PTFE Sheet & Rod

Industrial Plastic Solutions supplies PTFE Sheet & Rod in Melbourne Victoria.

Arguably one of the most important engineering plastics is a material called PTFE. Although PTFE was invented back in the 1940’s, it still remains a critical component that continues to outperform almost all other engineering plastic in specific and critical areas.

  • PTFE Sheet & Rod Benefits

PTFE Sheet is a specially important engineering plastic because of its outstanding lack of friction and slipperiness, this is so incredibly low that is has been described as being the most slippy solid material known to man and PTFE Sheet can be cut into strips and can offer a massive improvement in the sliding components. PTFE is also highly specified due to its very high temperature resistance allowing components to withstand almost double that of other types of engineering plastic. PTFE Sheet has the capability to also withstand very strong acids and chemicals helping to provide solutions to acid storage and chemical problems. High electrical resistance is yet another feature of PTFE Sheet and PTFE is often used in high end electrical resistance appliances.

  • PTFE Sheet Applications

PTFE Sheet is often used in the food preparation industry due to its food contact suitability and its very high operating temperatures meaning that the PTFE will be happy to continue along with the product and any product or contamination will not be allowed to stick. PTFE Sheet is also highly successful when it comes to cryogenics, just as PTFE is comfortable at very high temperatures, PTFE is also very happy at extremely low temperatures. PTFE Sheet is also becoming popular in the building industry and is being specified by modern architects due to its substantial ability to withstand weathering and its environmental resistance. PTFE Sheet is often used in wear strips and slideways within all types of engineering to take advantage of a stunning co-efficient of friction to guide high performance components a highly wear resistant and super sliding advantage to help reduce costs and improve component life. PTFE Sheet is an engineering plastic that is also used in valve parts because it has the ability to conform to the shape of a mating or sealing, opposing component allowing PTFE to give a low friction long lasting valve seal that is heat and acid resistant. Because PTFE Sheet has excellent electrical insulation properties, it is often specified for the areas where other insulation is not sufficient and with the added benefit of the heat resistance which can often be associated with these applications.

  • PTFE Sheet Specifications

Maximum long term working temperature is plus 260°C. Maximum short term working temperature is plus 260°C. Co-efficient of friction is 0.08. Co-efficient of expansion is 12. Melting point is plus 327°C.

  • PTFE Sheet Issues

PTFE has a few important areas to be aware of and they are it’s thermal expansion, this means that components will expand at a high rate due to thermal changes, PTFE Sheet is also difficult to bond, there are modern adhesives that will bond PTFE, they are often a two part process although pre-etched PTFE Sheet is available. PTFE Sheet is also relatively heavy or dense compared with other engineering plastics and also it can be more expensive due to its manufacturing process.

  • PTFE Sheet for low friction bearings

Very low friction is another attribute that PTFE Sheet excels at. It has one of the lowest co-efficient of friction of any material known to man and provides similar results as ice. This is particularly important in many applications for low friction slide ways where only PTFE Sheet will do.

  • PTFE Sheet for high temperature applications

One of the most famous and obvious applications for PTFE Sheet is for high temperature areas, this is because PTFE Sheet can withstand temperatures of in excess of plus 250°C and can also withstand excessively low temperatures and PTFE Sheet can still perform.

  • PTFE Sheet for Acid Resistance

Another important feature of PTFE Sheet is its acid resistance, this can be used to line acid tanks and PTFE Sheet can resist higher concentrations than many other materials.

  • PTFE Sheet for Electrical Insulation

PTFE is one of the best electrical insulation materials of all the engineering plastics it is often used for high end components and is often used in place of PVC when the insulation properties need to be much higher.

  • PTFE Sheet at Low Temperatures

One of the often overlooked and key features of PTFE Sheet as an engineering plastic is the low end temperature resistance and performance. Because PTFE Sheet can withstand temperatures as low as -260°C and still retain its properties, it is often chosen to line the inside of cryogenic vessels as there are very few materials that can withstand these extreme temperatures.

  • Chemical Resistance of PTFE Sheet

An important advantage of PTFE Sheet is its chemical resistance which is probably better than most other plastics and much better than most other materials. There are few chemicals that will attach or cause any damage to the sheet under typical use and applications. This would allow PTFE Sheet to be used in applications as the lining of chemical tanks and any instances where chemical resistance is important.

So if you have any questions on PTFE  or just need more info please give one of our dedicated sales people a call on (03) 9798 1153.