PTFE, virgin unfilled
Fluoropolymer
The most chemically inert machinable plastic, virgin unfilled grade.
Virgin PTFE resists essentially every industrial chemical and holds the widest usable temperature range of any material in this catalog, at the cost of being soft, prone to cold flow under sustained load, and difficult to machine to a fine finish.
Specs
- Density
- 0.078 lb/in³
- Stock thicknesses
- 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5, 0.75, 1 in
- Sheet size
- 48 x 24 in
- Brands available
- Any approved source
Price depends on size, quantity, tolerance and finish - get an exact number for this material in seconds.
Why this material
Choose virgin PTFE when chemical resistance or temperature extremes rule out every other material on this list. Do not choose it for a part that needs to hold a tight dimensional tolerance under mechanical load - it will creep.
Typical applications
- Chemical-resistant gaskets and seals
- Electrical insulators in high-temperature environments
- Non-stick surfaces and liners
- Valve seats and packing in aggressive chemical service
- Cryogenic and high-temperature seal components
Handling notes
- Virgin PTFE has poor dimensional stability under sustained load ("cold flow"). If your part is load-bearing, consider glass-filled PTFE instead.
Questions
Why is PTFE not offered in tight tolerances?
PTFE's softness and tendency to cold-flow under load make a tight tolerance difficult to hold reliably once the part is in service, independent of how precisely it was cut.
Is PTFE the same as Teflon?
Teflon is Chemours' trade name for PTFE; the material itself is the same polymer regardless of brand.
What's the benefit of the glass-filled grade over virgin PTFE?
Glass fiber substantially reduces cold flow and improves wear resistance, at some cost to chemical inertness and electrical properties.