PTFE contains excellent performance in high/low-temperature tolerance and chemical stability, as well as electrical insulation, zero adhesion, weather resistance, non-flammability, and lubrication.
PTFE was originally developed for the needs in national defense and frontier technology, which was then gradually promoted to civil utilization. The applications include industrial departments of medical practice, automotive, bicycles, aviation & aerospace, chemical engineering, petrochemical industry, machinery, electronics, photo-electrics, semiconductors, electric heating, pipelines and architecture, which makes PTFE an indispensable material to solve significant technology among much modern sciences of military engineering and civil utilization, as well as enhancing the standard of production technology.
The characteristics of PTFE are matchless with other plastics, hence its title of “the king of plastics.”
- 1. Corrosion resistance:
- PTFE is resistant to most of the strong acid, base, and it does not dissolve in various major organic solvents. PTFE is commonly seen as parts used in the laboratory for containing a solution of highly corrosive raw materials, or in the photo-electric or semiconductor factories for the etching process.。
- 2. Self-lubrication:
- With the extremely low friction coefficient that is less or equal to 0.1, equivalent to the smallest solid substance of know friction coefficient, the lubrication of PTFE makes it an ideal material for oil-free lubricant in case of direct contact and friction between two objects. In case of manufacturing self-lubricant bushing or bearing, no addition of any other lubricant is required upon PTFE utilization, hence the reduction of possible grease contamination during the manufacturing process.
- 3. High/ Low temperature tolerance:
- PTFE has temperature tolerance between -190~260 ℃ with a melting point of approximately 327 ℃; thus there is no significant impact from temperature towards its material characteristics! Such characteristic is suitable to be applied as oil seal or piston ring required for operating the automotive engine under high temperature, and other demands in the environment of high/ low temperature.
- 4. Aging resistance:
- Performance remains unchanged and no brittle crack after long term exposure under atmosphere. PTFE is often used as wire and cable covering material for its resistance against UV rays, which does not age easily.
- 5. Adhesion resistance:
- PTFE consists of carbon and fluorine atoms. Since the surface is covered with adhesion-resistant fluorine atoms, the carbon atoms covered cannot bond and adhere to other materials. No existing solid materials known nowadays can attach to the PTFE surface. Examples include non-stick frying pan, Gore-Tex breathable and waterproof fabric, as well as anti-fouling coating.
- 6. Flame resistance:
- With a melting point at 327 ℃, most of the fire sources cannot ignite PTFE, thus making it flame-retardant. All fire-proof carpets and curtains contain a slight amount of PTFE, which offers the flame-retardant characteristic.
- 7. High insulation:
- PTFE has high electric resistance (1018ohm.m) and good insulation, thus it is not affected by the environment and frequency. For example, extensive use of PTFE parts in the plug of high-quality stereo equipment can reduce interference from electric resistance.