Teflon Sheet & its Applications

April 24th, 2015

Teflon sheet is hard at work in every aspect of domestic life, having seeped into our collective consciousness by creating a formidable reputation in several critical industrial applications. The brand label is derived from the hard to pronounce technical name, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a complex polymer with high tensile carbon-fluoride bonds, but it’s the properties and applications of this well-known polymer that concern us today.

Having established a place in popular culture as the non-stick coating of choice for cookware, the industrial applications of the long chain polymer are many. Due to an ability to reject moisture, Teflon coated parts are called into service where water is present, meaning Teflon is found underwater and in pipe coatings that reject the influence of watery liquids. The tactile sensation encountered when running a finger along a Teflon coated component is that of a slippery layer of tough plastic. This simple action clues us into another application for the Teflon family, that of a ball bearing or other low friction component. A tough environment that presses the fluorocarbon polymer into service against potentially abrasive surfaces will find Teflon up to the task due to this enviable low-friction coefficient.

As with many advanced polymers, PTFE, is chemically inert. A coating made from Teflon will reject the reactive influences of acids and oils, thus promoting a primary characteristic that typically sees Teflon additives gaining prominence within oil and chemical production domains. But we have to return to that initial contact with the waxy and slippery surface of PTFE to explore the full scope of Teflon. Able to take the form of a powder or an emulsion in the high-end factories where the substance is applied, the curing process used to seal Teflon is incredibly versatile. It can be precisely deposited as the thinnest of layers on a bullet, thus reducing friction within a rifle barrel. The same technology deposits the material on components that move and must never stick. We’re not talking about non-stick frying pans in this case. Instead, we’re referring to sluice gates that have been idle for extended periods. This approach is especially relevant in places where low maintenance is preferred. Self-lubrication is an advantageous factor in these situations, a role that Teflon is particularly adept at fulfilling.

We’ve skimmed across a few of the common applications that Teflon (PTFE) is suited for, taking the opportunity when possible to establish why the polymer is so capable in each application. Look for mentions of Teflon in other disciplines, in the semiconductor industry, pharmaceutics and as a tough coating for use in the food and beverage sector.

Get in touch with Industrial Plastic Solutions

Mobile: 0400967210
Phone: (03) 9798 1153
Fax No: (03) 9798 1915
Email: ipssolutions@bigpond.com
Address: Factory-20, 29-39 Kirkham Road West, Keysborough VIC-3173

Business Hours:
Monday – Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm
Friday 8.30am to 3.30pm
Saturdays by appointment only.

Optimized by NetwizardSEO.com.au