Unique Fluoroplastic for Low Permeation Fuel System Applications

Fluoroplastics are being utilized as permeation barriers in a variety of vehicular fuel line, fuel fill and vent, vapor return lines and other applications in order to meet evolving Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resource Board (CARB) hydrocarbon emission standards. This paper will characterize a unique fluoroplastic in terms of properties desirable for these applications which include permeation, flexibility, processability and resistance to a wide variety of fuels. The subject fluoroplastic (known as 3M^TM THV Fluoroplastic) has a singular composition of tetrafluoro-ethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride.