — not the default fluoropolymer for every project. If the specification driver below applies, a different coating will serve the job better.

If the driver is…Specify instead
Service above 150°CPFA or PTFE (both rated to 260°C)
Pure non-stick / lowest release forcePTFE — lowest coefficient of friction
Best-in-class chemical barrier / permeationHalar (ECTFE) or PFA — nonporous barrier films
Thin 25–75µm decorative or release coatPTFE standard topcoat

AST is the only licensed industrial fluoropolymer applicator in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, with yearly technical and quality audits by Chemours Global. Every Tefzel project is backed by a lifetime warranty on workmanship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Tefzel the toughest fluoropolymer coating?
Tefzel (ETFE) outperforms PTFE, PFA and FEP on mechanical toughness, impact resistance and abrasion life. It is a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene, which gives it higher tensile strength and better resistance to cut-through, cracking and wear than the softer fluoropolymers. In practice this is why ETFE is chosen for valves, diverters and process hardware that see mechanical contact, flow abrasion or handling damage.
How thick can Tefzel coating be applied?
ETFE supports the highest film builds of any fluoropolymer — from around 250µm for standard service up to 2000µm (2 mm) for heavy-duty lining work. Thick builds are achieved by applying and baking multiple individual coats in sequence. This thickness range is what allows Tefzel to function as a true protective lining on valves, spools and fabricated vessels rather than a surface film.
What is the temperature limit for Tefzel coating?
Tefzel has a maximum continuous service temperature of 150°C (302°F). Above that, PTFE or PFA (both rated to 260°C) are the right choice. ETFE is selected for its mechanical performance and heavy film build, not heat resistance — if your service combines temperatures above 150°C with corrosion, PFA is usually specified instead.
When should Tefzel be specified over PTFE or PFA?
Specify Tefzel when the application demands mechanical toughness, impact resistance, abrasion life or a thick protective lining that PTFE and PFA cannot provide. Typical drivers are: flow-assisted wear on valve internals, pipeline spools handling abrasive or two-phase media, diverters, and fabricated process hardware subject to mechanical loading. For pure non-stick or the highest temperature service, PTFE or PFA are still preferred.
How is Tefzel coating applied?
Tefzel is an electrostatic powder system applied over a compatible primer. Each coat is sprayed and baked individually, and multiple coats are stacked to build up the target film thickness. Cure is 20–30 minutes at 295–300°C (565–570°F) per layer. AST builds Tefzel systems from compatible primers through to heavy-build topcoats on a single line, with film thickness verification at each stage.
Can worn Tefzel-coated valves and spools be refurbished?
Yes. AST recoats valves, spools, diverters and process hardware that have reached end of coating life. The part is stripped, blast-profiled, re-primed and recoated to its original film-build specification. Recoating is typically a fraction of replacement cost and is standard practice for oil and gas, chemical process and heavy industrial operators across the region.
Who applies Tefzel coating in Australia?
AST is the only licensed industrial fluoropolymer applicator in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia authorised to apply Tefzel coating systems. The business operates under yearly technical and quality audits by Chemours Global, and backs every Tefzel project with a lifetime workmanship warranty. Tefzel (ETFE) and the Teflon family (PTFE, PFA) are all Chemours fluoropolymers.

Related Coating Services

Teflon (PTFE / PFA) Coating

For non-stick release, high temperature service to 260°C and food-contact applications.

Halar (ECTFE) Coating

For best-in-class chemical barrier, permeation resistance and hypochlorite service.

Chemical Resistant Coatings

Fluoropolymer systems for aggressive chemistry, acids, bases and solvents.

Anti-Corrosion Coatings

Xylan, PTFE and Halar options for salt-spray, fastener and chemical corrosion service.

Oil & Gas Coatings

Tefzel and Halar coating options for valves, spools and oilfield process hardware.

Fluoropolymer Comparison

Side-by-side PTFE vs PFA vs ETFE vs ECTFE selection guide for engineers.

Only licensed industrial fluoropolymer applicator in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia

Yearly technical and quality audits by Chemours Global

Lifetime warranty on workmanship

Specifying Tefzel for valves, spools or process hardware?

Send AST your part drawings, service conditions and film-build requirements. We will scope the right ETFE system, confirm process feasibility and prepare a technical quotation.

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