AERO PLASTICS & SUPPLY CO.
CNC MACHINING & FABRICATION
Teflon®
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 of -100°F to +400°F (-73°C to 204°C). Mechanical properties are often enhanced by adding fillers (see paragraph below). 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.
FILLED GRADES
PTFE's mechanical properties can be enhanced by adding fillers such as glass fibers, carbon, graphite, molybdenum disulphide, and bronze. Generally, filled PTFE's maintain their excellent chemical and high temperature characteristics, while fillers improve mechanical strength, stability, and wear resistance.
The properties of 25% glass-filled and 25% carbon-filled PTFE grades are shown below for comparison purposes. There are literally dozens of different filled PTFE products and grades -- too many to be listed here. Please contact Boedeker Plastics for more information about other filled PTFE products for your application.
|
|
||||
|
ASTM or UL test |
Property |
PTFE |
PTFE |
PTFE |
|
PHYSICAL |
||||
|
D792 |
Density (lb/in³) |
0.078 |
0.081 |
0.075 |
|
D570 |
Water Absorption, 24 hrs (%) |
< 0.01 |
0.02 |
0.05 |
|
MECHANICAL |
||||
|
D638 |
Tensile Strength (psi) |
3,900 |
2,100 |
1,900 |
|
D638 |
Tensile Modulus (psi) |
80,000 |
- |
- |
|
D638 |
Tensile Elongation at Break (%) |
300 |
270 |
75 |
|
D790 |
Flexural Strength (psi) |
No break |
1,950 |
2,300 |
|
D790 |
Flexural Modulus (psi) |
72,000 |
190,000 |
160,000 |
|
D695 |
Compressive Strength (psi) |
3,500 |
1,000 |
1,700 |
|
D695 |
Compressive Modulus (psi) |
70,000 |
110,000 |
87,000 |
|
D785 |
Hardness, Shore D |
D50 |
D60 |
D62 |
|
D256 |
IZOD Notched Impact (ft-lb/in) |
3.5 |
- |
- |
|
THERMAL |
||||
|
D696 |
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion |
7.5 |
6.4 |
6.0 |
|
D648 |
Heat Deflection Temp (°F / °C) |
|
|
|
|
D3418 |
Melting Temp (°F / °C) |
635 / 335 |
635 / 335 |
635 / 335 |
|
- |
Max Operating Temp (°F / °C) |
500 / 260 |
500 / 260 |
500 / 260 |
|
C177 |
Thermal Conductivity |
|
|
|
|
UL94 |
Flammability Rating |
V-O |
V-O |
V-O |
|
ELECTRICAL |
||||
|
D149 |
Dielectric Strength (V/mil) short time, 1/8" thick |
285 |
- |
- |
|
D150 |
Dielectric Constant at 1 MHz |
2.1 |
2.4 |
- |
|
D150 |
Dissipation Factor at 1 MHz |
< 0.0002 |
0.05 |
- |
|
D257 |
Volume Resistivity (ohm-cm)at 50% RH |
> 1018 |
> 1015 |
104 |
NOTE: The information contained herein are typical values intended for reference and comparison purposes only. They should NOT be used as a basis for design specifications or quality control. Contact us for manufacturers' complete material property datasheets.
All values at 73°F (23°C) unless otherwise noted.
TEFLON ® is a registered trademark of DuPont
