What is Teflon® (PTFE)

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a polymer known worldwide as Teflon® – registered trademark of Chemours® – has remarkable chemical, electrical, mechanical, thermal and physical properties, having a non-stick characteristic (“ice over ice”) and, therefore, can be used in different segments and applications in which these characteristics are necessary.

Features

Among its main characteristics we can mention its properties:

Odorless and non-toxic;

It can be immersed in boiling liquids without suffering any critical changes;

Does not suffer from aging process.

Low coefficient of friction, with static and dynamic coefficients being the same;

Good resistance;

Flexible in thin sections and rigid in thick sections without being brittle in either case.

Electrical insulator.

There is no change in structure at low and high temperatures (between -90ºC to 250ºC).

Non-stick;

Weather stability.

Compounds

Some properties can be improved by adding fillers. Typical additives include fiberglass, graphite, bronze and molybdenum disulfide.

Characteristics of adding loads:

• Abrasion resistance;

• Compressive strength;

• Dimensional stability;

• Thermal stability;

• Electrical conductivity.

Main Properties/Constitution

The chemical bond between carbon and fluorine is one of the most resistant in all organic chemistry.

Composite % Weight Positive Effect Negative Effect
Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) Up to 5% combined with bronze and glass Improves sliding properties Stops being non-toxic
Increases wear resistance Absorbs moisture
Graphite Up to 25% combined with glass, bronze and carbon Improves sliding properties Stops being non-toxic
Reduces the coefficient of friction Absorbs greater moisture
Improves thermal conductivity Loses Electrical Insulation
Carbon Up to 35% combined with graphite, bronze and glass Increases compression resistance Stops being non-toxic
Increases hardness Absorbs moisture
Increases wear resistance Loses Electrical Insulation
Improves thermal conductivity  
Electrically conductive  
Resistant to hydrofluoric acid  
Bronze Up to 60% combined with MoS2 Increases compression resistance Stops being non-toxic
Increases hardness Increased weight in the project
Increases wear resistance Unsatisfactory for some acids
Reduces cold runoff Reduces tensile strength
Improves thermal conductivity Loses electrical insulation
Fiberglass Up to 25% combined with graphite and MoS2 disulfide Increases stiffness Stops being non-toxic
Increases wear resistance Reduces slippage
Reduces cold runoff Absorbs moisture
Increases compression resistance Increases the coefficient of friction
Resistance to organic solvents Unsatisfactory for some acids