PTFE | History | Properties
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PTFE is extremely resistant to attacks from corrosive or solvent reagents. From the over 100 reagents tested above the boiling point, only one alkaline metal or another melted, or solved in liquid ammonium, attacks the polymer, presumably removing fluorite atoms from the chain. Fluorite degrades the polymer during prolonged contact and under pressure. For practical purposes, the polymer is not completely affected by water. It has such thermal stability that its electrical and mechanical properties remain unchanged for long intervals (months) at high temperatures (250ºC).

• Mechanical Properties

It has the lowest friction coefficient from all solids known, and the static and dynamic coefficients are approximately the same and correspond to the friction of ice over ice. Using PTFE over a metallic surface, there will be a low friction coefficient because, after a certain time of friction between both materials, a thin layer of PTFE is deposited on the metallic surface, thus establishing a sliding of PTFE over PTFE. Using PTFE, the danger of gripping is eliminated, also avoiding the problem of lubrication, because PTFE is self-lubricant.
It has good resistance to shocks within an extreme temperature range.

• Electrical Properties

PTFE is an excellent electrical insulator thanks to its thermal and chemical stability
and mechanical resistance. It does not absorb water and the volumetric resistivity is maintained after
the exposition to humid atmosphere. The dielectric constant remains constant in 2.1 for a temperature range between 40ºC and 250ºC and in a frequency range between 5 and 10 GHz

Some important areas for application of PTFE are automotive process equipment (power steering parts, bafflers, air conditioning systems, etc.), chemicals (seals, gaskets, etc.), and other components (aeronautical industry, machinery and equipment, electrical household appliances, etc.)