Spin Coater Chucks: PP or PTFE?
As the Ossila Spin Coater is vacuum-free, a chuck is used to hold your substrate in place. The type of spin coater chuck you choose will depend on your specific applications and the chemicals you are working with.
Polypropylene (PP) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are polymers which are widely used in various industries and laboratory settings. The Ossila Spin Coater comes with PP chucks as standard, but special custom chucks can be made from either PP or PTFE.
Polypropylene Chucks
Polypropylene is a thermoplastics polymer with good chemical resistance and strong durability. PP is often used in conjunction with glassware or containers for handling and processing chemicals.
PP chucks can withstand physical stress, impact, and repeated use without significant degradation. As it is generally non-reactive, PP chucks are also useful in laboratory equipment and various chemical processes where resistance to different chemicals and corrosive substances is required.
Polytetrafluoroethylene Chucks
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a synesthetic fluoropolymer which has an extremely high chemical resistance, non-stick properties, and temperature stability.
PTFE chucks are ideal in applications which require extreme temperature resistance, such as a high-temperature oven or in cryogenic environments. In addition to this, PTFE chucks are commonly used in the manufacturing of laboratory equipment, medical devices, and in the semiconductor industry. Some specific examples range from catheters to surgical and dental instruments.
Chemical Resistance
In order to choose the right material for your spin coater chucks, it is useful to know which chemicals PP and PTFE are resistant to. Below is a table of popular chemicals with their respective compatibility with PP and PTFE.
|
|
PP |
PTFE |
|
Acetone |
Highly compatible |
Highly compatible |
|
Acetyl chloride (dry) |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Chlorobenzene |
Do not use |
Compatible |
|
Chloroform |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Dimethyl aniline |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Dimethyl sulfoxide |
Compatible |
Highly compatible |
|
Ethanol* |
Highly compatible |
Highly compatible |
|
Ethyl acetate |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Ethylene dichloride |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Ethylene oxide |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Fluorine |
Do not use |
Do not use |
|
Glycerin |
Highly compatible |
Highly compatible |
|
Methanol* |
Highly compatible |
Highly compatible |
|
Oils (peanut) |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Petrolatum |
Do not use |
Compatible |
|
Tetrachloroethylene |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Toluene |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Turpentine |
Do not use |
Highly compatible |
|
Urea |
Highly compatible |
Highly compatible |
|
Water, distilled |
Highly compatible |
Highly compatible |
|
Zinc sulphate |
Highly compatible |
Highly compatible |
There are few chemicals or products which have a poor compatibility with PTFE. This is due to its exceptional chemical resistance, making it a suitable choice for acids, bases, solvents, and corrosive substances.
Undoubtedly, PP also offers good chemical resistance to those it is compatible with. However, it is not typically resistant to more aggressive chemicals.
Choosing PTFE or PP Chucks
We offer custom chucks made using polypropylene or polytetrafluoroethylene, either of which can be customised to meet your own experimental needs.
If you are considering the compatibility of a certain substance with either PP or PTFE, it is recommended to consult relevant chemical compatibility charts materials experts to determine the optimal choice.
Spin Coater
