PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is widely used across numerous industries:
Petrochemical and Chemical Processing:
PTFE is the material of choice for gaskets, vessel linings, pump internals, rings, seals, gaskets, dip tubes, and drilling components due to its corrosion resistance and chemical inertness. It is resistant to virtually all acids and corrosive substances and performs reliably at temperatures up to 500°F (260°C).
Electrical Applications:
PTFE is one of the best known insulators. In thin films, it insulates up to 500 volts per mil. Some grades offer even higher dielectric strength. It is commonly used for wrapping wires and cables, and for separating conductive surfaces in capacitors. Thick-walled, tight-tolerance extruded tubing is the preferred PTFE form when machining or drilling cannot achieve close tolerances. Porous tubing can also be extruded. PTFE can be machined into stand-off insulators and various high-voltage potting devices for electrical components.
Semiconductor Industry:
PTFE is inert and operates within a temperature range of -350°F to 550°F (-212°C to 288°C). When manufactured to ultra-pure standards, it is the preferred material for various items used in chip fabrication, including encapsulation devices for quartz heaters.
Food, Beverage, and Pharmaceutical Industries:
Pure PTFE is FDA-approved for use in food, beverage, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. Films and sheets provide inert, non-toxic bearing surfaces without microscopic depressions that harbor microbial growth. Conveyor components – profiles, guides, and slides – can withstand high temperatures inside baking/drying ovens and other heated sections during the manufacture of food, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals.
Laboratory Applications:
PTFE tubing, piping, and vessels are used in various laboratory apparatus due to their chemical resistance and inertness. Surfaces prevent contamination adhesion.
Bearing Pads:
Glass-filled PTFE can be cut or stamped into bearing pads. It resists all weather-related degradation while maintaining an inert interface between construction materials like steel and concrete.
PTFE Compounds:
Various fillers can be blended with PTFE base resin to enhance specific properties. Examples include glass fiber, glass beads, carbon, graphite, molybdenum disulfide, bronze, and others.
Processing Note:
PTFE does not melt and cannot be molded into complex shapes; it must be machined. PTFE is easily machined using standard metalworking, woodworking, and stamping equipment/tools. Most stock shapes are sold slightly oversized to facilitate trimming and machining to precise dimensions.