The Evolution of PTFE: Innovations Driving Efficiency in Industrial Applications

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is famously an accidental invention. While trying to develop a coolant gas in 1938, Dr Roy Plunkett serendipitously invented a non-stick polymer instead. PTFE is exceptionally hard wearing and durable - it’s impenetrable to corrosive acids and alkalis, and resistant to extremes of? temperature. Products made from PTFE? can be especially useful in high pressure sealing applications.

Since its discovery, PTFE has become ubiquitous, with a huge range of applications in industrial processes, aerospace, electronics and as a non-stick coating on cooking pans - Teflon? is the brand name that most people know it by.?

PTFE has become one of the most versatile and affordable fluoropolymers on the market. It can be used as a virgin material, or mixed with additives to form a compound. These fillers, such as glass, carbon, bronze or stainless steel, act to improve mechanical strength, stability, and wear resistance.?

The future of PTFE solutions?

Sustainability is a huge concern for consumers who are becoming more likely to actively search for and buy products that have proven environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials. One report by business consultancy McKinsey found that: “Products making ESG-related claims averaged 28 percent cumulative growth over the past five-year period, versus 20 percent for products that made no such claims.”

Therefore, developing sustainable PTFE solutions is vitally important for the future. Manufacturers are already incorporating recycled PTFE, and eco-friendly and recyclable materials are being developed to meet the demand for greener technologies and manufacturing.?

High performance PTFE

The applications and uses for PTFE are still growing as customers continue to demand higher performance from their products. PTFE has a number of properties that make It perfect for use in medicine and healthcare - PTFE Is biocompatible, is chemically resistant, very low friction, which means It can be safely used for devices such as implants, catheters and surgical instruments.??

In manufacturing, PTFE Is being increasingly used for sealing applications that require high performance characteristics. PTFE has high levels of chemical and temperature resistance, which means It performs exceptionally well in hostile environments with temperature extremes, such as in aerospace and deep sea industries, without the need for regular maintenance and repairs.?

How our bespoke PTFE products help our clients

Whatever your industry, we offer bespoke, high precision and high quality solutions for the manufacture of PTFE coatings, seals, valves and slide bearings. We manufacture components using over 500 grades of PTFE, and often meet tight deadlines thanks to our shorter lead times than other suppliers.?

We can also recoat machinery and equipment, which can be quicker and cheaper than replacing existing components at short notice, for example processing rollers, centrifuges, hoppers, screen plates, glue tanks, electrical contractors as well as other coatings and casings.

Contact us for all your bespoke, precision PTFE manufacturing needs.?

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