About PTFE

Que. What is PTFE?

Ans. PTFE stands for POLY TETRA FLUORO ETHYLENE, which is the chwmical term for the polymer (CF2) n. PTFE is a thermoplastic member of the fluoro polymer family of plastic. PTFE has a low coefficient of friction, excellent insulating properties, and is chemically inert to most substances. It also can withstand high heat applications and it is well known for its anti-stick properties. PTFE is commonly known as TEFLON^R. It is a registered trademark of DuPont and is used in relation to products manufactured with DuPont's fluoro polymer resins.

History

 PTFE resin is in a class of parraffin polymers that have some or all of the hydrogen replaced by fluoride. The original PTFE resin was first discovered on April 6, 1938 by Dr. Roy J. Plunkett. While woking at DuPont's Jackson Laboratory in New Jersey on another project, Dr. Plunkett found that a frozen, compressed amount of tetra fluoro ethylene gas has polymerized into a waxy white solid substance, forming poly tetra fluoro ethylene (PTFE). DuPont registered the original PTFE resin under the trademark Teflon^R in 1945, and the first commercial Products were sold under the trademark in 1946. Interestingly, PTFE was produced on a limited scale in the early 1940's, and was used shortly thereafter by the Manhattan Project in Containers for highly corrosive elements during Uranium Seperation Experiments.

Application

 The Uses and the applications of PTFE have grown enormously over the past 70 years. Probably one of the most famous uses for PTFE is as a non-stick coating found on cookware. However, PTFE is used in the semiconductor, medical,chemical, Automotive, electrical, Aerospace, filteration, wire & cable as well as petrochemical industries.

Chemical Processing and Petrochemical Sectors

 Used for vessel linings, seals, spacers, gaskets, well-drilling parts and washers, since PTFE is chemically inert and resistant to Corrosion.

Laboratory Applications

 Tubing, Piping, Containers & Vessels due to resistance to chemicals and the absence of the contaminants attaching to the surface of PTFE Products.

Electrical Industry

 Used as an insulator in the form of spacers, tubing and the like virgin PTFE had been approved by the FDA for use in the Pharmaceutical, beverage, food, & Cosmetic Industries in the form of conveyor components, slides, guide rails, along with other parts used in ovensand other heated systems.

Semiconductor Sector

 Used as an insulator in the production of discrete components such as capacitors in the chip manufacturing process.

Fillers

 In many instances PTFE in it purest form is a perfect solution, however when an application demands a modifications to the basic PTFE chemistry. Plastomer Technologies can help satisfy a broader range of Physical, Thermal, or Practical demands. Examples include glass or bronze fillers for added stiffness & Strength, carbon fillers for conductivity, and moly blends for added lubricity.

General Properties of PTFE

*Data shown are average values and should not be used for specifications

Note: This Information intended only for general guidance in the application of our products, it has been obtained by carefully investigation and represents the present state of our knowledge and experience. Because of the large numbers of possible methods of application and processing we are not able to assume responsibility any one particular case for the technical results.