Sumitomo Electric Introduces Wear-Resistant Cross-Linked Fluororesin FEX Tape

https://cdn.pcbdirectory.com/news/Sumitomo_Cover_637745558653905138.jpg712370

Sumitomo Electric Industries, a global company that has extensive business operations in five industries: Automotive, Infocommunications, Electronics, Energy and Environment, Industrial Materials, announced that it has developed "cross-linked fluororesin FEX tape". This FEX tape is about 1,000 times more resistant to wear than conventional fluororesin (PTFE) tape. After sample shipment is scheduled to start in December 2021, it will be on sale from April 2022.

Cross-linked fluororesin FEX (Fluoro Ethylene Crosslinking) was developed by Sumitomo Electric in 2012 by making full use of two key technologies, fluorine processing technology and electron beam irradiation technology. Taking advantage of its characteristics, such as about 1,000 times more resistance to wear than conventional PTFE, strengthened adhesion to base materials, and improved durability, FEX has been used for coating a wide variety of products that go beyond the range of conventional fluororesin applications, such as automobiles, office equipment, semiconductors, and medical products, since its release.

As a new product form of FEX, the Company has developed FEX tape, which allows users to easily utilize the high wear resistance of FEX just by attaching it to an object, and has made the product ready for mass production.

The use of FEX tape for equipment eliminates the need for frequent replacement of parts and tape due to wear and peeling, thus the product is expected to bring various advantages over conventional fluororesin tapes, such as extended service life and less frequent maintenance of equipment, improved workability, and the prevention of scratches on equipment. In addition, the product is environmentally friendly because its excellent slipperiness and wear resistance contribute to the reduction of load on equipment and wear debris, respectively.

In order to reduce the environmental burden, tape products with more functionalities are increasingly needed. FEX tape can be used extensively and effectively as an alternative to conventional fluororesin tapes. While Sumitomo Electric expects annual sales of about 100 million yen in 2023, the Company anticipates that there will be increasing applications where FEX tape is useful since environmental consideration is increasingly required in today’s society. Sumitomo Electric will continue to support the manufacturing industry around the world by meeting social needs with its unique material and application development technologies.

Click here to know more about the cross-linked fluororesin FEX tape.