Polytetrafluoroethylene is a thermoplastic polymer that was accidentally discovered during an experiment at Kinetic Chemicals in 1938. In 1945, PTFE was trademarked as the now well-known brand “Teflon”.
This plastic is inexpensive, highly machinable, and is best suited for low friction and high heat applications.
Properties
- Non-stick
- Wear-resistant
- Moisture resistant
- Chemical resistant
- Low coefficient of friction
- High melting point
- High strength-to-weight ratio
- Excellent dielectric properties
Applications
- Gears
- Bearings
- Bushings
- Seals
- Chemical tubing
- Cookware
- Lab containers
- Electrical insulators