Custom-Manufactured PTFE
PTFE, more commonly known by its trademarked name Teflon, is a low friction fluoropolymer with outstanding chemical and weathering resistance. The presence of fluorine provides even greater chemical resistance, especially to strong acids, and results in a low coefficient of friction, low moisture absorption and high electrical resistance.
Unfilled (Virgin) PTFE is often used for chemical resistant seals and gaskets. Virgin grade PTFE is used extensively for fluid handling systems in the semiconductor market, potable water, oxygen service, pharmaceutical and medical industries.
- With operating temperatures from -400°F to 500°F and it is often used in high temperature environments
- Excellent electrical insulating properties
- Very low permeability from gas and liquids
- Very low porosity allows for excellent cleanability
- Resistant to aggressive chemical agents and solvents
- Excellent dielectric properties
- Tensile strength and creep resistance can be improved with common fillers
PTFE products have excellent sliding properties, electrical resistance, and a nonstick surface. However, it also has low mechanical strength, and a high specific gravity compared to other plastics. To improve the mechanical properties, virgin PTFE can be reinforced with additives.
Custom Filled PTFE
- Glass fibers
- Increased wear resistance, compressive strength, and rigidity
- Reduced cold flow and resistant to organic solvents
- Bronze
- Increased hardness, wear resistance, compressive strength and improved thermal conductivity
- Reduced cold flow
- Carbon
- Increased hardness, wear resistance, compressive strength and improved thermal conductivity
- Resistant to hydrofluoric acid
- Electrically conductive at higher filler contents
- Graphite
- Improved self-lubrication, thermal conductivity, and wear
- Reduced coefficient of friction
- Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2)
- Improved self-lubrication
- Often added with other fillers (glass for strength) as a lubricant
- Ceramic
- Used in high pressure applications for deformation and wear resistance
- An FDA compliant compound used in applications where it is in contact with food
- Polyimide
- Increased wear resistance, compressive strength, and rigidity
- Extreme long-term wear resistance against mating components
- Resistance to high temperature and aggressive chemicals
- Mineral
- Increased wear resistance and deformation strength
- Most commonly used filler for FDA compliant applications
- Modified
- Improved permeation resistance and deformation strength without compromising PTFE’s low coefficient of friction properties
- Weldable
Technical Documents
Food Handling Applications
- FDA and 3A sanitary compliant
- Suitable for direct contact with food
- Chemical resistance allows cleaning without solution absorbing into material
- Material can be used in applications with constant operating temperature of up to 500º F
- Low coefficient of friction make product suitable for ease of cleaning and less wear on bearing surfaces
Application Currently Supplied as:
- Bearing
- Shaft seal (Dynamic and Static)
- Shaft wiper ring
- Coupling and Fitting seals
Electrical Applications
The dielectric constant property of PTFE shows less change over a wide range of temperature and frequency than any other solid material. This property inherently makes for an excellent long term insulator. The dielectric strength of this material allows the user to insulate high voltage with relatively small cross-sections of material.
Application Currently Supplied as:
- Insulating bearing
- Insulating piston rings
- Insulators
Chemically Resistant
PTFE is considered one of the most chemically inert solids and remains so up to its upper temperature limitations of 500º F. Few chemicals are known to react with this material.
The molecular structure of PTFE also creates inherently good material properties for: absorption rate, permeability, low surface adherability and low friction properties.
Application Currently Supplied as:
- Air conditioning control valve seal
- Air conditioning piston rings
- Hydraulic fluid seals
- Hydraulic fluid shaft seals
- Elastomer backup rings
- Fuel valve seals
- Fluid handling control valve seals