PTFE Filled Properties

PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene), a fluorocarbon-based polymer, is also known by Dupont’s brand name Teflon® and also as Furon’s brand name Rulon®. It is commonly used in its virgin (unfilled) state.

Virgin PTFE is capable in its own right, but when fillers are added, it enhances the material wear and deformation characteristics to more fully exploit their unique combination of chemical, physical and electrical properties.

The most common filled grades and its resulting enhanced mechanical properties are:

Glass Fiber (PTFE-GF): Added in various amounts (5% to 40%), increases compressive strength, rigidity and wear; reduces creep and cold flow; minimal effect on chemical and electrical properties.

Carbon (PTFE-CF): Added in various amounts (10% to 35%), increases compressive strength, hardness, wear, and load properties; good chemical resistance; various types and amounts of carbon can be added to alter conductivity.

Graphite (PTFE-CGF): Added in various amounts (5% to 15%), reduces coefficient of friction; reduces initial wear; increases strength.

Molybdenum Disulfide (PTFE-MoS2): Added in various amounts (5% to 15%), increases hardness, stiffness, and wear; minimal effect on chemical and electrical properties.

Metal (PTFE-BR, PTFE-SSF): Best wear properties, remarkable deformation strengths and good thermal conductivity.

Mineral: Mica added in various amounts (5% to 10%), provides excellent wear and stability in addition to FDA compliance.

Applications

• * Excellent chemical and hydrolysis reistance)
• * Excellent electrical insulating properties)
• * Low coefficient of friction)
• * Good dimensional stability)
• * High dielectric properties)
• * Good wear resistance)
• * Good UV and weather resistance)
• * High maximum allowable service temperature in air (continuously 260° C)

Advantages

• * Unfilled – Virgin
• * Unfilled – Mechanical
• * Glass Filled
• * Metal Filled
• * Carbon Filled
• * Mineral Filled
• * Blend
• * Static Control – Dssipative

Source:https://www.sukoptfe.com/ptfe-filled-properties

PTFE Unfilled

PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene) a fluorocarbon-based polymer, is also known by Dupont’s brand name Teflon®, and commonly used in its virgin (unfilled) state.

Unfilled PTFE, the most common form, is extremely soft and formable and it is often used for chemical resistant seals and gaskets. This grade of PTFE is used when special needs, such as increased resistance to creep under load, exist.

Virgin grade PTFE is 100% pure material directly from the resin producer that has never been processed into a shape. Virgin PTFE has the highest physical and electrical insulation properties and the whitest color compared to mechanical grade. In compounded formulations, Virgin PTFE is used almost exclusively.

Virgin grade PTFE is 100% pure material directly from the resin producer that has never been processed into a shape. Virgin PTFE has the highest physical and electrical insulation properties and the whitest color compared to mechanical grade. In compounded formulations, Virgin PTFE is used almost exclusively.

Mechanical grade PTFE contains some or all reground PTFE that has been reprocessed (recycled.) It is a cost-effective alternative to virgin grade, particularly recommended for applications in industrial and process industries where high purity materials are not required. It has similar chemical and tribiological properties. The compressive strength and deformation under load are superior to virgin PTFE. Mechanical grade PTFE also has superior wear resistance to virgin PTFE.

A large number of formulations through the addition of fillers, i.e., glass, carbon, graphite, calcium, ceramic, bronze, moly-disulphide, and within these grades variants such as FDA compliant, heat stabilized, stastic control, and wear resistance are available to match specific application demands. 

Prop­er­ties:Chemical-resistant;Low– and high-temperature resistant;Weather-resistant;Low coef­fi­cient of friction;Elec­tri­cal and ther­mal insulation;Mechan­i­cal prop­er­ties can be enhanced by adding fillers (eg, glass fibers, car­bon, graphite, molyb­de­num disul­phide, bronze).

Com­mon uses:Printed cir­cuit boards;Plain bear­ings, gears and slide plates;Chute lin­ers;Lined Tube;Wear strips.

Source:https://www.sukoptfe.com/ptfr-unfilled

PTFE, METAL FILLED

Virgin PTFE is capable in its own right, but when fillers, such as metal, are added, it enhances the material wear and deformation characteristics to more fully exploit their unique combination of chemical, physical and electrical properties.

Metal-filled PTFEs has the best wear properties, remarkable deformation strengths and good thermal conductivity, but poor electrical characteristics and chemical resistance.

PTFE-BR: Bronze is the most common metal filler, added in percentages of weight between 40 and 60%. Bronze-filled PTFE is used in bearings at high speeds (particularly where unhardened shafts used), Wear pads, piston rings.

PTFE-SSF: The other choice is stainless steel, added in percentages of weight between 5 and 10%. Stainless steel filled PTFE compounds are used for seats and seals requiring high heat and steam applications. This compound is also used in many applications involving food processing.

APPLICATIONS

• Machine tool slide ways
• Bearings
• Rod and piston seals
• Guide, extrusion rings
• Wear pads
• Liners
• Bushings

ADVANTAGES

• High wear resistance
• Low friction
• Good chemical properties
• Low moisture absorption
• High Tensile strength
• Good abrasion resistance
• Low coefficient of friction

PTFE, PPS FILLED

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a known solid lubricant and when used as a filler improves the tribology properties (wear and friction resistance) of a broad range of base polymers.

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) offers the best chemical resistance with no known solvents below 392°F (200°C). Low moisture absorption, good mechanical and excellent thermal resistance properties make PPS ideally suited for precise tolerance machined components.

The combination of PTFE fibers uniformly dispersed in PPS produces a material close the gap both in performance and price between the standard thermoplastic materials (e.g. PA, POM, PET) and the high-end advanced engineering plastics (e.g. PBI, PI, PAI, PEEK). Containing uniformly dispersed solid lubricant, Ertalyte® TX provides a lower wear rate and coefficient of friction than unmodified polyesters and even internally lubricated materials like Delrin® AF blend.

APPLICATIONS:Slide covers:Bearings, rollers, gears:Bushings:Machined parts;Wear pads:Pump, valve, compressor components:High temperature insulators.

ADVANTAGES:Ideal for machined parts where low friction and long life is important;Low moisture absorption;Excellent wear properties in both wet and dry environments;Easy to machine;Excellent dimensional stability;Excellent chemical resistance;Enhanced wear and friction properties over standard acetals.

PTFE, Carbon Filled

Virgin PTFE is capable in its own right, but when fillers, such as carbon, are added, it enhances the material wear and deformation characteristics to more fully exploit their unique combination of chemical, physical and electrical properties.

Carbon (PTFE-CF): Added in various amounts (10% to 35%), increases compressive strength, hardness, wear, and load properties; good chemical resistance; various types and amounts of carbon can be added to.

Applications:Engineering design components with antistatic specifications;Slide bearings;Valve housings, seats;Piston seals;Wear guides;Liners;Bushings.

Advantages:High pressure resistance and hardness;Good sliding and wear characteristics;Good thermal conductivity;Good chemical resistance;Low insulation and surface resistance.