Teflon

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

Discovered in 1938 by Dr. Roy J. Plunkett of the DuPont Company, Teflon® is a fluorocarbon-based polymer. PolyTetraFluoroEthylene is commonly abbreviated PTFE, and the Teflon® brand of PTFE is manufactured only by DuPont™. The fluoroplastic family offers plastics with high chemical resistance, low and high temperature capability, resistance to weathering, low friction, electrical and thermal insulation and "slipperiness".

GENERAL PROPERTIES

Mechanical properties of Teflon® are low compared to other plastics, but its properties remain at a useful level over a wide temperature range of -100°F to +400°F (-73°C to 204°C). Mechanical properties are often enhanced by adding fillers. It has excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties and a low coefficient of friction. PTFE is very dense and cannot be melt processed--it must be compressed and sintered to form useful shapes.