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PTFE Testing Services
Polyhedron Laboratories provides testing services for all plastics materials and products. Tests available at our labs include materials testing to verify that the compound meets product requirements including friction, chemical resistance and failure analysis. Additional tests are available. All tests meet ASTM standards.
PTFE Information
Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. Consisting solely of carbon and fluorine, PTFE is a fluorocarbon solid with high molecular weight. PTFE's co-efficient of friction is the second lowest of all known solid materials, with only diamond-like carbon having a lower co-efficient. It is the only known material to which a gecko cannot stick.
Its low friction property is the one for which PTFE is best known, and it is mainly referred to as Teflon , a tradename of the DuPont Company. PTFE also exhibits excellent dielectric properties, especially at high radio frequencies, a high melting temperature, high corrosion resistance and a lack of "memory" that allows for material creep. It is highly resilient and has a long service life.
PTFE is a white solid and is molded by polymer powder technologies. It is also applied as a coating to provide a low friction surface to materials.
Uses for PTFE include:
- Insulation for connectors and cables, and printed circuit board materials due to its superior dielectric properties.
- Seals due to the material "creep" that allows it to conform to the mating surface.
- Coatings on bearings, gears, slides and any other parts that require movement of parts.
- Containers and equipment in highly corrosive environments such as laboratories and plants using chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid.
- Consumer products such as cooking utensils and supplies to provide non-stick surfaces, and electronic products such as computer mice that require smooth movement across surfaces.
- Safety and sealing tapes, largely in plumbing applications, due to its ability to repel liquids and for resilience.
Demand for PTFE is expected to increase through 2014 due to increasing demand in wire and cable applications, advanced batteries, fuel cells and photovoltaic modules.
The most common properties of PTFE are shown in the table below.
| PROPERTIES | ASTM TEST METHOD | COMMON VALUES AND RANGES |
|---|---|---|
| Melting Temperature, °C | - |
335 - 345 |
| Processing temperature range, °C - Injection | - |
- |
| Molding pressure range, 103 psi | - |
2/5 |
| Tensile strength at break, psi | D638 |
2536-3553 |
| Elongation at break, % | D638 |
200-600 |
| Tensile yield strength, psi | D638 |
601 |
| Compressive strength (rupture or yield) psi | D695 |
1700 |
| Flexural strength (rupture or yield) psi | D790 |
- |
| Tensile modulus, 103 psi | D638 |
80 |
| Compressive modulus, 103 psi | D695 |
60 |
| Flexural modulus, 103 psi (23°C) | D790 |
80 |
| Izod Impact, ft·lb/in of notch | D256A |
120 |
| Shore A Hardness | D2240 |
42 |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion, 10-6 in/in/°C | D696 |
120 |
| Deflection temperature °C (66 psi) | D648 |
132 |
| Specific gravity (g/cm3) | D792 |
2.28-2.29 |
| Water Absorption, % (24 hrs.) | D570 |
<0.01 |
| Dielectric strength short time, v/mil | D149 |
480 |
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Polyhedron Laboratories, Inc., 10626 Kinghurst • Houston, Texas 77099 • Ph. 281.879.8600 • Fx. 281.879.8666
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