Polytetrafluoroethylene
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a fascinating semi-crystalline plastic that consists of a compound of fluorine and carbon. Although homopolymer PTFE in its pure form can only be processed to a limited extent and at high cost, it stands out among high-performance plastics for its remarkable chemical resistance and has extremely low adhesion. PTFE is a type of soft thermoelast, a material that is produced by sintering and has a relatively low level of mechanical properties.
The properties of PTFE are very similar to those of the high-performance material PFA. Both plastics contain a high fluorine content and are characterised by the following outstanding properties:
- They are extremely resistant to a wide range of chemicals.
- They can withstand extremely high temperatures without affecting their structure.
- They are flame-retardant (UL 94 V-0 certified), which makes their use safe in demanding environments.
- They have a very low coefficient of friction, which makes them ideal for applications where minimal friction is required.
- Their adhesion is exceptionally low, which means that other materials find it difficult to stick to them.
- Although they have low strength and hardness, they are at the same time very resistant to sliding wear, which extends their service life in various applications.
These unique properties make PTFE an extremely versatile material that is used in a wide variety of industries, from the chemical industry to food processing, to solve demanding problems and manufacture high-quality products.
