In previous blogs, we have spoken at length about the wonders of DuPont’s Teflon®.  There is no doubt that Teflon® has demonstrated versatility unmatched by any other engineering material. However Teflon® is not just one product but in fact an amazing group of different technologies under one famous umbrella. Let’s take a look at some of the different technologies that make up the Teflon® family.

•PTFE

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a fluorocarbon solid that is hydrophobic, which means that it can’t be made wet. Because of its strong carbon-fluorine bonds, it is extremely non-reactive. It can also be used as a lubricant to reduce friction and wear. Typical applications include heat exchangers, molds, cruise control parts, filters, and carburetor shafts.

•FEP

Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) is what is referred to as a copolymer. It is a combination of hexafluroropropylene and tetrafluroethylene. It is similar to PTFE, but is softer and thus more easily formable. Therefore, it is utilized in chemical equipment like impellers, mixing tanks, valves, and pumps.

•PFA

Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) is yet another fluoropolymer that is a lot like PTFE. The difference being that, much like FEP, it is easily formable. Also PFA melts at 305°C while FEP does so at 260°C. PFA is great for chemical equipment but also Silicone wafer manufacturing equipment and molds.

•ETFE

Ethylene terafluoroethylene (ETFE) is a fluorine-based plastic polymer which is extremely corrosion-resistant. In many ways it is physically the strongest of the four technologies. It has a very high melting temperature and can bear 400x its own weight. It is used for heavy duty chemical equipment and polystyrene molds.

If you have any questions about these different technologies or want to find out which one might be right for you, contact an expert at PCM today!

It is hard to go a day without hearing or reading the word “Teflon.” It has become so ingrained in our modern verbiage that it’s one of those trademark names, like Kleenex® or Post-It®, that gets used to cover a much broader range than it actually means. Teflon® is a little different though: while it may occasionally be used to refer to other non-stick coatings, the real difference is that there are so many different formulations that fall under the Teflon® umbrella, that the single name is now used to talk about 60 or 70 different chemistries.

These formulations include Teflon® PTFE, FEP, ETFE, PFA, and many more. Each of these amazing and groundbreaking formulations has different and often unique characteristics. Teflon® offers coatings that are non-stick, heat resistant, chemical resistant, water resistant, just to name a few. With all these choices, it is easy to get confused. Many of our customers know that they need Teflon® coatings for their machinery, however with 70 to choose from, they don’t always know exactly which formulation is perfect for their needs. That’s why PCM is here. We know everything there is to know about the Teflon® family of coating systems. If someone in the pharmaceutical industry calls us, we know that Teflon® ETFE and PFA are perfect to protect their equipment from harsh chemicals. When commercial bakers need coatings systems, we know that SBS-Teflon® is the right choice for them. It really doesn’t matter the industry, the experts at PCM have the perfect Teflon® coating system solution.

So don’t rely on just anyone when it comes to supplying you with the wonders of Teflon®. Because in the end, Teflon® really is more than just Teflon®.