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Materials

Thermoplastics
Teflon is a slippery plastic that is widely used for food processing applications

Teflon® (Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE)

  • Excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties
  • Low coefficient of friction
  • FDA approved
  • Chemical resistant
  • UL94-VO flame rating

Characteristics

Teflon® is considered to be the most slippery material that exists. It withstands extreme temperatures, is an excellent insulator and is resistant to nearly all industrial chemicals and solvents. Because it has a low coefficient of friction, it is a superb choice for applications in which materials will slide against one another and is often used for products that need an antistick surface.

Teflon has outstanding dielectric properties that remain stable with frequency and temperature. It resists ignition and does not promote the spread of flames. Teflon has a uniquely high bulk density.

Applications

  • Bearings
  • Bushings
  • Gears
  • Slide plates
  • Piston rings
  • Seals

Questions?

Our application engineers can help. With decades of experience in plastic material selection, we'll help you choose the optimal plastic for your application and budget.

To compare
the cost of this material to other thermoplastics, click here.

General Material Properties ∗

Property   Metric units   English units
General    
Density   2.14e3 - 2.2e3 kg/m^3   0.0773 - 0.0795 lb/ft^3
Mechanical    
Yield Strength   1.97e7 - 2.17e7 Pa   2.86 - 3.15 ksi
Tensile Strength   2.07e7 - 3.45e7 Pa   5-Mar ksi
Elongation   2.0 - 4.0 % strain   200 - 400 % strain
Hardness (Vickers)   5.79e7 - 7e6 Pa   5.9 - 6.5 HV
Impact Strength (notched)   1.5e4 - 1.7e4 J/m^2   7.14 - 8.09 ft.lbf/in^2
Fracture Toughness   1.32e6 - 1.8e6 Pa/m^0.5   1.2 - 1.64 ksi/in^0.5
Young's Modulus   4e8 - 5.52e8 Pa   0.058 - 0.0801 10^6 psi
Thermal    
Max Service Temperature   250 - 271 °C   482 - 520 °F
Melting Temperature   315 - 339 °C   599 - 642 °F
Insulator or Conductor   Insulator   Insulator
Specific Heat Capability   970 - 1.09e3 J/kg °C   0.232 - 0.26 BTU/lb. °F
Thermal Expansion Coefficent   1.2e-4 - 1.7e-4 strain/°C   66.7 - 94.4 µstrain/°F
Eco    
CO2 Footprint   7.06 - 7.8 kg/kg   7.06 - 7.8 lb/lb
Recycleable   Yes   Yes

∗ The information on this page is intended as general guidance only and is only accurate at the time of posting (see date below). Specific material properties vary by manufacturer. Please contact a Dielectric application engineer for help in choosing the optimal material for your application and budget.

Posting Date: August 16, 2012