Tube with a marking and process for the production of a marking on a tube

Abstract

To provide a tube comprising a wall, which comprises a fluoropolymer, in particular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA) and/or a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and a colour marking and/or an X ray contrast marking, which may be identified and/or positioned through the colour marking and/or the X ray contrast marking without relinquishing the advantages of a tube made of fluoropolymer material, it is proposed that the colour marking or the X ray contrast marking comprises at least one marking element, which is produced separately from the wall of the tube and thermally welded to the wall.

1 . Tube comprising a wall, which comprises a fluoropolymer, in particular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA) and/or a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and a colour marking and/or an X ray contrast marking, wherein the colour marking or the X ray contrast marking comprises at least one marking element, which is produced separately from the wall of the tube and thermally welded to the wall.  
     
     
         2 . Tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking element is fused with the wall of the tube.  
     
     
         3 . Tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking element is welded to an outside of the wall.  
     
     
         4 . Tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking element is configured in a ring shape.  
     
     
         5 . Tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking element contains a fluoropolymer, in particular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA) and/or a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP).  
     
     
         6 . Tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking element contains an X ray contrast material.  
     
     
         7 . Tube according to  claim 6 , wherein the X ray contrast material comprises bismuth carbonate, barium sulphate, titanium dioxide and/or a metal powder.  
     
     
         8 . Tube according to  claim 6 , wherein the marking element contains at least approximately 20% by weight, preferably at least approximately 50% by weight, in particular at least approximately 70% by weight of X ray contrast material.  
     
     
         9 . Tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking element contains at least one pigment.  
     
     
         10 . Tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking element covers less than the entire outer surface of the tube.  
     
     
         11 . Tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises several marking elements.  
     
     
         12 . Tube according to  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the marking elements differ from one another with respect to their X-radiation absorbency.  
     
     
         13 . Tube according to  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the marking elements differ from one another with respect to their colour.  
     
     
         14 . Tube according to  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the marking elements are spaced from one another.  
     
     
         15 . Process for producing a marking on a tube, the wall of which comprises a fluoropolymer, in particular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA) and/or a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), comprising the following process steps: 
 production of a marking element separately from the tube;    positioning of the marking element in a desired position relative to the tube;    thermal welding of the marking element to the wall of the tube.    
     
     
         16 . Process according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of producing the marking element comprises the following: 
 production of a tube or a sheath from a marking material;    separation of a ring-shaped marking element from the tube or from the sheath.    
     
     
         17 . Process according to  claim 16 , wherein the tube or the sheath is widened before separation of the ring-shaped marking element.  
     
     
         18 . Process according to  claim 16 , wherein the ring-shaped marking element is widened before positioning relative to the tube.  
     
     
         19 . Process according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of producing the marking element comprises the following: 
 production of a foil from a marking element;    separation of a marking element from the foil.    
     
     
         20 . Process according to  claim 19 , wherein the marking element is punched out of the foil.  
     
     
         21 . Process according to  claim 19 , wherein the marking element is configured in essentially linear form and/or in essentially spiral form.  
     
     
         22 . Process according to  claim 15 , wherein the marking element is fused with the wall of the tube.