author
Bobby Brown
Post 2022-02-21
PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) Material Characterization

Contents


What is PTFE?

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, is regarded as the "king of plastics." It is a synthetic polymer material discovered by DuPont in 1938. PTFE was first produced and sold under the trademark Teflon by DuPont. Today, the Teflon brand is primarily produced by Chemours, a company spun off from DuPont.

PTFE is renowned for its exceptional resistance to acids and bases, high-temperature tolerance, and extremely low friction coefficient. These properties make it an ideal non-stick and easy-clean coating material. Teflon is used for coating non-stick cookware and the inner layers of pipes. It also serves as an electrical insulator for wires and cables, a material for artificial blood vessels and heart valves, and a sealing and insulation material for aircraft and spacecraft.

Chemical and Physical Properties

Structure and Acid-Alkali Resistance

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic polymer material where all hydrogen atoms in polyethylene are replaced by fluorine atoms. This structure imparts excellent chemical resistance, allowing PTFE to withstand all strong acids (including fluoroantimonic acid and aqua regia), strong bases, strong oxidizers, reducers, and various organic solvents, except for molten alkali metals, fluorinated media, and molten strong bases.

Mechanical and Thermal Properties

PTFE's unique structure, with all hydrogen atoms replaced by fluorine atoms, grants it superior chemical corrosion resistance. It can endure all strong acids (including fluoroantimonic acid and aqua regia), strong bases, strong oxidizers, reducers, and a variety of organic solvents, except for molten alkali metals, fluorinated media, and molten strong bases. This makes PTFE highly valuable for applications requiring robust chemical and thermal stability.
  • Corrosion Resistance: PTFE withstands all strong acids (including aqua regia and fluorantimonic acid), strong bases, strong oxidizers, reducers, and various organic solvents, except for molten alkali metals, fluorinating agents, and some extremely strong bases.
  • Insulation: Its electrical properties are unaffected by the environment and frequency, with a resistivity of up to 10^18 ohm·cm, low dielectric loss, and high breakdown voltage.
  • Temperature Resistance: PTFE remains stable across a wide temperature range, from -190°C to 260°C, showing minimal effects from temperature changes.
  • Self-Lubrication: With the lowest friction coefficient among plastics, PTFE serves as an ideal material for oil-free lubrication.
  • Non-Stick Surface: No known solid material can adhere to PTFE, making it the solid material with the lowest surface energy.
  • Weather Resistance: PTFE exhibits excellent resistance to atmospheric aging, radiation, and has low permeability, maintaining its surface and properties even after prolonged exposure to the elements.

Chemical Resistance Chart

How to use the chart
» Meaning of symbol:
OK: Recommended.
△: Must confirm if usable by testing in advanced.
X: Not recommended.
» This chart only provides the result of a single chemical to material, if a client uses more than one kind of chemical at the same time, please choose material by experience.
» This chart is for reference only which is not applicable to all working environments. Please refer to design equipment according to practical experience.
 
Category Name PTFE
Chemical resistance
Organic acid Acetic acid OK
Acetic acid, glacial OK
Acetic anhydride OK
Citric acid OK
Organic compound Acetaldehyde OK
Acetone OK
Methyl alcohol OK
Aniline OK
Benzaldehyde OK
Benzene OK (22˚C)
Benzyl alcohol OK
Benzyl chloride OK
Corn oil OK
Ethanol OK
Ethylene glycol OK
Fatty acid OK
Formaldehyde OK
Formic acid OK
Hexane OK
Lactic acid OK
Methanol OK
Paraffin oil OK
Petroleum OK (48˚C)
Phenol OK
Propane, liq OK
Propanol N/A
Stearic acid OK
Tannic acid OK
Tartaric acid OK
Toluene OK
Urea OK
Inorganic compounds Ammonia OK
Ammonium chloride OK
Ammonium hydroxide OK
Ammonium nitrate OK
Ammonium sulfate OK
Aqua regia OK (80% HCl, 20% HNO3)
Barium chloride OK
Barium hydroxide OK
Brine OK (48˚C)
Calcium Chloride OK
Calcium hydroxide OK
Carbonic acid OK
Chloric acid OK
Chlorine OK
Detergent OK
Hydrobromic acid OK (100%)
Hydrochloric acid OK
Hydrofluoric acid OK
Hydrogen peroxide OK
Nitric acid OK
Phosphoric acid OK
Potassium hydroxide OK
Potassium nitrate OK
Potassium sulfate OK
Sodium carbonate OK
Sodium hydroxide OK (20%, 50%)
Sodium nitrate OK
Sulfuric acid OK
Sulfur dioxide OK

Reference

  1. ^ Polytetrafluoroethylene - wikipedia
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Bobby Brown    2023-8-8
Bobby Brown    2023-8-8

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