Teflon® (fluoropolymer) is a fluorocarbon based polymer with multiple strong carbon–fluorine bonds. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases. Fluoropolymers were accidentally discovered in 1938 by Dr. Roy J. Plunkett, while working in the Dupont lab, when he was polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) to form polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or more commonly known by the DuPont trademark Teflon. Fluoropolymers share the properties of fluorocarbons in that they are not as susceptible to the van der Waals force as hydrocarbons. This contributes to their non-stick and friction reducing properties. Also, they are stable due to the stability of multiple carbon–fluorine bonds added to a chemical compound. Fluoropolymers may be mechanically characterized as thermosets or thermoplastics.  Contact us to discuss the coating system that best meets you specific needs.

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) coatings have the lowest coefficient of friction and highest temperature resistance (260°C [500°] on a continuous basis) of any of the Teflon^® coating systems. PTFE coatings are very good electrical insulators and are extremely non-wetting. They are inert to almost all chemicals but are somewhat porous, and thus permeable to water vapor and other gases. The substrate must be able to withstand a cure temperature of at least (370°C [700°F]) to consider PTFE-based coating. 

FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene copolymer) coatings have superb release, and are frequently used as mold release coatings. They melt flow to smooth, non-porous films, and are thus more chemically resistant than PTFE coatings. FEP coatings have lower heat resistance (200°C [400°F]) than PTFE coatings but also cure at lower temperatures. FEP coatings are extremely non-wetting and have very low coefficient of friction.

Thermoset Self-priming one-coat products are formulated with organic binders to improve adhesion without the use of primers so they typically cure at lower temperatures than pure fluorpolymer dispersions. The fluoropolymer resin stratifies to the surfaces during the cure cycle. However, due to the binder resins, certain properties of the pure fluoropolymers may be compromised such as temperature resistance and release properties. These coatings are more typically used in dry-film/solid-film lubrication. One version uses MOS2 in conjunction with fluoropolymer to provide maximum lubricity in high load applications

ETFE (Ethylene and Tetrafluoroethylene) coatings offer extremely tough, abrasion resistant films with high tensile strength.  Sold under the Tefzel® trademark, this resin is the toughest of the fluoropolymers and can be applied at film builds up to 100 mils to provide a highly durable finish.  ETFE is limited in temperature and can only operate continuously at (150°C [300° F]). ETFE provides only fair release.

PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy) coatings combine the high temperature resistance of PTFE with the melt and flow during baking characteristics to provide non-porous, chemical resistant films like FEP. PFA offers the additional benefits of higher continuous use temperature (260° C [500° F]) and a film thickness up to 1,000 micrometers (40 mils) and greater toughness than PTFE or FEP. This combination of properties makes PFA an excellent choice for a wide variety of uses, especially those involving chemical resistance.

PTFE/PFA BLENDS Are superior non-stick finishes from Dupont and Whitford Worldwide. These coatings are three-coat (primer/mid-coat/top-coat) systems formulated with PTFE and PFA. Characteristics of these blended coatings are similar to other PTFE coatings, however durability is greatly increased by a ceramic reinforcing component which gives it higher scratch and abrasion resistance with a maximum continuous use temperature of (290° C [500°F]) and an intermittent temperatures as high as (315°C [600°F]).

Teflon Performance Chart