General information about PTFE

P.T.F.E. stands for Polytetrafluoroethylene is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that has a numerous applications, the best known brand name of PTFE is Teflon™. Teflon™ is the brand name of Dupont. 

Other brands are:

• Ertaflon 

• Fluon

• Hostaflon

• Texolon

• High-Tech-Flon 

• etc.

PTFE is a very good material for high-temperature and low friction applications. The coefficient of friction is the third lowest of any known solid material. It has excellent dielectric properties.

PTFE has a great chemical resistance. PTFE is the most chemical resistant plastic yet known, very few chemicals will react with it. Its mechanical strength properties are low compared to other engineering plastics such as nylon, but its properties do remain over a great temperature range.

Its working temperature are exceptional at -190°C to + 260°C. PTFE has outstanding thermal and electrical insulation properties. And it is famous for its low coefficient of friction. It is very difficult to make anything stick to PTFE without specific preparation. 

PTFE can become dangerous when heated over 400°C due to toxic emission. It has also been shown that PTFE become a hazard while being machined if PTFE dust or shaving come into contact with extremely high temperatures such as a lighted cigarette. PTFE brakes down into highly toxic fumes and as a result if inhaled, the heated PTFE dust via a lit cigarette, for example, can be fatal.

PTFE sheets can be skived or molded. Skived sheets can have any length and of molded sheet the size is limited (depending on the size of the mold).