PTFE-Clad Immersion Heater

四氟管加热器

PTFE-clad tubular element for strong acid and alkali baths in the electroplating industry. Chemically near-inert, limited to 80 °C and a low watt density; formed to the tank layout.

Max medium temperature: 176 °F(80 °C)
Power range: 0.5 – 6 kW
Voltage: 220 / 380 V, 50 Hz
Sheath material: PTFE
Medium: Acid, Alkali
Mounting: Bracket, Free-standing
Tube diameter: 0.472–0.63 in
Watt density guidance: ≤ 1.5 W/cm² (10 W/in²) — set by the cladding, not the coil

Lead time: 22–35 days
MOQ: 5 units
Pricing: On application

Design notes

Strong acid and alkali plating chemistry to 80 °C

PTFE cladding is the answer when a bath is aggressive enough that even titanium will not survive it — strong acids, strong alkalis, hydrofluoric acid and the harsher end of plating and stripping chemistry. The fluoropolymer is close to chemically inert, so the sheath simply does not participate in the bath.

Two limits come with that inertness. PTFE softens well below the temperature a metal sheath tolerates, which caps service at about 80 °C. And it is a poor thermal conductor, so heat has to cross an insulating layer to reach the solution — meaning a low watt density, a longer heated length for the same kilowatts, and a physically larger element than a metal equivalent.

Design the mounting around the material. PTFE is soft: it will not take clamping loads, sharp bracket edges or the weight of the element cantilevered off one end. Support it along its length on smooth plastic saddles, and keep the transition where the cladding meets the terminal end out of the solution and out of the splash zone.

Features

PTFE cladding over a metal core — near-inert to strong acid and alkali
Suitable where titanium fails, including hydrofluoric acid service
Designed to shape for the tank rather than supplied as a stock length
Optional PTFE terminal block for splash-zone protection
Low watt density by design — longer element, longer life

Typical applications

Chrome, nickel and zinc plating baths
Acid pickling and stripping tanks
Hydrofluoric and mixed-acid etch lines
Strong caustic degreasing tanks
Photochemical and PCB etch process tanks

North American build options

Voltage: 120 / 208 / 240 / 277 / 480 / 600 V @ 60 Hz
Threads: NPT or BSP cut to order
Flanges: ANSI B16.5 150# / 300#
Drawings: Issued in inches on request

These are build options, not stock items — the catalog part numbers above are 50 Hz with metric fine threads. State what you need on the RFQ.

Part numbers & dimensions

6 catalog part numbers in the JGS-PTFE series

Part number	Voltage	Power	Notes
JGS-PTFE-220/1.0	220 V	1 kW	L-form with PTFE terminal block
JGS-PTFE-220/1.5	220 V	1.5 kW	L-form with PTFE terminal block
JGS-PTFE-220/2.0	220 V	2 kW	U-form with PTFE terminal block
JGS-PTFE-220/3.0	220 V	3 kW	U-form with PTFE terminal block
JGS-PTFE-380/4.5	380 V	4.5 kW	Serpentine, tank-width form
JGS-PTFE-380/6.0	380 V	6 kW	Serpentine, tank-width form

PTFE elements are always made to the tank. Send internal tank dimensions, the bath chemistry and concentration, the operating temperature and the support arrangement with your inquiry.

Minimum order quantity for this series is 5 units. Dimensions switch between millimetres and inches with the unit toggle in the header.

Full specification

Sheath material: PTFE cladding over metal core
Max. medium temperature: 80 °C
Chemistry: Strong acid, strong alkali, HF-bearing baths
Watt density: ≤ 1.5 W/cm² (10 W/in²)
Form: Designed to the tank layout
Voltage: 220 V or 380 V, 50 Hz
Power range: 0.5 – 6 kW per element
Support: Smooth plastic saddles along the length; no metal clamps

Questions engineers ask

Why is a PTFE heater so much bigger than a metal one of the same rating?

Because the cladding that makes it chemically inert also insulates it. Heat has to cross the PTFE layer to reach the solution, so the safe watt density is roughly a fifth of what a metal sheath takes. The same kilowatts therefore need several times the heated length. Plan the tank space for it — trying to fit the load into a metal-sized element is what melts the cladding.

What happens if a PTFE element runs above 80 °C?

The cladding softens and eventually loses integrity, at which point the bath reaches the metal core and attacks it — usually followed by an earth fault. Fit a solution-temperature controller with a high-limit, and never rely on the bath's thermal mass to hold the element down. In a tank that must run hotter than 80 °C, PTFE is the wrong choice and the process needs a different sheath or indirect heating.

Can PTFE elements handle hydrofluoric acid?

Yes — this is one of the cases where PTFE is the only practical sheath, since titanium has no useful resistance to HF. Tell us the acid, its concentration and the operating temperature so the cladding thickness and support arrangement are specified for it rather than assumed.

Watt-density figures and temperature limits on this page are design guidance, not warranties. The safe value for your installation depends on the medium, its flow and how the element is mounted — which is why we ask for the duty rather than only the part number.

Commonly specified with