Teflon

Industry Tradenames: PTFE . TFE . Chemflour . Surf Chemical . Teflon

Material Description

Teflon was originally developed for use in aerospace applications but soon found a home in countless industrial applications. Teflon’s unique characteristics include: chemical inertness (very few chemicals can attack it), extremely low coefficient of friction (nothing can stick to the material with any strength), high heat resistance (capable of service temperatures of 500° F) and extremely useful in cold temperature environments. The fluoroplastics industry began in 1938. DuPont Company discovered the fluorocarbon poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene (PTFE). DuPont called it Teflon. Over the past 60 years, the industry has commercialized seven additional fluoroplastics: FEP, PVDF, PFA, ETFE,
PCTFE, ECTFE and PVF.
PVF (polyvinyl fluoride) has outstanding resistance to weathering and good resistance to abrasion and staining. It is used as a surfacing film for industrial, architectural and decorative building materials.
PTFE (molded) is not able to be melt processed. The resin must be compressed, then sintered (a controlled heat treatment) to produce useful plastic.
FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) processes by conventional means. It is extruded and injection molded. It has the chemical resistance, mechanical and electrical properties of PTFE but a more narrow temperature range – maximum temperature is 400F. Commonly used to make chemical resistant tanks and vessels for the corrosive chemical industry.
PVDF (poly-vinylidene fluoride) is not a processable fluoropolymer capable of being injection and compression molded and screw extruded. It is stiffer and resists cold flow better than PTFE, FEP, and PFA. It has a lower useful temperature range (-80 to +300F). Glass backed sheets of PVDF make liners for vessels as does FEP. Pipe and fittings of PVDF are one of the most economical and chemical resistant, high temperature solid pipe systems available.
PFA (polyfluoroalkoxy) is also melt processable. Its properties are those of PTFE and include resistance to practically all chemicals, the useful temperature range of PTFE, resistance to weathering, low friction coefficient and excellent electrical insulation characteristics. It is however, more expensive than PTFE and FEP resins.
ETFE (ethylene tetra fluoro ethylene) is a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene and is readily processed by conventional methods. It has maximum service temperature of 300F but greater strength and stiffness than PTFE, FEP and PFA. ETFE also has excellent impact strength.
PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene) is melt processible. Within its service temperature range, it has greater tensile and compressive strength than PCTFE, FEP, or PFA. At high temperatures it is subject to stress cracking. It does not have the solvent resistance of PTFE, FEP, PFA or ETFE. However, its radiation resistance is better than any of these others.
ECTFE (ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) is a copolymer of ethylene and PCTFE. It is melt processible. It has excellent electrical insulating properties. At ambient temperatures its mechanical properties compare to those of nylon 6. It has excellent impact resistance at ambient and sub ambient temperatures. Its service range is -80 to +300F.