Material · Engineering Plastics
PTFE (Teflon)
The slipperiest solid known: seals and insulators immune to chemistry and heat alike.
Price index: $$$
Machinability
3/5
Corrosion resistance
5/5
Strength
25–28 MPa
Value for money
$$$
Material properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 25–28 MPa |
| Yield strength | — (cold flow; design for creep) |
| Hardness | Shore D55 |
| Density | 2.17 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
Friction, chemical immunity or dielectric strength is the entire point — sealing faces, insulators and labware from −200 to +260 °C where no other polymer is inert enough.
Look elsewhere when
The part carries sustained load or tight tolerances: PTFE creeps (cold flow) and ±0.05 mm is honest precision. Back seals with metal, use filled grades, or switch to PEEK for structure.
Typical applications
- Valve seats and chemical-duty seals
- High-voltage and RF insulators
- Semiconductor fluid-handling and labware parts
- Cryogenic gaskets and low-friction slide pads
Compared with similar grades
| Property | PTFE (Teflon) | ABS | Polycarbonate (PC) | Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 25–28 MPa | 40 MPa | 66 MPa | 79 MPa (dry) |
| Yield strength | — (cold flow; design for creep) | ~40 MPa | ~62 MPa | ~79 MPa (dry) |
| Hardness | Shore D55 | R105 (Rockwell) | R118 (Rockwell) | R119 (Rockwell, dry) |
| Density | 2.17 g/cm³ | 1.05 g/cm³ | 1.20 g/cm³ | 1.14 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $$$ | $ | $ | $ |
| Machinability | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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